Hank and Mike (2008) dir. Matthiew Klinck
Starring: Paulo Mancini, Thomas Michael
**
‘Hank and Mike’ was perhaps meant to be the ‘Bad Santa’ of Easter films, a foul-mouthed, irresponsible raunch comedy about two costumed Easter Bunnies who, after being fired, attempt to integrate themselves back into regular working society. Read the rest of this entry »
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2008, Comedy, English, Matthiew Klinck | 
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Posted by Alan Bacchus
What do you get when you pair up a conservative single yuppie with well… Satan? This is not the beginning of a joke but the concept of the new web comedy series from “Fido” co-writer Dennis Heaton, director Vivieno Caldinelli and producer Bryce Mitchell. Produced through the CFC Pilot Program, the series gives audiences short episodes dramatizing the crazy antics of these two tempestuous roomies. Read the rest of this entry »
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2009, English, TV | 
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Posted by Alan Bacchus
Next Floor (2008) dir. Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Jean Marchand, Mathieu Handfield, Emmanuel Schwartz, Sébastien René
****
Though only 11mins, Denis Villeneuve’s ‘Next Floor’ stands tall as a magnificent visually stunning allegory to class struggle told with a wickedly dark sense of humour. Villeneuve channels the absurd and surreal metaphors of Luis Bunuel with the visually grandness of Terry Gilliam to create a unique artistic masterpiece.”Next Floor” has been gathering awards at various festivals since last year’s Cannes Film Festival, and this week opened the Worldwide Short Film Festival in Toronto. Read the rest of this entry »
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2008, Comedy, Denis Villeneuve, Drama, Experimental, Shorts, WSFF 2009 | 
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Posted by Alan Bacchus
A number fun, creepy and gory shorts from this year’s Worldwide Short Film Festival. Look out for many of these filmmakers to bring their unique visions in the feature medium very soon
The Intruder (dir. Mikael Rudolph Kruezriegler)
USA
A simple unemcumbered story about an intruder in a woman’s home. As her daughter combs the house searching out the weird noises, the camera moves fluidly around, following her slow movements. Some custimary terror techniques, following her flashlight, framing her reflections in mirrors, and shadows passing in front of the camera make us jump. There’s not much of a story, but as exercise in style, it’s an impressive moody effort. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Shorts, WSFF 2009 | Permalink
Posted by Alan Bacchus
This Program of the Worldwide Short Film Festival features a healthy dose of the light, absurd, serious and slightly damaged, under the theme of “What You See Is Not What You Get” Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | Shorts, WSFF 2009 | Permalink
Posted by Alan Bacchus
Here’s some short reviews for the Canadian Comedy Shorts Program:
The Catsitter (dir. Tim Hamilton)
Bob is an emasculated single man who rents out his basement apartment to an emotionally stunted hot-knives toking selfish loser David. When Bob goes to Timmins to meet his internet girlfriend, he leaves David to sit the cat. Bad idea. Tim Hamilton, who also directed the uproarious ‘Truth in Advertising’ absolutely nails the pathetic absurdity of his characters. His stars, recognizable comedic faces, Bob Martin and David Hubband, lead the charge and show perfect comic timing in a series of subtle gags which lead up to Hamilton’s darkly funny final punchline. Definitely the belle of this comic bunch. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | 2008, Comedy, English, Shorts, WSFF 2009 | Permalink
Posted by Alan Bacchus
Cube (1997) dir. Vincenzo Natali
Starring: Maurice Dean Wint, David Hewlett, Nicole de Boer, Nicky Guadagni
****
Ok, this might be a biased opinion, considering I work for the Canadian Film Centre who made this film, but its not. This a genuine review with all it’s praise due. Made through the CFC Feature Film Project, for under $500,000, “Cube” is a mini marvel – part high concept sci-fi, part horror film, part art film. A wholly intriguing concoction of ideas and action, which avoids its potentially gimmicky hook. Not only one of the best examples of low budget filmmaking but one of the best Canadian films ever made. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | 1990's, Canadian Cinema in Revue, English, Sci-Fi, Vincenzo Natali | Permalink
Posted by Alan Bacchus
The CFC Worldwide Short Film Festival announced its program lineup this week.
The annual press conference (Sassafraz again this year) again provided a fun hop-nob in the middle of the day.
The festival runs June 16-21, click HERE for the Program listings.
Here’s the clever ad campaign, featuring ‘Critic Cal’, the critic with a short attention span:
Adoration (2009) dir. Atom Egoyan
Starring: Devon Bostick, Scott Speedman, Arsinee Khanjian
**
I am a big Atom Egoyan fan, which extends even beyond flag waving patriotism. Even his recent lesser-regarded films, “Where the Truth Lies”, “Felicia’s Journey” dug into me and struck a chord. With “Adoration” it’s Egoyan again, his trademark multi-layered elliptical style with a peculiar story about a teenager’s conflicts reconciling the death of his parents. If this were another filmmaker’s film, I’d might call it a triumph of tonal control and metaphorical storytelling, but with Egoyan, it’s something we’ve seen before, but with more preciousness and with lesser emotional punch. Read the rest of this entry »
1 Comment | 2009, Atom Egoyan, Drama, English | Permalink
Posted by Alan Bacchus
Professor Norman Cornett (2009) dir. Alanis Obomsawin
Documentary
***
We all remember our best teachers, the ones who make education more than just about learning, the ones who inspire us to understand and embody the information we usually cram and memorize in the final days before the final exam. This was the influence McGill University professor Norman Cornett had on his students and the subject of the latest film from acclaimed director Alanis Obomsawin. It’s a welcomed change of pace for Obomsawin whose subjects (ie. Kanehsatake) usually involve Aboriginal concerns. Here Obomsawin branches out with this small scale but inspirational doc about the best professor his students ever had, and probably the best professor you never had. Read the rest of this entry »
Leave a Comment » | 2009, Alanis Obomsawin, Documentary, English, Hot Docs 2009 | Permalink
Posted by Alan Bacchus
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