Kanadiana

This summer I saw Kanadiana. Well bite my ass! What a dark bleak funny twisted film. The acting is twisted and good. The humour is twisted and good. This director must suffer from multi-personality syndrome as there are three films here: the thriller-the dark comedy-the pretentious softdink art flick. Spinner [Mr. Ryder] is the "sexy beast" [better than the new improved Mickey Roarke]. Uh-oh here comes trouble. He carries this film. The girl [Ms. Wilkes] is also sexy. Prettybouy [Mr. Schioler] is a lifesaver like the candy-meat, sweet with no fat. Criminals will like this film. They should all watch it in jail, so that they will know what awaits them, when they get out. Surprise! This film is Kanadian like the beer! Not too fattening and good for you!

Forget the fact that this film was made for twenty thousand Canadian dollars. Forget the fact that this was the film-making debut of everyone who worked on the film. Forget the comparisons to Fargo. This film is another example of an incredibly-low-budget film can entertain and thrill more than any of the standard trite from Hollywood.

I have just seen this film in the Dublin film festival and, as a result, had the chance to take part in a Q&A session with the director of the film and the leading actor afterwards. It was quite a sharp juxtaposition to see the lead actor of the film you've just watched suddenly appear before you, answering questions. It brings home just how good an actor he is, so different is his character from his real-life persona. It has to be said that everyone in this film excelled - all of the acting was first-rate, as was the direction, cinematography, and (not least of all) the editing. The characters painted before us in this film were strong and real, as was their dialogue. Throughout the film they stay honest and believing; and situations develop from this that keep you interested and stay with you after the film has finished.

Having praised the film as I've done, I will say that this may not be everyone's cup of tea (English expression, sorry). I've seen a number of more diverse films and they can take getting used to, especially if you've been brought up on a diet of Hollywood. But you definitely want to switch to a lower fat, more healthy diet of films if that is the case.

One last point: It seems that the director of the film reads this site, as he mentioned that someone had said of his film "If the Cohen Brothers had been Canadian, they would have made this film." (This being the one-line summary written by another IMDb user). They were not very happy about this being said, so much has been the comparison between this film and Fargo. This is an over-simple and incorrect comparison. It's set very close to Fargo, and is a crime flick. After that the similarities end.

One final last point: if you do see the film, do not leave before the credits have completely finished. Obviously you'll know why if you go see the film.

A good ole boy passed me a vhs of this little ole Canuck flick. These Canucks must be transplanted big plains snow Texans. They did a hellava job, on a midget budget [I heard it cost 150 grand]. Put cowboy boots on Spinner and Prettyboy, melt those frozen fish, put'em in an old Eldo convertible, laquer them up with a case of Lone Star, and there you go...instant lowlife criminals Texas style. It's got some hell yea funny moments and some hell yea scary moments. I knew guys like this, crawling and scheming their way like rattle snakes crossing a hot asphalt night highway. Sometimes these characters are too real. I like the girl too, she's easy on the eyes.

I had the misfortune to encounter this "film" at the 2001 Local Heroes Film Festival in Winnipeg, Manitoba. When the "filmmakers" preceded the the screening by saying that it only took them 3 days to write the "script" the final outcome should have been obvious. The "screenplay" is a scrambled, amateurish mess, lacking any original ideas and is crammed full of stiff, pointless dialogue. The performances are, to say the least, as stiff as the "screenplay" with the slight exception of Christie Wilkes who tries desperately, but fails go anywhere in this quagmire of celluloid. Jon Einarsson Gustafsson had stated before the screening that he wanted to make a serious film but Ihor Procak and Thom Schioler were more interested in making a comedy, well I can only say that they have failed miserably at both. Like the rest of the film, the direction is without vision and originality. Aimless shots of the two main characters driving then arguing and then driving again and then a shot or two of the "cold, barren" landscape make for boring cinema. I have never been to a film where I was so bored and restless, but I stayed to the end hoping for a payoff that never came. Unlike the four or five other people who got up and left the theatre not even half way through this waste. If you are a filmmaker yourself you should seek this film out because it is full of the things NOT to do when making a movie. It is unfortunate that this film is making the rounds at some festivals because I'd hate to think of it representing Canada and Canadian films, as it is the exception NOT the rule.