It’s hard to believe it’s been a year, but exactly one year ago today, we launched www.onemoviefiveviews.com with reviews of Get Smart. We have undergone some changes since last year, most notably our special announcement on June 7th. Thank you to all the readers over the past year, we hope you continue to stick around.
-John C.
Summer Hours - An E1 FIlms Release
http://www.summerhours-movie.mk2.com/
Release Date: June 19th, 2009
Rated 14A for some language, some drug content and some sexual content
Running time: 98 minutes
Olivier Assayas (dir.)
Olivier Assayas (writer)
Juliette Binoche as Adrienne
Charles Berling as Frédéric
Jérémie Renier as Jérémie
Edith Scob as Hélène
Dominique Reymond as Lisa
Valérie Bonneton as Angela
Isabelle Sadoyan as Éloïse
Kyle Eastwood as James
Our reviews below:
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Summer Hours Review By John C.
**1/2 (out of 4)
After an opening scene of a bunch of kids playing, we find out that it’s their grandmothers 75th birthday party. The first 10 minutes of the film feel alive. Then she dies. I’m not actually sure why, because she didn’t appear weak or sick. Maybe time is supposed to have past since her birthday, but they certainly don’t clearly convey it. The next 70 minutes of the film are centered around her three middle-aged children trying to decide what to do with her estate. There is a lot of legal talk and we get educated quite a bit about antique furniture. Oh yes, there is also an extremely needless sub-plot that is only brought up in a few scenes, about their deceased mother and a very possible affair she had with her blood-uncle.
15 minutes from the end, it switches gears to be about the teenage grandchildren, and then it abruptly ends. I found the ending to be quite annoying, I kept waiting for it to go somewhere, but it never does. I think the writers were trying not to create characters, but just ordinary people. And they succeeded. But it’s almost so natural, that it stopped being all that interesting for me.
After seeing the wonderful trailer for the film, I was disappointed by the actual product. It’s interesting how this film is getting such a wide audience, but a French film that I think is better and more entertaining, The First Day of the Rest of Your Life, wasn’t really seen by anybody.
I liked Summer Hours almost enough to mildly recommend it, I just wish it had been shorter and more like the trailer. It’s mildly worth checking out, but you can definitely wait for the DVD. It’s in French with English subtitles.
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Summer Hours (L’Heure d’Êté) Review By Erin V.
**1/2 (out of 4)
Summer Hours, or L'Heure d'Êté, as it is called in French, is an interesting, although kind of boring, (if that even makes sense), film.
While only 98 minutes in length, it felt way longer. The movie opens with a Summer party of relatives gathered in the yard of their mother/grandmother’s old house. It is the grandmother’s 75th birthday. The house is on a beautiful property, which the busy children only visit about twice a year for special occasions. After the party, the only child still living in France is called aside by his mother, who wants to make sure that he knows what to do with all of the valuable art pieces she has collected once she dies.
Inevitably, she does die, as you can see even from the trailer. Pretty soon after this opening scene in fact, and for the majority of the remainder of the movie, we get to watch long discussions between the children, art dealers, and real estate agents.
Now don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that this film will have no audience. A lot of people will probably find this film quite interesting. The thing for me was that there was a lot of fast conversational dialogue, with no background music for quite a while. The only time that it was the opposite was at the beginning and end, where it seemed like a different movie. For me, watching French subtitles for almost all dialogue scenes took me out of the movie. If you are fluent in French, maybe you might be able to follow along better without the distraction of the subtitles?
All in all though, I think that while the trailer does not quite give an accurate depiction of the actual pacing of the movie, it is in no means a bad film. If you are interested, by all means go see it, (or wait for DVD). This just won’t be the kind of movie for everyone.
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Summer Hours Review By Nicole
**1/2 (out of 4)
Summer Hours is a low key French movie about how one family deals with the loss of their mother/grandmother. The movie begins with the entire family celebrating he 75th birthday, at her expensive estate. We see a lovely scene of the grandchildren run through the fields and marsh in the grandmother’s vast yard, all the while on a pretend treasure hunt. Since she is getting older, she tells her son, Frederik that she would like all her antique furniture, and her uncle’s paintings donated to a museum, after she dies and the house is sold. Shortly after her birthday, she dies of old age. Now the family has to deal with her estate, trying to sell the house, as well as selling all her treasures. Much of the movie involves the family selling the house and treasures. In the end, however, we see how this loss affects one of the grandchildren, a teenage girl who is not handling things too well.
This movie, while a good premise, seemed to drag too long in the middle. It almost seems like this movie is trying to be two different films. The beginning and ending were more lively, had a score, and some character development. The middle, on the other hand focused more on estate planning, had no score, and not too much character development. I would have liked to see more character development, and less dialogue. I would have also liked to see more of the emotional side to the story. This movie probably could have been done in 80 minutes or less, as opposed to 98 minutes. Also, a subplot about the grandmother’s secret love affair, was just strange, and didn’t fit.
Despite the flaws though, Summer Hours is a fairly decent film. However, this one would be just as good on DVD.
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Summer Hours Review By Maureen
**1/2 (out of 4)
French film “Summer Hours’ started out with what seemed to be a promising story about family, love and letting go. The opening scenes show family members of all ages enjoying their beloved mother and grandmother’s 75th birthday at her beautiful French estate. We get to meet her adult children, their partners and children. We also get a tour of all the beautiful antiques and artwork the senior woman has cherished over the years. In an obvious foreshadowing, she tells her eldest son Frederik how she would like her special treasures distributed once she passes on.
The mother/grandmother does die of natural cause and the bulk of the movie deals with her family deciding to sell the house and distribute her treasures to various museums, art galleries and loved ones. Unfortunately this is where the movie fell apart for me. The dull, dry dialogue between family members and antique and art dealers went on far too long for my liking. I never really felt there was much character development of the bereave family members. It was hard to feel emotionally connected to the characters when they didn’t seem all that emotionally connected to one another.
The movie tries in the last 15 minutes or so to recapture the original mood at the beginning of the movie by focusing on one of the granddaughters and her emotional response to the selling of the house. By then, I was tired of watching. It’s not that I disliked Summer Hours. I actually enjoyed parts of it. The acting was decent, the scenery nice and I liked the basic premise of the story. Anyone who has gone through or is going through the experience of sorting through an elderly family member’s home and belongings will connect with the story. I just wish Summer Hours had tried harder to connect with the viewer. See this one if you like French film or the storyline appeals to you. This one would work just as well as a rental or DVD.
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Summer Hours Review By Tony
*** (out of 4)
Au début de L'Heure d'Êté, Hélène (Edith Scob) fête son 75e anniversaire avec ses trois enfants et leur familles à sa maison d’été en campagne au nord de Paris. Son fils ainé Frédéric (Charles Berling) est professeur d’économie à Paris, marié avec deux enfants adolescents–une fille et un fils. Sa soeur Adrienne (Juliette Binoche) est spécialisée comme sa mère en arts décoratifs, basée à New York. Le troisième enfant Jérémie (Jérémie Renier) est gérant de la succursale chinoise d’une corporation globale. La maison est pleine d’objets d’art et des meubles uniques et précieux, collectionés par l’oncle d’Hélène, l’artiste célèbre Paul Berthier qui vivait avec Hélène et sa famille jusqu’à sa mort vingt ans auparavant.
Malgré les instructions détaillées d’Hélène à Frédéric sur la disposition de ses affaires après sa mort, de vendre ou donner toutes les pièces et de vendre la maison, Frédéric a envie de tout garder pour le plaisir de la génération prochaine. Cependent, quand Adrienne et Jérémie préfèrent la liquidation de tout parce qu’ils ne resteront plus en France, Frédéric doit être d’accord avec leur décision. Pour éviter l’impot d’état, la plupart des pièces sont données au Musée d’Orsay, et on assiste à l’ouverture d’une exposition de la collection. Enfin, pour la dernière fois, les enfants de Frédéric et leurs amis visitent la maison pour une fête.
Écrit et réalisé par Olivier Assayas, L'Heure d'Êté s’agit plutôt d’une famille dont la mère vient de mourir, et comment on la rappelle et s’occupe de ses affaires. Pour les gens comme moi d’un certain age qui se trouvent dans de telles situations, L'Heure d'Êté est un film bien écrit, sensible et touchant, avec une excellente distribution. Cependent, si on ne s’intéresse pas tellement des arts décoratifs, on pourrait s’ennuyer des longues discussions de ça.
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Consensus: Summer Hours has too much endless dialogue with not enough action to sustain itself for 98 minutes. Also, some parts of the movie don’t quite fit with the rest. If you are interested in the subject matter though, it would be worth watching once it comes out on DVD. **1/2 (Out of 4)
Victoria Day - An E1 FIlms Release http://www.victoriadaymovie.ca/
Release Date: June 19th, 2009
Rated 14A for coarse language and sexual content
Running time: 88 minutes
David Bezmozgis (dir.)
David Bezmozgis (writer)
Lesley Barber (music)
Mark Rendall as Ben Spektor
Holly Deveaux as Cayla Chapman
John Mavro as Sammy Balaban
Scott Beaudin as Noah Hartsman
Melanie Leishman as Melanie
Nataliya Alyexeyenko as Mila Spektor
Sergiy Kotelenets as Yuri Spektor
Mark Rendall and Holly Deveaux in Victoria Day - an E1 Films
Our reviews below:
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Victoria Day Review By John C.
**** (out of 4)
The year is 1988, the city is Toronto, Victoria Day is a coming of age story about Ben (Mark Rendall) a 16 year old star hockey player. One night when he’s at a Bob Dylan concert with his friends, Sammy and Noah (John Mavro and Scott Beaudin), his hockey rival, Jordan, asks him for five dollars to buy drugs. Ben gives him the money, and ends up being the last person to have seen him. Shortly after the concert, he goes missing.
It becomes more complex when Ben starts to fall in love with Jordan's 15 year old sister Cayla (Holly Deveaux). With the pressure of having to play in the hockey finals, Ben takes a week-and-a-half journey into maturity, set against a backdrop of watching the Stanley cup finals on the CBC and listening to Bob Dylan and other music from the ‘60’s.
I found the film to be very emotionally connecting and real. They’re all genuine and really likable characters. The acting by the young cast is excellent, natural and very believable.
Adventureland was another coming-of-age film that came out this year and took place in the late ‘80’s. I liked Adventureland, but this is definitely a stronger film.
The movies wonderfully retro soundtrack works perfectly, with Bob Dylan’s song “Dark Eyes” being the recurring theme. Over the credits, there is an excellent cover of the song courtesy of Sam Roberts and his band.
I loved every second of this Canadian indie-film. Watching Victoria Day is almost like reading a great book. We can’t wait to see what happens to the characters next, but are disappointed when it’s over. Try and go see it in theatres, and if you can’t, make sure you get the DVD. Either way, Victoria Day should not be missed.
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Victoria Day Review By Erin V.
**** (out of 4)
Victoria Day takes place in Toronto, in 1988. It is shortly before the Victoria Day weekend, and Ben, (Mark Rendall), is wrapping up his hockey season, when after a Bob Dylan concert at Ontario Place, his hockey ‘rival’ Jordan disappears. Ben feels partially guilty, as he was one of the last ones to see him before the concert, after loaning him five dollars to buy drugs. As the days after Jordan’s disappearance go on, things become more complicated for Ben as he helps in search parties to try to find his missing teammate. Through all of this, there is a budding romance that is happening between him and Jordan’s sister.
Victoria Day is a film that despite being set in Canada, I think would be pretty universal. It is a story that most people, especially teenagers, are going to relate to. It is a coming of age story. Set in the 1980’s, I can see some people comparing this movie to the recent American film, Adventureland, especially when first going in. Here is what I have to say about that: I saw Adventureland, and despite both being about teens in the 80’s, I wouldn’t really see much need to compare them. I found Adventureland to be an all right film, although it didn’t really know what it was trying to be at times. Essentially, Victoria Day, I felt, was the opposite. Unlike Adventureland, Victoria Day actually feels believable. It is a very well made film. Everything about Victoria Day just works. The storyline is handled well, with credit going to David Bezmozgis - director/writer of the film - and the young lead actors.
A couple of things that I think led to this kind of believability, was that Ben’s parents, while they can speak English, talk to him in Russian, with him answering them in English. This is true to a lot of immigrant families. Also, nothing about this movie seems farfetched. There aren’t any unbelievable, convoluted, ‘yeah, right’ circumstances, like we often see from Hollywood these days. The music, a lot of which is centered around the Bob Dylan song Dark Eyes, kept the feel of the movie in the 80’s. Essentially, there is nothing in this film that would throw you out of the film by standing out like it shouldn’t be in there.
This being said, if you get the chance, go see Victoria Day, while it is still in theatres. It is a well-made Canadian film that I think will be accessible to a wide audience.
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Victoria Day Review By Nicole
**** (out of 4)
Victoria Day is a very believable Canadian drama about a 16 year old boy in Toronto. Set in 1988, this story revolves around Ben Spektor, an ordinary teenager born to Russian immigrant parents. Ben is a popular kid, playing on the local hockey team. When Ben, and his friends, Sammy and Noah, go to a Bob Dylan concert at Ontario Place, Ben runs into his hockey rival, Jordan. Jordan asks Ben for drug money, and Ben reluctantly gives him five dollars. Later on, news gets out that Jordan has gone missing. Ben feels guilty about giving Jordan the money, and is afraid to tell anyone. Things get more complicated when Ben finds himself falling in love with Jordan’s sister Cayla. How will Ben be able to deal with his secret, when everyone wants to know what went down on the day of the concert? Victoria Day shows us how one frightening event affects various people’s live.
Victoria Day is a very well made film. The story is realistic, and the acting is very genuine. We believe the characters, and care about their lives. One thing that worked is that the cast consisted of real teenagers some of whom are still in school, rather than made up elderly people. Lesley Barber’s quiet underscore fits the low key tone of the film, without overshadowing the acting or storyline. Victoria Day is worth seeing and would be a good choice to show in high schools.
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Victoria Day Review By Maureen
***1/2 (out of 4)
Victoria Day is a very believable, well written, solidly acted, Canadian film. Set in Toronto in 1988 the story focuses on high school hockey player Ben Spektor (Mark Rendall) and the life changing events that take place prior to Victoria Day weekend.
When the movie first opens, Ben’s life revolves around his hockey games and hanging out with his buddies Sammy (John Mavro) and Noah (Scott Beaudin). Things start to change when the three friends attend a Bob Dylan concert at Ontario Place. Ben reluctantly lends his hockey rival, Jordan Chapman, five dollars to complete a drug deal at the concert. Jordan goes missing after the concert and Ben is plagued with guilt.
The community sets up search parties for Jordan and Ben finds himself torn between living his life with hockey and friends as though nothing had happened and sharing what he know about Jordan’s disappearance.
Ben’s struggle with his guilt and his questioning of what is important to him is what made this movie so strong for me. Ben has to deal with the realization that his hockey career means more to his Russian immigrant parents, especially his father, than it does to him. The scenes between Ben and his parents, mostly in Russian with English subtitles, are really nice to watch. The other complication for Ben is his budding romance with Jordan’s sister, Cayla (Holly Deveaux).
Through all of this Ben tries to keep his life as normal as possible and so goes with his friends Sammy and Noah to shoot fireworks for Victoria Day. The fireworks scene is fun to watch and pivotal to the storyline.
Overall, Victoria Day is a good movie from start to finish. The soundtrack is a good mix of sixties through eighties music with a remix of Bob Dylan’s Dark Eyes being a recurring theme. Director/writer David Bezmozgis deserves recognition for this solid film production.
Check this one out in theatres. It’s a good Summer choice for teenagers and adults, especially Torontonians.
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Victoria Day Review By Tony
*** (out of 4)
Ben Spektor (Mark Rendall) is a high school junior in 1988. Like many children of immigrants (myself included), when his parents talk to him in their native language (Russian) he always replies in English. Having settled on a living as a masseur, his father Yuri (Sergiy Kotelenets) has greater ambitions for his son as a pro hockey player like Wayne Gretzky. Ben is good at hockey, but he also likes 1960’s music which he shares with schoolmates during morning announcements. Though he has started dating, he still enjoys childish antics with pals Sammy (John Mavrogiannis) and Noah (Scott Beaudin), such as a mock battle with bootleg Roman candles. At an Ontario Place Bob Dylan concert he reluctantly lends $5 to a teammate for drugs. When this boy goes missing, Ben feels partly responsible, which he has to admit to the boy’s sister Cayla (Holly Deveaux), whom he really likes.
Victoria Day is a welcome addition to the coming of age short stories written by director David Bezmozgis. Born in Latvia to Jewish parents, he grew up in the 1980s in the north end of what is now Toronto, a neighbourhood enriched by many Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Union. This is a typically low-key real-life Canadian film, where nothing spectacular happens and there is no clear resolution, but with a good script and fine acting it is a memorable story. Along with Adoration and À L’Ouest De Pluton, it should get a lot of high school exposure in upcoming Reel Canada programs.
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Scott Beaudin, Mark Rendall and John Mavro in Victoria Day - an E1 Films release
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Consensus: Victoria Day is a well-made, believable Canadian film. Due to it’s storyline, and execution, this film will be accessible to a wide audience. ***3/4 (Out of 4)
Mark Rendall and Sergiy Kotelenets in Victoria Day - an E1 Films release
Here is the interview I did with the two stars of Victoria Day, Mark Rendall and John Mavro, which I did last Monday at the Metropolitan Hotel in Toronto. Our reviews of the film will be coming this Friday, June 19th. Please be aware that we did discuss the film, so there are some spoilers.
-John C.
How were you cast for the roles of Ben and Sammy?
John - Jeff Hustle who plays Jordon’s father was a friend of David’s, and Jeff’s daughter was in Jesus Christ Superstar which I did in grade 11, I played Judas. David came to see Jeff’s daughter, he saw me in it as well and then after that he came back to see me in a one act play festival that I did and after I finished that play, he came up to me and was like “Hey I’m doing a movie, I think you’d be really good as this character”. So I went and auditioned and didn’t hear anything from him for a while, then got a call back and didn’t hear anything again, and then he called me and said that I got the part. So yeah, that was really cool.
Mark - And I was working with a friend of David’s in New York this past summer and Brad - the director I was working with, David’s friend - put me in contact with David because he was having trouble finding a lead, and as soon as I got back to Toronto from New York we ended up talking and he cast me.
How does Victoria Day compare to your previous work?
John - This is the first thing I’ve ever done, I had never done any -I’d done theatre before and I’d done school shows and stuff - I’d never done any commercials or TV shows, so this is a wicked way to start my career.
Mark - Well for me I’ve been acting for like 9 or 10 years. It was really good the crew was very tiny, the enviroment that David set up on set was very consistent, it was light but at the same time professional. It was very good.
What was the hardest scene to film?
Mark - I think it was - well technically speaking, the fireworks.
John - Yeah. Well what happened was we did a three day nighttime shoot, so I think we shot from like nine at night until like seven in the morning, and that was pretty brutal, because it got pretty cold at night.
Mark - Everyone was exhausted.
John - And we were wearing uncomfortable shoes, and we were shooting fireworks at each other, that was probably like the hardest one. But in terms of emotionally hard I didn’t really have any strenuous scenes. But I guess maybe the scene you had with Jeff, might have been.
Mark - No I liked that scene a lot. I mean really, the emotional stuff it flowed well the enviroment was safe, David made it really nice. So it actually ended up working, it wasn’t that hard. But you know, making-out with Cayla and Melenie.
John - Yeah, that’s like the hardest part, making-out with good looking girls.
Mark - Yeah, that was tough, actually. David was there for me, so he helped me through.
(laughs) So how many takes did you need for that scene?
John - He kept screwing up.
Mark- I kept screwing up. I felt you know - I just couldn’t get that “feeling” - So you know I feel like we did, maybe 15 or 20 takes, different angles.
John - Sometimes the camera wasn’t even one, you just had to practise.
Mark - I mean, we definitely had to practise.
John - Did you?
Mark - Yeah, we definitely had to practise. Actually a weird thing was David wanted to watch us rehearse actually kissing, which I think was a bit strange.
What was your favorite scene to film?
Mark - Fireworks.
John - Yeah definitely the fireworks.
Mark - No wait! I was going to say making-out.
John - See I didn’t get to do any of that. So for me definitely the fireworks. We used real fireworks for that. We each got hit a couple of times, it didn’t hurt too much, but no, we did get hit a couple of times.
Mark - Okay, really though. This is going to be tough, because it’s like the difference between making-out and shooting fireworks at each other. But I think the fireworks were pretty great. ‘Cause making-out in front of a camera can be sometimes a bit awkward, you know getting really physical. But the fireworks were really fun.
How long was the filming process for Victoria Day?
Mark - It was 21 days.
John - Yeah, 21 days, which I mean I hadn’t done anything before that, but I’m assuming that’s really fast.
Yeah, it is
Mark - A week of rehearsals though, beforehand.
John - Yeah, a week of rehearsals beforehand. Then there was the whole casting process which took a while. But I don’t think that counts as production, but I guess that counts as pre-production. But yeah, 21 days, that’s 3 weeks, so that’s nothing.
Yeah, when did you film this?
John - October of 2008, so just at the beginning of this last school year.
Okay, what was it like working with director David Bezmozgis?
John - Again you can answer this probably more thoroughly, because you have people to compare him to. But, for me it’s like I didn’t judge him so much as a director, but as a person, I mean he’s like an amazing guy to work with. And like more than any other adult I’ve met, he was able to communicate with as a teenager. It wasn’t like an adult coming in like “Do this, do this”, it was more like “Yo, whats up?”, he was just really relaxed.
Mark - I don’t think he said “Yo, whats up?”
John - No, but he was like really relaxed, and that translated well to us listening to what he had to say.
Mark - He is like very relaxed, he knows what he wants, and he know how to convey it in the fewest words possible. He’s like a very good director, he gives you your space when he knows that you need it, but he’s also very adamant about what he wants, and he will convey that to you. So yeah, he’s a good director.
And also he’s an author
John - That’s the thing, like reading the script, and watching it unfold on film, he’s completely done his own writing justice. he knew exactly how to translate it.
Yeah watching the movie is almost like reading a book
John - Yeah, it’s like literary.
Yeah I know, it’s really good
John - Yeah it’s very good.
This is a question for Mark: When the actors playing your parents are speaking Russian, could you understand them?
Mark - I learnt what they were saying, and I picked up a few words here and there, but actually it was strange, because hanging around the set with them and David picked up some Russian words, so I kind of understand what they were saying. But mostly, I had it phonetically spelled out and then I had their lines in English, so before we would film I would learn both, so I had something to react to.
That’s good.
This is a question for Mark: So were you actually playing Hockey, or did you have a stunt double?
I did have a stunt double, I’m not a good hockey player.
Did your stunt double look like you?
Mark - A little, well not really. He was the same height.
John - Yeah he was the same height, but the way they filmed it, they made sure never to get the front of him, so it was only the back of him that you ever saw, or from far away.
Okay, well I already asked a question about stunt doubles, but did you have stunt doubles in the fireworks scene?
Mark - No stunt doubles.
John - Yeah the thing with that was no stunt doubles, well no stunt doubles when we were firing at each other, but for the fall. For the fall, originally we had had a stunt double come in and do that, but David didn’t like the way that had looked. So Mark was just like I’ll just do it. They were kind of apprehensive about Mark.
Mark - It was the last day, though!
John - So yeah, Mark ended up doing that and they really liked what he did, so we actually didn’t end up using the stunt double.
So you didn’t really break your arm, did you?
Mark - No. But even if I had it wouldn’t have mattered because it was the last day. Well, I mean it would have mattered to me.
And you're never seen again in the movie without a cast
Mark - Exactly.
This is a question for John: On IMDb your name is listed twice under the cast listing for Victoria Day. Once as John Mavro and again as John Mavrogiannis. Which is your real name and which one do you prefer to be known as?
John - John Mavrogiannis is my real name, it’s Greek, and just for the sake of - just as like a stage name I cut out - I started doing that in the last year of high school, dropping out the GIANNIS, because it’s a really long name, I’m surprised you were even able to pronounce it, congratulations for that.
Thank you
John - Because like literally anytime people call my house there like “Is Mrs. Mavrogigianis, there?, so I cut that just for the sake of auditions and casting calls. So I cut it down to John Mavro, because it just has a better sound to it.
Mark - Mavro. And I can be Rend, Mark Rend.
John - Yeah, instead of John Mavrogiannis. I don’t know why I’m actually listed twice. I have no idea. But yeah, John Mavro as far as acting goes.
What is the maximum number of takes you did for a single scene, and what is the least number of takes?
John - The maximum number, what is the one we did quite a few for? Well the hackey-sack scene we did quite a few for.
Mark - We were filming on the RED camera, which is a digital camera, so it’s not like they have the restraints of having to spend money on film.
And taking time to change the reels
Mark - They had to change the hard drive. But I don’t know, we probably did, maybe 20 takes maximum.
John - Yeah, I’d say 20-25 takes was maximum.
Mark - in a particular setup.
John - Oh yeah, that’s the thing. We would do takes in one setup and then move it and do more takes.
Mark - ‘Cause you need coverage.
John - One angle we probably did 25, I’d say was our max.
Mark - And minimum was like, I’m trying to think of what scene it was, I don’t know.
John - There were a few scenes were we did like maybe 7 or 8 and we were done.
Mark - We also did quite a few shots.
John - That’s the thing, yeah.
This is a question for Mark: In the scene where Ben is eating the banana and sticks half of it down did you just do that because it was the third or fourth take and you were tired of eating bananas?
Mark - (laughs) I am so glad you asked that. I don’t know how that worked. I would literally take little bites, so did probably only a good 3 takes of that actually, and that’s your point. I was like David, f--- it, I’m not going to eat like 5 f---ing 12 bananas, this isn’t going to happen, this isn’t going to fly. He was like “Just eat the whole thing”. So basically after that shot, when I lie down on the bed, I would only take a small bite of the banana.
Yeah.
Mark - That was a bit weird, there are three shots - it transitions into three shots - and I’m always chewing on this banana and then you see me swallow it, it was just weird. I didn’t want to do that.
What are your thoughts on the finished film?
John - I loved it. I mean me and Mark don’t particularlly like seeing ourselves act. It’s like uncomfortable for me. I thought the film was amazing, but I’m really critical of my performance, so that part was like whatever, but I loved the movie it was really nice.
Mark - I think tonally, aesthetically the pacing, everything David got really - like I said, everything just translated really well from page to screen, and he really did his script justice.
I’ve seen the film and I loved it, but how have audiences been reacting to the film?
Mark - I mean the only people I’ve really talked to are at film festivals.
Sundance?
Mark - Yeah at Sundance. They’re really moved by it or when they didn’t understand something they’d really get up and say they were confused or you know “I really want to know why she was crying” or like why did this happen or what happened at the end. I think people do relate to it on many levels and it’s a very human story.
John - When we showed some of it at Newtonbrook, where we filmed some of the scenes at the high school, and when the teenagers saw it we got a lot more laughs from the teenagers, than from the older audiences. So I think it’s teenage movie for teenagers.
And what do you think happens at the end of the movie?
John - I mean the thing is, it was originally written that he walks into the water and drowned, but that was really similar to incident that happened in ‘88. Then they were thinking about changing it to him walking into a construction site and dying there and eventually they cut it. I really think that he died.
Mark - Yeah, it’s implyed basically. I mean even in the last hockey scene they going to have the players all on one team wearing black armbands, too symbolize that they were mourning, but they ended not even doing that and allowing it up to debate, but yeah he’s gone.
Yeah, I know. So there’s not going to be a sequel where he comes back?
John - Yeah, they should call it.
Mark - Boxing Day?
John - Or Memorial Day.
Mark - Yeah, Memorial Day.
How do you think it’s going to reach audiences outside of Canada?
John - I don’t think it will.
Mark - Well I don’t know, it’s a human story so even if it takes place in Toronto, in a specific area, I don’t know, I think if people connect to it. If it gets released in the States, then I think they will.
John - When you think of American audiences, you think of them wanting car chases, gun battles and scantily clad women.
Mark - It’s the same with Canadian audiences.
John - He was down at Sundance, and people received it well there, I guess, eh?
Mark - Yeah.
John - So if that’s any indication to what the States are going to think, than it should go over well.
‘Cause it takes place around the same time as a film like Adventureland
John - Yeah exactly.
Mark - Or like the Squid and the Whale or something like that.
Did you see Adventureland?
Mark - No.
John - No but I heard that it takes place in, is it ‘88 as well?
‘87, I think
John - You saw that, too?
Yeah, I mean it’s more of a comedy in some parts and more of a drama in other parts, and it’s centred around working at a crappy amusement park, so obviously it’s different in that sense, but the time period is the same
John - Yeah, I heard it was pretty good.
And it’s also the same director as Superbad
John - Yeah, oh yeah really? Who was that?
Greg Mottola
John - Oh yeah, cool.
Is there anything else you’d like to add before we wrap up?
John - I just want to say it was an amazing experience for my first time to do any professional work, I had an amazing time. The crew was just amazing, they were hilarious. in between takes, we’d all be joking. Yeah, it was definitely a good time.
Mark - Yeah, I’m the same.
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me today.
John - Thank you, thanks so much for coming in.
Today, June 16th, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is releasing a 50th anniversary edition of the classic film The Diary of Anne Frank. The DVD includes audio commentary with the director’s son George Stevens, Jr. and the films star Millie Perkins. It also includes seven all-new featurettes and interactive photo galleries. Winning 3 of it’s 8 Oscar nominations in 1959, the film lost out to Ben-Hur in the Best Picture category. The movie is 179 minutes long. You can buy it on Amazon, here.
-John C.
One Weekhttp://www.mongrelmedia.com/dvd/info.cgi?id=1441
On DVD: June 16th, 2009
Rated PG-13 for brief strong language.
Running time: 97 minutes
Michael McGowan (dir.)
Cast: (in order of appearance)
Joshua Jackson as Ben Tyler
Peter Spence as Doctor
Gage Munroe as Young Ben
Liane Balaban as Samantha Pierce
Fiona Reid as Mary Tyler
Chuck Shamata as Gerald Tyler
Caroline Cave as Nancy Tyler
Campbell Scott as Narrator
Joshua Jackson as Ben in One Week.
Our reviews below:
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One Week DVD Review By John C.
**** (out of 4)
Read Original Theatrical Review Here
One Week is the story of Ben Tyler. From the opening scene when he's told he has stage 4 cancer, we know this won't be a conventional film. So before he starts any treatment, he decides to take a motorcycle trip. What was meant to be a two day trip, turns into a one week quest for the west, from Toronto, ON to Tofino, BC.
One of the things that makes One Week so perfect is the narrator. The narration is simple, profound and very funny. It's also one of my favorite things about the film. Another perfect element is the beautiful scenic backdrop. The filmmakers weren't confined to any spaces, so they used part of a whole country.
One Week is quite simply a Canadian masterpiece. Don't rent this DVD, buy it. One of my favorite films so far this year. The special features on the DVD include a making-of, an interview with director Michael McGowan, a Q+A with the director and Joshua Jackson which was filmed at the Varsity theatre (when they attended a screening of the film on March 5th), a photo gallery and the films theatrical trailer. This all adds up to about 40 minutes. There is also director's commentary with Michael McGowan.
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One Week DVD Review By Erin V.
**** (out of 4)
Read Original Theatrical Review Here
One Week is the story of Ben Tyler, a writer who as he has grown up has lost his dreaming trait that he had as a child. When he finds out that he has stage four cancer, something reawakens in him, and he feels an overwhelming urge to see the country that he lives in. Engaged to be married, his fiancée - being an actuary - does not understand his need to take a 'vacation' rather than seeking treatment as soon as possible. But what he wants her to understand is that he needs to truly live before he becomes a patient, too sick to do anything. As we are told through the perfect narration, everything happens for a reason. From his canceling his appointment at the hospital, to taking what seems like a simple picture for tourists.
One Week holds up just as well for me as it did on my first viewing in theatres. I had been waiting to see this one again, and I am so glad to now have it on DVD. In my original review, I said that this movie succeeds in showing the natural beauty of Canada. Watching it again, it is amazing just how many shots of this film could be postcards - that is Canada for you, and I am just glad that the cinematographer used so many amazing landscape longshots. I still find the choices of music in this film to be spot on, and Andrew Lockington's score matches the songs well. You can hear the music online at One Week's official site.
This is a movie that shows that sometimes we just need to have the adventure, that we always dreamed of having as a child - before life took over. The question is, do we want the adventure, or to run from our fears? The premise of the need for adventure and to escape the world by seeing another part of it, reminds me slightly of some elements of Up, now that I've seen that movie. Interestingly enough, as of now, both One Week and Up are on my top 10 list for 2009. Both in the top 5 currently... I wholly recommend them both. Here is my advice: Buy One Week for Canada Day.
The DVD has several extras. A making-of featurette, an interview with director Michael McGowan, a Q & A with Michael McGowan, and lead Joshua Jackson, a photo-slideshow, the theatrical trailer, and a commentary track for the film. After watching everything but the movie with commentary, I must say that I am happy with the approximately 35 minutes of extras on the disc. It was fun to see in the making-of featurette that just about - if not all - of the small crew had an appearance as an extra in the film.
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One Week DVD Review By Nicole
**** (out of 4)
Read Original Theatrical Review Here
One Week is a beautiful film that celebrates Canada. The movie follows Ben, a terminally ill young man, and his journey going across Canada on a motorcycle.
There is about 35 minutes of bonus features on this DVD, as well as well as directors commentary. The "making-of" featurette is decent, and shows what inspired the film, as well as how it was shot and cast. This featurette also shows how Andrew Lockington was inspired to write the score. The interview with the director and crew talks about what the film means to them. This segment is also really good. The One Week screening: Q+A with Joshua Jackson + After Party is really funny. There is also a theatrical trailer, as well as a photo gallery. One Week is an excellent movie, that is worth owning on DVD. just in time for Canada day, but great anytime of the year.
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One Week DVD Review By Maureen
**** (out of 4)
***1/2 (for the DVD)
Read Original Theatrical Review Here
I loved One Week when I saw it in theatres and I like it just as much, if not more on DVD. Watching One Week again is like going through an old vacation photo album or slideshow. Yes, you've seen the images before, but they make you smile everytime you see them again. The road trip the main character, Ben makes from Toronto to the Western coast is wonderful to see.
Overall, this is a really nice movie. It's a story of hope and a wonderful tribute to the stunning beauty and many quirky tourist spots that make Canada unique.
The One Week DVD would make a great Father's Day or Canada Day gift. It has enough extras to make the DVD interesting, but even if you don't get around to watching them, the movie itself is worth seeing again. Treat yourself to One Week. This makes a great summer watch.
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One Week DVD Review By Tony
**** (out of 4)
***1/2 (for the DVD)
Read Original Theatrical Review Here
The DVD has the usual extras, in English only: a director’s commentary track, a “Making Of” featurette showing the crew on their bus, various interviews, a trailer and some stills. My only criticism is that no French subtitles are available for those who like me prefer to listen to the original actors. However, from what I could hear in various scenes, the French dubbing is well done.
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Consensus: As said when we reviewed One Week theatrically, this is a film that celebrates being Canadian. Perfect for a Canada Day gift, this is one movie that if you haven't seen it in theatres, you definitely don't want to miss on DVD. ****
Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) - An E1 Films Release http://www.cequilfautpourvivre-lefilm.com/
On DVD: June 16th, 2009
Rated PG for language and crude content.
Running time: 102 minutes
Benoît Pilon (dir.)
Bernard Émond (screenplay)
Robert M. Lepage (music)
Denis Bernard as Père Millaire
Paul-André Brasseur as Kaki
Éveline Gélinas as Carole
Elisapie Isaac as Femme inuite
Vincent-Guillaume Otis as Joseph
Natar Ungalaaq as Tiivii
Natar Ungalaaq and Paul-Andre Brasseur in The Necessities of Life - an E1 Films release
Our reviews below:
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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By John C.
***1/2 (out of 4)
Ce Qu’il Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) is a moving and beautiful Canadian film about love, friendship and the necessities that we all need to live. When Inuit man, Tiivii (Natar Ungalaaq), is found to have tuberculosis, he is uprooted from his family and brought to a sanatorium in Quebec City. When the nurses realize that Tiivii is getting depressed being away from his family, and the only one who can speak his language, they bring in a young Inuit boy, Kaki (Paul-Andre Brasseur). Kaki is the first person he has met in some time that can actually understand him. But Kaki also speaks French, so he is able to be a translator.
The film is a heartbreaking and real portrayal of a friendship. I highly recommend you see it. It was inevitable that Passchendaele was going to win the Genie for Best Picture, but this film is just as good if not better.
The DVD includes audio commentaries, a photo gallery and the films trailer. Most of the special features are in French only.
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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Erin V.
***1/2 (out of 4)
Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre, (The Necessities of Life), is a beautiful Canadian drama set in the early 1950’s.
The movie opens up North, where we are introduced to the main character of the story, Tiivii. Tiivii and his wife, and their two young daughters, live a traditional Inuit life. When a ship comes into the harbour, all the people in Tivii’s village are to go on board to be tested for Tuberculosis. Those who turn up positive are to go South for treatment. When Tiivii is told that he has ‘TB’, he has to stay on the boat, while his family leaves with hardly the time to say goodbye. When he finally arrives in Québec City, he is disoriented and confused. He has now been thrust into a world of large trees, white people, and everyone speaking French. Becoming increasingly depressed, it is not until he meets Kaki, (through a nurse named Carole who tries to help him understand her world as best she can), a young Inuk boy who speaks both languages. Kaki becomes a friend and translator to Tiivii, while Tiivii in return teaches Kaki, orphaned at a young age, the Inuit stories and way of life.
This is an emotional, and very well made Canadian film. Winning many awards at the Genie Awards, over giant Passchendaele shows just how good this film, particularly the acting from lead Natar Ungalaaq really is. From the score, to the landscapes, to the acting, and story, Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre is a film that is worth checking out, no matter what language you speak. Although the film is mainly in French and Inuktitut, it is subtitled well in English, and easy enough to follow along. I would definitely recommend watching this Canadian gem.
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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Nicole
***1/2 (out of 4)
The Necessities of Life is a thought provoking Canadian movie about Inuit culture. Set in the 1950’s, the movie follows Tiivii, an Inuk family man who contracts tuberculosis, and as a result, has to leave his family to receive treatment in a Quebec City sanatorium. This new world is confusing to Tiivii. Nobody speaks his language, the food is different, and even the landscape is foreign, with warmer weather and lots of big trees. Tiivii is also concerned that there is no one to hunt food for his family. So Tiivii keeps attempting to run away back to his Arctic home, much to the annoyance of hospital staff. There is one nurse, however, named Carole who recognizes why Tiivii is so confused and frustrated. So she brings in another Inuk tuberculosis patient, from another hospital. The patient, Kaki, is a young orphan, who speaks Tivii’s language as well as French. Kaki acts as a translator between Tiivii and the francophones, and Tiivii becomes like the father that Kaki lost. Tiivii reintroduces Kaki to the Inuit culture that he had forgotten after being hospitalized so long. The two develop a close bond, and Tiivii hopes to adopt Kaki when they both get out.
The Necessities of Life is an emotional and believable film. Parts of the film are quite sad, due to the subject matter, but are realistic to the story. There are also some funny lines, as well as many heartwarming moments. The acting in this movie is excellent, and the shots of the Arctic tundra are beautiful. This is one well made Canadian film that is definitely worth watching.
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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Maureen
***1/2 (out of 4)
The Necessities of Life is a gentle and powerful film about the early 1950’s tuberculosis (TB) epidemic in Canada’s Far North. The story follows an Inuit man, Tiivii (Natar Ungalaaq) who is diagnosed with TB and transported to a sanatorium far away in Quebec City.
Tivii’s complete isolation is obvious when everyone in the sanatorium speaks only French. Tivii’s inability to communicate affects his will to recover. One of the nurses, Carole (Eveline Gélines) recognizes Tivii’s frustration and arranges for another patient, and Inuit boy named Kaki (Paul-Andre Brassuer), who speaks both French and his native language to spend time with Tiivii. Tiivii and Kaki develop a friendship with Tiivii sharing Inuit legends and customs with the orphaned Kaki. Once Tiivii begins to recover, he expresses his wish to adopt Kaki and bring him North so the boy can learn to live his heritage. As Tiivii puts it to the local priest, he is more than prepared to give Kaki ‘the necessities of life’.
This is a really nicely done, low-key, believable Canadian drama. The acting is superb. Natar Ungalaaq deserved his Genie award for his portrayal of Tiivii.
The visuals of Northern Canada are nice to see, and the music score fit the mood perfectly. The English subtitles are easy to follow.
The 2009 Genies rightfully recognized “Ce Qu’il Faut Pour Vivre” (The Necessities of Life) Director Benoit Pilon, with the award for Best Director. The film also took the awards for Best Screenplay, Best Editing, and Best Actor.
I would love to see this movie shown in Canadian history classes across Canada. It is easily accessible in both French and in English with subtitles. It’s two bad the DVD extras are in French only.
Whether you buy the DVD or rent it, ‘Ce Qu’il Faut Pour Vivre’ (The Necessities of Life) is worth checking out. Vraiment, un film Canadien excellent.
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Ce qu’il Faut Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life) Review By Tony
***1/2 (out of 4)
Ce qu'il Faut Pour Vivre est l’histoire de Tiivii (Natar Ungalaaq), un chasseur Inuk1 de L’Isle Baffin forcé en 1952 de quitter sa femme et deux filles à cause de la tuberculose. Après un long voyage, il se trouve au Sanitorium à Québec dans un monde de grands arbres totalement étranger. Il faut se faire comprendre par des gestes, parce que personne ne parle sa langue. Tiivii s’occupe des dessins d’animaux dans son cahier, mais après quelque mois, de plus en plus déprimé, il refuse de plus manger. Une gentille infirmière Carole (Éveline Gélinas) arrange d’un autre hôpital le déménagement d’un garçon Kaki (Paul-André Brasseur), qui sait parler et français et inuktitut. Kaki ayant perdu toute sa famille, Tiivii le regarde comme un fils et propose de l’adopter. Il lui racconte des histoires traditionnelles et lui enseigne à faire des petits sculptures de bois. Kaki peut proposer qu’on commence à servir de la vraie nourriture: du saumon cru. Tiivii est introduit enfin à un prêtre (Denis Bernard) fluent en inuktitut, ayant été missionaire au nord. Je vous laisse à découvrir ce qui arrive après.
Même que le film nous fait toujours sentir l’isolation de Tiivii, il n’est pas sans humour. Par exemple, quand Tiivii et Kaki se rencontrent, Tiivii lui dit qu’il a un drole d’accent. Kaki répond: “Toi aussi.” Quand Carole refuse de “rire” avec Tiivii selon la tradition inuit d’hospitalité, Kaki lui explique qu’on ne pourra jamais comprendre les blancs. L’évêque approuve l’adoption grace aux petits mensonges du prêtre que Tiivii était marié et a fait baptiser ses enfants dans une église Catholique.
Ce qu'il Faut Pour Vivre est un film tendre et sensible. Même qu’il se déroule lentement, il vaut bien le temps.
1Inuk: singulier des Inuit, nommés Esquimaux à l’époch du film (et toujours aux E. U.), dont la langue est inuktitut.
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Consensus: A beautiful Canadian film, whether or rent it or buy it Ce Qu'il Pour Vivre (The Necessities of Life), is definitely worth seeing. ***1/2 (Out of 4)
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