C.R.A.Z.Y like a Frog

April 22, 2006

Oh Goodness me. I can't believe how long it took me to see the awesome French Canuck film C.R.A.Z.Y.
When me and the Ex were in Montreal last summer we heard about this film that people were going mad for in Quebec...we said to ourselves we should totally go to a screening with no subtitles and see how much we can follow. Well, now that I have seen it I know that we would have loved it and loved watching it sans subtitres.
But alas, we didn't catch it way back then. But man, am I happy to have seen it at all. This movie is delicious. I want every Canadian to see it! My mother is French Canadian and so I identify myself as half-french (I'm not bilingual so I am lame). These characters did remind me of my French family in some ways. Basically I'm talking about the oh what would I call it....the DRAMA. There has been and is currently a lot of drama in my French families life. And truth be told there's been a lot of drama in the White Protestant side of my family too, but that drama is slow, silent and not talked about. French drama is about volume. It is brash, with family feuds and deep resentments that are brought up loudly at any right or wrong time. I kind of love it. I love that my passion and melodrama comes from that part of me. Not to mention the performer in me. The girl who, like the family in CRAZY, would take any opportunity to get up and perform for my relatives. I would never have done this in front of my Father's side of the family.
But the other side of this exhilarating melodrama is the annoying fact that no one can just relax, enjoy, take a deep breath and be. This doesn't seem possible for my French family. And sometimes it bugs the crap out of me.
But back to the film. There was nothing about this film that bugged the crap out of me! The performances by the lead young man and his parents were outstanding and worthy of all the awards that have been bestowed upon them. The cinematography is gorgeous. The art direction breathtaking. I cannot praise this movie enough. I am incredibly proud that it is from Canada and I wonder why Anglo Canadian filmmakers don't seem capable to make such accessible, beautiful, hilarious, moving films? Sorry but it's true. I mean I love Bruce Sweeney movies (Vancouver director, smart, hilarious.) but no one I know has really heard of him. His great last film, The Last Wedding, was in 2001 and no one I know has seen it! And it's very very good. I highly recommend it. Fucking funny, man. Thank goodness he's finally in pre-production for another movie.
OK, but back to my point. Why are Anglo Canadians known for slow moving art films? How many Americans know that History of Violence is a Canadian film? Is it a Canadian film? Does the Director being Canadian mean a film is automatically considered Canadian? I wonder. This would be a good topic for discussion if anyone was actually reading this.
I just went to IMDB and History of Violence is listed as an American film. Not even a Canadian co-pro. Hmmmm. It was filmed entirely in Canada but it was supposed to be America. All the main actors are American. The budget was 32 million (doesn't sound like a Canadian film at all, does it?). Atom Egoyan's last film Where The Truth Lies is listed as a Canada/UK/USA co-pro. It's budget was 25 million and it had some Canadians playing major roles. It's made about a million dollars. Oops. History has made 32 million in USA alone. CRAZY was made for 6.5 million! And it looks incredible. Now, I know you didn't have any big time American movie stars to pay and that alone will save you some serious dough. IMDB says it's only made around 6 million in Canada. But you know what folks? The majority of that box office money was made in ONE PROVINCE. That's pretty fucking amazing. And you know how much money Where The Heart Is made in Ontario? Ya, well, you get my point. Oh and here's something very eye opening: CRAZY opened in Quebec in May 2005. And it's still playing in theatres. Ya.
Even Egoyan's film didn't last more than a blip in the Toronto theatres. Why? Because people didn't like it. Small English language Canadian films that are good last one week generally in Toronto theatres. Unless NOW magazine, the Globe and The Sun do some MASSIVE glowing review that makes everyone put aside their fear and contempt of Canadian cinema to go and check out the movie...which then may lead to the theatre managers keeping it around for a little while longer. OK, let's check out what Anglo Can films are playing in Toronto right now....
Thom Fitzgerald's '3 Needles' is playing at Canada Square (but I'm gonna guess not for long): " But the funereal pace and slack writing keep letting you down. The great performers (Lucy Liu! Sandra Oh! Stockard Channing!) never get to do much and are upstaged by the scenery, but it's almost worth seeing for Channing's unsuccessful attempt at a Quebecois accent as the mother of a porn actor (X-Men's Shawn Ashmore)." (NOW Magazine). Again we have big American movie stars, bad material and a film-going public who will be disappointed yet again.
Amnon Buchbinder's WHOLE NEW THING. This movie is getting some very good press. I will be going to see it. But it suffers such a common fate of Anglo-can films. It's playing at the Carlton. It's been there for two weeks now and here's hoping it will stay even longer! I guess that means I should see it tonight or tomorrow. OK, done.
The Rocket, a french Canadian film about great NHLer Rocket Richard is playing at what looks to be all the theatres in the Toronto area! It's been playing in Quebec since November and now it's finally coming to the rest of the country. This film is also getting great press and it's glorious that it has such a wide release. Hockey movie in Canada...fabulous! Something that appeals to the masses. A great work of art that is entertaining, fun, educational, exhilarating. And made once again by the French. FUCK. Why can't we make some kick ass entertaining Anglo movies in this country and get some OOMPH behind them so they are not stuck with a sort shelf life at the fucking Carlton. or Canada Square?
Speaking of which, I just found another Anglo-can film playing in Toronto at the Carlton. It's called Pure, directed by Jim Donovan who mostly works in TV. It gets a pretty good review in the NOW but it's not glowing. And you know, I think like that old saying about women having to work twice as hard to get the same success as a man, I think these low-budget Canadian films need a minimum 4 star review to get people to the theatres. I mean, I'm speaking personally. Its sad. But you know what I hear again and again? People are sick of shitty Canadian films. Well, shitty Anglo Canadian films. And I am too. Aren't you?
So rent or go see CRAZY. It's extraordinary. It has the great good sense to be an entertaining, fun, moving, smart movie, set entirely in Canada, starring Canadians. And it has the very good fortune to be embraced, celebrated and supported by the people whose story it is telling. Fucking eh, man.
Let's get to it Anglos! Let's tell some of our stories. Yes, we do have some. Yes, we are distinct too. And let's try our best to support those little Carlton and Canada Square gems!
film nerd out.