Month in Review: July 2010

The first of July is Canada Day, as good an excuse as any (heck, probably the best) to kick off a month-long celebration of Canadian content on GeekvsGoth.com.

The rules around here aren’t too hard and fast . . . mostly because we’re polite and take her nice and slow.  Is Canada footing the bill?  Does it take place north of the border?   These are important questions because, generally speaking, being made in Canada and starring Canadians may not be enough.

After all, who wants Superman and the X-Men cramping Bob & Doug’s style, eh?

Here then is Hacker Renders’ list of CanCon highlights for July 2010, a list of five: favourites, surprises, disappointments, and least-liked, as well as the movie I’d most like to see, reviewed by our local Albertan.

Game on!

Favourite Film:
Terry (2005)

“The producers have managed something compelling here.  On a technical level, their movie cuts together quite smoothly with actual historical footage and doesn’t suffer for the comparison.  On a narrative level, they’ve managed to take an innately affecting tragedy and lend it an air of unsensationalized inspiration.  What could have slipped into maudlin manipulation remains respectful.  An effective retelling of Terry’s story, this video should be required viewing for all people, Canadian or otherwise.”

Greatest Surprise:
eXistenZ (1999)

“To put it as geekily as I can:  If Inception is the Battle of Hoth, then eXistenZ was a trip to Dagobah.  It’s a stunning work, far ahead of its time.  Similar ideas have been explored in films like Tron, Dark City, and The Matrix, but its recursive complexity may finally find acceptance with the popular success of Inception (and the followers that Nolan’s film will probably inspire).  Both meditations on the nature of delusion, escape, and obsession, eXistenZ plays more as caution than action, forsaking sweep for shock, and polish for grit.”

Most Disappointing:
Duct Tape Forever (2002)

“It’s difficult to convey how much I want to give this one a pass but the best I can do is to strongly endorse the original Red Green series instead.  While Duct Tape Forever isn’t a catastrophe on the level of Ali G Indahouse, it is a misfire nonetheless.  I’m sorry to say that not even the handyman’s secret weapon can mend this effort.”

Least-Liked:
Strange Brew (1983)

“The best part of the film is the abortive post apocalyptic Mutants of 2051 A.D. at the film’s start where Bob plays “like a one-man army, like Charlton Heston in Omega Man. You ever see it? Beauty.”

“For a better sketch-turned-feature film, see the review for The Wrong Guy.”

Show Me:
Ginger Snaps (2000)

“Not only does this film deliver the creepy and some genuinely black-humour laughs but is chock full of Canadian content goodness. Watch for a funny performance from Peter Keleghan of Newsroom fame, playing Mr. Wayne the girls’ freaked-out teacher and guidance counsellor.”

Honourable Mention:
The Wrong Guy (1997)