To be fair I shouldn't have called it a war flick. It's more of a love story with a war background. (I'd have to say that Micheal Bay's idea of a love story is Armageddon, so I'd give the nod to Gross there.) I like the comment of Paul Gross's Jesus complex, though. Can't think of one movie or show where he wasn't Superman, but at least I'm prepared when I see one of his movies.
Thumbs up to those who mentioned Cube and Dance Me Outside.
Which is the whole point. He called the movie Passchendaele and marketed it as the Canadian "Band of Brothers." It's one thing to say it's a war time film and another thing entirely to name it after a significant battle and only have that conflict occupy 10 minutes of a nearly 2 hour movie. At least Pearl Harbour actually had Pearl Harbour in it.
I was going to post a list, but most of them have been mentioned now and I don't disagree with any of the choices yet.
Still #1 for me is Hard Core Logo. Hugh Dillon was incredible in that, even though he was mostly playing himself. I remember watching that opening night at the Plaza (or the Globe theatre, can't remember now) and when the final scene goes down there was a deathly silence as the credits rolled (those who have seen it know what I'm talking about), and nobody moved until they finished. Both moving and intense, funny and serious, it's just such a masterful work about psyche, ambition, betrayal, friendship, love, and legacy. One of my all time favorite movies that doesn't get a lot of press, if any.
NSFW!
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1) Waydowntown (a Calgary film, even - coworkers bet a month's paycheque on who can stay in the +15 the longest - dark comedy in the vein of Office Space)
I've kept a jar of marbles at my desk ever since I saw this one. Really enjoyed the movie.
Others would be:
Porky's
Men With Brooms
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Sorry I am about to go on a tirade and this isn't directed at you but this film made me so angry when I watched it. Passchendaele was the closest I've ever been to walking out on a film. I was hoping this would be our Saving Private Ryan. A chance to finally showcase Canadians in a major conflict. Instead we got the worst part of Pearl Harbour mixed with Paul Gross' Jesus complex.
Agreed. Passchendaele was a major league missed opportunity. However, I would put the quality of the battle scenes up against nearly any Hollywood war film with budgets ten times larger.
Passchendaele was a huge waste of money, felt like B-movie TV after being hyped up for so long.
I just saw Whitewash (2013) on an air canada flight to europe. Was so good I watched it a second time! Air canada actually has some great franco cinema and canadian content. This one did not disappoint.
Porky's still makes me laugh. What constitutes a Canadian movie? Director? Where it has been filmed?
I was curious as to the specific criteria, and it turns out that most of the hurdles are pretty stupid. There are probably at least as many films I would call Canadian that should make the list of 'Canadian' films, but for various reasons they are excluded from that specification.
Not a Top 5 list but Ticket To Heaven is an awesome Canadian movie with a very good cast (Nick Manscuso, Saul Rubinek, Kim Cattrall). Won some Genie's.
Figured I'd go with some that haven't been listed.
1) Waydowntown (a Calgary film, even - coworkers bet a month's paycheque on who can stay in the +15 the longest - dark comedy in the vein of Office Space)
2) Final Destination
3) It's All Gone Pete Tong
4) Meatballs
5) eXistenZ
HM: Screamers. Horribly campy B-horror movie based on a Phillikp K Dick movie that I really want to like but just cant.
I had no idea that movie was Canadian! I saw that as part of my DJ Culture class in University, pretty funny movie.
Also, the guy that plays Frankie in that movie also plays Thoros of Myr in Game of Thrones.
Hanging Garden
Sweet Hereafter (It was in my top 5 overall, so I guess it should be here as well )
The Barbarian Invasions
The Corporation
Last Night (Sandra Oh before she became famous. The reason isn't explained, but it is hinted that the sun is going to go nova. Whatever the reason, everyone knows that they have 1 night left before humanity is erased forever.)
Honourable Mention:
My Life Without Me
Seducing Doctor Lewis
Devil's Advocate ... good choice in the Corporation. One thing that Canada is really excellent at is the production of documentaries. A lot of them are available for free viewing online. The Passionate Eye and CBC have some (sometimes edited), and NFB has others.
Top 5 docs I've seen that I remember
Hitman Hart Wrestling with Shadows
Ryan
Saving Luna (recut as the Whale or something with Ryan Reynolds, but liked the original)
Project Grizzly
Shake Hands with the Devil
A haunting psychological horror about a sister, her mentally ill brother, and another member of the family; a very creepy, life sized, anatomically correct medical doll named "Pin". I love the ending to this one. It's actually kind of sad.
Totally forgot about Pin. Haven't seen it in years, I might try and find it this weekend.
Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz is a good one, I think it's been blacklisted because it perpetuates Jewish stereotypes. The Bar Mitzvah film is seriously hilarious, and Markus Brody from Indiana Jones plays the director.
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