The Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) and Reel Canada celebrate National Canadian Film Day 150!
Don McKellar’s LAST NIGHT (1998) – 35mm print!
Director Don McKellar will be in attendance and participate in a Q&A with Richard Crouse after the film.
Free Admission!
LAST NIGHT
CAN 1998 95min.
Directed by Don McKellar
Starring Don McKellar, Sandra Oh, Sarah Polley, David Cronenberg, Callum Keith Rennie
What to do in Toronto as armageddon looms? A group of very different individuals with different ideas of how to face the end come together as the world is expected to end in six hours at the turn of the century. Don McKellar’s directorial debut is a standout classic of Canadian cinema.
The feature will be preceded by 40 000 000 Miles A Year (1948), a short film sponsored by the TTC, which features rare colour footage of various Toronto landmarks and makes a case for a proper transit and subway system in Toronto.
Recently scanned in 2K.
Doors open at 6:00PM.
Please note that since this Revue Film Society event is free, it is our policy to overbook to ensure capacity. We will begin releasing unclaimed seats to the rush line 10 minutes before the start of the event. In case of a full house, your reservation may not guarantee admission. We recommend you arrive early! đ
Richard sits in with CTV NewsChannel anchor Marcia MacMillan to have a look at the big weekend movies, the great ape flick âKong: Skull Island,â the Shirley MacLaine dramedy âThe Last Wordâ and the animated âWindow Horses.â
âWindow Horsesâ is an animated cultural comedy of errors from Asian-Canadian director Ann Marie Fleming.
Rosie Ming (voiced by Sandra Oh) is a twenty year-old half Chinese, half Iranian fast food worker and poet. Raised by her overprotective Chinese grandparents (voiced by Nancy Kwan and Eddy Ko) following her motherâs death and fatherâs disappearance, she has dreams of one day visiting France, but so far has never been outside Canada.
When her self-published book of poetry, âMy Eye Full, Poems by a Person Who Has Never Been to France,â earns her an invitation a festival sheâs thrilled, even if it will take her to Shiraz, Iran, not France. Upon arrival the beret wearing Francophile learns about the father she never met and, through poetry, learns the healing power of art and to embrace a culture she was connected to but knew nothing about.
Fleming uses a variety of animators and a whoâs who of Canadian talent, like Ellen Page and Don McKellar, and Iranian film legends Peyman Moaadi and Shohreh Aghdashloo, to bring Roseâs journey to life. Itâs a beautifully whimsical about curiosity, finding a voice and staying open.
The directorâs avatarâa stick figure that has appeared in her other short animated filmsârepresents Rosie. The characterâs lack of expression is more than compensated for in Ohâs vivid vocal performance. Visually sheâs a blank slate who grows throughout to become a fully rounded character.
âWindow Horsesâ is a gentle, airy film that cuts through the complicated clutter of everyday life with a simple message of peace, love and understanding.
Welcome to the House of Crouse. This week “Paterson” star Adam Driver expresses disbelief that his new film won’t make $165 million on it’s opening weekend and Don McKellar talks about why he has always found film restrictive. It’s fun stuff, so c’mon in and sit a spell with us.
Don McKellar is best known as a movie director, writer and actor but says, âIâve always found the feature film format slightly restrictive.â
The director of big screen gems like Childstar, Last Night and The Grand Seduction is behind the camera once again, this time for Michael: Every Day, a CBC television comedy debuting Sunday, Jan. 15.
âIâve always been interested in television and whether it is attention deficit disorder or something, Iâve always liked short formats,â he says. âMy first films were short and then I did 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould. I like the road movie format because it is episodic, so fracturing narratives is always something I have always been interested in.
âTelevision is a natural home for me. I like breaking up stories. In a way I think it throws off the viewerâs expectations. If it is done well in some ways it can have more surprises than a feature film which you know, one way or another, is going to wrap up after a couple of hours. We donât know anymore with television how long the narrative is going to be. It could go on forever or just a few episodes.â
The new show is a revival of sorts. Michael: Every Day is the continuing story of the relationship between title character, played by Matt Watts, and his psychiatrist, played by long-time McKellar collaborator Bob Martin. In 2011 the first season, then titled Michael: Tuesdays & Thursdays, was nominated for a Canadian Screen Award before being cancelled.
âI canât pretend it was our idea [to bring the show back],â says McKellar. âThere was a regime change at the CBC and as I understand it when the new people came in they said, âOK, letâs look and see how the CBC has been doing over the last while.â They looked at our show and said, âThatâs the kind of show we should be doing.â They reordered it and we said yes. It was not our intention but it was very exciting once we had the option. The five-year gap, once we thought about it, was an interesting hook. What happened to these characters in five years?â
Itâs an unusual trajectory for a show and McKellar thinks it is a brash move.
âAs has been discussed widely, TV is having a moment and I think Canada is catching up,â he says. âI think there was a feeling for a long time that the American cable shows were doing something interesting and now, finally, it has tilted down to network television. In Canada the CBC has realized they have this licence to do more ambitious stuff. I give them credit for going for it. They have made some bold choices and this is one of them. I hope the audience responds because these things donât last forever.â
The new climate in television offers more interesting shows for the viewer and, according to McKellar, a new freedom for the creative side.
âFor me as a director, I think that people are just now staring to realize that directors can actually do things in television. Itâs not just mechanical.
âIt gives me a bit of space to get in there and try some more filmic stuff. I think that is happening in television in general.â
â Each episode of REELSIDE offers an insider view of the creative process â
â Featuring Sarah Gadon, Caitlin Cronenberg, George A. Romero, Evan Goldberg, Seth Rogen, Don McKellar, Bruce McDonald, Stephen Amell, Michael Hogan, and more â
May 21, 2015
TORONTO (May 21, 2015) â The Movie Network goes behind the scenes of the creative process with REELSIDE, a new six-part, half-hour original documentary series that celebrates the stories of prominent Canadians both in front of and behind the camera. Debuting Thursday, June 4 at 9 p.m. ET on The Movie Network, each episode follows filmmakers on a unique journey, such as Sarah Gadon who partners with Caitlin Cronenberg on a photography project, Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen who share experiences about being Canadian boys in Hollywood, and Matthew Hannam who sets off with mentors Don McKellar and Bruce McDonald on a classically Canadian road trip.
Following the premiere episode of REELSIDE, featuring Sarah Gadon and Caitlin Cronenberg, is a special presentation of the Canadian feature film, Enemy, starring Gadon and Jake Gyllenhaal.
âFrom exploring road movies in an RV in Northern Ontario to the streets of Toronto with horror icon George A. Romero, REELSIDE captures honest, behind-the-scenes moments with some of this countryâs biggest names in entertainment,â said Tracey Pearce, Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. âVisually and creatively, this is Canadiana at its finest and a must-see for fans of great storytelling.â
REELSIDE is a production from Fifth Ground Entertainment in association with The Movie Network and Movie Central. Executive Producers are Richard Crouse, Raj Panikkar, and Christopher Szarka. Producers are Szarka and Panikkar. Directors are Sarah Gadon, Philip Riccio, Taylor Clarke, Matthew Hannam, Matthew Lochner, and Raj Panikkar. For Bell Media, Lisa Gotlieb and Tina Apostolopoulos. Corrie Coe is Senior Vice-President, Independent Production, Bell Media. Tracey Pearce is Senior Vice-President, Specialty and Pay, Bell Media. Phil King is President â CTV, Sports and Entertainment Programming.
EPISODE SYNOPSES
Ep 101 â Caitlin Cronenberg with Sarah Gadon Premieres Thursday, June 4 at 9 p.m. ET
Commissioned by an Italian fashion magazine for a photography project, celebrated photographer Caitlin Cronenberg and actor Sarah Gadon (Maps to the Stars) travel to Bruce Peninsula National Park. This episode explores how the pair connected amidst the Hollywood and Fashion machine, and issues of image-making, film, and fashion. Sarah Gadonâs directorial debut.
Ep 102 â Philip Riccio with George A. Romero Premieres Thursday, June 11 at 9 p.m. ET
Actor Philip Riccio (REPUBLIC OF DOYLE) goes behind the camera to explore filmmaking in the pre-digital era with his mentor, horror film icon George A. Romero (Night of the Living Dead, Creepshow). Together, they remake one of Romeroâs lost films. Romero guides Phil through 16mm filmmaking, reminiscing about his long career along the way.
Ep 103 âEvan Goldberg with Seth Rogen and Matthew Bass Premieres Thursday, June 18 at 9 p.m. ET
This episode catches Evan Goldberg and Seth Rogen in LA on the set of big budget comedy Neighbors and at the premiere of their more personal project, This is the End. On the crux of the next big step forward in their careers, they share their journey from Canadian boys to making it big in Hollywood. Meanwhile, the pair guide rising talent Matt Bass through an endless string of rejections.
Ep 104 â Science Fiction Premieres Thursday, June 25 at 9 p.m. ET
Vincenzo Natali (Cube) takes audiences through a demonstration of world building, from conceptualizing a project from scratch to a fully realized creation. Graeme Manson (ORPHAN BLACK), Michael Hogan (BATTLESTAR GALACTICA), Astronaut and Space-X Engineer Garrett Reisman, and film critic Jesse Wente all weigh in on the genre and the critical point at which science meets fiction.
Ep 105 â Don McKellar and Bruce McDonald Premieres Thursday, July 2 at 9 p.m. ET
Accomplished editor Matthew Hannam (SENSITIVE SKIN) sets off to Northern Ontario with his mentors, Don McKellar (SENSITIVE SKIN) and Bruce McDonald (Hard Core Logo), to create a documentary about their careers. Along the way, the two legends explore the iconic power of the Canadian road movie.
Ep 106 â Superheroes Premieres Thursday, July 9 at 9 p.m. ET
Emerging filmmaker Matthew Lochner is on a journey to create his own superhero concept, complete with a trailer. Along the way, Matthew enlists the help of Stephen Amell (ARROW), David Hayter (X-Men), and Lloyd Kaufman (The Troma Empire) to understand what it means to be a superhero, whatâs behind the genre, and what it means to fans while uncovering glimpses of what drives them in their careers.
Richard hosted the press room at the 2015 Canadian Screen Awards, interviewing all the winners, including Xavier Dolan, Tatiana Maslany (see clip above), “Call Me Fitz” star Joanna Cassidy (Read about her and “Blade Runner” HERE!), Don McKellar, “Mommy” star Anne Dorval, 19-2 star Jared Keeso, Best News Anchor for CTV National News winner Lisa LaFlamme and host Andrea Martin. (Thanks to Mr. Will Wong for the photo!)
Years before Kim Cattrall found international stardom as Samantha Jones, the brash best friend of Carrie, Miranda and Charlotte on Sex and the City, she learned a valuable lesson from a Hollywood legend. The 24-year-old actress was starring opposite Jack Lemmon in Tribute, a film version of the Broadway show that earned Lemmon a Tony nomination.
Lemmon had dozens of credits, including classics like Some like It Hot and The Apartment under his belt and two Oscars on his mantelpiece at home.
âHow do you have longevity?â she asked the veteran actor.
âTake things that scare the pants off you,â he replied.
Itâs advice she took to heart, particularly when approaching her new project, Sensitive Skin for HBO Canada.
âI think for me to bring this story to North America was the scariest thing,â she says. âHanging in there and really trusting my instincts because I doubted them sometimes. I put it on the shelf and I walked away but I kept coming back and I think the thing that kept me coming back was the fear of it.
âI could go on playing Samantha for the rest of my life but I wouldnât be very happy. I wouldnât be advancing in any way. This was really hard sometimes and it did scare me daily on the set. I never had children but I can imagine itâs like having a child, or going through the gestation period. Instead of nine months it was almost nine years and you go through periods of real doubt and self-doubt.â
Returning to television for the first time since Sex and the City, Cattrall plays Davina, a woman on the verge of a mid-life crisis who, along with her husband Al (Don McKellar), shakes the cobwebs off her suburban life by moving downtown.
âItâs the change of the guard, isnât it? Iâm starting to play characters who are of a certain age and it is a feeling of, âAm I really ready for this?â Holding onto yesterday instead of embracing whatever this is,â she says.
The show not only focuses on Davina and Al â âOne of the things Iâm most proud of is that you really believe Don and I are a couple,â she says. â but also Toronto, the city they call home. She credits McKellar, who also directed the series, with capturing the look and feel of Hogtown.
âHeâs made Toronto look like the city it is,â she says. âWhich is very difficult to capture. Because he has lived there his whole life, we were shooting in neighbourhoods the crew didnât even know about. Itâs so diverse. The city is almost a character as well. Weâve really given Toronto a midlife crisis too.â
Sensitive Skin premieres Sunday on HBO Canada at 8 p.m. ET/MT.
The Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) and Reel Canada celebrate National Canadian Film Day 150!
