I join CP24 to talk about the reimagination of the classic gothic romance “Wuthering Heights,” the time travelling farce “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie,” the nostalgic b-movie “Cold Storrage” and the drama “Sirāt.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I join the CTV NewsChanel to talk about the reimagined “Wuthering Heights,” the time travelling farce “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie” and the nostalgic b-movie “Cold Storage.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
I sit in with CKTB morning show host Steph Vivier to have a look at movies in theatres including the reimagined “Wuthering Heights,” the time travelling farce “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie,” the nostalgic b-movie “Cold Storrage” and the drama “Sirāt.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
I sit in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk about the new movies coming to theatres including the reimagined “Wuthering Heights,” the time travelling farce “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie,” the nostalgic b-movie “Cold Storrage” and the drama “Sirāt.”
Listen to the whole thing HERE!
Fast reviews for busy people! Watch as I review three movies in less time than it takes to drink a latte! Have a look as I race against the clock to tell you about the time travelling farce “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie,” the drama “Sirāt” and the coming-of-age story “Pillion.”
Watch the whole thing HERE!
SYNOPSIS: In the wild ‘n woolly “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie,” a new time travel mockumentary-adventure starring Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol, and now playing in theatres, “Nirvanna the Band’s” attempts to book a high-profile gig tests the limits of their friendship and the space time continuum.
CAST: Matt Johnson, Jay McCarrol, Jared Raab. Directed by Matt Johnson.
REVIEW: A punk rock riff on “Back to the Future,” “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie” is a wild ride into the past brimming with creativity, anarchy and comedy and many other complimentary words ending in “y.”
The movie, which blends footage from the 2007–2009 web series of (mostly) the same name, begins with unemployed musicians Matt and Jay (Matt Johnson and Jay McCarrol) hatching a plan to land a gig at the legendary Rivoli on Queen Street West in Toronto. Without contacting the club, writing any songs or practising, they decide to parachute off the CN Tower into the Skydome during a baseball game to announce the show in front of a stunned crowd.
What could go wrong? Well, lots.
No spoilers here, but when their skydiving stunt doesn’t get them the Rivoli gig, they (along with their camera guy Jared Raab) find themselves accidentally traveling back to the year 2008, and struggling to find a way back to the future.
There’s more. Lots more. “Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie” is never at rest.
Johnson (who directs as well as stars) is not afraid to add in layers of pure lunacy into the action but never loses the thing that makes the story so appealing, the strong friendship between the leads. Their relationship, cockeyed as it may be, brings heart to the escalating antics and gives the eccentric movie its earthbound charm, especially when they interact with their younger selves.
Johnson and McCarrol have chemistry and built-in comedic rhythm. Their affable back-and-forth has a lived-in feel, and each delivers a highly crafted persona. Like Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin or Laurel and Hardy, in many ways they are opposites. Johnson is the over-the-top dreamer, the kind of guy who dreams of parachuting into a sports arena, while McCarrol is more grounded and often exasperated by Matt’s unhinged plans. They are a classic odd couple, mismatched but still a fun comedic fit.
“Nirvanna: The Band The Show The Movie” is a crowd-pleasing story of absurdly ambitious people and ambitiously absurd characters that pulls out all the stops to tell a ludicrous story of best friends on a mission.
