Posts Tagged ‘The Twentieth Century’

CFRA IN OTTAWA: THE BILL CARROLL MORNING SHOW MOVIE REVIEWS!

Richard sits in on the CFRA Ottawa morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to VOD and streaming services including the time loop romance of “Love Wedding Repeat” and the teen drama “School Life.”

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

THE TWENTIETH CENTURY: 3 ½ STARS. “PART DADA, PART ART DECO AND UTTERLY UNIQUE.”

Biopics are a movie staple. They give us insight to people we’ll never meet and bring history to life but there has never been a biography quite like the Matthew Rankin’s “The Twentieth Century,” coming to VOD this week. A heightened look at the life of Canadian Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King, it’s part Dada, part Art Deco and utterly unique.

The bizarre biography sees a marvellously deadpan Daniel Beirne as the young Mackenzie King. As a child his mother (Louis Negin) prophesied his political destiny to become the tenth Prime Minister. King’s road to history significance is a rocky one, marked by romance trouble, chronic masturbation, over confidence, sexual fetishes and an ice maze.

You didn’t learn any of this in Mr. Parker’s history class.

Director Matthew Rankin uses a heightened version of his main character’s biographical details to craft a satire of Canadian identity and masculinity. Like a Heritage Minute on acid the film details King’s campaign. Instead of policy the film pits politicians against one another in “traditional” Canadian pastimes like baby seal clubbing and waiting your turn.

A farce coupled with deep commentary and a heightened yet minimalist style that recalls the films of Guy Maddin by way of German Expressionism, “The Twentieth Century” has timely messages about the dangers of empty political rhetoric and the processes by which we elect our leaders.

Rankin casts a wide net here, parodying everything from politics and diffident national outlook to British imperialism and even foot fetishes but does so in a wonderfully surreal way that is equal parts silly and sincere.

RICHARD’S CTV NEWSCHANNEL WEEKEND MOVIE REVIEWS FOR DEC. 13!

Richard sits in on the CTV NewsChannel with news anchor Marcia MacMillan to have a look at the weekend’s big releases including “Richard Jewell,” “Jumanji: The Next Level” and “The twnetieth Century.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!

CFRA IN OTTAWA: THE BILL CARROLL MORNING SHOW MOVIE REVIEWS!

Richard sits in on the CFRA Montreal morning show with host Bill Carroll to talk the new movies coming to theatres including the ripped from the headlines drama, “Richard Jewell,” another trip into the videogame in “Jumanji: The Next Level” and the bonkers biopic “The Twentieth Century.”

Listen to the whole thing HERE!

CTVNEWS.CA: THE CROUSE REVIEW ON “JUMANJI: THE NEXT LEVEL” AND MORE!

A weekly feature from ctvnews.ca! The Crouse Review is a quick, hot take on the weekend’s biggest and most interesting movies! This week Richard looks at “Richard Jewell,” Clint Eastwood’s 41st film as a director, the last video-game inspired adventure “Jumanji: The Next Level” and the bonkers biopic “The Twentieth Century.”

Watch the whole thing HERE!