Thank you for doing this. I haven't been able to bring myself to watch it, though I did just watch the interview piece. It was great to hear that what motivated him was that the women felt it was such an important story to tell. But if he couldn't bring himself to think the scenes after he finished? I don't want to see it.
I like that bit of backstory, too, because he's totally right, and because, well, Callum's usual logic in taking parts completely escapes me, but I like to see him lending his skills and name to such a worthy project. Just, ow. Wish he'd balance it with a couple hundred crushable roles.
Great write-up, S! I think you struck just the right note between constructive critique and spoiler-ific, and you include a lot of interesting info and articles about the film. I'm not totally sure it's something I'd want to see - I'm *tough* but my reaction to "Suspicious River" has made me doubt my ability to watch material like this.
However, the subject matter is fascinating, particularly in regards to the way race is taken up in the film. We Canucks don't tend to talk much about the systemic racism and negative ideology about First Nations people that exists in this country, and it's so rare to find a fiction film (as opposed to a documentary) that will actually approach the issue. So...I feel like it's something I should watch, but not something I can watch. *is not tough at all
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Thanks, Nos! I kept trying to weed out the spoilery-ness, but this film, man. So hard to discuss without just laying a lot of the plot out there.
I totally understand the hesitance to see it. It's very painful, and especially disturbing when familiar Callum mannerisms appear in this context.
*nodsnods* I linked to the Amazon review largely because the writer points out that the social critique is not made as thoroughly or consistently in the film as it appears it's going to, which I think is valid. But it does a hell of a lot more than just about any other film, so yay it.
Comprehensive and captivating post! I specially liked your thoughts about the movie - in the post, and again in your comments, like above to nos4a2no9. Social critique lacking - taking into account the guy the story's based on is still a free man? WTF? (from the MySpace blog, article on the Killer). Makes it even more a pity the movie got so little attention
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Holy crap! I missed that bit about the RL guy. That is fucking horrifying. And, yes, extra frustrating that the film wasn't more successful in getting the message out.
I've been wondering about the play. I've worked up a (oh, god) 3000 word essay of brainspew on the movie, and I bet a lot of my questions would be helped with a knowledge of the play, but I'm going to need to take a U&A break pretty soon or end up rocking in the corner. (Are we going to have to add "deer stories" to "ghostly hauntings" and "dead dads parents" on the list of Canadian tropes?)
Poor Callum. He does seem drawn to playing bad guys (there's that quote/joke on playing Ray Kowalski like a bad guy. It's out there. *waves* somewhere), but it must be terribly traumatic, yes. *shudders*
I'll have to put that Bessai quote in the post; I'd seen it before, but forgot about it, and it's totally key.
Thanks for the kind words! This was such a weird project, trying to balance my NORMAN EVIL EVIL EVIL and CALLUM HOT YAY impulses. I'm glad I didn't totally screw it up.
that bit about the RL guy, horrifying, yes. I haven't read enough to make out if it's primarily because the victims were First Nations, prostitutes, and drunks that he's not in jail or if he walked out on some procedural vice or something, I just don't get it. It's like everybody knows he's done it and nobody cares??
And yes, the play doesn't sound like a good idea right now! It throws some light on the movie (did for me, what I've read until now) but is not an easy-read either, with characters such as an armchair with (brown) arms, a dresser fighting with a prostitute in the head... and "deer stories", "ghostly hauntings" and "dead parents"...
I've read that quote about playing a cop like playing a bad guy recently - probably in one of the articles posted here. But the bad guy's taken to another dimension here... I keep re-reading the Bessai quote, I think I'm fascinated by the contrast between what Bessai obviously says as a praise and what it may feel like to be wanted in a movie for such reasons
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Go, you, though!
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and? IVE BEEN WHERE THAT SECOND PIC WAS TAKEN ON THE VANCOUVER DES. Wow. *shudders a little*
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Eep! Also, Callum!
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However, the subject matter is fascinating, particularly in regards to the way race is taken up in the film. We Canucks don't tend to talk much about the systemic racism and negative ideology about First Nations people that exists in this country, and it's so rare to find a fiction film (as opposed to a documentary) that will actually approach the issue. So...I feel like it's something I should watch, but not something I can watch. *is not tough at all ( ... )
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I totally understand the hesitance to see it. It's very painful, and especially disturbing when familiar Callum mannerisms appear in this context.
*nodsnods* I linked to the Amazon review largely because the writer points out that the social critique is not made as thoroughly or consistently in the film as it appears it's going to, which I think is valid. But it does a hell of a lot more than just about any other film, so yay it.
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I specially liked your thoughts about the movie - in the post, and again in your comments, like above to nos4a2no9. Social critique lacking - taking into account the guy the story's based on is still a free man? WTF? (from the MySpace blog, article on the Killer). Makes it even more a pity the movie got so little attention ( ... )
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I've been wondering about the play. I've worked up a (oh, god) 3000 word essay of brainspew on the movie, and I bet a lot of my questions would be helped with a knowledge of the play, but I'm going to need to take a U&A break pretty soon or end up rocking in the corner. (Are we going to have to add "deer stories" to "ghostly hauntings" and "dead dads parents" on the list of Canadian tropes?)
Poor Callum. He does seem drawn to playing bad guys (there's that quote/joke on playing Ray Kowalski like a bad guy. It's out there. *waves* somewhere), but it must be terribly traumatic, yes. *shudders*
I'll have to put that Bessai quote in the post; I'd seen it before, but forgot about it, and it's totally key.
Thanks for the kind words! This was such a weird project, trying to balance my NORMAN EVIL EVIL EVIL and CALLUM HOT YAY impulses. I'm glad I didn't totally screw it up.
Reply
And yes, the play doesn't sound like a good idea right now! It throws some light on the movie (did for me, what I've read until now) but is not an easy-read either, with characters such as an armchair with (brown) arms, a dresser fighting with a prostitute in the head... and "deer stories", "ghostly hauntings" and "dead parents"...
I've read that quote about playing a cop like playing a bad guy recently - probably in one of the articles posted here. But the bad guy's taken to another dimension here... I keep re-reading the Bessai quote, I think I'm fascinated by the contrast between what Bessai obviously says as a praise and what it may feel like to be wanted in a movie for such reasons ( ... )
Reply
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