Wilby Wonderful
Feb. 21st, 2007 04:10 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
icepixieAs part of what has apparently turned into my Quest To See Everything Paul Gross Was Ever In Ever, last night I watched Wilby Wonderful. And you know what? It was wonderful.
The whole film takes place over a twenty-four hour period, following the activities of six main characters and about half a dozen more secondary characters in a small Nova Scotian island town of ~4,000 people. All of the main characters' lives intersect with at least three other main characters' on this day in fascinating ways.
Possibly because I just finished reading it, this film reminded me considerably of Winesburg, Ohio--exposing secrets and deficiencies of residents in a small town, but ending on a hopeful note. (Things may have gotten wrapped up a little too nicely at the end, but I can deal with that.) It did a nice job of pointing out both the benefits and drawbacks to living in a tiny town; perhaps more the drawbacks, actually, as the whole impending scandal publication plot points out.
It also reminded me a tiny bit of Northern Exposure in both the small-town atmosphere and in the relationships between different generations. I particularly liked Duck's scene with Emily, and Buddy's with Mackenzie. The adults didn't patronize the teenagers, and the teenagers weren't made out to be idiots, but rather people with lives and dreams of their own. This was especially interesting in light of the communication difficulties between the adults in the story (Carol and Buddy, particularly, and Jarvis and Duck to a certain extent).
Jarvis's story began by cracking me up with all those failed attempts to kill himself, but it did, in fact, bring a tear to my eye by the end. His relationship with Duck, while it remains a bit confusing to me (how did they meet? Why did Duck show up at the hotel room?), was fascinating nonetheless, and the quiet scene at the hospital, was beautiful. (Callum Keith Rennie made me smile like a moron with the "I picked these for you" line.)
Carol and Buddy's storyline was a bit more ordinary, but I liked the "part of another life" spin they put on it. And Paul Gross, of course, was awesome. In everything I've seen him in, but particularly in this, he gives the impression of having so much going on inside that he doesn't express. And he plays "hurt puppy" pretty well, too. ;)
The relationship between Emily and her mother was IMO the weakest of the three. I thought their big fight sounded too scripted. Then again, one of the particpants was a teenager, and the other was a mother who hadn't really grown up yet; that may have been intentional. Half the stuff that came out of my mouth as a teenager was either insufferably stupid or sounded like it had been pre-written for a beginning drama class.
The location shooting made me want to go to NS more than I already did. The near-opening shots of Emily running through town to see her boyfriend early in the morning were gorgeous.
So, yes, highly recommended, especially if you like low-key, atmospheric black comedies. If you get a chance to see this, definitely take it.
The whole film takes place over a twenty-four hour period, following the activities of six main characters and about half a dozen more secondary characters in a small Nova Scotian island town of ~4,000 people. All of the main characters' lives intersect with at least three other main characters' on this day in fascinating ways.
Possibly because I just finished reading it, this film reminded me considerably of Winesburg, Ohio--exposing secrets and deficiencies of residents in a small town, but ending on a hopeful note. (Things may have gotten wrapped up a little too nicely at the end, but I can deal with that.) It did a nice job of pointing out both the benefits and drawbacks to living in a tiny town; perhaps more the drawbacks, actually, as the whole impending scandal publication plot points out.
It also reminded me a tiny bit of Northern Exposure in both the small-town atmosphere and in the relationships between different generations. I particularly liked Duck's scene with Emily, and Buddy's with Mackenzie. The adults didn't patronize the teenagers, and the teenagers weren't made out to be idiots, but rather people with lives and dreams of their own. This was especially interesting in light of the communication difficulties between the adults in the story (Carol and Buddy, particularly, and Jarvis and Duck to a certain extent).
Jarvis's story began by cracking me up with all those failed attempts to kill himself, but it did, in fact, bring a tear to my eye by the end. His relationship with Duck, while it remains a bit confusing to me (how did they meet? Why did Duck show up at the hotel room?), was fascinating nonetheless, and the quiet scene at the hospital, was beautiful. (Callum Keith Rennie made me smile like a moron with the "I picked these for you" line.)
Carol and Buddy's storyline was a bit more ordinary, but I liked the "part of another life" spin they put on it. And Paul Gross, of course, was awesome. In everything I've seen him in, but particularly in this, he gives the impression of having so much going on inside that he doesn't express. And he plays "hurt puppy" pretty well, too. ;)
The relationship between Emily and her mother was IMO the weakest of the three. I thought their big fight sounded too scripted. Then again, one of the particpants was a teenager, and the other was a mother who hadn't really grown up yet; that may have been intentional. Half the stuff that came out of my mouth as a teenager was either insufferably stupid or sounded like it had been pre-written for a beginning drama class.
The location shooting made me want to go to NS more than I already did. The near-opening shots of Emily running through town to see her boyfriend early in the morning were gorgeous.
So, yes, highly recommended, especially if you like low-key, atmospheric black comedies. If you get a chance to see this, definitely take it.
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no subject
Date: 2007-02-22 03:12 am (UTC)*slings maple syrup in your face*
Mwahahaha! I have trained you well. *eg*
That you have, O Enabling One.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-22 04:38 am (UTC)Heh. I convinced someone else on my flist to Netflix S&A this week. She said she'll watch the first three episodes tonight. Hmmm, that reminds me, Chandra hasn't written back recently...
I already have an idea of what I might enable people on next. Have you by chance heard of Corner Gas? *rubs hands together evilly*
no subject
Date: 2007-02-26 02:46 pm (UTC)I think tv is secondary to your main hobby of EVIL.
Have you by chance heard of Corner Gas?
I keep seeing it offered, but I have no clue what it's about.
no subject
Date: 2007-02-26 08:47 pm (UTC)Am I really that evil? Oh, wait...yes, yes, I am.
I keep seeing it offered, but I have no clue what it's about.
It's kind of like Seinfeld meets Northern Exposure and moves to Saskatchewan. Um. Quirky town in the middle of nowhere, quirky characters, episodes where not much happens. I'm actually not as fond of it as I thoought I was going to be...there's only so much "show about nothing" I can take without getting bored. (Although this is waaaaay better than Seinfeld ever thought of being.)
no subject
Date: 2007-02-26 11:41 pm (UTC)Er.... I'll give it a poke sometime, but.... no hurry, I'm guessing?
no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 03:59 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-02-27 06:30 am (UTC)