Love and Lies

Why do good, solid movies like this get made then completely disappear, while totally stupid U.S. comedies full of jokes based on farting and puking and big mammaries play in the theatres for months, raking in hundreds of millions of dollars? Big promotional dollars and control of screens, nothing more.

This is witty and charming. It has terrific minor characters - the slightly nutty boss, the father who dresses like a gardener but speaks with the patter of a drug lord, the sweet little grandma who keeps a big kitchen knife close at hand to take on the home invaders she expects whenever the doorbell ring. And there is a really heart-warming love story (awww!). All against the scenic backdrop of Vancouver.

You will enjoy it thoroughly.

This film is about a young unemployed man getting tempted to help with money laundering.

The main character, Ryan, is developed well at first. However, towards the middle of the film, his portrayal becomes superficial and perfunctory. There is not enough self soul searching to make me convince that he really wants to quit the illegal business. The other characters in the film are shallow and fails to connect to me. The plot is rather plain, there is not much happening after the first 20 minutes apart from some scenes that are meant for a quick laugh. I find this film rather boring to watch. I had hopes for the film that it would be interesting, thrilling or thought provoking. The film leaves me rather dissatisfied.

Saw it at the TIFF. Loved it. Want the soundtrack... Don't know where to get it. During question period asked the director and cast if the pot seen in the movie was real. They declined to comment after the director went purple in the face. Whimsically funny, with dark undertones on west coast society, and the seemingly impossibility of getting ahead in the 9-5 world. This movie will most likely appeal to those who have struggled with the concept of selling out to make a buck.... Cheers. Still unable to find the soundtrack. Wonder if this gem will ever make it out to theatres in any substantial release. Pity its a Canadian film. They never seem to see the light of day unless its stamped by weird aliens making love to crashed cars.

This movie was remarkably funny and the actors are generally excellent. This falls into one of those "20-something angst movies" (Old Joy, etc). It's the universal theme of trying to figure out: 1) where you are now, 2) where you want to be, and 3) how to get there.

The editing was inspired and I loved much of the dialog. Not everything was perfect, some of the scenes could have been shot from a better angle, etc., but overall, it was pretty good.

The main thing I most liked about it was that it wasn't "consistent"; it oscillated between funny, sad, poignant, ridiculous, ironic and silly. It moved slow sometimes, then fast, sort of backwards, sideways and forward (two steps back, three steps forward). The whale scene was shot in a stylized, dreamy sort of way and if you've ever lived through a strange moment in your own life where time seems to not quite be real -- well, that's this scene.

There's a lot of "indie" elements and by American standards, it's not a big budget flick; it also (refreshingly) doesn't treat the viewer like a moron as so many American movies do.

It was messy and mundane. Lots of ludicrous moments; just like life and that's what made it interesting. If you've experienced working in a cubical city, known people who've fasted on the "Master Cleanse" diet, dealt with obsessively self-absorbed people, or seen the light at the end of the tunnel only to realize that the ethics may not be so good to get you there…you'll enjoy this movie.

What a pleasure to watch a Canadian movie that's not embarrassingly low budget and poorly acted. I am sure it was low budget, but if so, it was effectively done. I don't see what a bigger budget could have added. It was well-acted, especially by Paulo Costanzo. His performance was understated and very natural.

I love that (metro) Vancouver is so proudly and unabashedly itself here, in all its multifaceted glory, from the run-down houses of Strathcona to the posh golf course of Lion's Bay, with the gorgeous mountains of Howe Sound receding into the distance. For once, Vancouver did not play a stand-in for some other city, a common practice which features in the storyline.

What a funny, charming, and visually appealing film, a breath of fresh air in many ways. I hope to see more from the both the film-maker and lead actor!