New Waterford Girl

I missed the first 30 minutes of this film when it was shown on Showcase Extra this afternoon. I ended up renting it at Blockbuster five hours later.

Yeah, so the characters might seem "over the top," but guess what? It's Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Canada's Hicksville where there really is nothing to do.

I loved this movie. There was something about it by just throwing the characters in from the side -- and Sweeney? He was just there and the audience is just put right in the middle of Mooney's chaotic life, wondering if she's ever going to get the heck out of there and fulfill her ambitions and dreams.

Okay, so it's no Spielberg. There's no Kiera Knightly or Brad Pitt in it. It's a bunch of no-name actors and a no-name director. But guess what? That's where its charm comes from. It's special and quirky and you sympathize with Mooney and Lou and everyone else. A lot is explained if you listen to what is being said, and the quips are pretty cute -- not great like "Snatch" or "Lock, Stock..." great, but cute. Memorable.

I'd suggest people see this. This is a great piece of Canadian film that I wish more knew about. It's a real hidden gem. And if you don't like it, you'll at least appreciate the life you live.

Clever, smart, modern coming-of-age pic made in Canada (surprise! a movie *this* cool made in Canada?)

What would it be like to grow up in the Canadian maritime provinces *and be different*?

Well the heroine Moonie (this a movie about girls! so it has some cute -- but not too cute -- guys too) *is* different. But so is everyone else. In fact, they're all too different, you don't really see the creeps, burnouts, basket cases that small-town life invariably throws up.

On the other hand, this *is* a movie. Moonie's family is loaded with characters and they're all cool ... sorta. Even the 'rents, in their own way.

Many characters are hilarious without losing their humanity. The whole town's Catholic and mostly Irish at that. Most situations are like real-life teenhood ... so sex is a predominant element. The setting is *very* real -- it's every backwater set-by-the-water hole-in-one that every teen longs to escape (sorry Rockford IL, but close enuf for IFMN).

Moonie's girlfriend, from New York (where Moonie yearns to go ... or any other place she's memorized the street map for), is a sweet and heavy-duty friend -- right outta Dazed and Confused -- who's the daughter of a jailed boxer and drives a rez car. In fact, substitute Indians in this movie and it'd work the same.

I won't go on and on, you get the driftwood. Fans of Linklater, Trainspotters, Depp and the ilk (like me) will enjoy NWG.

Funny, hip, and full of fresh faces. Crisp direction, and a quirky script that never lets you down. Some of the jokes may baffle you non-Canucks, but be brave and try a taste of our true national culture.

Proves once again that there's more to Atlantic Canadian film than "Anne of Green Gables".

I absolutely loved this movie. Delightfully entertaining, this movie takes you on a truly wonderful adventure. Based in a small Christian town, the story reveals heroine, Moonie Pottie (Liane Balaban) and her plot to escape the drudgery of her small town to pursue an arts scholarship in new york.

Moonie is a loner and an outcast who is very easy for many teenagers to relate to. She recieves a NY scholarship and discovers a best friend in the unwanted newcomer next door, an infamous boxer's daughter named Lou (Tara Spencer-Nairn). Upon discovering that her parents won't let her go to NY, Moonie comes up with a plan. The only way out of town is to Antigonish to have an abortion. So, Eventually, Moonie fabricates a rumor that she's become a 'slut' and fakes a pregnancy in order to be sent away. In between, we see a little Andrew McCarty as her teacher, Mr. Sweeny. All in all, I'd say it's the best movie I've ever seen.

This is one of those movies that stay with you. Andrew McCarthy is the best I've seen him even though his role is small. The main character Mooney seems troubled but she is just not fit for that small town. The girl from the Bronx pulls her out of her shell and makes life bearable. It made me wish I had a friendship like that when I was younger. I need to buy this movie so I can watch it often. Just something about it. And I got it even though I never lived in Canada nor a small town. I still identified with those girls.

I hadn't expected the comedy aspect but some surprising events really made me laugh. If you are like me and like those off beat non commercial Hollywood type movies, then you will love this one.