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Paint Cans

  • 1994
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
167
YOUR RATING
Nigel Bennett, Martha Burns, Shaun Clarke, Don Francks, Lex Gigeroff, Andy Jones, Chas Lawther, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Alan MacGillivray, Nancy Marshall, Michael McManus, Kelly-Ruth Mercier, Jennifer Overton, Robyn Stevan, Jim Swansburg, Glenn Wadman, Shelley Wenaus, and Adam Westerback in Paint Cans (1994)
Comedy

Wick Burns is a government official with all the self-motivation and personality of a robot. His newest project is to find funding for a small art film, "Paint Cans".Wick Burns is a government official with all the self-motivation and personality of a robot. His newest project is to find funding for a small art film, "Paint Cans".Wick Burns is a government official with all the self-motivation and personality of a robot. His newest project is to find funding for a small art film, "Paint Cans".

  • Director
    • Paul Donovan
  • Writer
    • Paul Donovan
  • Stars
    • Chas Lawther
    • Martha Burns
    • Bruce Greenwood
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    167
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Paul Donovan
    • Writer
      • Paul Donovan
    • Stars
      • Chas Lawther
      • Martha Burns
      • Bruce Greenwood
    • 5User reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos

    Top cast30

    Edit
    Chas Lawther
    • Wick Burns
    Martha Burns
    Martha Burns
    • Melda
    Bruce Greenwood
    Bruce Greenwood
    • Vittorio Musso
    Andy Jones
    • Neville Lewis
    Paul Gross
    Paul Gross
    • Morton Ridgewell
    Ann-Marie MacDonald
    • Inge Von Nerthus
    • (as Ann Marie MacDonald)
    Neve Campbell
    Neve Campbell
    • Tristesse
    Kelly-Ruth Mercier
    Kelly-Ruth Mercier
    • Tamanee
    Jennifer Overton
    • Anna
    Jim Swansburg
    • Waiter
    • (as Jim Swansberg)
    Michael McManus
    Michael McManus
    • Jeff
    Don Francks
    Don Francks
    • Maitland Burns
    Lex Gigeroff
    Lex Gigeroff
    • Oliver
    Shelley Wenaus
    • Morgan Musso
    Adam Vesterback
    • Tartufo
    Nigel Bennett
    Nigel Bennett
    • Bryson Vautour
    Robyn Stevan
    Robyn Stevan
    • Arundel Merton
    Glenn Wadman
    • Producer #1
    • Director
      • Paul Donovan
    • Writer
      • Paul Donovan
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews5

    5.5167
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    Featured reviews

    Herman-3

    A brilliant satire

    I think Paint Cans is a brilliant satire on the Canadian film industry. It has all the conniving, dark humour and reality of making a film in Canada with limited funds and "meta-ideas".
    10patrick-dusome

    Metaphores

    This movie was really good. In the typical Canadian indie movie style it has a bleak and dark look and somewhat melodramatic. The movie opens with a WWII footage which acts as a metaphore for the whole movie and its conflicts. This movie has an all star cast for an indie film. Also since this is a Canadian film as soon as the movie gets dull out comes the typical nude scene. Thats not a bad thing but it was pointless. Still this movie is great for its heavy use of metaphores, almost every visual image relates to something else. For instance the last scene with him looking at the camera in his apartment hallway with the angled camera. This sumerizes the whole movie in that one shot. Its a great commantary of the film agency in Canada. It takes some getting used to, to like the film but once you get the visuals and the metaphores then the movies becomes an instant favourate.
    1Wizard-8

    UGH!

    What a horrible, horrible movie! If this is typical of what government-sponsored Canadian filmmakers do, then I think we should cut off funding to the film industry. It's supposed to be a spoof of the Canadian film industry, but of course it has no fangs or a sense of humor. What the hell do those inserts of WW II stock footage mean? Why does the movie have such a dull, dreary look? Why the hell does the movie end with the main character staring into the camera at an angle? Where's the laughs? Where's the satire? It's easy to see why this movie (to my knowledge) never got a theatrical release or even a video distributor. To think my tax dollars supports this crap - I'm outraged! And it's movies like this which make me ashamed to be Canadian.
    coffecrack

    Finding fault: a love.

    After reading a users comments on this Canadian film, I feel a reply and a defense, is needed. I don't think the only other (so far) reviewer is skilled much in the way of sideways thought, as s/he asked the question of what the WW2 footage is about. Maybe s/he couldn't see the connection between Wick's father (who flew in the airforce for Canada) and the events of Wick's life (when something negative is happening the film shows the dropping of bombs or the death of a plane. Likewise, when something good is happening, a plane flying free is shown.)

    I understand that some people can't be happy unless they are complaining, or finding fault in something that they couldn't possibly create. Why this is, I have no idea. But I encourage you to see this comical and witty film and form your own ideas, and post them.

    It are these types of films that make me proud to be Canadian.

    Thank you Paul Donovan

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Kelly-Ruth Mercier's debut.
    • Crazy credits
      Disclaimer reads: The characters and events portrayed in this film are purely fictitious. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is purely coincidental and unintended. Any resemblance to any institutions, however, is another thing altogether.
    • Connections
      Referenced in The Important Cinema Club: #420 - Paul Donovan Won't Give In (2025)
    • Soundtracks
      Dig You Latter (Hubba Hubba)
      Written by Harold Adamson (as Adamson) / Jimmy McHugh (as McHugh)

      Performed by Perry Como

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 13, 1994 (Canada)
    • Country of origin
      • Canada
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Canada
    • Production company
      • Salter Street Films International
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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    Nigel Bennett, Martha Burns, Shaun Clarke, Don Francks, Lex Gigeroff, Andy Jones, Chas Lawther, Ann-Marie MacDonald, Alan MacGillivray, Nancy Marshall, Michael McManus, Kelly-Ruth Mercier, Jennifer Overton, Robyn Stevan, Jim Swansburg, Glenn Wadman, Shelley Wenaus, and Adam Westerback in Paint Cans (1994)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Paint Cans (1994) officially released in India in English?
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