The Royal Canadian Movie Podcast

Looking for more fast cuts and action than Marion bridge? This week, the MUFF society’s founder Sian Melton brings us the film that was meant to crack open the American blockbuster market for slick Canadian action/heist films, 2003’s Foolproof. Featuring Ryan Reynolds fresh off VanWilder, a mustache twirling (oddly sans mustache) David Suchet, a bizarre attempt at a “strong capable female” played by Kristen Booth, a FOOLPROOF heist on a small budget, bolstered by a Pizza Hut tie-in and a story that would be way better if it was made for children. It’s available for $1 on iTunes. If you’re game for a lost Canadian oddity, check it out.

This week, filmmaker Flax from Flax Films brings us the disturbing and deep thriller Crash from 1996. This nasty little gem is a difficult but important part of the David Cronenberg cannon, and we talk about how big a deal it was in the Canadian film scene, and the splash it made internationally...after it was allowed to be screened.

With a slew of your favourite actors, like James Spader, Holly Hunter, Rosanna Arquette, and ∫, incredible visuals, and great shots of Toronto, this film may not be for everyone but it's more than worth at least a peek between your fingers. Crash is available to rent on iTunes and Google Play.

This week's end credit music is the theme from Crash composed by Cronenberg mainstay Howard Shore.

Cam's been sent to the prairies for work, so Becky has invited former guest Paul Stachinak to bring on his old buddy, host and personality Ajay Fry to come hang out and talk about 1985's SCTV TV Movie The Last Polka. 

If you're familiar with Ajay Fry's work, you'll know he's a pretty funny guy, and we put his and Paul's comedic know-how to work, dissecting this little piece of Canadiana. We talk the pacing of modern comedies, how and when riffing is effective and what makes something an effective parody or satire. The Last Polka is available for viewing on Youtube.

This week's end credit music is Cabbage Rolls and Coffee, performed by the Shmenge Brothers themselves.

This week, we explore the next wave of independent, outspoken Canadian filmmakers who are shaking things up. The hosts of the Badvice podcast, Robin and Gorjan bring us the debut feature of the "Bad Boy of Canadian Cinema" Matt Johnson. 

For those of you that don't like spoilers, go watch the movie and stop reading...HERE!

We talk the ethics of filmmaking, finding the balance of humour when you're dealing with the difficult subject matter, and how unintentional moments can make your film even better. We also discuss the big TIFF controversy fired by the open letter Matt Johnson wrote to Cameron Bailey the artistic director of TIFF - and the way it changed the Canadian film landscape.

This week's end credit music us Best Coast's When I'm with you. Check out more on their website.

Did you guys know about the Halifax police strike that crippled the city back in the 70's? No? How about the awesome cult film Seige (AKA Night Warriors, AKA Self Defence) from 1983? Neither had we! And that's why we were so lucky to have the extremely knowledgeable Justin Decloux from the Important Cinema Club Podcast on this week.

It's Home Alone meets Assault on Precinct 13 in this very tight little thriller. We don't want to give too much away, so check out the full film which is available on youtube, then listen to the episode to find out all about the missing 12 minutes of footage, some behind the scene info from actor Jack Blum, and some insight into the mystery of filmmaker Maura O'Connell. 

This week's end credit music is Fly By Night by Rush. It's catchy. Don't judge.

This week, we're checking out a Canadian prestige juggernaut Hello Destroyer from 2016 with Movie Madhouse and BITS radio podcast host Rob Bellamy. We talk the killer sound design, how to process a passive lead character, and how experimental movies can be a tough sell to the people who may benefit most from its messages.

We also cover Kevan Funk's open letter to Cameron Bailey of TIFF.net and "the incentivized path to mediocrity" in Canadian film.  

This week's end credit music is Companion by Braids. Check out more of her music on her website.

This week, we're on SPRING BREAK!!!!! Andy Reid, the owner of the house music label Phoenix Music, takes us to Ibiza through the power of cinema with 2004's It's all gone Pete Tong. You may remember this movie from Becky's first National Canadian Film Day recommendations, and she still stands by it!

We start out by discussing how you actually pronounce Ibiza, then move on to the good stuff, discussing the value of filming something as a mockumentary, and the mechanics of how being a deaf DJ would actually work. 

This week's end credit music is DJ's in a Row by Shwab.

Get ready for the turning point of modern Cronenberg films as filmmaker Trevor Juras bring us A History of Violence from 2004. Keen viewers may remember Trevor as the director/writer of The Interior, a film we covered a few short weeks ago with writer Leslie Hatton, so Becky takes the opportunity to chat with him a bit off the top about that film.

Then we get straight to the good stuff, tackling some tough questions about if a perfect movie exists, the importance of letting your actors play in the sandbox of your creation, what a weird year 2004 was for the Oscar's Best Supporting Actor race, and how do you actually define Cronenbergian. 

Those interested in filmmaking tips and tricks aren't going to want to miss this one! Don't forget we're going to spoil the heck out of this, so check out A History of Violence on iTunes, Google Play, or at your local library.

This week's end credit music is "The Return" from the score of A History of Violence, composed by Howard Shore.

Gather round kids! It's time for another amazing life's work compilation as we go deep into the life and time's of Canada's own multi-hyphenate silent-era star Nell Shipman. With a focus on her main Canadian made film, "Back to God's Country" Silent film expert, film restorationist and all around peachy-keen gal, Alicia Fletcher unfolds the intricacies of silent filmmaking, the politics, and the ethics of film restoration. 

No boring panto-mime-fest b-reeler, "Back to God's Country" from 1919 is pretty darn thrilling. Featuring an epic dog sled race, spectacular swimming stunts, genuinely scary villains, one of the first on-film nude scenes and more adorable animals than you could shake a stick at, you'll be cheering and yelling "Good Boy Wapi!" by the end. Back to God's Country and more Nell Shipman films are available for free on Youtube or at your local library. Make sure you watch it with a score.

This week's end credit music is "The Maple Leaf Rag" cause when else are we going to be able to toss that in here.

This week, it's all trauma and ethics as we sit down with Midge front-woman Olivia Fetherstonehaugh do discuss Alan King's difficult, but poignant documentary A Married Couple. Fraught with ethical filmmaking conundrums and "whoo boy" moments, this important piece of the Canadian film canon is tough to watch but a must see. We talk performing for the camera in a doc, 60's parenting techniques, and what constitutes a toxic relationship and what can be done about it. 

We also fill you in on the postscript of this couple and Becky gets all teary. Because of course she does.  

A Married Couple is part of the Criterion Collection and is probably available at your local library.

This week's end credit music is Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, as performed by Peter Frampton and the Bee Gees for the film of the same name. Why not?