Hollywood North (2003)

User Rating:

5.5/10   

Director:

Peter O'Brian

Writers:

Barry Healey (written by)
John Hunter (written by)

Release Date:

12 January 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

The camera never lies ... only the people behind it.

Plot:

A producer buys the film rights of a famous Canadian novel known as "Latern Moon" and plans the production...

Plot Keywords:

Canadian Expatriate | Film Within A Film | Nymphomaniac | Black Comedy | Canada

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Bobby Myers
Saul Rubinek	...	Paul Linder
Alan Bates	...	Michael Baytes
Joe Cobden	...	Howard Atkins
Deborah Kara Unger	...	Sandy Ryan
Alan Thicke	...	Peter Casey
John Neville	...	Henry Neville
Lindy Booth	...	Molly
Fab Filippo	...	Frankie Candido (as Fabrizio Filippo)
Clare Coulter	...	Lindsay Marshall
Sandi Stahlbrand	...	Leslie Carrington
John Bayliss	...	Customs Inspector
Jennifer Tilly	...	Gillian Stevens
Audrey Lupke	...	Joanne Jennings
Kim Coates	...	Scott DiMarco

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, language and drug content.

Runtime:

Canada:89 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | Argentina:89 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Ballpark Productions Partnership

Trivia:

Despite the fact that the screenplay was one of the most famous ever to circulate among insiders of the *real* Hollywood North, the movie still took an incredibly long time to get filmed - the screenplay was originally written in the mid '80s. There was a serious attempt to film it in 1987, but the plans were ultimately scrubbed.

Quotes:

Lindsay Marshall: If God were Canadian, he would come down and destroy you and this production in a fiery apocalyptic rebuke!

Movie Connections:

References Wuthering Heights (1939)

Soundtrack:

Lovin' You Ain't Easy

A satirical look at film making in Canada in the 80's

Hollywood North is a satirical look at the time in Canadian film history when the Canadian government offered huge tax breaks for films made in Canada. Most of the time it was treated as a tax shelter or a cheap way to get American films made. For example, Porky's came out of it. Anyways Matthew Modine plays a novice producer who wants to make an adaptation of a beloved Canadian novel. However, in order to get the money he needs a American name star. He gets a loose cannon and learns he has to compromise to the point where the film no longer resembles the book it was originally based on. It plays well in Canada but may not be understood outside of the Great White North. Americans will think we're satirizing ourselves but will miss the point that we're actually satirizing them. For Canadians 8/10 for the rest of the world 5/10.