David Hemblen Movies

Ignore the title: Family Viewing makes for fascinating viewing, though it is not designed as entertainment for the whole family. This Canadian film stars David Hemblen as Stan, a profoundly disturbed young man. Upon the disappearance of his mother, Stan feverishly tries to piece together existing clues. He's not sure he likes the outcome, but given the extent to which his family has disintegrated, he's not surprised, either. Family Viewing was expertly filmed on a wafer-thin budget by independent Canadian director Atom Egoyan. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

The Canadian Where the Spirit Lives begins on a sombre note, as several Native American children are forcibly rounded up by the government and placed in orphanages. As sparse as life was on the reservation, it is even worse in these government-supported institutions. The latest arrival is Michelle St. John, a girl possessed with more than the usual quotient of feistiness. Refusing to buckle under the system, Michelle attempts daring escape. Despite its grim trappings, Where the Spirit Lives is an ultimately uplifting experience. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This TV movie is not necessarily in defense of married man Michael Ontkean. That responsibility is taken by Judith Light, Ontkean's wife. When Ontkean is accused of murdering his mistress (Cynthia Sikes), his wife Light, a defense attorney, handles the case. Beyond the unavoidable emotional involvement, Light must wrestle with whether or not she really wants to ask her husband if he did it. In Defense of a Married Man is an exercise in the mundane, brightened by Stan Getz' jazz score. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

David Cronenberg's cinematic intensity eviscerates this adaptation of David Henry Hwang's passionate stage production. Based on a true incident involving a French diplomat who carried on an affair for 18 years with a man the diplomat thought was a woman, M. Butterfly begins in 1964 Beijing when French foreign service employee Rene Gallimard (Jeremy Irons) becomes smitten with Chinese opera performer Song Liling (John Lone). Before long, Gallimard is enamored with Song, and they begin an inflamed affair -- bracketed by the stipulation that Gallimard will never be allowed to look upon her in a state of complete undress. Gallimard agrees to the rules, but, as he climbs up the diplomatic ladder, the communist government gets involved, corralling Song to become an informer for the government. When, at last, Gallimard's passion demands nudity, Song flees the relationship. Gallimard, pining for his lost love, then becomes a physical and mental wreck. He leaves China and accepts a two-bit diplomatic position, but then Song appears once again to Gallimard. At that point, Gallimard is arrested and, during the subsequent sensational trial for treason, his affair is exposed for the sham that it is. ~ Paul Brenner, All Movie Guide

Under the helm of an experienced merchant seaman, a bunch of inexperienced Canadian sailors are called to serve in their country's navy during WWII. Their assignment was to escort a merchant ship to and from Europe. Along the way, they demonstrated amazing courage and skill when they found themselves engaged in naval history's longest sea battle. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Unlike most teen horror movies, Brainscan relies more on atmosphere and plot than gore and bloodsoaked effects. Edward Furlong plays Michael, a 16-year-old horror movie fan, computer whiz, and misfit who responds to an ad for Brainscan, an CD-ROM virtual reality game that promises to "interface with your unconscious." Once involved with the game, Michael dreams that he brutally stabs a stranger and slices off his foot -- only to awaken and find the foot in his refrigerator. Out of Michael's computer comes Trickster (T. Ryder Smith), a sardonic, malevolent creation who advises Michael to keep playing new editions of Brainscan to evade capture by a suspicious cop (Frank Langella). With a death count that is relatively low and mostly offscreen (amputated feet notwithstanding), Brainscan doesn't make up for its lack of onscreen violence with a particularly original script, although it should be commended for not taking the easy way out. ~ Don Kaye, All Movie Guide

The Champagne Safari was a foolhardy 1,200 mile expedition across Northern Canada backed by millionaire entrepreneur Charles Bedaux. To make the 1934 journey Bedaux brought along five Citroen half-track tanks, 130 pack horses, kegs of champagne and tons of gourmet French cuisine. He also brought along an entire library of books, a crew and Oscar winning cameraman Floyd Crosby. The expedition was a bust and the resulting film footage was lost until 1984 when Canadian filmmaker George Ungar found it in a Paris basement and used it in this fascinating biography of the enigmatic, megalomaniacal American industrialist, entrepreneur and WW II-era traitor Charles Bedaux, a man who had a tremendous effect on the rise of the Nazis to power. The film took over 16 years to make and is narrated by actor Colm Feore. In addition to Crosby's fascinating footage, the story is told via reenactments, archival photos and interviews with historians, writers, and relatives. The Champagne Safari was but one incident in Bedaux's life. He earned his fortune by using scientific methodology to create the "Bedaux System" of worker management. Other American corporations liked the methods and he became wealthy. Bedaux soon became known for his exotic expeditions. But there was a dark side to Bedaux, and his close ties to the Nazi party are also explored in the film. It was this shadowy relationship that ultimately caused the downfall and suicide of Bedaux who died just before he was to stand trial for treason in the US. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

The fourth entry in the Iron Eagle series follows the return of General Charles "Chappy" Sinclair (Louis Gosset Jr., who deserves better) as he trains a Dirty Dozen-style team of juvenile delinquents to improve their quality of life by flying planes and combatting evil. This time the Air Force itself is the enemy, as the intrepid teens uncover a conspiracy involving biological weaponry. When Chappy contacts his old friend, General Kettle (Al Waxman), he learns the General is in on the action. Along the way, the group manages to combat some ill-prepared drug dealers as well. This installment is better than the second or third, but that's not the highest of praise; Iron Eagle IV is a dumb-dumb fantasy for fourteen-year-old boys who don't yet have their learner's permits, much less their pilot's licenses. ~ Jeremy Beday, All Movie Guide

Tempered with action and adventure, this romantic comedy centers on a pair of rivalrous government agents from different agencies who are forced to team up to stop a wicked crime lord. The FBI agent is a beautiful sexy woman while the handsome DEA agent oozes machismo. Both of their employers are in competition because the department responsible for the crook's arrest will be the one who receives all of his wealth. The woman goes overboard when she nearly marries a Russian mafioso's son because his father works closely with her target. The wedding is spoiled by a terrible shootout that causes the crime lord to mark her for death. Fortunately the woman and the DEA agent convince the hit man performing the task to team up with them. Together, the three form an unstoppable force. Plenty of explosive, violent action ensues. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Quirky Canadian director Atom Egoyan helmed this, the only fictional entry in a series of six films, titled "Yo-Yo Ma Inspired Bach." The story centers on the world-renowned cellist and is a free-form series of unrelated connections between people. As the story begins, Ma is flying to Toronto via Canadian Airlines. Meanwhile, his limo driver Sammy Angelopoulos patiently waits for him at the Air Canada terminal. Their connection, needless to say, is going to be delayed. Real estate agent Sarah is trying to find someone to buy the home of the aged Dr. Kassovitz. The trouble is, the good doctor refuses to sell unless the buyer promises to keep the furniture and his art collection intact. Sarah has a bad cough and goes to see the attractive Dr. Angela France, an amateur cellist who is attending one of Ma's master classes. Dr. Kassovitz later gives Sarah tickets to Ma's concert while her sweetie Max pays Dr. France a visit himself. Max hates classical music, but Sammy, another of Dr. France's patrons adores it and hails Ma "an ambassador of God." In the midst of all the connection making, Ma can be heard playing Bach's Suite No. 4 for cello. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Peter Lynch directed this Canadian docudrama about events after the Canadian government authorized Laplander Andrew Bahr to feed starving Inuit in 1929 by herding several thousand reindeer from Alaska to the McKenzie River region. The project turned into a logistical nightmare, with six years spent on the 1500-mile trek. The film combines archival footage with staged sequences. Shown at the 1998 Vancouver Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide