Phyllis Laing Movies

Visionary Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin takes viewers on a surreal journey into the psyche of a desperate gangster backed into a dangerous corner in this surreal, psycho-sexual take on Homer's Odyssey. Late one night, a group of gangsters shoot their way into the living room of a large house and wait anxiously for the arrival of their leader, Ulysses Pick (Jason Patric). Ulysses has a knack for getting out of tense situations, and with the cops all around his cohorts need him now more than ever. But when Ulysses arrives with a teenage girl and a bound young man in tow, some of his henchmen start to think it's time for a new boss to take over. An already tense situation turns downright surreal as Ulysses begins venturing through the labyrinthine house in search of his wife Hyacinth (Isabella Rossellini), who remains locked in her room somewhere on an upper floor. Meanwhile, Hyacinth's father offers cryptic commentary on the unfolding events, and the harder Ulysses searches for his wife the more secrets he begins to uncover about his eccentric family. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

A shamed cop must fight to defend his integrity after being incarcerated for a crime he didn't commit, and forced to compete as an underground cage fighter. Danny was a good cop, but now he's serving hard time. His reputation tarnished after an investigation went awry, Danny does his best not to draw attention to himself while he's on the inside. Unfortunately for Danny, the ringleaders of the local cage fighting circuit are determined to lure him into the ring by whatever means necessary. Enlisting the aid of a retired mixed martial arts champion named Irving, the reluctant contender concocts a scheme to destroy the fighting circuit from the inside, and finally reclaim his honor in the process. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

In the immediate aftermath of World War II, two U.S. Army officers stationed in Frankfurt uncover the German Crown Jewels in a castle formerly owned by the royal family. But when the two lovers plot to smuggle the gems back into the U.S., their plans are quickly complicated by military investigations and a vicious mob kingpin. Now, if they can just stay loyal to one another until the heat blows over they'll both be rich beyond their wildest dreams. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The psychological thriller Love At First Kill stars Noah Segan as Harry, a mentally troubled eccentric artist who has been sheltered by his mentally unstable, overprotective mother (Margot Kidder). But when a new girl moves in next door, Harry falls in love for the first time, prompting his mother to do everything in her power to keep them apart so she can have her son all to herself. Directed by John Daly. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

The attendees at an ecological conference have been noticing some disturbing changes in the local environment, and now in order to prevent an unprecedented catastrophe from spreading to the outside world, the event coordinator and a fearless priest will team to fight a powerful creature that could bring about the downfall of the human race. Somewhere out there, a slimy creature of unknown origins is transforming unsuspecting humans into rampaging monsters. The coordinator of the conference (Natalie Brown) is the only person who seems to realize the true scope of the threat, but in order to prevent the menace from spreading she'll need some serious help. Later, with a little help from a brave priest (Kevin Sorbo), the coordinator scrambles to evacuate the guests and eliminate the marshy menace once and for all. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Visionary Canadian filmmaker Guy Maddin pays tribute to his beloved hometown with this goodbye letter and self-described "docu-fantasia" that is equal parts transcendental rumination, historical chronicle, and personal portrait. In the first segment, Maddin's camera drifts dreamlike through crowded trains as a floating kielbasa hangs from the ceiling and the director/narrator ponders just why the city boasts the most sleepwalkers per capita of any major international city. Later, the viewer is treated to images of numerous historical monuments in the city as they learn about such key historical events as the Winnipeg General Strike, the defeat of the Winnipeg Jets, and even the Golden Boy pageant scandal and a racetrack tragedy that found numerous horses sent to an icy death. As the third and final segment gets underway, the director draws inspiration from filmmaker William Castle to present pivotal -- and often traumatic -- events from his childhood that left an indelible mark while simultaneously serving to mold his unique vision of his beloved Winnipeg. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

An experimental, cross-species organ transplant causes a young security dispatcher to begin acting on his animal instincts in this curious take on the werewolf legend starring Cory Monteith and Justine Bateman. When Aaron Scates (Monteith) was blinded in an explosion, he thought he would never see again. When Aaron is placed under the care of Dr. Andrea Hewlitt (Bateman), however, it begins to appear as if there may be hope for his sense of sight after all. Renowned for her extraordinary yet controversial medical breakthroughs, Dr. Hewlitt is currently exploring the prospect of animal-to-human organ transplants. When museum curator Lydia Armstrong (Tinsel Korey) arrives at Dr. Hewlitt's office carrying a critically injured wolf, Dr. Hewlitt senses the perfect opportunity to finally put her theories to practice. But while Dr. Hewlitt does manage to successfully transplant the wolf's eyes to her desperate test subject, Lydia makes no secret of her objection to the operation. In the aftermath of the surgery, Aaron not only regains his vision, but acquires such unique abilities as the power to see on the dark and a heightened sense of hearing as well. But when Aaron begins to crave raw steak and target people as prey, it becomes readily apparent that he's undergoing an unusual transformation. Now the only person capable of understanding Aaron's bizarre plight is Lydia, because she, too, is a cross-breed. With the help of her shaman friend Lydia has learned to harness her feral instincts as a source of strength, but will Aaron be capable of accomplishing the same formidable feat, or will his animal instinct ultimately get the better of him? ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Fear rises from the depths when a government scientist travels to a remote fishing village in order to investigate rumors of a massive underwater beast with a frightful taste for human flesh. Panic has spread through the fishing village where locals have lived off of the sea's bounty for centuries, and as word of an aggressive leviathan reaches the powers that be, an investigator is dispatched in order to confirm or refute the frightening rumors. Government scientist Dan Leland (James Van Der Beek) is a man of logic, but he's about to cross paths with a creature that seems born straight out of his worst nightmares. In this instance at least, the rumors are well founded, and by the time Dan comes eye-to-eye with the source of all the panic it already be too late for him. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

On the eve of the release of actress Isabella Rossellini's book In the Name of the Father, the Daughter, and the Holy Spirits: Remembering Roberto Rossellini, the famous daughter of the acclaimed filmmaker teams with Canadian director Guy Maddin to pay loving homage to the man who crafted such cinematic classics as Viaggio in Italia and Roma, Città Aperta. In addition to crafting an affectionate portrait to her father, Rossellini and Maddin attempt to capture the cinematic feel of the filmmaker's most prolific period by incorporating the influences of such key figures as Federico Fellini, Alfred Hitchcock, Charlie Chaplin, David O. Selznick, and, of course, the legendary Ingrid Bergman into the film as well. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Comedian Kevin Pollak stars in this crime caper film, the debut feature from Canadian director G.B. Yates. Pollak plays Harlan, a low-rent con man living off the fruits of his small-time scams. When a young student by the name of Fiona (Liane Balaban) enters the picture, Harlan finds his life turned upside down with the prospects of both a big score and true love both up for grabs in a web of deceit and double-crosses. Also starring Jonas Chernick and James Tolkan, Seven Times Lucky screened as part of the World Cinema program at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Matthew Tobey, Rovi

Two young people struggling to find happiness in the midst of adversity exist side by side with their alter egos, an older and very unhappy married couple, in this offbeat drama. Beatrice (Sarah Polley) is a supermarket checkout girl fascinated by Henry (Brendan Fletcher), an angry and withdrawn young man whose bitterness stems largely from having been diagnosed with a rare, often fatal form of cancer. Beatrice and Henry fall in love, their passion intensified by the possibility of Henry's imminent death, but Henry's life is saved by surgery and they soon marry. In contrast, Bea (Diane Ladd) and Hank (Sean McCann) are a sixtysomething couple whose love burned out long ago. Bea and Hank have first grown bored, and then bitter, their rancor coming to a head when Hank buys a retirement home without consulting Bea, and she gets back at him by incurring financially ruinous construction and decorating expenses. Living near Bea is her old friend Myra (Shirley Douglas), whose husband Stan (Victor Cowie) is dying of cancer, while Beatrice's best friend Myrah (Kristin Thompson) has fallen deeply in love with Stanley (Rob Stefaniuk), a soldier soon to leave for the Gulf War. The Law of Enclosures was based on the well-regarded novel by Dale Peck and was the first non-gay-themed project from director John Greyson. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

This gripping examination of the empty moral values and mindless violence of three bored preteens is depicted without judgment and without sensationalism. The leader is Marty, a hyperactive boy with a natural talent for violence and destruction. One day he is bored and decides to rob a local house beside the railroad tracks. He enlists the aid of two friends and they end up holding a woman and her wheel-chair bound husband hostage while they callously destroy their home. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi