Emmanuel Bilodeau Movies
- 2007
An unexpected discovery in the kitchen trap of a condemned Montreal house proves the catalyst for a madcap journey into the past in this comedy that proves old homes can still contain a few shocking surprises. Upon exploring a typical Montreal house that is about to be razed, a curious building inspector finds more than he ever bargained for and immediately phones the landlord. Later, as the pair sits tight in waiting for the police to arrive, the viewer is taken on a frantic voyage through the past fifteen years of eccentric tenants and strange goings on. It seems that everyone who has even lived in this home has had their fair share of quirks, and from the jobless man with a million excuses for his lack of employment to the wannabe parents seeking a suitable sperm donor, the couple that misplaced a valuable painting, the retired boxer who challenged his boyfriend's daughter to a playful bout of sparring, and the thief who plotted out the robbery of his own apartment, there's no telling how this curious item ended up where it did. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emmanuel Bilodeau, Isabelle Blais, (more)
- 2006
A melancholy athlete trades football for a new life as a hit man in this black comedy. Jean-Marc Thomas (Laurent Lucas) was once a reasonably successful professional soccer player, but after his career took a tailspin Thomas's girlfriend committed suicide, which sent him into a deep depression. Thomas moved to his late girlfriend's hometown of Montreal, and twelve years later has left sports behind for a career as a small-time criminal, though he still insists on carrying his soccer ball with him most of the time. While Thomas and his partner Michel (Pierre-Luc Brilliant) have barely mastered the art of knocking over doughnut shops and empty houses, a low-level crime boss has approached Thomas and asked him to consider becoming a hired killer. Thomas reluctantly agrees even though he has no idea of how to use a gun, and begins trailing his first target through Montreal in mid-winter. Sur La Trace d'Igor Rizzi (aka On The Trail of Igor Rizzi was the first feature film from Toronto-based writer and director Noel Mitrani. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laurent Lucas, Pierre-Luc Brillant, (more)
A female detective on the trail of a psychotic killer discovers love in a dangerous time in this thriller, based on the novel by Michael Pye. Illeana Scott (Angelina Jolie) is a special agent with the FBI who has a reputation for using offbeat methods, but also boasts a strong record as a criminal profiler. Scott is called in by a former Quantico colleague (Tcheky Karyo) to assist two Canadian police detectives, Paquette (Olivier Martinez) and Duval (Jean-Hugues Anglade), who are on the trail of a serial killer who has been doing business in and around Montreal for close to two decades. The murderer has a history of assimilating many aspects of the lives of his victims after he kills them, but there's been a witness to his most recent crime. Art gallery owner James Costa (Ethan Hawke) saw the killer during an assault, and now finds himself working as an only marginally willing decoy for Scott. As Scott and Costa follow the killer's trail, they find themselves becoming attracted to one another, which is not necessarily a comfort to Scott as she finds her quarry moving closer and closer. Taking Lives also stars Kiefer Sutherland and Gena Rowlands. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Angelina Jolie, Ethan Hawke, (more)
- 2002
Robert Morin's Le Neg' (The Negro) is a racially charged drama about detectives solving a murder. The title character (Iannicko N'Doua-Legare) is the lead suspect of the murder of Cedulie (Beatrice Picard). Detectives Garry (Vincent Bilodeau) and Jacques (Claude Despins) interview witnesses, although the suspect never utters a word. The victim's autistic son, may be the only person who knows exactly what happened. The Negro was screened at the Toronto Film Festival. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Iannicko N'Doua-Legare, Robin Aubert, (more)
- 2001
Quebec cinematographer turned filmmaker Andre Turpin directs this character study about one man's ability to charm and inability to face the truth. The film revolves around Alex (David La Haye), an acclaimed underwater photographer who is in demand around the world. When a diving accident results in a brain injury, he is forced to dry his flippers in Montreal. Though a relative stranger to the town, he quickly charms himself into the lives of an egocentric businessman, a neurotic drug pusher, and his friend's deaf girlfriend. Yet, slowly his personality is shifting as a result of the accident. Will he let himself take a long sober view of his changing life? This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- David La Haye, Isabelle Blais, (more)
- 1999
An important moment in Canadian history is brought to the screen in this drama drawn from historical documents of the period. In 1838, Francois-Xavier Bouchard (Francis Reddy) is a member of a group of French-Canadian rebels calling themselves Les Patriotes, who are hoping to remove the British-based government from Lower Canada (now known as Quebec). Having just returned to Canada after a brief exile in the United States, Bouchard aligns himself with Les Patriotes against the advice of his family, who fear for his safety. Their fears prove well-grounded when Bouchard is captured in a raid on a British stronghold, and after an attempt to escape to America, Bouchard is subjected to a trial he feels has been fixed from the start. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Francis Reddy, David Boutin, (more)
- 1998
Music-video director Denis Villeneuve made his feature directorial debut with this Canadian drama about an auto accident aftermath. When Simone (Pascale Bussieres) nods off at the wheel, her car goes out of control. She escapes any serious physical injury, but her life changes direction nevertheless. She cancels a planned trip to Italy, quits her modeling job, and calls her friend Philippe (Alexis Martin) with the suggestion that they have a baby together. He agrees, but only with the condition that they do it in the desert, so the two soon leave Montreal for Utah. Shown in the Certain Regard section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pascale Bussières, Alexis Martin, (more)
- 1997
This Canadian science-fiction film takes place at the beginning of the 20th Century in an unnamed city where eager Jules (Emmanuel Bilodeau) is a member of a scientific team researching the secrets of immortality. The scientists uncover a buried pyramid containing an embalmed body with a heartbeat -- but minus a soul. Heading into the city at night, Jules hopes to locate the soul. He encounters Sophie (Lucille Fluet) who seems to have some answers to the mystery. Scripted and directed by Oliver Asselin, the film features first-rate production values. Shown at the 1997 Montreal Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Emmanuel Bilodeau, Lucille Fluet, (more)
- 1996
- NR
Episodic and unflinchingly realistic, this docudrama offers a seldom-seen look into the lives of Montreal's homeless as it tells the story of a veteran beggar, Marcel, and his neophyte panhandler-buddy Joseph. Most of the time, the down-and-out duo spend their days walking about, talking to their equally less-fortunate and very eccentric peers. Though such wandering is seemingly aimless, Marcel is actually quietly searching for his long-lost and suicidal friend Stanley, in hopes of saving his life. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Gaston Lepage, Benoit Briere, (more)
