Marya Delver Movies
- 2001
- R
Canadian indie auteur Bruce Sweeney spins this wry look at the relationship of three Vancouver couples. After dating for a mere six months, Noah (Benjamin Ratner) and Zipporah (Frida Betrani) shock family and friends by announcing that they are getting married. No one is particularly thrilled about the impending nuptials and soon Noah starts to figure out why. Noah, a waterproofing expert, is maddened first by Zipporah's condo's leaking roof and then by his wife, who has illusions of fame and fortune as a country singer but has precious little talent. Noah's buddies Peter (Tom Scholte) and Shane (Vincent Gale) -- both of whom gave halfhearted congratulations at the wedding -- have romantic issues of their own. Shane grows increasing jealous when his girlfriend and fellow architect (Molly Parker) gets a big career break while he languishes behind. Meanwhile, Peter, a literature professor, cheats on his wife, Leslie (Nancy Sivak), with a shapely student (Marya Delver), who offers him favors while he discusses the work of Margaret Laurence. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi
- Starring:
- Ben Ratner, Frida Betrani, (more)
Office workers existing in varying states of disgruntlement/insanity, Tom, Sandra, Randy, and Curt bet a month's salary to see who can stay indoors the longest. Since their office is located in a downtown area, where almost all of the buildings are connected by a system of glass-enclosed bridges, this doesn't seem like such a difficult proposition. However, the longer they stay indoors, the stranger things get. Waydowntown, which was screened at the 2000 Vancouver International Film Festival, was directed and co-written by noted Canadian filmmaker Gary Burns, and features celebrated actor and filmmaker Don McKellar in a role as a cubicle drone.
~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
- Starring:
- Fab Filippo, Don McKellar, (more)
- 2000
Screenwriter Arne Olsen makes his directorial debut in this comedy that explores the real meaning of youth and age. Owen Rinard (Eric McCormack) is the thirty-something manager of a Canadian retirement home who watches over his charges with an eagle eye and has a strong belief in rules and regulations. However, Gus Corley (James Whitmore), one of the residents at the home, isn't especially enthusiastic about Owen's iron rule, and wants to go on a fishing trip to Victoria, British Columbia. Owen has no interest in organizing outings for the patients, but when Gus, a former accountant, learns a few secrets about the current state of the books at the home, he makes Owen an offer he can't turn down -- either escort him and his friends Duncan (Ossie Davis) and Nelly (Kim Hunter) to Victoria for a vacation, or he'll tell the authorities about the irregularities in the accounts. Soon a very wary Owen is on the road with Gus, Duncan, and Nelly, and the younger man learns a few important lessons from his elders about the joy of living. Here's to Life was nominated for seven Genie awards -- the Canadian Oscar -- including Best Actor and Best Actress nominations for James Whitmore and Kim Hunter. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi
- Starring:
- Eric McCormack, James Whitmore, (more)
- 2000
An ensemble piece that revolves around a group of thirty-something Vancouverites just beginning to confront adulthood, No More Monkeys Jumpin' on the Bed takes its name, appropriately enough, from a children's bedtime story. It's the kind of story that Claire (Nancy Sivak, a children's librarian, reads to her young patrons; when she's not working, Claire deals with the fact that she is growing apart from her live-in boyfriend Lyle (Cam Cronin). As his girlfriend becomes more receptive to the attentions of a male friend, Lyle expresses his frustrations at his unfulfilling job in a copy shop. Meanwhile, alcoholic Susan (Sophie Yendole), another troubled young professional, sells her furniture to pay for booze. Premiering at the 2000 Vancouver International Film Festival, No More Monkeys Jumpin' on the Bed won the festival's Best Western Canadian Director prize for first-time helmer Ross Weber. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, Rovi
- Starring:
- Tom Scholte, Nancy Sivak, (more)
- 1999
The SG-1 arrives on a planet where everyone is apparently suffering from amnesia. Not one of the inhabitants can remember anything that occurred before the mysterious "Vorlix", nor have they any idea what happened to the very young and very old among them. Jackson (Michael Shanks) finds himself attracted to Ke'ra (Megan Leitch), the presumed leader of the planet--but this blossoming romance is dashed to bits when an old enemy of the SGC suddenly reappears. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
Better Than Chocolate is a lesbian love story. Walking home from an evening at the lesbian club 'Cat's Ass,' Maggie is confronted by a gang of skinheads. Suddenly a minibus comes to a screeching halt and out jumps Kim. The skins move on, and Maggie thanks Kim, who watches her go. This is their first meeting. Maggie has recently dropped out of law school and now works in a women's shop. To avoid a confrontation with her mother, she makes up a success story and tells her that she's living in a beautiful apartment. As her mother is having her difficulties with her second husband, she decides to take her young son and come to live with Maggie for a while. Meanwhile, Maggie is housesitting the apartment of a female performer on tour. As fate might have it, she runs across Kim again and they find themselves at the new apartment making love in the shower -- at which moment Maggie's mother and little brother step in. The film was screened as part of the Panorama section of the 49th International Berlin Film Festival, 1999. ~ Gönül Dönmez-Colin, Rovi
- Starring:
- Wendy Crewson, Karyn Dwyer, (more)
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