Isabelle Blais 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)
- 2005
A writer gets more than he bargains for when he heads to a small town in search of a scoop in this over-the-top horror comedy. Flavien Juste (François Chénier) is a young and quick-witted reporter who works for a newspaper run by his father (Pierre Collin). Dad would like to break one more big story before he retires from journalism, and when he hears about a number of bizarre disappearances taking place in the Quebec village of Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnes, he sends Flavien to check it out, with photographer Armand (Patrice Robitaille) in tow. Flavien and Armand check in at a large and forbidding local inn, the Two Malvinas Lodge, and Armand soon falls prey to the local curse and goes missing. As Flavien searches for Armand, he encounters the troubled ghost of a bride (who still has the tin cans from her getaway car stuck to her gown), and is dogged by the many bizarre denizens of Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnes as he tries to unearth the town's strange secrets. Flavien eventually gains a valuable ally in helpful local musician Missy (Isabelle Blais) and her son, Peanut (Alec Poirier), and with their help he discovers an abandoned factory on the outskirts of town where a strange scientist is up to no good. Saints-Martyrs-des-Damnes (aka Saint Martyrs of the Damned) was the first feature film from Quebec-based writer and director Robin Aubert. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Director Denys Arcand revisits the situations and relationships that informed his international breakthrough The Decline of the American Empire with this dialogue-driven character study. Set 17 years after Decline, The Barbarian Invasions, like its predecessor, examines the varying politics -- economic, personal, and sexual -- at play among an aging group of friends, lovers, and ex-spouses. This time around, leads Remy (Rémy Girard) and Louise (Dorothee Berryman) are divorced, with their son Sebastien (Stéphane Rousseau) living in capitalist splendor in London. But the slightly estranged family is brought together by Remy's losing battle with terminal cancer, and the hedonistic, ex-radical father and straight-laced son have to overcome their differences. Along the way, Remy waxes nostalgic with many of the same pals who made up the dinner party of the first film. ~ Michael Hastings, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Rémy Girard, Stéphane Rousseau, (more)
- 2002
- R
- Add Confessions of a Dangerous Mind to QueueAdd Confessions of a Dangerous Mind to top of Queue
Chuck Barris is best known to most Americans as the guy who used to host The Gong Show. He was also the creator and producer of The Dating Game, The Newlywed Game, and a handful of other successful game shows in the 1960s and 1970s. But was he also a hired killer working with the CIA? That's the take-it-or-leave-it premise of Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, based on the memoir of the same name by Chuck Barris. Barris (Sam Rockwell) grows up dreaming of success in show biz and winning the hearts of beautiful women, but early on, he meets with plenty of resistance from both women and the television industry, despite writing the hit tune "Palisades Park" and scoring a job with Dick Clark on American Bandstand. The 1960s proves more fortunate for Barris; he meets the love of his life, Penny (Drew Barrymore), and sells ABC on the idea of The Dating Game. However, after the show has made him wealthy and successful, Barris is approached by the mysterious Jim Byrd (George Clooney), a CIA agent who wants to recruit Barris as a covert operative. Barris finds the notion of playing spy games intriguing and agrees, but soon discovers what Byrd and his partners really want is for Barris to assassinate uncooperative figures around the world. Soon, Barris finds that his life has been all but taken over by Byrd and another CIA agent, the mysterious and sexy Patricia (Julia Roberts). As he hops the globe, killing people in the name of American security (using his status as a Dating Game chaperone as a cover), Barris learns that the KGB has discovered his not-so-little secret and that his own life is in great danger. Confessions of a Dangerous Mind marked the directorial debut of actor George Clooney, working from a screenplay adapted by Charlie Kaufman from Barris' book. Dick Clark, Dating Game host Jim Lange, frequent Gong Show panelist Jaye P. Morgan, and Gene Gene Patton appear as themselves. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, (more)
Based on a true story, this drama centers on a woman's attempts to bring down a sadistic religious zealot. Polly Walker is Paula, a social worker who at first is wowed by a religious cult led by Moses (Luc Picard). Eventually though, she finds there's much more to the group's commune than meets the eye. In the tradition of the Manson Family and Jonestown, Moses wields a deadly power over his loyal followers. From director Mario Azzopardi, Savage Messiah also stars Isabelle Blais and Isabelle Cyr. ~ Matthew Tobey, All Movie Guide
- 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)
