Phil Savath Movies
- 1990
Sometime in the future, the developed nations have put up so much junk into space that the realdanger in that time is having it come down on top of you. The entire civilization of the planet has been devastated by these man-made meteors, and decaying institutions are an additional hazard. In the story, Ross Gilmore is campaigning for reelection as the mayor of a city which he has run with the help of thuggish policemen. A few, honest citizens, work up the courage to object to this state of things. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Breck, Jello Biafra, (more)
- 1988
Young Noam Zylberman, a well-known Canadian child actor (and cartoon voiceover veteran), stars in The Outside Chance of Maximillian Glick. Growing up in a Jewish household during the 1960s, Zylberman would like to escape the confines of tradition and chart his own course. He finally gets the opportunity break free and pursue his ambitions. A have-it-both-ways finale marks this otherwise refreshing youth-oriented Canadian film. Outside Chance of Maximillian Glick was released in the US in 1991, two years after its Canadian premiere. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Noam Zylberman, Fairuza Balk, (more)
- 1986
Back in 1837 in the Northwoods of Canada and beyond, a movement was started among the colonialists to demand the right to own property in the New World. This interesting docudrama follows the tragic outcome of that movement for one of its leaders, the pacifist and nearly beatific Samuel Lount (also the great-great-great uncle of producer Elvira Lount). The orator and journalist William Lyon Mackenzie stoked up the fire among the property-deprived, and a march on Toronto was begun. Lount was convinced to join the rebellion much against his better judgment -- he belonged to the Children of Peace religious sect. Lount's own pacifism meant nothing to the authorities; they executed Lount for treason after crushing the rebellion. R.H. Thomson plays the title role in this low-budget but high-energy effort. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- R.H. Thomson, Linda Griffiths, (more)
This deranged low-budget Canadian production seems specifically tailored to midnight-movie patrons, among which the filmmakers must have thought it could find a solid cult audience. The story involves alien invaders who bring the corpse of Mayor Rigatoni back to life in order to initiate construction of a special facility on the site of the local butcher's septic tank, in which a special element called "balonium" has been discovered. Matters are further complicated by the butcher's weird influence on the town (he even invents his own language) and the psychopathic behavior of his cleaver-wielding assistant Abdallah, who is rapidly depleting the town's canine population... oh, and there's musical numbers, too. Director/co-writer Chris Windsor seems to dare viewers to make sense of this parody, which aspires to be another Rocky Horror Picture Show, but where that film was possessed of Richard O'Brien's wry genius, all that's available here is a smorgasbord of silliness. ~ Cavett Binion, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Dawson, Andrew Gillies, (more)
Amidst such formative shockers as Shivers, Rabid and The Brood, writer/director David Cronenberg dashed off this semi-documentary. Fast Company relates the life story of race car champion Lonnie Johnson. The ubiquitous William Smith, veteran of many a low-budget cycle flick, is quite convincing as Johnson. The film does not shirk in its depiction of the principal character's womanizing, which in itself is surprisingly endearing. Cronenberg also offers an indictment against corporate sponsors who tend to squeeze drivers like Johnson dry of all their salability. And, of course, we're offered plenty of breathtaking racing scenes, some of them real, others skillfully reenacted. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- William Smith, John Saxon, (more)
- 1976
Originally telecast Monday through Friday, the Canadian children's series Homemade TV followed the format of The Mickey Mouse Club by offering a different "theme" on each episode. Among these were "The Big Story," which followed an average youngster through a typical day; "Ricky," an ongoing takeoff of Rocky; "Ouest Side Story," a lampoon of the Quebec separatist movement; "Rock 'n' Romans," a spoof of life in ancient Rome; and the more traditional entries "Sports Day," "Home Day," and "Me Day." Featuring members of the Homemade Theatre Company comedy troupe, the series was top-heavy with satire, but was never too smart for its youthful target audience. Debuting February 27, 1976, Homemade TV had been pared down to a weekly offering by the time it was canceled on December 28, 1977 (reruns were shown from April 4 to June 7, 1978). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Fred Mollin, Larry Mollin, (more)
