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 Clearcut More at IMDbPro »

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7 out of 7 people found the following review useful:
Devasting and thought provoking, 17 April 2005
10/10
Author: Istvan Kolnhofer (ikolnhofer@yahoo.com) from Budapest Hungary

Without a doubt, one of the more realistically shocking and provocative films I have ever seen. One of the most important "lost" independent films ever. Definitely ranks in the top 5 best Canadian films ever.

I don't want to describe it too much, because it is best viewed with virgin eyes - no expectations.

The short summary is that a logging company has gone too far with its clear-cutting of the great Canadian woods, now subject to native Indian terror attacks against the loggers. A nebbish Toronto lawyer gets involved in the case, and meets a mysterious Indian (the always wonderful and most talented Graham Greene). What follows is a harrowing and devastating journey not only into the ancient woods of Canada, but into the darkest recesses of the human soul. Anger, rage, revenge, violence, redemption, tolerance, and ECOLOGY - all words to describe the feelings and attitudes of this shocking film. A definite MUST SEE! - unfortunately though, this is one of the rarest films made in the last 20 years. Never shown on TV, and pretty much unavailable on VHS (forget DVD, at least as far as I know it was never released on disc). Best chance is to pick it up in Canada at an art-house vid store. If you do ever see the box, don't miss the chance, rent it! Clearcut is proof that cinema is and always should be, the leading art form of our society. Films like this challenge, provoke, and serve as catharses. They have a purpose, and it is more than just to entertain. I was 16 when I saw it, and it changed my view of the world, in a positive way. It made me aware of issues while helping me explore the human psyche. Probably one of the few R rated films I would recommend that young people view (supervised of course) - it might actually enlighten them on issues of violence and rage in society.

WATCH CLEARCUT BY ALL MEANS!

SUPPORT Canadian CINEMA!! It should be so much better and richer than what it is - what is wrong with Canucks? Egoyan, Arcand, Jewison and Cronenberg cannot be the only popular cinema talents in one of the greatest countries on earth?!

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6 out of 6 people found the following review useful:
You think the Film is Moral Outrage, but it is about Moral Outrage, 3 January 2002
Author: duke_manga_man from St. Catherines, Canada

At the start of this film, it seems to be expressing anger about encroaching on native lands and environmental destruction. Soon it is evident it is about the outrage itself - and at what stave that it becomes unacceptable as it ventures into violence. This film is even more relevant now than when it was released, given the violence in the WTO protests.

You are never sure if Arthur is human, a god, or some vengeful spirit. The way he enters and exits the film keeps this a mystery.

Although it has its faults, a very provocative film.

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5 out of 5 people found the following review useful:
Way Underrated, 5 January 2003
10/10
Author: David Zsolt (opaka@hotmail.com) from Toronto, Canada

It was (is) a very well made and especially played movie. I think it's way too underrated and you can't find a copy of it on DVD and hardly on VHS which proves that mainstream shows are and always gonna be more "important". Just look at the fact that you can buy EVERY episode of "Buffy..." but you can't find ONE copy of this movie. Sad.

Waiting.

If you like native themed movies check this out. It worth it.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Wish this was on DVD, 5 December 2008
10/10
Author: rickinfla from United States

I saw this movie in the early 90's and thought it was a good. The Scene of Graham Greene skinning the strip mine owners' leg was haunting. I'm a fan of Graham in many of his TV and movie appearances from Thunder Heart to Red Green Show. I wish I could buy this on DVD and in July I contacted HTTP://www.northernartsentertainment.com Larry Jackson and he wrote me saying Northern Arts Entertainment was thinking of Releasing the movie on there web site as a download that you can burn to a DVD and print art work and make your own DVD of it. Larry said it would be on the HTTP://www.iarthouse.com/ in August of 2008. Sadly it has not shown up and Larry no longer answers my emails. Maybe if others who want to have this on DVD you can go to the iarthouse site and call the 1800 number 1800-811-4515 and mention that you would like to see the Clear cut on the site or ask to speak to Larry.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
Excellent, must see!!!!, 19 February 2007
10/10
Author: badponymedicine from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

I've seen reviews by 'critics' who hated it, hated Graham Greene's character, etc. They don't like it because he's not the happy-go-lucky smiling injun they want to see. It's obvious Arthur is not human, but a personification, or materialization, of Peter's sweatlodge vision. "You dreamed anger, and your anger is real"...and it's taken on a life of it's own. When his work is done, when he's taught Peter to take more than a passive stance, he returns to his world. But you also see that spirit is going to be carried into future generations by the precocious Polly, the little girl at the beginning and end of the film. I love Budd's babbling once pain/infection/delirium takes place. And I hope his ordeal has taught him a thing or two about his cavalier destruction of not only the land, but aboriginal rights and greed.

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3 out of 3 people found the following review useful:
"You dreamed anger--your anger is real!" That one line is the key to understanding this movie., 5 July 2000
9/10
Author: Deb.

Arthur is the spirit-guide Peter McGuire finds during his sweat-lodge vision; a water-spirit who becomes the personification of McGuire's own anger. If you don't believe me on this, pay attention to the water shots (starting with the opening shot of the movie), the sweat-lodge sequence, and listen carefully to almost everything Wilf says. Once you understand what Arthur is, you can see that the primary themes explored are (1) talk vs. action, and (2) if you cannot control your anger, your anger will control you. I found Ron Lea a bit too wimpy to carry off the final scene, but overall, this is a very thought-provoking movie, which I recommend to anyone who likes to think.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
Modern day story of Ojibwe mythology, 21 May 2005
10/10
Author: ftapb1 from United States

*** This review may contain spoilers ***

This is an incredible film from start to finish. This is one of the rare films that complement the book, M.T. Kelly's "A Dream Like Mine" perfectly. My wife and I have watched the movie several times and read the book as well. We have concluded that Arthur does not exist as a "real" being in the story but a construct of Peter's due to his rage at losing his battle in court (or rage at his cause being lost as a writer in the book). In Ojibwe stories there are spirits that are normally powerless that can be induced to possess a person to give them short lived power. With the spirit the recipient had great powers of vengeance in exchange for their souls. In the stories this would be what happens to a warrior who comes home to find his village destroyed by another tribe. He would be possessed and become an avenging monster. When talking of Arthur, Wilf refers to him as 'coming from the east' and 'not being from us' which seems to imply that it is Peter that brings the avenging spirit. In the book the clincher is that as Peter is being arrested the mill owner denies there ever being an Arthur at all and that Peter was responsible for the kidnapping.

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2 out of 2 people found the following review useful:
"You dreamed anger--your anger is real!" That one line is the key to understanding this movie., 5 July 2000
9/10
Author: Deb.

Arthur is the spirit-guide Peter McGuire finds during his sweat-lodge vision; a water-spirit who becomes the personification of McGuire's own anger. If you don't believe me on this, pay attention to the water shots (starting with the opening shot of the movie), the sweat-lodge sequence, and listen carefully to almost everything Wilf says. Once you understand what Arthur is, you can see that the primary themes explored are (1) talk vs. action, and (2) if you cannot control your anger, your anger will control you. I found Ron Lea a bit too wimpy to carry off the final scene, but overall, this is a very thought-provoking movie, which I recommend to anyone who likes to think.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
This film illustrates the extreme frustration Native Americans must feel with the Justice system, 2 May 2008
9/10
Author: smoothred4324 from United States

I have searched in vain for a copy of this movie for years. This story attempts to have the viewer identify with the frustration that Native Americans must feel with the casual and continual injustice by a system that is stacked against their interests.

I thoroughly enjoyed this movie. It is creative, extremely well told and does not follow any typical mainstream formula. This movie takes you on a journey of Arthur's frustration and his tactics of dealing with those feelings. It is an unpredictable and thoroughly enjoyable movie experience.

It is a shame that this movie is so difficult to find.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review useful:
Great movie, 29 January 2006
10/10
Author: barb_107 from United States

I have seen this movie. I love it. I would recommend this movie to anyone I love Graham Greene he is a great actor. I am 1/4 Chiricahua Apache. i love all native American music, movies. Also u need to watch Graham Greene's other movies like Skins, Dances with Wolves & others. They are all good movies. Speaking of Dances with Wolves someday when my husband & I have our native wedding i am going to be married in my People's colors. I think that would be so cool. Another Good movie of Graham's is Eductaion of Little Tree that was great too. I Have never seen Graham in a bad movie. To me he brings life to the character he is playing no matter if it is a comedy or a drama.

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