Waydowntown (2000)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Gary Burns

Writers:

Gary Burns (writer)
James Martin (writer)

Genre:

Comedy

Plot:

A group of young employees bet a month's salary, winner takes all, on who can last the longest without going outside.

Plot Keywords:

Office | Garage | Office Worker | Building | Digital Film

Awards:

5 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Fab Filippo	...	Tom Bennett (as Fabrizio Filippo)
Don McKellar	...	Brad
Marya Delver	...	Sandra West
Gordon Currie	...	Curt Schwin
Tammy Isbell	...	Kathy
Tobias Godson	...	Randy
Jennifer Clement	...	Vicki Strayhorn
James McBurney	...	Phil
Derek Flores	...	Paul
Xantha Radley	...	June
Dan Willmott	...	Julian
Judith Buchan	...	Mrs. Drysdale
Michelle Beaudoin	...	Anise
Harris Hart	...	Mr. Mather
Nick Cleary	...	James

MPAA:

Rated R for language, drug use and some sexuality.

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Canada:14A (Ontario) | Australia:M | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Alberta Foundation for the Arts

Trivia:

The Radio Station CJAY 92 that plays "Start A Rumor Day" throughout the film is a real rock station in Calgary, and those are the stations actual DJs talking, and the phone number that is mentioned (249-CJ92) is the station's phone number.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Bradley staples messages to his chest, the padding under his shirt is visible.

Movie Connections:

Featured in A Simple Curve (2005)

Soundtrack:

Downtown

If you've ever worked in a cubicle, you've got to see this film.

I'm going to be honest. I saw Fab Filippo on Queer As Folk and wanted to check out some of his other work. Yeah, he's gorgeous, but that isn't the only thing I liked about this movie. It's so funny, and so well done that it has become one of my favorite indie films. If you've ever had to work in a cubicle and felt like a rat in a maze; if you've ever had co-workers you were sure would be starring in a hostage negotiation; If you've ever let someone continue to call you by the wrong name because it's just easier, WayDownTown is about YOU. The bet that these 4 co-workers have undertaken requires that they stay indoors for 24 days and counting. Their voluntary confinement combined with that all-too-familiar daily grind has resulted in a wicked sort of "mall buzz". Tom (played to absolute perfection by Filippo) carries the movie along with running narration that we hear as he tries to multi-task while stoned. He runs into an assortment of difficult people and to make matters worse, he's starting to hallucinate. The head trips he's pulled on the other 3 involved in the bet are taking full effect and we gradually watch them all come unglued in situations that are funny because of their familiarity. The movie does a great job of making one day run into the next, just like real life. What color is his tie? What color is her sweater? Wait wasn't he wearing a blue shirt? The colors in the movie are used to enhance the stifling artificiality of the office and the attached mall. You won't be able to resist trying to figure out who the Bradley in your office is...