Wilby Wonderful (2004)

Director:

Daniel MacIvor

Writer:

Daniel MacIvor (writer)

Release Date:

9 September 2005 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Everybody gets a second chance.

Plot:

A day-in-the-life dark comedy concerning a group of islanders, their respective secrets, and one man's plan to kill himself quietly.

Plot Keywords:

Dark Comedy | Suicide Attempt | Corrupt Cop | Infidelity | Conspiracy

Awards:

2 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

James Allodi	...	Dan Jarvis
Maury Chaykin	...	Mayor Brent Fisher
Paul Gross	...	Buddy French
Rebecca Jenkins	...	Sandra Anderson
Sandra Oh	...	Carol French
Ellen Page	...	Emily Anderson
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Duck MacDonald
Daniel MacIvor	...	Stan Lastman
Kathryn MacLellan	...	Deena
Mary Ellen MacLean	...	Irene
Susannah Hoffmann	...	Elaine Fisher
Marcella Grimaux	...	Mackenzie Fisher
Caleb Langille	...	Taylor
Terri Sanderson	...	Reporter
Chris Saunderson	...	Photographer

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

Canada

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Picton, Ontario, Canada

Company:

Palpable Productions

Trivia:

Paul Gross' two children Hannah and Jack Gross appear in the background of the movie.

Quotes:

Duck MacDonald: Aren't you your mother's daughter.

Soundtrack:

Shoelace Easy

Can anyone give me a road map to this town????

What a little life-affirming gem this is; if it does nothing else, it leaves you with hope. Performances are everything in a film of this nature........and, here, not one of them lets you down. These guys and gals 'put out' what the multi-millionaire, cookie-cutter stars of Hollywood quite often do not. So, just a comment or two concerning them and/or their characterizations:

===Sandra Oh---Gee whiz, where has she dropped out of? If you're a fan of hers from TV's "Grey's Anatomy" and think she's the greatest, you ain't seen nothing yet (til you see her here........can there be any wonder why she won a 2006 Golden Globe award?).

===Paul Gross---Playing the 'almost' disillusioned husband and the oh-so-wise town policeman, he sneaks in under our radar and becomes 1 of the main axles of the town of Wilby. He's one of those types we all know who "keeps things running," someone with a mission to do the right thing.

===Rebecca Jenkins & Ellen Page---Being mother and daughter, they bring us into their skins (what tremendous performances).

===James Allodi---As 'one of life's saddest,' he gives us two instants on film when, in the lifeless eyes of a benumbed man undergoing both marriage breakup and devastating lifestyle change, we see appear a "spark" (the first a scarily breathtaking moment for us; the second a joyous one---you'll easily recognize them both).

===Callum Keith Rennie---If Allodi's Dan is the one begging redemption in this movie (its "life-loss" so to speak), then Rennie is its "life spark." Aside from the town policeman, no other is as sensitive to everyone else and their needs as is Duck MacDonald (to be stable, a vehicle needs at least 2 axles; Duck is this town's other). He is amazing in his perceptiveness, his caring, his persistence in landing who he knows to be the "love of his life." Showing my partiality (and preferences, I guess) I must say I only wish that every film of a lighter, romantic nature (containing gay aspects, or not), had a Callum Keith Rennie.

Lastly, what great and uplifting closing moments we've been given:: the depth of feeling and the emotional intensity reached in the final scene's pairing is palpable, almost overwhelming........perfectly capping a little---but monumental---film belonging in every movie lover's collection.

PS: In its release year, if any film would have been worthy of consideration for one of the several "Best Ensemble Acting" awards, this film certainly should have been foremost (I can't believe the multi-cast acting in the recently awarded "Crash" could be of any higher caliber).

PPS: You may learn more about this film by visiting its releaser: filmmovement.com