Canvas (2006)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Joseph Greco

Writer:

Joseph Greco (writer)

Release Date:

12 December 2008 (Canada)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Mother Son Relationship | Sewing | Boat | First Love | Sailing

Awards:

8 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Joe Pantoliano	...	John Marino
Marcia Gay Harden	...	Mary Marino
Devon Gearhart	...	Chris Marino
Sophia Bairley	...	Dawn
Marcus Johns	...	Sam
Antony Del Rio	...	Gregg
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brandon Agan	...	Basketball player
Nicholas Alexander	...	Student
Irene B. Colletti	...	Donna
Steve DuMouchel	...	Marys Doctor
Bill Erfurth	...	Officer Savage
Roshawn Franklin	...	Police Officer
Matthew T. Gitkin	...	Boat Salesman
Paul Lasa	...	Hector Villarosa
Emma Lockhart	...	Tiffeny
Owen Miller	...	Police Officer #2
Sandra Milliner	...	Loud Woman
Griffin Miner	...	Young Chris
Danny Rawley	...	Student
Casey Travers	...	Mick
Julie Upton	...	Jo Anne
Tim Ware	...	Principal

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic elements.

Runtime:

101 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA

Company:

LMG Pictures

Trivia:

The film was shot in 'Joseph Greco''s hometown. A hurricane nearly shut the Florida production down.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Chris is pouring himself a bowl of cereal the front of the cereal box is facing him. The next camera angle shows him holding the cereal box with the back of the box facing him.

Very real emotion gives way to feel good finale

A very touching, low-key drama dealing with the instability of mental illness inside a southern Floridian families household. As viewed through the saddened lens of this up and coming, very good child actor Devon Gearhart, Canvas tries hard to pull at our heartstrings and often succeeds, especially in the first half of this family odyssey. What cooled the film down a bit for me however was a sappy conclusion, leaving viewers with a pleasant enough aftertaste but ultimately betraying some of the honesty and raw emotion portrayed in the first two acts.

Even as the nuanced performances of Joe Pantoliano and Marcia Gay Harden as the struggling couple dig deep into our hearts, writer-director Joseph Greco chooses to go the safe route when wrapping up his small, mildly powerful family film. Although the final twenty minutes or so were somewhat disappointing for it's matter-of-fact, afternoon school special triumph in the face of uncertainty, the movie is undoubtedly emotionally strong in spots, producing quite a few profoundly poignant, tear-jerking moments that will have many running for the hankies.