The Uncles (2000) User Reviews

Nice little film

[bgilch · 7/10 · 11 August 2003]

This is a well-crafted small Canadian film about a restaurant manager trying to juggle work, family and love, though the three are all unfortunate in one way or another. Chris Owens (yup, Agent Spender) is very good in the central role and manages to hold things together with his solid, careful performance. He obviously had his heart in this script and film. He took a good role in a small film.

Digital Video quality is not great, but the direction is efficient and understated. The script is good and manages to pinpoint the truth in its characters. The sound quality is also good (see Chutney Popcorn to hear how bad sound quality is worse than bad visual quality). What's best of all in the film is its eveness of tone and its recognition of limitations, in that it keeps the course without faltering from trying too hard. Sure, it won't change your life, but it is worthwhile. And no shaky-cam!

Two cheers to James Allodi for seeing his project through. It ain't Rohmer or Pasolini (silly comparisons) but it's honest and shows promise. Someone should give this guy a chance to make a film with a bigger budget for he has the tools and will impress. I kept on thinking how much more I would enjoy it on proper film.

gorgeous film - shot on dv

[richard_longman · 9/10 · 8 August 2001]

***SLIGHT SPOILERS*** in july 2001, there were two fabulous digital films released in toronto. one of them was the anniversary party. the other is the uncles.

the uncles is far and away the better looking of the two. in fact the uncles is probably the best-looking digitally originated film out there at this point. director james allodi personally supervised the blow-up to 35mm using the latest and finest methods devised by artist and engineer.

the story, while small, penetrates and resonates long after you see the film. strongly felt and subtly evinced, restaurant manager marco's twin dilemmas - loyalty and personal happiness family obligations or work opportunities - linger with you for days if not weeks. toronto not being paris, i can't say - as some other reviewers have - that the film is rohmerian (contemporary canadian urban prattle just doesn't make the grade, canadians are simply insufficiently articulate to allow rohmerian comparisons), but the uncles does have some of the tough psychology and austere style of pier paolo passolini's work, if we must compare allodi to european directors.

strong performances all round from the little known canadian cast. particularly engaging is montreal actor dino tavarone as marco's compassionate boss. businessman-restaurateur tavarone steals every scene he is in with his enormous eyes and throaty voice. more humanity than was ever in man or life itself: "marco you are like a son to me... take whatever you want".

meanwhile, marco has been sleeping with old guy's daughter-in-law for the last three years. and that's just for starters.

see it if you get the chance. since the uncles is an independent canadian film, you probably won't get that chance. however ten more films like the uncles and canadian independent film might get a wider platform.

buono.

incidentally, the anniversary party is a great film too, if not as pretty as the uncles. and the pair are two of the few good films of summer 2001 (pearl harbour, swordfish, tomb raider, planet of the apes to name just a few of the mind-numbing bombs that the uncles and the anniversary party are trying solage).