Notizie

When the 1990s came around, Chuck Norris was already one of the greatest action movie stars of all time, though many of his films from the era didn’t reach the same level of fame as his cult classic action movies from the 1980s. Still, while not all the star’s projects from the '90s are as widely remembered today, they continue to make a case for themselves in showcasing Ground Chuck's action-packed style and dedication to entertaining fans.

Many of Norris’ movies from the 1990s were a collaborative effort between him and his brother, Aaron Norris, who directed most of them. Their partnership helped shape the unique style of Chuck’s repertoire of that time, often mixing genres while still delivering exciting, high-stakes stories with plenty of martial arts action. Despite not necessarily being Chuck Norris’ best movies, they still offer an interesting glimpse at the evolution of the actor’s career.

In a year that saw François Delisle’s Le météore (Sundance and Berlin Film Festival accepted film) receive no love (zero nominations), and Denis Côté’s critically well-received Vic + Flo Saw a Bear was perhaps too askew for the voting clique (it did grab best Actress for Quebec’s “Melissa Leo” in Pierrette Robitaille), it was a bigger than life biopic by helmer Daniel Roby that flexed its muscles, beating out the comp. The high gloss Louis Cyr won in several tech categories and it’s strongman Antoine Bertrand won for Best Actor. Considered the favorite to win the top prize, Gabrielle was awarded the Best Director and Screenplay awards for Louise Archambault. Oddly, that film received no Best Actress consideration while it did net Gabrielle Marion-Rivard a Best Actress win at Canadian Screen Awards. Here are the noms and winners of the 16th edition.

Best Film

Catimini

Le démantèlement...

Canadian filmmaker John Greyson follows up his AIDS musical "Zero Patience" with another gay-themed film with theatrical roots. Winner of the 1996 Genie for best picture, "Lilies" is based on the 1987 play by Michel Marc Bouchard about a bitter prisoner confronting an old friend over a long-ago romance that ended badly.

With attractive performers and a lively agenda, "Lilies" nonetheless gets bogged down in its unwieldy structure.

The film premiered in

Los Angeles at UCLA's recent series "Borderlines: New Canadian Cinema," as well as screening in the World Film section of the Sundance Film Festival.

From the outset, the film's premises and developments are fantastical despite the drama's somber setting in a prison chapel. Greyson carefully sets up the central gambit of Simon (Aubert Pallascio), which is to restage the great love of his young life for the benefit of a captive bishop (Marcel Sabourin), who knew him when the events took place.

At first the re-creations are indeed stagy, with prisoners playing the roles of men and women, but soon the film indulges in full-blown flashbacks. Sometimes the effect is startling, but most often it's annoying.

The viewer also must deal with the basic confusion that the bishop's younger self (Matthew Ferguson) is not the intense lover of young Simon (Jason Cadieux).

A delicate nobleman of some sort, it's Vallier (Danny Gilmore) who puts the moves on Simon after rehearsing a steamy scene for a church play.

Vallier's mother is played in drag by Remy Girard, and it's she who picks the titular flowers and causes much hardship for her son.

Set in the early decades of this century, the love of Vallier for Simon is scandalous, and the latter embarks on a tempestuous relationship with one Comtess de Tilly (played soulfully by Brent Carver), an elegant but difficult black lady.

There are several interruptions to monitor the effect of Simon's theatrical creation on the bishop.

An elderly holy man, he tries to stop Simon's elaborate "confession," but for the performers and the watchers, there's no turning back.

It's eventually revealed that the young bishop acted rashly after the lovers had finally experienced happiness. The old bishop is forced to confess to the man whose life he destroyed.

While the performances are engaging, when the film strays from the attractive duo of Cadieux and Gilmore, the heavy themes and choral music take over and one feels as trapped as the bishop.

LILIES

Alliance Communications presents

A Triptych Media/Galafilm co-production

Director John Greyson

Producers Anna Stratton, Robin Cass,

Arnie Gelbart

Writer Michel Marc Bouchard

English version Linda Gaboriau

Director of photography Daniel Jobin

Production designer Sandra Kybartas

Editor Andre Corriveau

Costume designer Linda Muir

Music Mychael Danna

Casting Dorothy Gardner

Color/stereo

Cast:

The Bishop Marcel Sabourin

Simon Aubert Pallascio

Young Simon Jason Cadieux

Vallier Danny Gilmore

Young Bishop Matthew Ferguson

Comtess de Tilly Brent Carver

The Baroness Remy Girard

Running time -- 96 minutes

No MPAA rating...