Fantastic graphics, mesmerizing actors and actresses, the film is fun as hell and makes something as dry as Canadian federal politics in the early 20th century something with a crazy adrenaline kick / drug fever to it. Ive never seen a Guy Maddin film which takes inspiration from but I think it is very unique and I will revisit this film a lot more in the future.
13 Reviews
Canadian Kitsch
chris-l-710-39492117 February 2021
It certainly leans on Monty Python vibes, but if you are looking for Monty Python you are going to be disappointed. It's a darker tale, and it uses a lot of Canadian type humor and feel. There are some decent Freudian ques and overall it does a good job of making you feel for and against various characters and their positions.
Monty Pythonesk
pwmoores-494441 March 2020
I saw this film at the Glasgow Film Festival. The film is very heavily influenced by Monty Python and it takes a little while to get used to it. Not everything worked and the film is not as funny or as shocking as it thinks it is. Nevertheless the film has enough going for it to maintain interest.
Oh, Canada - If you know your movies, you'll appreciate the affectionate references.
aboriginals3 March 2021
If you have to use Monty Python as a reference, then you have a limited film vocablulary.
My initial snapshot of referential inspiration here includes Expressionism/Max Beckmann/the Zeigfield Follies/Flash Gordon/Metropolis/Barry Lyndon/Touch of Evil/The Cabinet of Dr Caligari/Sam Raimi horror. I think it's Canadian national cultural asset - not wiping out the warmth of Terrence and Philip, but containing it's own sense of identity. Given some of the orthodoxic independent output of the other half if the cointinent, a refreshing change. The only reference to Python would be if Terry Gilliam was what the other reviewers might have meant, and what they were expecting to see. They are blinkered. You can curse me afterwards, but if I'm wrong, I'll have only wasted and an hour an a half of your time, and considering you've likely wasted a year not following all those failed good intentions of self improvement during the pandemic, you may not have much of an argument. Put it this way: if you're at all afraid to try new foods, you maybe should avoid this film, it's not for you. If you do like trying something that's not offering the received comforts of cinema, then go ahead. Not encouraged for non-adults, but that caution is out of politeness to social normalcy. Not that that there's anything wrong with that, is there? Is there?
My initial snapshot of referential inspiration here includes Expressionism/Max Beckmann/the Zeigfield Follies/Flash Gordon/Metropolis/Barry Lyndon/Touch of Evil/The Cabinet of Dr Caligari/Sam Raimi horror. I think it's Canadian national cultural asset - not wiping out the warmth of Terrence and Philip, but containing it's own sense of identity. Given some of the orthodoxic independent output of the other half if the cointinent, a refreshing change. The only reference to Python would be if Terry Gilliam was what the other reviewers might have meant, and what they were expecting to see. They are blinkered. You can curse me afterwards, but if I'm wrong, I'll have only wasted and an hour an a half of your time, and considering you've likely wasted a year not following all those failed good intentions of self improvement during the pandemic, you may not have much of an argument. Put it this way: if you're at all afraid to try new foods, you maybe should avoid this film, it's not for you. If you do like trying something that's not offering the received comforts of cinema, then go ahead. Not encouraged for non-adults, but that caution is out of politeness to social normalcy. Not that that there's anything wrong with that, is there? Is there?
The most impressive surrealist satire about Canadian politics I've ever seen
Stay_away_from_the_Metropol7 May 2021
This is one of the most strikingly original cinematic visions I have seen in quite some time. The movie is worth watching for the unique visual aesthetics and effects alone, but everything else about it surpassed my expectations and impressed me as well. With a title as broad as The Twentieth Century, this one felt like a real shot in the dark, but it paid off immensely. I mean, I had no idea it was going to be a dark surrealist comedy about Canada, for one...
The entire cast went above and beyond bringing their absurdist characters within this fantasy interpretation of Canada to life, all managing to be on the same wavelength, riding the line between comically animated and viscerally intense. On that note, the bizarre tone of the entire film was also one of it's strongest suits - the fact that it can balance satirical comedy, arthouse absurdism, and traditional storytelling so well is really something to wonder over. No matter what type of person you are, there's no way you could predict what you're going to see next while viewing this rollercoaster of imagery and idea.
This is a truly locked-in vision that is incredibly singular. I've never seen anything quite like it. It was written, shot, directed, and edited very succinctly. I can't recommend it to everyone, because, honestly it will be TOO original for the average viewer - they won't know what to take of it. They won't know how to feel. But, this is really a bit of a masterwork and deserves accolades. If you value originality, or the art and craft of filmmaking itself, do yourself a favor and check this out. Curious to see where this takes Matthew Rankin in the future.
The entire cast went above and beyond bringing their absurdist characters within this fantasy interpretation of Canada to life, all managing to be on the same wavelength, riding the line between comically animated and viscerally intense. On that note, the bizarre tone of the entire film was also one of it's strongest suits - the fact that it can balance satirical comedy, arthouse absurdism, and traditional storytelling so well is really something to wonder over. No matter what type of person you are, there's no way you could predict what you're going to see next while viewing this rollercoaster of imagery and idea.
This is a truly locked-in vision that is incredibly singular. I've never seen anything quite like it. It was written, shot, directed, and edited very succinctly. I can't recommend it to everyone, because, honestly it will be TOO original for the average viewer - they won't know what to take of it. They won't know how to feel. But, this is really a bit of a masterwork and deserves accolades. If you value originality, or the art and craft of filmmaking itself, do yourself a favor and check this out. Curious to see where this takes Matthew Rankin in the future.
Horribly good
fluffchop17 December 2021
This isn't a typical movie. It's more like a theater production of something to do with something. I'm sure it had some point and so it's lucky it's not being given one star. Is this historical? Some boot sniffer, the SNIFFER sir, I call thee a sniffer!! It's kind of entertaining in a never will I ever bother watching this again sort of way. I don't understand people saying things about Monty Python because some of that stuff is actually funny. The Holy Grail is the best of Monty Python and this movie has none of that charm whatsoever. It's a bit like when people would hear some "alternative" music in the late 80s and describe it as like R. E. M. It was nothing like REM but people associate certain things with certain things. Of course REM are so mainstream it's laughable but in a world ruled by synth pop or hair metal it was different at the time. Where does that leave The Smiths, The Cure, The Psychedelic Furs and a million other bands that were at that time the latest of the waves of newness. But I digest, nom nom. This movie is sort of not funny, but it's oddness makes it seem unusual.
You might hate it, you might hate the main character, but give give it a shot.
jc-2740023 January 2022
Some people don't understand that the cinematography of this movie is based on German Expressionism. Just for this, this movie is already worth a watch. You'll see triangular shapes standing for mountains, cubes for buildings, with neons lights and triangular shaped windows. A visual phantasmagoria.
The satire of Canadian politics depicts a much wider and darker world that is to come. Idealisms in the form of evolutionary humanism (Nazism) and egalitarian humanism (Communism), would rise to nearly to dominate the world and fall.
Characters might be extravagant, and at some points you might find them disgusting, but don't let that ruin the experience of a neon filled expressionist decorum à la Fritz Lang with some Monthy Pythonesque references and its eclectic soundtrack of a world that was about to experiment all of this. Can you imagine the excitement if you would have been living back then (1899) and the terror and disappointment of knowing what was to come?
An experiment in fusion of ideas with a quite unique outcome.
The satire of Canadian politics depicts a much wider and darker world that is to come. Idealisms in the form of evolutionary humanism (Nazism) and egalitarian humanism (Communism), would rise to nearly to dominate the world and fall.
Characters might be extravagant, and at some points you might find them disgusting, but don't let that ruin the experience of a neon filled expressionist decorum à la Fritz Lang with some Monthy Pythonesque references and its eclectic soundtrack of a world that was about to experiment all of this. Can you imagine the excitement if you would have been living back then (1899) and the terror and disappointment of knowing what was to come?
An experiment in fusion of ideas with a quite unique outcome.
Fascinating Graphics
kyivguy11 March 2021
Enter a rabbit hole of Canadian history!
mikesturgill4910 January 2022
After Hemingway received the Nobel Prize for "The Old Man and the Sea" he was asked about it's many metaphors and their validity. Hem answered in words to the effect that it was true those symbols represented many things depending on what the reader brought to the sitting.
Well friends, this jeweled marvel is very much like a woman or sea, capable of bestowing or witholding great treasures! I just discovered it and now the world seems just a little less desolate, a little more comforting.
And why are we affronted by and attack those things we don't understand? The very best professional critics are guilty of the same.
Ok so I'm laying it on pretty thick but I'm trying make a strong point to the hosers. All I ask is that you please at lease skim a Wiki page before lending this, my new favorite film a discouraging rating.
Well friends, this jeweled marvel is very much like a woman or sea, capable of bestowing or witholding great treasures! I just discovered it and now the world seems just a little less desolate, a little more comforting.
And why are we affronted by and attack those things we don't understand? The very best professional critics are guilty of the same.
Ok so I'm laying it on pretty thick but I'm trying make a strong point to the hosers. All I ask is that you please at lease skim a Wiki page before lending this, my new favorite film a discouraging rating.
Unadulterated Garbage
Xenophon3 December 2020
This movie thinks it's Monty Python but it's not, it's not funny, witty or interesting in the least. This putrid dung heap of a film is only suited for the hipster lugans too afraid to admit that crap is crap because some hopped up acid using talking head claims it's "artistic genius" or some other idiotic term those buffoons dream up. After seeing this mess I think I might have rated Sicilian Vampire too low.
An elaborate prank on grant organizations
jellopuke4 January 2021
Maybe if you've never seen a Guy Maddin movie, you might find this original, but its entire aesthetic is simply ripping him off. Unfortunately, it's far more pretentious than anything he did and all the attempts at comedy fall flat. The logical conclusion to something like this is that it's all a con on the grant organizations that funded it. You can see the application form "an examination of the myth of Canadian identity and history, a look at the battle between french and english Canada, an exploration of a national figure,etc" but it's all BS. Movies like this could not exist without a checklist system and people who don't care about the final product. This is a painful experience to sit through and imagining the director laughing at the government he dislikes having paid his rent for a year only makes it intermitable.
Distracting
westsideschl31 July 2021
More of a production from Adult Swim cartoons than an historic reenactment although I'm sure there are truths hidden in this surreal bizarre graphic based production. Not a clear cohesive direct & simple conveyance of this period; the first half of the 20th century in Canada. Anyway it's (sorta) a life history of Mackenzie King a long termed Prime Minister. Side notes: If I see another triangle (explanation -inserted triangle picture graphics were used a lot). And, I learned more from Wiki.
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