LUCIDMEDIA

The Genie Awards Will Go To…

Written by Adam A. Donaldson Friday, 03 April 2009 16:07

In perfect synchronicity, the Genie Awards will be handed out almost exactly a week after the Junos. It was a good year for Canadian cinema; from the attempted blockbutering of our war history (Passchendaele) to the sleeper hits that kept on making noise (Amal). This year’s awards are being held in our Nation’s capital, perhaps as a reminder to our government about a certain issue they got hosed with in the last election: the Arts. I wish I could be there, but since I can’t, I’ll simply predict the winners and gage my accuracy from the comfort of home.

In perfect synchronicity, the Genie Awards will be handed out almost exactly a week after the Junos. It was a good year for Canadian cinema; from the attempted blockbutering of our war history (Passchendaele) to the sleeper hits that kept on making noise (Amal). This year’s awards are being held in our Nation’s capital, perhaps as a reminder to our government about a certain issue they got hosed with in the last election: the Arts. I wish I could be there, but since I can’t, I’ll simply predict the winners and gage my accuracy from the comfort of home.

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE

PAUL GROSS - Passchendaele
RUPINDER NAGRA - Amal
CHRISTOPHER PLUMMER - Emotional Arithmetic
AARON POOLE - This Beautiful City
NATAR UNGALAAQ - Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life)

Gross gets credit for bringing sexy back to Canadian film and Plummer’s old guard so he doesn’t deserve to be overlooked. But honestly, I think this is a two way race between Nagra and Ungalaaq, and while they both struck chords with the audience, I think that Amal’s simple parable wins more hearts.

Winner: RUPINDER NAGRA - Amal

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE

ISABELLE BLAIS - Borderline
ELLEN BURSTYN - The Stone Angel
MARIANNE FORTIER - Maman est chez le coiffeur (Mommy is at the Hairdresser’s)
SUSAN SARANDON - Emotional Arithmetic
PREITY ZINTA - Heaven on Earth

Only one of these nominees really stands out above the pack, and that’s Heaven on Earth’s Preity Zinta. Her character’s quiet desperation becomes an incredible inner strength that’s mesmerizing to see develop. I’ve got my fingers crossed for Zinta.

Winner: PREITY ZINTA - Heaven on Earth

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

NORMAND D'AMOUR - Tout est Parfait (Everything is Fine)
BENOIT MCGINNIS - Le Banquet
CALLUM KEITH RENNIE - Normal
RADE SHERBEDGIA - Fugitive Pieces
MAX VON SYDOW - Emotional Arithmetic

Rade Sherbedgia may be one of those “don’t I know that guy from something” actors, but in Fugitive Pieces he was the hero we all wanted to mentor us and share wisdom with. He was the kindly soul that made such a difference in one life he can never be forgotten, and he underplayed it all the way.

Winner: RADE SHERBEDGIA - Fugitive Pieces

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE

CÉLINE BONNIER - Maman est chez le coiffeur (Mommy is at the Hairdresser’s)
KRISTIN BOOTH - Young People F***ing
EVELINE GÉLINAS - Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life)
ANIE PASCALE - Tout est Parfait (Everything is Fine)
ROSAMUND PIKE - Fugitive Pieces

This one was easy for me, although I did have a certain affection for putting the spotlight on the Strap-On girl from Young People F***ing, but I’ll go with the more appropriate choice. Eveline Gelinas as the sympathetic nurse in Necessities of Life was the very model of the less is more school of acting.

Winner: EVELINE GÉLINAS - Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life)

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY

BERNARD ÉMOND - Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life)
DEEPA MEHTA - Heaven on Earth
TRAVIS MCDONALD - Normal
RANDALL COLE - Real Time
GUILLAUME VIGNEAULT - Tout est Parfait (Everything is Fine)

I honestly think these are all worthy contenders. I like the fact that Real Time was recognized for its ambition, but its execution wasn’t exactly hitch-less. Unfortunately, I think Normal is out too, which leaves a pretty potent three-way race. Hmm, it’s a tough call, and a time for tough decisions. I say it’s Mehta time.

Winner: DEEPA MEHTA - Heaven on Earth

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY

RICHIE MEHTA, SHAUN MEHTA - Amal
MARIE-SISSI LABRÈCHE, LYNE CHARLEBOIS - Borderline
JEREMY PODESWA - Fugitive Pieces

I think this one will be an easy win for Amal whose simple twist makes for a powerful, final message.

Winner: RICHIE MEHTA, SHAUN MEHTA - Amal

ACHIEVEMENT IN ART DIRECTION/PRODUCTION DESIGN

PATRICE BENGLE - Maman est chez le coiffeur (Mommy is at the Hairdresser’s)
CAROL SPIER, JANICE BLACKIE-GOODINE - Passchendaele
MATTHEW DAVIES, ERICA MILO - Fugitive Pieces
ROB GRAY - The Stone Angel
DANIELLE LABRIE - Le piège américain (The American Trap)

The battlefields of World War I were so brutally and painstakingly recreated, and the Alberta splendour was so lovingly captured, there’s really only one Canadian film that pushed the envelope this year.

Winner: CAROL SPIER, JANICE BLACKIE-GOODINE - Passchendaele

ACHIEVEMENT IN CINEMATOGRAPHY

NICOLAS BOLDUC - Le Banquet
BOBBY BUKOWSKI - The Stone Angel
PIERRE GILL - Le piège américain (The American Trap)
GREGORY MIDDLETON CSC - Fugitive Pieces
SARA MISHARA - Tout est Parfait (Everything is Fine)

It’s hard to believe that Passchendaele didn’t get a nomination in this category. But failing that I instead give the nod to Gregory Middleton for Fugitive Pieces for the intriguing way he designed the look of the film to grow warmer as Jakob journeys from frightened and reclusive child to an accepting adult.

Winner: GREGORY MIDDLETON CSC - Fugitive Pieces

BEST DOCUMENTARY

INFINIMENT QUÉBEC - Jean-Claude Labrecque, Yves Fortin, Christian Medawar
MY WINNIPEG - Guy Maddin, Phyllis Laing, Jody Shapiro
UP THE YANGTZE - Yung Chang, Mila Aung-Thwin, John Christou, Germaine Ying-Gee Wong

I’m still not sure how My Winnipeg counts as a documentary, at least in a traditional sense. Nay, I think the prize will go to the very potent and very personal journey Up the Yangtze.

Winner: UP THE YANGTZE - Yung Chang, Mila Aung-Thwin, John Christou, Germaine Ying-Gee Wong

ACHIEVEMENT IN DIRECTION

RICHIE MEHTA - Amal
LYNE CHARLEBOIS - Borderline
BENOIT PILON - Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life)
CARL BESSAI - Normal
YVES-CHRISTIAN FOURNIER - Tout est Parfait (Everything is Fine)

There are a couple of nominees I like here, but again I’m haunted by the simple claustrophobia evoked by Tiivii’s struggle amongst a people and a language he doesn’t know. The Necessities of Life is a powerful film with complex intentions but told simply by a director with skill.

Winner: BENOIT PILON - Ce qu’il faut pour vivre (The Necessities of Life)

BEST MOTION PICTURE

AMAL - David Miller, Steven Bray
CE QU’IL FAUT POUR VIVRE (THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE) - Bernadette Payeur, René Chénier
NORMAL - Andrew Boutilier, Carl Bessai
PASSCHENDAELE - Niv Fichman, Francis Damberger, Paul Gross, Frank Siracusa
TOUT EST PARFAIT (EVERYTHING IS FINE) - Nicole Robert

Tough call. My gut says Necessities, but I think Amal might score an upset if it struck a chord with voters. Or maybe I’ll just go with my instinct.

Winner: CE QU’IL FAUT POUR VIVRE (THE NECESSITIES OF LIFE)