Hollywood North is a movie that simultaneously attempts to satirize and explain the dynamics behind Canada's emergence as a suburb of the Los Angeles cultural community. Simply put, shooting in Canada is cheaper for American interests, and it means jobs for Canadians.
Despite the bargain-basement limitations that similarly mark Hollywood North, the financial and creative machinations described in the film can be amusing. Matthew Modine, Jennifer Tilly and Deborah Unger give it a good shot, but are limited by a weak script, and, well, Canadian production values.
Hollywood North, though, also represents one of the final screen performances of the great British actor Alan Bates, who died two weeks ago of cancer at 69. It isn't even close to being one of his better roles, but it reminded me of how his mere presence could enhance a project.
Ironically, while several other of Bates' lesser efforts are readily available, some of his most important work isn't, yet.
Of the titles available on disc, King of Hearts, The Entertainer (as Laurence Olivier's son), In Celebration, Butley, The Rose, Three Sisters, Britannia Hospital, Women in Love, the BBC mini-series The Mayor of Casterbridge (adapted from the Hardy novel by Dennis Potter) and Gosford Park are the most noteworthy.
Remarkably though, VHS is the only place to find such noteworthy films as Zorba the Greek, Georgy Girl, An Unmarried Woman, Far From the Madding Crowd, The Fixer, The Go-Between, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, Whistle Down the Wind, The Collection, The Running Man, A Kind of Loving, Story of a Love Story, Royal Flash, The Shout, The Return of the Soldier, The Silent Tongue and Nijinsky. James Ivory and Ruth Prawer Jhabvala's Quartet will be released in February.
Sadly, the early work of several of Bates' contemporaries is also underrepresented in DVD. They include David Hemmings, Oliver Reed and Richard Harris (all of whom appeared in Gladiator before they died), and a very alive Terence Stamp (Billy Budd, Poor Cow), Albert Finney (Charlie Bubbles, Night Must Fall, Two for the Road) and Tom Courtenay (The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner, A Taste of Honey, The Loved One). Blessedly, Blow-Up will be released in February, too.
New release for Anglophiles
Janice Beard: 45 Words Per Minute is a quirky little Brit comedy that was far too precious to create much of stir beyond its very limited release in America, a few years back. It probably still is. Nevertheless, now that the BBC America cable network is finding a broad audience, this Amelie-wannabe should appeal to fans of Coupling, The Office and other offbeat comedies. Having Rhys Ifans and Patsy Kensit along for the ride doesn't hurt, either.
Director Clare Kilner would go on to direct Mandy Moore and Allison Janney in last summer's mother-daughter romantic comedy, How to Deal. It, too, just arrived in video.