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Although his last name is Carr, his comedy is more comparable to a monster truck. Jimmy Carr is one of Britain’s top comedic exports, and Montrealers found out why last night. The 45-year-old Londoner presented us with Jimmy Carr: The Best Of, Ultimate, Gold, Greatest Hits World Tour at Le Gesù. Before the show even began, a slideshow on the projection screen invited audience members to text in questions, heckles, jokes, or tell Jimmy about a special occasion happening that night. Already, you could feel that this 425-seat theater was going to host a very intimate and interactive show. The crowd got warmed up with an array of short jokes and comical warning messages sliding through the big screen. From that point on, it was clear that this show might make the sensitive cry and make the others cry as well.

Jimmy Carr’s type of comedy is honest but brutal, and not made for the faint of heart. He ploughed through a panoply of taboo themes that went from disabled children to transvestites, and even the blind and their guide dogs (i.e.: Guide dogs for the blind: who picks up after them?). When I thought I was safe and that he had spared me, he went for it and did a bit on gingers—or as he calls us, strawberry disgusting. My favourite part of the show was witnessing Carr’s expert-level improvisational skills. His crowd work is second to none and he knows it. He never shied down from small talk with audience members, asking us questions and letting us respond until every single person had said what they wanted to say. He riffed with a girl whose phone went off during the show, and never ceased to amaze me with his punchlines coming at machine gun speed. 

The show lasted exactly an hour and a half, but I promise you that it was nothing short of feeling short. The first hour went by surprisingly fast (I usually tend to drift off at the 60-minute mark) but Carr doesn’t do anecdotal comedy. His one-liners kept our minds busy; every minute or so, he transported us in a new place that didn’t give our brain the opportunity to make it to neverland. What about those text messages he asked the audience to send him? Well, the show had us come full circle when Jimmy started reading (on the screen) text messages that were sent by audience members. Okay, let’s be honest, out of the 20 or so messages he read, about 5 were from actual audience members. The rest were well-crafted jokes put into text message context appearing to be from audience members (i.e.: If animals don’t want to be eaten, why are they made of food?). At least he read, what I assume to be, all of the messages sent by our group of audience members: I had the proof when he read my message, about my friend Zach’s birthday. What ensued between him and Zach after was the sweet, sweet feeling of watching your friend slowly get dragged down into the comedy abyss of Jimmy Carr. I strongly recommend this show, but beware: if you’re sensitive, you might leave crying, and if you’re not, you will definitely leave crying. 

It feels great to be back covering the Fantasia Film Festival for the CJLO 1690 AM team. Normally, the first week of the festival requires a light viewing as I try to balance my schedule. I also try to make a master schedule, so that I can make the final push to see what I wanted to see in the final weeks of the festival. Everyone, including CJLO DJ’s, is in my ears telling me what I need to check out. I am very happy that I got time to make it to my final Thursday screening of Under The Silver Lake. Check out the first week’s recap below!

Playing Hard 

The first film that I checked out was the documentary Playing Hard from director Jean-Simon Chartier. The film gives you unprecedented access to Ubisoft’s Montreal Studios and the five-year process that went into making the game that would be known as For Honor. From Jason Vandenberghe pitching the original concept, to the development of game under the eyes of Stéphane Cardin, we quite literally see the blood, sweat and tears that went into making the game. We also see how the personal five-year project can bring people at a certain breaking point and affect their personal life. Small vindictive aspects of the real world in the video game industry are also part of the film. Chartier showcases the perseverance and dedication it takes to make a blockbuster video game, but also shows the human side behind the game-making process and the tumultuous toll it takes on their lives. 

Relaxer 

Keeping with the thematic élément du jour, I checked out Relaxer from director Joel Potrykus. Everyone loves a good challenge. What about a good video game challenge? Abbie (Joshua Burge) keeps on failing the challenges set up by Mr. Personality Cam (David Dastmalchiathen). Let’s just say that Cam’s challenges are not for the faint of heart or the stomach. With Y2K approaching, Cam gives Abbie one final challenge: beat the unbeatable level 256 on Pac-Man without getting up from the couch until the challenge has been complete. What follows next are an array of friends who drop by to see Abbie, either to help or comically impede his challenge. Abbie also has some special abilities that go beyond the joystick in this slacker comedy. The audience cheered with every victory in game and out game that Abby accomplishes. Poltrykus uses a minimal mise en scène and lets the characters interact with one another in this cleverly crafted slacker comedy. You might want to play some Pac-Man or have a strong distaste for milk after this film. I came out of this film by putting a few quarters in Ms. Pac-Man as I waited to catch a showing of Sorry to Bother You. 

Mega Time Squad 

Upon my return the next day, I decided to check out the New Zealand comedy Mega Time Squad from director Tim van Dammen. A bunch of low-level criminal misfits get mixed up in more than they bargained for when they steal an ancient Chinese bracelet that gives the central protagonist, John (Anton Tennet), time travelling abilities. With these new abilities, John can go back in time and rectify any situation. Kind of useful, when you stole someone else’s money from your crime boss, and now you have two criminal organizations chasing you. With its wacky characters, who don’t make great criminals, and funny call backs to past joke references, Dammen tickled my funny bone. 

Under The Silver Lake

I won’t say much about this film, given the fact it’s being released later this Christmas. However, thank the movie gods I made it to the one showing I wanted to make it to this year for Fantasia. Under The Silver Lake, from director David Robert Mitchell, screened at Cannes and earned mixed reactions. The film follows Sam (Andrew Garfield) as he investigates the disappearance of his neighbour and a billionaire mogul that might be correlated. All of this takes place in seedy LA with all its glitz, glamour and vanity. This is not an old tapping into the underside of Hollywood and showing it’s seedy nature; however, Mittchell is well aware of this, as Garfield tries to lose the Spider-Man persona that haunts him. With reminiscent elements of David Lynch (Mulholland Drive) and David Cronenberg (Maps To The Stars) and their dark exposés of Hollywood, Under The Silver Lake continues the thematic elements set to the score of Disasterpiece. 

Hosted by Jessica Barile 

Stories by Patricia Petit Liang, Allison O'Reilly and Jessica Barile

Produced by Jessica Barile 

With the summer heatwave in full blast, I can’t wait to beat the heat and see some films at this year’s Fantasia Film Festival. 

Under The Silver Lake

My first pick comes from the Cinema Lucida section of the festival, a section that caters to the experimental and audacious films. I have been a big fan of David Robert Mitchell ever since his last film It Follows. His new film Under The Silver Lake sees Andrew Garfield playing a man obsessed with the strange circumstances of a billionaire mogul's murder and the kidnapping of a girl. This film, like It Follows, is bound to stay with you long after the credits roll.

Mandy 

Next up is from this year’s festival lineup (and closing the festival) is Mandy, from director Panos Cosmatos. It can only be described as some sort of horror, demonic nightmare from the trailer. However, this film had me at the eye candy given by the red and blue hues, as well as Nicolas Cage. How far on the Cage scale will he deliver? Early reviews are praising his performance.

Searching 

Final pick of the three would be Searching, from director Aneesh Chaganty. In this film, we see a father (John Cho), trying to find his daughter who disappeared, while getting a real-time account of his web investigative process. With all of the found footage film in this day in age, and the microcosm of the internet being linked to these films, Searching adds some thriller aspect to this subgenre with the clicks of the keyboard providing this pulse.

A big highlight of the festival is always Documentaries from the Edge. There are only three this year, as compared to other years, which offered more. Nevertheless, I hope to catch them when they are screened. 

As always, have a good festival experience, and bon cinéma!

Follow all of Remi’s  film viewings on Letterboxd.