Everything’s Gone Green
Directed by: Paul Fox
Written by: Douglas Coupland
Starring: Paulo Costanzo, Steph Song, JR Bourne, Aidan Devine

Finally, a Canadian movie that feels authentically Canadian without shoving it in your face! I caught the premiere of the film Everything’s Gone Green at the Toronto International Film Festival this year, and I’m happy to say, it was everything I’d hoped it would be… and more.

Writer Douglas Coupland (Generation X, Microserfs) has penned his first feature film, and if you’re a fan of Coupland’s work, this movie is an almost flawless cinematic interpretation of the tone of his writing. It’s a completely new story, not based on any specific book, although it certainly deals with many of the same themes he has become known for.

Ryan (Paulo Costanzo) is a twenty-something slacker, working at an office job that he hates. When his parents mistakenly think they have won the lottery, he believes his life is about to change. And it does. Through one of many random occurrences, he gets offered a job with the B.C. Lottery Corporation, and suddenly finds himself writing for their magazine about the not-so-glorious lives of lottery winners. Then one day he falls for Ming (Steph Song), an alluring girl who just happens to have an asshole boyfriend who designs golf courses for a living (JR Bourne). Ryan must grapple with himself and his morals to find happiness in a world filled with greed and apathy.

There is one strange bit of overlap with this movie and Jpod, Coupland’s most recent book. It has to do with Ryan’s parents, who take up a rather unexpected profession. I wonder if Coupland may have borrowed a few elements from this screenplay for Jpod, simply because he thought the movie would never get made.

Aside from direct similarities, the film is simply chock full of “Coupland-isms”. Characters that philosophize about every day things in insightful and hilarious ways without sounding pretentious… weird surreal moments and coincidences that bring people together… recurring themes and moments that bring the tale full circle. By far one of the coolest things about this movie was the use of the photographs that Ryan takes as a visual motif. Coupland himself is a visual artist, and some of the weird set pieces and props in the movie are actually his own creations.

In a way I feel kind of bad that Coupland’s screenplay is what everyone has been talking about, because the direction and the performances are quite stellar as well. Director Paul Fox really impressed me… I wasn’t expecting much because he had previously only done a few made-for-TV movies and an indie flick called The Dark Hours. But he nails the feel of this movie, and makes it look beautiful to boot with the help of cinematographer David Frazee.

As far as the acting goes, I was a little worried that Paulo Constanzo (now best known for his role on the ill-fated sitcom Joey) would overdo it, and try too hard to be the cynical pseudo-intellectual. But he ends up being the perfect Coupland protagonist: bitter and sarcastic, but with a hint of vulnerability underneath it too. Steph Song also brings a very genuine, down to earth quality to her performance. On the other hand, there are some really hilarious, exagerrated characters from J.R. Bourne as Bryce, and Aidan Devine as Ryan’s boss Alan.

Both set in Vancouver and shot in Vancouver, the film features some beautiful backdrops, and shows off the unique charm of a city that Coupland clearly loves. To top it off, they’ve managed to assemble an amazing soundtrack of Canadian music, from Jason Collett, Do Make Say Think and Sloan, to Final Fantasy, Caribou, and The Fembots.

I could say that Everything’s Gone Green is probably the best Canadian movie I’ve ever seen, but I’d prefer to drop a crappy qualifier like that, and just tell you that it’s easily one of the best movies I’ve seen this year. The story itself may feel incomplete, but it is composed of all these little moments that are just so much fun to watch. Unmistakably Canadian without drawing attention to that fact, but more importantly, it’s just funny, timely and touching. Here’s to hoping this brilliant flick reaches an audience outside Canada as well. — Sean

SCORE:

Recommended If You Like: Waydowntown, Office Space, Little Miss Sunshine

Around the Web: