Whale Music (film)

Whale Music is a 1994 Canadian comedy-drama film directed by Richard J. Lewis and starring Maury Chaykin, Cyndy Preston, and Paul Gross.[3] It is based on the comic novel of the same name by Paul Quarrington, who also wrote the screenplay.

Whale Music
Directed byRichard J. Lewis
Written byPaul Quarrington
Richard J. Lewis
Produced bySteven DeNure
Raymond Massey
StarringMaury Chaykin
Cyndy Preston
Paul Gross
CinematographyVic Sarin[1]
Edited byRichard Martin[1]
Music byGeorge Blondheim
Rheostatics
Production
company
Cape Scott Motion Pictures[1]
Distributed byAlliance Communications Corporation[1]
Release dates
  • September 8, 1994 (1994-09-08) (TIFF)
  • November 4, 1994 (1994-11-04) (Canada)
Running time
107 min.
CountryCanada
LanguageEnglish
Box office$39,129 (US/Canada)[2]

The film premiered at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival.[4]

Plot

The film stars Maury Chaykin as Desmond Howl, a former rock star who has lived in seclusion in a seaside mansion since the death of his brother Danny (Paul Gross) in a car accident. Howl spends his time composing a symphonic masterpiece for the whales who congregate in the ocean near his property. His reason for this is revealed in the title of one of his songs, "Have You Seen My Brother?" — Danny died by losing control of his car and driving off a cliff into the ocean.

One day, however, Howl awakens to find Claire (Cyndy Preston), a mysterious young woman, in his living room. Although Howl's world is disrupted, Claire ends up inspiring him to complete the symphony, to write his first great pop song in years, and to begin seeking connections with people again.

The character of Desmond Howl is based largely on Brian Wilson.[5]

The cast also includes Kenneth Welsh, Jennifer Dale, Jim Byrnes, and Quarrington in a cameo appearance as a bartender.

Soundtrack

Music for the film was written by Rheostatics and released on the soundtrack album Music from the Motion Picture Whale Music.[6] The song "Claire" was a Top 40 hit for the band in 1995. Quarrington had chosen the Rheostatics to compose the soundtrack because he had liked their 1992 album Whale Music, which was itself inspired by Quarrington's novel.[7]

Reception

The film opened in eight Canadian theaters on November 4, 1994 and grossed almost $20,000 in its opening week.[8] It went on to gross $39,129.[2]

Awards
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) and nominee(s) Result Ref(s)
Genie Awards 1994 Best Motion Picture Whale Music Nominated [9]
Best Achievement in Direction Richard J. Lewis Nominated
Best Actor in a Leading Role Maury Chaykin Won
Best Adapted Screenplay Paul Quarrington and Richard J. Lewis Nominated
Best Overall Sound Daryl Powell, Dean Giammarco, Bill Sheppard and Paul A. Sharpe Won
Best Sound Editing Cal Shumiatcher, Eric Hill, Marti Richa, Issac Strozberg and Shane Shemko Won
Best Original Score George Blondheim Nominated
Best Original Song Rheostatics, "Claire" Won
Best Original Song Rheostatics, "Song of Courtship" Nominated

References
  1. Klady, Leonard (September 12, 1994). "Film Reviews: Whale Music". Variety. Archived from the original on 2010-02-11.
  2. Klady, Leonard (January 30, 1994). "The lowdown on '94's record box office heights". Variety. p. 17.
  3. Peter Birnie, "Whale Music: a gentle ode to a blubbering rock star". Vancouver Sun, November 15, 1994.
  4. Jane Stevenson, "Naked with the whales". Kingston Whig-Standard, September 9, 1994.
  5. Craig MacInnis, "Whale Music loosely based on Beach Boy". Calgary Herald, September 9, 1994.
  6. Katherine Monk, "The Rheostatics: happy to be Canadian content". Vancouver Sun, September 23, 1994.
  7. Robert Reid, "Gala screening: Paul Quarrington and Rheostatics to launch Whale Music in Waterloo". Waterloo Region Record, December 1, 1994.
  8. Klady, Leonard (November 14, 1994). "'Gate' tops; 'Frank' 2nd; 'War' OK". Variety. p. 9.
  9. Rob Salem, "Exotica picks up eight Genies: Egoyan follows Cannes success with Canadian top film honors". Toronto Star, December 8, 1994.


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