Boozecan (1994) User Reviews

At Times Incoherent, But Propelled By Its Energy.

[rsoonsa · 6/10 · 2 April 2005]

An independently financed, and with little enough at that, film that was shelved for about four years following its completion, BOOZECAN eventually found distribution in Canadian theatres, also for pay television, and despite its rather harshly embossed subject matter, there is yet a good deal to merit attention for those alert to freshly flavoured cinema. Boozecans are illegal after hour drinking clubs that became popular in the wake of the punk rock movement in eastern Canada, spreading westward from there, while the establishments shown in this piece are primarily cocainecans, and the prominent use of "recreational" drugs by the characters will be offputting to some viewers. Pasqua (Justin Louis), a young man with a police record, minor and possibly not fully justified but adequate to prevent his obtaining a liquor license, is depicted in his efforts to become a legitimate businessman, consistently hamstrung by the less than healthy milieu he frequents and by the company that he keeps. There are several subplots, one concerning a twisted police detective (the ever effective Eugene Lipinski) who is maintaining a sordid private life completely separate from one that he shares with his wife and children, and who additionally is obsessed with catching Pasqua in the commission of an illegal act that will terminate his entrepreneurial career just when fate is about to offer him a boon. The film is strongest when it depicts the seamier aspects of multi-cultural Toronto along with its societal rejects and dropouts, but loses focus whenever a linear narrative is attempted, while poor post-production work, especially sound recording and looping, brings incoherence to a large portion of the proceedings that, subsequently, appear to go nowhere. The cast plays with enthusiasm and individual scenes of a highly episodic script are well-done, and although overmuch cutting and the mentioned acoustic problems may prevent efforts of viewers to understand the storyline, the film's consistent energy must be acknowledged, moving the work briskly along to its suitably ambiguous conclusion.

Cheap thrills, eh?

[Zontar-2 · 8/10 · 16 February 2004]

A hardluck hustler attempts to run after-hours party joints while dodging dirtbag cops, shyster landlords, and assorted lowlifes. Many films try to disguise the fact they were lensed in Canada. This one rubs your face in Toronto grit. Hardly perfect - the romantic subplot feels like padding - but the results are quirky and colorful. Distribution may have been limited by its casual attitude towards recreational drugs. I was reminded of DRUGSTORE COWBOY ('89), but this one has less repetition and more humor. If TRAINSPOTTING gave you a buzz, try some of this.

Wonderful and shocking film from some of Canada's finest.

[Serpent-5 · 11 November 1999]

Actor Nicholas Campbell created this gritty Canadian film that contains some real interesting scenes and plot, and also filled it with some real shocking scene like the scene of a young man getting branded in his behind viciously by a group of guys wearing a jockstrap, which was something right out of William Friedkin's CRUSING. And also the relationship between Eugene Lipinski as a possessive cop who holds a young gay mans letter from his mother "hostage" and makes him do his dirty deeds was very powerful! And great supporting turn by Jan Rubes, Kenneth Welsh, Leslie Hope, Lenore Zann and David Cronenberg as a famous actor visiting the nightclub! It's a must see to any tour de force film lovers. I am surprised Blockbuster Video would get exclusive rights to a non-commerical film like this. They are very brave.

My comments of the situation with the 1884 fim Boozecan

[somersetgirl · 10 August 2011]

Hi. Paula b Of Somerset MA here. The review was not helpful because. I saw this film/Boozecan . On VHS only unfortunately. I'd love for the film to be released on DVD/but after contacting the distributor of the film. I was promised that they would try and get the film out on DVD/ That was about four months ago. So far all I see is the movie listed on www.moviefone.com. No specifics at all. I hope to some day see it on DVD region 1. All I have right now is just a straight VHS to DVD dupe. So I'm not all that happy with it. We all know what crap the quality of VHS is. Compared to todays high video standards. I really don't bother with VHS at all anymore.