Canvas (2006 film)

Last updated

Canvas
Canvas film.jpg
Directed by Joseph Greco
Written byJoseph Greco
Produced byLucy Hammel
Bill Erfurth
Adam Hammel
Sharon Lane
Joe Pantoliano
StarringJoe Pantoliano
Marcia Gay Harden
Devon Gearhart
Sophia Bairley
Marcus Johns
Antony Del Rio
CinematographyRob Sweeney
Edited byNina Kawasaki
Music by Joel Goodman
Production
companies
LMG Pictures
Canvas Pictures
Rebellion Pictures
Distributed by Screen Media Films
Release dates
  • October 2006 (2006-10)(Hamptons)
  • October 12, 2007 (2007-10-12)(United States)
Running time
101 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Canvas is a 2006 drama film written and directed by Joseph Greco about a Florida family dealing with a mother who has schizophrenia. The film premiered October 2006 at the Hamptons International Film Festival in New York. Greco said the film was inspired from his childhood experiences with a schizophrenic mother. [1]

Contents

Plot

Ten-year-old Chris Marino returns home after a brief stay with relatives, which was necessitated by the condition of his mother, Mary, who suffers from schizophrenia. At home, Mary's condition worsens, and her delusions and paranoia invite neighborhood contempt and result in visits from the police. When Mary is institutionalized after the failure of her medication, Chris is left with his father, John, who has retreated into building a boat in the family driveway.

One day, Chris goes to school wearing a shirt his mother has mended and sewn a patch on. When his classmates admire the patch, Chris claims he made it himself, leading him to begin making t-shirts for his fellow students as his form of coping.

Cast

Production

Director Joseph Greco said, "The movie is certainly inspired by my mother, but I wouldn't say it's the exact same as my childhood. I didn't feel compelled to stick to the facts entirely. I would say it tells the emotional truth about my father and I coping the best we could." [1] Joe Pantoliano served as a producer for the film and helped Greco to develop the idea. [2]

During the film's third week of shooting on October 24, 2005, Hurricane Wilma made landfall in Florida and nearly shut down the production, but after waiting out the hurricane, cast and crew were able to persevere and complete the film. [1]

Release

The film premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2006 [3] and was shown later that year at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival on November 12, 2006. [4] It premiered in Germany on February 10, 2007, at the European Film Market and premiered in France on May 21, 2007, at the Cannes Film Market.

Canvas has also been shown at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival, [5] the Sedona International Film Festival, [6] the Nantucket Film Festival, [7] and the Sarasota Film Festival. [7]

The film opened in limited release in the United States on October 12, 2007. [8]

Critical reception

On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, 78% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 27 reviews. [9] The site's critics consensus reads, "Canvas is a faithful portrayal of mental illness highlighted by terrific performances." [9] On Metacritic, the film has an average score of 67 out of 100, based on 10 reviews. [10]

Writing for Variety , John Anderson said Greco "has constructed a story that works both as a domestic drama and an allegory about mental illness and art." [11] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3 out of 4 stars and wrote, "The portrayal of schizophrenia in the film has been praised by mental health experts as unusually accurate and sympathetic." [12] Harden and Pantoliano's performances received much praise, with Jason Anderson of the Toronto Star writing of the latter in particular: "Best known for playing fork-tongued dirtbags in Memento and The Matrix , he proves to be far more appealing in the quieter role of a man who is fundamentally decent but unsure how to relate to his troubled wife and bewildered son." [13] Variety commented Pantoliano gives a "cliche-demolishing performance as a sensitive family man who loves his wife no matter how paranoid, delusional or destructive she becomes." [11] Anderson of the Toronto Star added, "Equally admirable is Greco's determination not to sensationalize the subject of schizophrenia. Instead, he keeps the disease firmly within a believable and thoroughly ordinary context." [13]

Awards

At the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival, the film won the Audience Award and Joe Pantoliano won the Best Dramatic Performance Award. [4] At the Sedona International Film Festival, the film won the Best Feature Film Award and Pantoliano won the Outstanding Acting Award. [6] The film also won Audience Awards at the Nantucket Film Festival and the Sarasota Film Festival. [7] The National Alliance on Mental Illness awarded the film with the Outstanding Media Award for dramatic motion picture. [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Pantoliano</span> American actor

Joseph Peter Pantoliano is an American actor who has played over 150 roles across film, television, and theater. He is best known for portraying Ralph "Ralphie" Cifaretto on the HBO crime drama The Sopranos (1999–2007), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, and Cypher in the sci-fi action film The Matrix (1999).

<i>Bound</i> (1996 film) 1996 American film by the Wachowskis

Bound is a 1996 American erotic crime thriller film written and directed by the Wachowskis in their feature film directorial debut. Violet, who longs to escape her relationship with her mafioso boyfriend Caesar, enters into a clandestine affair with alluring ex-con Corky, and the two women hatch a scheme to steal $2 million of Mafia money.

Edwin Fuller Torrey, is an American psychiatrist and schizophrenia researcher. He is associate director of research at the Stanley Medical Research Institute (SMRI) and founder of the Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC), a nonprofit organization whose principal activity is promoting the passage and implementation of outpatient commitment laws and civil commitment laws and standards in individual states that allow people diagnosed with severe mental illness to be involuntarily hospitalized and treated throughout the United States.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is a United States-based nonprofit organization originally founded as a grassroots group by family members of people diagnosed with mental illness. NAMI identifies its mission as "providing advocacy, education, support and public awareness so that all individuals and families affected by mental illness can build better lives" and its vision as "a world where all people affected by mental illness live healthy, fulfilling lives supported by a community that cares". NAMI offers classes and trainings for people living with mental illnesses, their families, community members, and professionals, including what is termed psychoeducation, or education about mental illness. NAMI holds regular events which combine fundraising for the organization and education, including Mental Illness Awareness Week and NAMIWalks.

<i>Me, Myself & Irene</i> 2000 comedy film by Peter and Bobby Farrelly

Me, Myself & Irene is a 2000 American slapstick black comedy film directed by the Farrelly brothers, and starring Jim Carrey and Renée Zellweger. Chris Cooper, Robert Forster, Richard Jenkins, Daniel Greene, Anthony Anderson, Jerod Mixon and Mongo Brownlee co-star. The film is about a Rhode Island state trooper named Charlie who, after years of continuously suppressing his rage and feelings, suffers a psychotic breakdown that results in a second personality, Hank. This was Carrey's first role in a 20th Century Fox film, along with being the Farrelly brothers' second film with Carrey since Dumb and Dumber (1994). Filming was done from May 11 to July 29, 1999 in various locations in Rhode Island and Vermont. It was a box office success but received mixed to negative critic reviews.

David Webb Peoples is an American screenwriter who wrote Blade Runner (1982), Unforgiven (1992), and 12 Monkeys (1995). He has been nominated for Oscar, Golden Globe, and BAFTA awards. He won the best screenplay awards from the L.A. Film Critics (1991) and National Society of Film Critics (1992) for Unforgiven.

Frederick J. Frese III was an American psychologist, and an advocate for the mentally ill. In 1968, Fred was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and ordered to live the rest of his life in the Ohio State Psychiatric System. In 1980, Frese was promoted to the Director of Psychology of the Western Reserve Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center. One of the first schizophrenic psychologists to publicly diagnosis, Frese was a leading voice for the rights of the mentally ill. Over the course of 30 years, Frese gave 2,000 speeches in 48 states and several countries. In 2015, Frese was featured as one of CNN's "Mental Health Warriors".

<i>Memento</i> (film) 2000 film by Christopher Nolan

Memento is a 2000 American neo-noir psychological thriller film written and directed by Christopher Nolan, based on the short story "Memento Mori" by his brother Jonathan Nolan, which was later published in 2001. The film stars Guy Pearce, Carrie-Anne Moss, and Joe Pantoliano. The film follows Leonard Shelby (Pearce), a man who suffers from anterograde amnesia—resulting in short-term memory loss and the inability to form new memories—who uses an elaborate system of photographs, handwritten notes, and tattoos in an attempt to uncover the perpetrator who killed his wife and caused him to sustain the condition.

The Treatment Advocacy Center (TAC) is a U.S. non-profit organization based in Arlington, Virginia, originally announced as the NAMI Treatment Action Centre in 1997. The TAC was subsequently directed by psychiatrist E. Fuller Torrey and identifies its mission as "dedicated to eliminating barriers to the timely and effective treatment of severe mental illness". The organization is most well-known for proposed laws, policies, and practices regarding legally compelled outpatient services or outpatient commitment for people diagnosed with mental illness. The organization identifies its other key issues as "anosognosia, consequences of non-treatment, criminalization of mental illness, psychiatric bed shortages, public service costs, violence and mental illness". Advocates for mental health have criticized TAC for endorsing coercion and forced treatment.

Joe Wicks (<i>EastEnders</i>) Fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders

Joe Wicks is a fictional character from the BBC soap opera EastEnders, played by Paul Nicholls. He appears on screen between 25 March 1996 and 14 November 1997. EastEnders was praised for the character's portrayal of schizophrenia.

Nancy Coover Andreasen is an American neuroscientist and neuropsychiatrist. She currently holds the Andrew H. Woods Chair of Psychiatry at the Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa.

<i>Clean, Shaven</i> 1993 American film

Clean, Shaven is a 1993 drama film written, produced and directed by Lodge Kerrigan, in which Peter Winter is a man with schizophrenia desperately trying to get his daughter back from her adoptive mother. The film attempts to subjectively view schizophrenia and those who are affected by it.

<i>Im a Cyborg, But Thats OK</i> 2006 South Korean film

I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK is a 2006 South Korean romantic comedy film directed by Park Chan-wook.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Lichtenstein</span> American film producer (born 1956)

Bill Lichtenstein is an American print and broadcast journalist and documentary producer, president of the media production company, Lichtenstein Creative Media, Incorporated.

<i>The Soloist</i> 2009 film by Joe Wright

The Soloist is a 2009 drama film directed by Joe Wright, and starring Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. The plot is based on the true story of Nathaniel Ayers, a musician who developed schizophrenia and became homeless. The film was released in theaters on April 24, 2009. It received mixed reviews from critics and grossed just $38 million against its $60 million budget.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Lindstrom</span> American filmmaker (born 1961)

Brian Lindstrom is a documentary filmmaker whose films focus on addiction, incarceration, mental illness, and police brutality.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeffrey Lieberman</span> American psychiatrist (born 1948)

Jeffrey Alan Lieberman is an American psychiatrist who specializes in schizophrenia and related psychoses and their associated neuroscience (biology) and pharmacological treatment. He was principal investigator for CATIE, the largest and longest independent study ever funded by the United States National Institute of Mental Health to examine existing pharmacotherapies for schizophrenia. He was president of the American Psychiatric Association from May 2013 to May 2014.

Joseph Greco is a writer, director and producer living in Los Angeles. He wrote & directed the feature film Canvas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Steven Waterhouse</span> America bible teacher

Steven Waterhouse is an American pastor, Bible teacher, and Christian author who has published works on counseling and systematic theology. Waterhouse has taught Bible doctrine in colleges and church ministries, has been the keynote speaker at National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI) conventions, and has lectured at various institutions and conference workshops on counseling.

Eleanor Owen, also known as Eleanor DeVito, was an American journalist, playwright, university professor, costume designer, theatre actress, and mental health professional. She received statewide and national honors and awards for her advocacy work on behalf of families and individuals with mental illness. Serving as an advocate in Olympia, Washington, Owen participated in the introduction and successful passage of health and human services legislation.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hudek, Dan (November 8, 2006). "Storms of Life". Orlando Sentinel . Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Joe Pantoliano, aka Joey Pants". Ability Magazine . 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  3. ↑ Brooks, Brian (September 27, 2006). "Spotlights, Rising Stars, Burstyn, Altman, Hope and "Astronaut Farmer" Unveiled for 14th Hamptons Fe". IndieWire . Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  4. 1 2 "FLIFF Award Winners Announced". www.filmfestivals.com. November 14, 2006. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  5. ↑ Wilonsky, Robert (February 27, 2007). "AFI Fest Releases Lineup of Films and Guest List. Oh, Look: The Guy From Office Space". Dallas Observer. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  6. 1 2 "2007 Directors' Choice Awards". Sedona Film Festival. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 "Canvas". NovaCat. OCLC   179927438 . Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  8. ↑ Holden, Stephen (October 12, 2007). "Illness Rends One Mind, Three Hearts". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. 1 2 "Canvas". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Canvas (2007): Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved October 13, 2007.
  11. 1 2 Anderson, John (November 23, 2006). "Canvas". Variety . Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  12. ↑ Ebert, Roger (October 11, 2007). "The serious side of Joey Pants". Chicago Sun-Times . Retrieved April 3, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Anderson, Jason (December 12, 2008). "Canvas: Exploring normal". thestar.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  14. ↑ "NAMI presents award to theatrical film CANVAS". NAMI . June 20, 2007. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.