vernon film society
Bringing the best in world and Canadian film to film lovers of Vernon and the North Okanagan
SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL
Note: the second showing is at 8:00pmDirector: Michael McGowan
Cast: Olivia Newton-John, Stephen McHattie, Noah Reid, Allie MacDonald, George Stroumboulopoulos, Marc Jordan, John Pyper-Ferguson
Run Time: 100 minutes
Country: USA
Year: 2010
Language: English
Rating: Not yet rated
In the follow-up to Film Circuit hits Saint Ralph and One Week, director Michael McGowan returns with Score: A Hockey Musical, a charming and exuberant homage to our Lord Stanley?s favourite pastime. Expertly written and directed by McGowan, Score focuses on Farley Gordon (newcomer Noah Reid), a 17-year-old who?s so naturally gifted at the sport that he makes Wayne Gretzky look like Tie Domi.
Home-schooled by his flakey parents (hilariously played by the legendary Olivia Newton John and songwriter Marc Jordan), Farley has little congress with the outside world. His bohemian parents find competition vulgar, preventing him from ever playing an organized game of hockey. Farley?s life is changed forever when he?s spotted by Walt Acorn (Stephen McHattie, Pontypool, All Hat, in a bravura turn), the owner of a junior hockey team. The young teen is an immediate sensation, offered ads and profiled in every major Canadian sports magazine. But fame is a double-edged sword, and soon Farley?s core beliefs (most notably his pacifism) are sorely tested. Can Farley remain true to himself or will he give in to pressure from his teammates and drop his gloves? And will his lifelong non-romance romance with his best friend Eve (Allie MacDonald) ever come to fruition?
Like the other films McGowan has made, Score: A Hockey Musical is peppered with Canadiana and host to numerous cameo appearances by the likes of Theo Fleury, Nelly Furtado and Walter Gretzky. But it is the very fact that the characters break into song in the middle of the narrative that give the film its distinctive flavour. Whether out on the ice or in the dressing room, the film is a full-on musical, with the cast breaking into song in the strangest of environments and situations. Lyrically, the numbers are downright hilarious while the choreography is surprisingly complex. A truly unique film, Score: A Hockey Musical gently and affectionately mocks our near-religious obsession with the game from one of our best young filmmakers.
Reviews: Not yet released
Official Site: www.scoreahockeymusical.com
We will have a special guest at our Dec. 13 screening of SCORE: A HOCKEY MUSICAL. We are pleased to have Dru Viergever, one of the actors in the film, who will introduce each show and have a Q&A session after each show.
DRU VIERGEVER (Moose) launched his film and television career with three seasons on NBC's Strange Days at Blake Holsey High as Stew Kubiak. He can currently be seen in Lionsgate's Saw 3D and in fall 2011 he will appear in 20th Century Fox's forthcoming television series, Breakout Kings. Previous film credits include The Cry of the Owl starring Julia Stiles and Paddy Considine, and George A. Romero's Survival of the Dead.
Born in Hamilton, Ontario and raised in Burlington, movies and music were the center of Dru's focus from as far back as he can remember. After taking an early interest in acting, his passions led him to pursue theatrical performance. During his high school years he took on leading roles in acclaimed productions of "Oklahoma" and "My Fair Lady" at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts.
After graduating from the University of Toronto with a BA in cinema studies and music, Viergever appeared in a number of national commercials that brought him to the attention of casting agents.
He is an accomplished musician, having studied bass guitar for several years. Viergever makes his home in Toronto, Ontario.