Angel Square

{{for|the offices|One Angel Square}} {{Infobox film | name = Angel Square | image = | caption = | director = [[Anne Wheeler]] | producer = [[Arvi Liimatainen]] | writer = [[James DeFelice]] [[Anne Wheeler]] | based_on = {{Based on|''Angel Square''|[[Brian Doyle (Canadian writer)|Brian Doyle]]}} | narrator = | starring = Jeremy Radick [[Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge]] [[Nicola Cavendish]] [[Leon Pownall]] [[Michel Barrette]] [[Ned Beatty]] | music = [[George Blondheim]] | cinematography = [[Tobias A. Schliessler]] | editing = Lenka Svab Peter Svab | studio = [[National Film Board of Canada]] | distributor = [[Disney Channel]] | released = {{Film date|1991|10|4|[[Vancouver International Film Festival|VIFF]]}} | runtime = 104 minutes | country = Canada | language = English | budget = | gross = }} '''''Angel Square''''' (also known as '''''The Comic Book Christmas Caper''''') is a 1991 Canadian film directed by [[Anne Wheeler]] and starring [[Ned Beatty]] and [[Nicola Cavendish]].<ref name=pratley>[[Gerald Pratley]], ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''. Lynx Images, 2003. {{ISBN|1-894073-21-5}}. p. 14.</ref> The film is based on the novel of the same title by [[Brian Doyle (Canadian writer)|Brian Doyle]].<ref>Noel Taylor, "Trip down memory lane leads to Angel Square; Film-maker Wheeler inspired by book on wartime Lowertown". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', August 26, 1991.</ref>

==Premise== In 1945, a boy investigates after his friend's father has his sense of security violated when he is brutally beaten by an unknown attacker while working.<ref name=groen>Rick Groen, "Film Review: Angel Square". ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'', November 15, 1991.</ref>

==Cast== {{Cast listing| *Jeremy Radick as Tommy *Julie Bond as Mother *[[Jay Brazeau]] as Mr. Rosenberg *[[Nicola Cavendish]] as Aunt Dottie *Brian Dooley as Bert *[[Guillaume Lemay-Thivierge]] as Coco Laframboise *[[Leon Pownall]] as Blue Cheeks *[[Vlasta Vrána]] as Logg *Paul Whitney as Mr. Ritchie *[[Michel Barrette]] as Voice *[[Ned Beatty]] as Officer Ozzie O'Driscoll }}

==Production== Although Doyle's original novel had been set in [[Ottawa]], Wheeler was not able to shoot the film there as the architecture of the [[Lower Town]] neighbourhood had become too modern for a film set in the 1940s.<ref>Fred Haeseker, "Wheeler's new film wraps up". ''[[Calgary Herald]]'', April 15, 1990.</ref> Instead she shot the film in [[Edmonton]], whose [[Old Strathcona]] neighbourhood still possessed more appropriate period detail.<ref>Allen Panzeri, "Lights, camera, action around Edmonton as city stars in latest Anne Wheeler film; There are plenty of recognizable location shots in Angel Square". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', April 9, 1990.</ref>

It is unclear, however, whether the film version is canonically set in Ottawa or Edmonton, with both cities having been claimed by different sources. [[Gerald Pratley]], further, ascribes the film with a setting of [[Winnipeg]] in his book ''A Century of Canadian Cinema''.<ref name=pratley/>

Although the film was finished by fall 1990, its distribution arrangements were not finalized, and would have led to the film getting only a limited release at film festivals in the fall before opening commercially in the spring or summer of 1991 despite its Christmas theme.<ref>Noel Taylor, "Movie set in Ottawa almost didn't open here". ''[[Ottawa Citizen]]'', September 29, 1990.</ref> Accordingly, the producers decided to delay release until 1991 so that the film could properly go into general release close to Christmas.<ref>"Delay may help Wheeler film". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', November 21, 1990.</ref>

==Distribution== The film premiered at the 1991 [[Vancouver International Film Festival]],<ref>Elizabeth Aird, "Moviegoers sure to be Singin' in the Rain at film festival". ''[[Vancouver Sun]]'', September 21, 1991.</ref> before going into commercial release in November.<ref name=groen/>

==Critical response== Rick Groen of ''[[The Globe and Mail]]'' gave the film a middling review, writing that "Wheeler does have a keen eye for period detail (she's had practice - this is a chronological continuation of ''[[Bye Bye Blues (film)|Bye Bye Blues]]''), and handles the child actors well. As a director, positioning the camera, she's fine with the intimate moments, but her work in the action sequences borders on amateurish. The climax, the inevitable chase scene, is shot so claustrophobically that the motion drains right out of the picture - it's about as kinetic as a rusty [[Lada]] on an uphill grade. To say there's a need for good family movies is a truism. But to applaud every sincere attempt to meet that need is no more than patronizing. ''Angel Square'' is no more than well-intentioned. Its attempt is honest, its achievement mediocre."<ref name=groen/>

For the ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', Marc Horton wrote that "For adult viewers, there's not much doubt that Tommy will puzzle the whole thing out and find out just who beat Sammy's father and why. And even given the reason - ugly anti-Semitism - there is a "niceness" to this film which sets it apart from so much of the other movie fare out there. What the film lacks is grit. The movie is at its very best in the fantasy sequences where Tommy becomes a figure of heroic, romantic, elegant proportions. Radick, a young actor who is not always that compelling, seems to soar in these scenes when he assumes the role of a tough-talking [[Humphrey Bogart|Bogart]] character or a stylish and cosmopolitan [[Fred Astaire]]. And the music is tremendous. Wheeler collaborated with [[George Blondheim]] on the two main songs and both are superb, although the nod must go to a tune called Such Magic, which is sung by Big Miller in the film. It's very special. But whether this whole thing works for its intended audience is another matter. The pacing is slow and there are noticeable sags throughout, particularly when you keep in mind that the under-12 set is accustomed to action sequences delivered in a steady rhythm. And it's doubtful whether nostalgia will wash with that sort of audience as well."<ref>Marc Horton, "Angel Square warm, nostalgic; Anne Wheeler's locally filmed tale may be too grown-up for intended audience". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', October 11, 1991.</ref>

==Awards== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- ! scope="col"| Award ! scope="col"| Date of ceremony ! scope="col"| Category ! scope="col"| Recipient ! scope="col"| Result ! scope="col" class="unsortable"| {{Tooltip|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |- | rowspan=4| [[Genie Awards]] | rowspan=4| [[12th Genie Awards|1991]] | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Screenplay|Best Adapted Screenplay]] | [[Anne Wheeler]], [[James DeFelice]] | {{nom}} | <ref>"Genie candidates announced". ''[[Edmonton Journal]]'', October 10, 1991.</ref> |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Sound Mixing|Best Overall Sound]] | Garrell Clark, Paul A. Sharpe | {{won}} | rowspan=3| <ref>"Dreaming of Genies comes true for winners". ''[[Halifax Daily News]]'', November 28, 1991.</ref> |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Sound Editing|Best Sound Editing]] | [[Alison Grace]], Gael MacLean, [[Anke Bakker]], [[Debra Rurak]], [[Cal Shumiatcher]] | {{won}} |- | [[Canadian Screen Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]] | [[George Blondheim]], Anne Wheeler "Such Magic" | {{won}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|id=0101348|title=Angel Square}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070830210948/http://www.nfb.ca/collection/films/fiche/?id=30178 NFB collections page]

[[Category:1991 films]] [[Category:English-language Canadian films]] [[Category:1991 English-language films]] [[Category:Films based on Canadian novels]] [[Category:Films directed by Anne Wheeler]] [[Category:Films set in 1945]] [[Category:Films set in Canada]] [[Category:Films shot in Edmonton]] [[Category:National Film Board of Canada films]] [[Category:Canadian drama films]] [[Category:1991 Canadian films]] [[Category:English-language drama films]] [[Category:1991 drama films]]