It's All Gone Pete Tong

It’s All Gone Pete Tong (2004) dir. Michael Dowse
Starring: Paul Kaye, Kate Magowan, Mike Wilmot, Beatriz Batarda

****

In the 90’s there were a horde of “rave” films capitalizing on the popularity of the clubbing culture – that is youngsters who spent their nights in a drug-fueled haze of dance and electronic music. Though it missed the wave slightly, the absolute best film of the bunch of Michael Dowse’s “It’s All Gone Pete Tong”.

While Dowse’s first film 'Fubar' was realized via the mockumentary ultra-no budget approach, “Tong” is a glossy, slick 35mm beautiful film to behold shot in the Mecca of the rave scene – Ibiza. The landscape of the Spanish island is gorgeous no matter where Dowse puts his camera, and his indoor rave scenes capture the awesome beauty of a thousand revelers dancing in sync behind a myriad of coloured lights and lasers. The high-energy excitement of these scenes is as authentic as being there and Dowse bottles it all.

Paul Kaye, a British comedian, disappears into the skin of the film’s tragic and flawed hero, Frankie Wilde. Introduced via a series of interviews with real DJs and celebrities talking about the legend of the man, Frankie Wilde is one of the world's great DJs who spins his records in a giant arena-sized nightclub. He lives with his trophy wife Sonja (Kate Magowan) and their young son, who going by his skin colour, is probably not his.

Wilde has a major cocaine problem though and his drug-addicted life gets in the way of a proper domestic lifestyle. But then again, it's Ibiza and everyone is high on something. But when Wilde discovers he’s going deaf, a piece of him dies, his one true love in the world appears to be lost. But when a glimmer of hope reveals itself, Wilde seizes it and makes a comeback worthy of the legend of his name.

Dowse has been quoted as saying, he wanted this film to ‘rip cinema a new asshole’ and the roll call of debaucherous characters and situations put onto the screen nearly accomplishes this feat. Paul Kaye's over-the-top bombastic performance of shouting, lewd behaviour and a lot of nasty cockney f-bombs helps to accomplish this and Canadian comic Mike Wilmot as Wilde’s manic manager is wonderful fast-talking obnoxious cliche. "Pete Tong” must also set the record for the most cocaine featured on film, making "Scarface" look tame. In fact Wilde’s nemesis is a fantasy badger which tosses buckets of cocaine on him to keep him off the wagon. There have been many cold turkey, 'kick the drug habit; scenes on film, but Wilde's battle with the blow becomes a truly horrific violent nightmare, as excessive as his habit.

“Pete Tong” is such a satisfactory experience because over the course of the 90mins the tone and mood flows from bass-pumping rave action, to drug-induced cocaine paranoia to ridiculous high energy comedy and at the end the film reveals it’s gentle bittersweet heart which trumps all the debauchery before it.

"It's All Gone Pete Tong" screens tonight as part of the Canadian Cinema in Revue screening series at Toronto's Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave). Writer/Director Michael Dowse be skyped in for a Q&A after the screening

FUBAR

Fubar (2002) dir. Michael Dowse
Starring; Paul Spence and David Lawrence

****

If you’re a real Canadian, and love Canada, and accept who you really are deep down inside, you owe it to yourself to see “FUBAR. It’s an instant classic and more Canadian than the Trailer Park Boys, Bob and Doug McKenzie, or the Kids in the Hall. Terry and Dean embody the hockey-loving, beer-swilling, yet sensitive and unassuming qualities of all Canadians. They’re also complete idiots who manage to capture our hearts and make us want to cheer for them.

FUBAR is a mockumentary about two headbanger skids who refuse to grow up. A camera crew follows around 20-somethings Terry (David Lawrence) and Dean (Paul Spence) as they go about their regular lives, which involves drinking beer, playing road hockey, and listening to heavy metal. They decide to throw a party for their friend Troy (whom they call “Tron”), their former party ringleader, who has since settled down. Tron doesn’t show up, which sends the Terry and Dean into a drunken tailspin. They proceed to get heavily drunk and destroy lots of public property.

Later we learn Terry has developed testicular cancer, which cause the two to take a nostalgic camping trip and relive the memories of the past. On the journey they connect with the director of the film, a pretentious artsy/yuppy filmmaker. They get wasted and bond, like brothers. Another deadly accident moves the film into hilarious black comedy. Too funny to even describe. Note: the visit to the filmmaker’s parents’ house is a classic scene.

FUBAR ranks up there with “Spinal Tap” and “The Office” as one of the best-ever mockumentaries. Terry Cahill’s rendition of “Rock’n’Roll Is My Guitar” rivals David Brent’s “Free Love Highway” for cringe-inducing hilarity.

Michael Dowse, the director, is one of Canada’s most promising stars. His next film, “It’s All Gone Pete Tong”, although much different, is as good. And he apparently is going to camera soon on a Brian Grazer-produced film with Topher Grace. Good on him. Giv’r and enjoy.