Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, December 22, 2006 Page: 41 of 72
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C.R.A.Z.Y.
and very cool
Wholesome French-Canadian
import fuses Catholicism,
classic rock and sexual identity
Jean-Marc Vallee, director and co-writer (with
Frangois Boulay) of "C.RA.Z.Y," says he likes to
have his expectations confounded when he watches
a movie. So it's natural he would do the same for
audiences when he makes one.
At first, "C.R.A.Z.Y" recalls "Ma Vie en Rose,"
the Belgian film about a boy who knows he's queer
at an early age and has no problem with it, even
though everyone around him is freaking out. It's also
got enough elements of magic, magic realism and
surrealism to suggest another 'Amelie." And with
Vallee's offbeat humor, we seem to be in for a most
pleasant experience.
Well, yes. It's pleasant because it's a good movie,
but most of the fon and magic wear off quickly as
things get more and more serious. It's the story of a
gay man's coming out, but he goes through a slow,
painful process tbat overstays its welcome by a few
minutes.
Zac is bom just after midnight on Christmas Eve,
1960. Zac is the fourth of five sons of Gervais
(Michel Cote) and Laurianne Beaulieu (Danielle
Proulx), French-Canadian Catholics who never miss
midnight mass on Christmas Eve unless they're giv-
ing birth After mass, the family gathers for a party.
The three older brothers are diverse types:
Christian, the oldest, is a bookworm, Antoine a jock
and Raymond, Zac tells us, "my swom enemy."
Indeed, Raymond will develop substance abuse
problems that will shame the family as much as a
heterosexual son can.
By the time Zac (Emile Vallee) is six, Gervais is
already worried that he'll be "unefifi1 <;"a fairy").
This is reinforced the next year when he finds the
boy trying on his mother's clothes and jewelry.
Rather than being comfortable with who he is, Zac
connects not being a fairy with being loved by his
father. So Zac represses his instincts.
Laurianne thinks Zac has a gift for healing and
confirms it with the local mystic, known only as' the
Tupperware Lady." Because the gift involves prayer,
it will soon be nullified when Zac loses his faith
because he can't cure his own bedwetting.
Zac is played from the ages of 15 through 21, an
amazing range for one actor to cover, by Marc-
Andre Grondin. As he mimics the songs of David
Marc-Andre Grondin as Zac in "C R A Z Y/
Bowie and the moves of Bruce Lee, it's easy to see
why his brothers call him Uutie tapette" ("a faggof}
— especially when that's what they call everyone
they don't like.
Around this time Zac acquires a girl friend,
Michelle (Natasha Thompson), who will become a
girlfriend. Zac also develops a crush on his cousin
Brigitte (Mariloup Wolfe) — or is it her boyfriends
Zac is attracted to? They seem to be included in his
fantasies about her.
The harder Zac fights, including beating up the
school queer in an effort to purge his own queemess,
the more everyone else assumes Zac is queer.
Everyone but Zac.
His journey has more stops to make, some of
them overseas, before he reaches his final destina-
tion and can make a movie about it.
"C.RA.Z.Y" may not be autobiographical, but it
feels more real in many respects than Jonathan
Caouette's alleged documentary, "Tarnation."
"C.RA.Z.Y." certainly comes closer to the experi-
ences of Everygay.
The soundtrack includes favorites of Zac —
Bowie, Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones; and his father's
— Charles Aznavour and Patsy Cline. Although the
latter's song "Crazy" is heard several times, it's not
the origin of the title, which is revealed in the clos-
ing credits and earns the movie extra points for one
last confounding of expectations.
"C.RA.Z.Y." is one of the best queer things to
come out of Canada since K.D. Lang.
—Steve Wairen
Grade: B
C.R.A.Z.Y. makes its television debut on
Sundance Channel, Dec. 23 at 9p.m.
DEBBIE REVNOUS
January 13-14
McKinney Performing Arts Center
in historic Downtown McKinney
r
Set:
Tickets.are limited, ;;:'• : "iQ
Dinnppckagel avaiiable. Call 214-592-fi002
QRvi^ww.'sidebarent.com for •tickets.^ff'.
Coming soon, Linda Lavm!
m j
i
The Dinner
We have two Wine Dinner seatings at 6pm & 7:30pm, $751 person
1st Course choice of:
Sesame seared Ahi Tuna w/Asian slaw & a wasabi creme brulee'
or
Pan seared crab cakes with roasted red pepper coulis
served with a glass of L' Etoile Banyuls Blanc. 2003
2nd Course choice of:
Caprese with extra virgin olive oil and a balsamic drizzle
served with a glass of Moschofilero Boutari, Greece
or
Spinach tossed with toasted almonds, dried cherries and brie
served with a glass of Ferrari-Carano, Alexander Valley, 2003
3rd Course choice of:
Pan seared salmon topped with lump crab over Israeli cous-cous
in a lime coriander broth served with a glass of
Peirano Estate Viognier, California
or
6oz. filet mignon served over bleu cheese mashed potatoes with
grilled peaches and a balsamic reduction served with a glass of
The Hess Collection, "Mountain Cuvee', Ml Veeder, Napa, 2003
4th Course choice of:
Fonseca 20 year Tawny port, an assortment of candied fruits & nuts
or
Chocolate lava Cake
or
Chefs choice sorbet with fruit
The Party
The ship sails at 9pm.
Four hours of Premium Open Bar
Midnight Champagne Toast
Party Favors, Confetti, Balloons...
The Works
NYE Banquet Buffet
Dessert Bar with Cakes, Parfaits, Pastries
Live ball drop on our projection system
Live DJ to dance the night away
Price is $120 per person (all inclusive). Dress to impress.
For more information call 214.288.8882 or
you can purchase tickets online at
www.spikedine.com
Spike Global Grill
5321 E. Mockingbird Lane #100 (near the Angelika Film Center)
Call today to make a reservation: 214.288.8882
Uptown Players' Annual Fund-raiser
An Evening of Broadway Music with a Twist!
January 5 -14, 2007
Thursday-Saturday at 8 p.m.
Sunday at 2 p.m.
i 4
•Pferfotmances ofTKnity "River Qits Center
2600 Stemmons Frwy. at Motor, Suite 180, Dallas
*>"- Tickets £40
For tickets and, info tall 214-219-2718
or visit uptownplayers.org
12.22.06 I dallas voice I 41
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Nash, Tammye. Dallas Voice (Dallas, Tex.), Vol. 23, No. 32, Ed. 1 Friday, December 22, 2006, newspaper, December 22, 2006; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth238940/m1/41/: accessed May 1, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Special Collections.