Independent Film Reviews

The Academy

Posted on 09. Mar, 2010 by Vance Garrett in New Release DVD

It is surprising how much of our entertainment is compared to meat; the central plot point is referred to as “the meat of the matter”; a work that’s relentless is considered to be “all killer, no filler”; becoming highly involved in a piece makes it a “visceral” experience all of which aptly sum up the latest cinematic foray by Canada’s film mavericks IDIOM Films. Known simply as The Academy the film literally explodes from the first frames. The action erupts onto the screen before the running time hits 20 seconds and visually hits you like a freight train piloted by John Woo. This action engine is woven so deftly into the narrative pace of the film that it becomes a force of nature and charges forward non-stop for its 90 minute running time. It’s the kind of relentless picture that’s been missing from our screens.

The film’s writer-director Kenneth Barr wears his Asian cinema inspirations proudly throughout the film yet crafts them into something uniquely his own. This isn’t just indicated from the myriad of striking visuals, such as characters facing off against each other samurai sword to samurai sword backed by a yellow morning sky, it is all over the picture. The story of disenfranchised youth being co-opted and trained as assassins holds similarities to Ryuhei Kitamura’s 2003 film Azumi; that these “students” must battle each other across an urban backdrop until only one is left alive echoes themes in Kinji Fukasaku’s seminal Battle Royal; the characters are fully developed archetypes that at times mirror the contemporary Hong Kong film masters Johnnie To and the aforementioned John Woo. It is surprising amid all these apparent influences that Barr has still managed to craft something singularly his own. He opts away from flashy camera moves for a more grounded and by-in-turn more intense, handheld visual style (again echoing the seminal 70’s work of cinematic master Fukasaku). It is a tour de force of cinematic carnage that shocks even more when you learn it is intended as a pilot episode to a three year television series.

The Cast Of The Academy.

This is as pure an ensemble piece as I’ve seen since The Dirty Dozen (1967). Almost all the characters are given time to develop on the screen, which is amazing given there are more than twenty speaking roles. Those that are underdeveloped come off as tragic rather than clichés or two dimensional. It is a testament to Barr’s growing prowess as a writer and the breadth of talent in front of the camera. Each character is designed to attract a certain personality type, and because of the care given it will ensure a broader audience for the picture. Ryan K. Burke and Brittany Trogen were stand outs for me; their roles of Stoker and Rochelle respectively were delightfully textured. Burke as Stoker, the “villain” of the piece, delighted in evil glee from the first frame and was purely fun to watch. Burke fit so well into the skin of Stoker he never once came off cartoonish, though he well could have. Trogen’s turn as the near mute Rochelle was the most emotionally complex of the characters. Though she barely says a word in the entire film she is at the centre of some of the best gallows-humor moments and was my personal favorite character.

Why so serious? Fyfe (Neil Chase), Bishop (Amanda Bladon), Maxwell (Christian Garon) and Tomi (Sindy Lau) prepare themselves for war in The Academy.

Make no mistake, despite the complex characters, this is an action film. The myriad of action set pieces scattered through the film come fast and furious and belie the budgetary limitations. There are gunfights galore, sword battles at dawn, wrestling inspired beat downs, executions by cast iron frying pans and a 9 minute climax with so much chaos I sat with my jaw in my lap the entire time. To catalogue everything that happens in this film would do a disservice to the texture the film creates, it is a visceral cinematic experience that cannot be missed. Barr and his production team have packed so much into the running time that it’s hard to believe this was an independent film. The Academy plays like a thrown gauntlet, a “see what we can do with nothing” battle cry to Hollywood, and it would behoove that cinematic juggernaut to take notice. I cannot help but think if this is what Barr and his team can do with nothing just imagine what they could do with a studio backing them. I for one hope The Academy finds its intended home on television. If it does not Barr has still given us an amazing truly singular cinematic experience we can appreciate.

Rochelle (Brittany Trogen) opens fire during the 9 minute action climax.

A limited edition DVD release is now available on the company website and an online rental version through Amazon Video On Demand is scheduled for April 2010. For more information or to order a copy of the DVD you can visit the IDIOM Films site at  www.idiomfilms.ca.

- Vance Garrett

Visit the official site: IDIOM Films

Watch a the preview: The Academy Preview 01

Tags: featured