Don't Talk to Irene
{{Short description|2017 comedy film directed by Pat Mills}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox film
|name = Don't Talk to Irene
|image = Don't Talk to Irene poster.png
|caption = Theatrical release poster
|director = Pat Mills
|producer = Alyson Richards
Mike MacMillan
|writer = Pat Mills
|starring = {{ubl|Michelle McLeod|Bruce Gray|Anastasia Phillips|Scott Thompson|Geena Davis}}
|music = Erica Procunier
|cinematography = Paul Sarossy
|editing = Tiffany Beaudin
|studio = Alyson Richards Productions
Lithium Studios
|distributor = Search Engine Films
|released = {{Film date|2017|9|11|Toronto|2017|9|29|Canada}}
|runtime = 82 minutes{{cite web|url=https://www.tiff.net/events/dont-talk-to-irene|title=Don't Talk to Irene|work=Toronto International Film Festival|accessdate=August 15, 2017}}
|country = Canada
|language = English
}}
Don't Talk to Irene is a 2017 Canadian comedy film{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/geena-davis-star-indie-comedy-905800|last=Vlessing|first=Etan|title=Geena Davis to Star in Indie Comedy 'Don't Talk to Irene'|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 23, 2016|access-date=January 24, 2023}} written and directed by Pat Mills. It premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.[https://vancouver.citynews.ca/2017/08/09/alias-grace-film-starring-evan-rachel-wood-headline-tiffs-canadian-slate/ "'Alias Grace,' film starring Evan Rachel Wood headline TIFF's Canadian slate"]. News 1130, August 9, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
The film centres on Irene (Michelle McLeod), an overweight and unpopular high school student who wishes to be a cheerleader. After being suspended from school, Irene is sent to a retirement home as punishment. She decides to indulge her passion for cheerleading by enrolling a group of senior citizens for a dance competition. The film's cast also includes Bruce Gray, Anastasia Phillips, Scott Thompson, and Geena Davis.
Cast
- Michelle McLeod as Irene
- Bruce Gray as Charles
- Anastasia Phillips as Lydia
- Scott Thompson as Barrett
- Geena Davis as herself (voice-over and brief cameo)
- Deborah Grover as Ruth
- Joan Gregson as Millie
- Andy Reid as Tesh
- Aviva Mongillo as Sarah
- Romeo Carere as Robbie
- James Fry as Tony
- Kyla Kane as Kelly
- Jacob Switzer as Jacques
- Alexa Rose Steele as Rachel (credited as Alex Steele)
- Darrell Faria as Top Talent Showdown Host
- Tracey Hoyt as Principal Firestone
Production and accolades
Mills won the Toronto International Film Festival's annual Pitch This! competition for emerging film directors in 2008 for the film's original pitch,{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/offbeat-coming-of-age-tale-wins-10k-movie-pitch-competition-1.703972|last=Wong|first=Jessica|title=Offbeat coming-of-age tale wins $10K movie-pitch competition|agency=CBC News|date=September 9, 2008|access-date=January 24, 2023}} and the film's screenplay won the award for Best Comedy Screenplay at the 2013 Austin Film Festival.[https://austinfilmfestival.com/blog/festival-and-conference/2013-winners/ Screenplay and Teleplay Competition Winners] Austin Film Festival. Retrieved January 24, 2023. However, Mills made Guidance (2015) as his feature film debut before proceeding with Don't Talk to Irene, which entered production in 2016.
It went on to win both the Comedy Vanguard Award and Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival,[https://austinfilmfestival.com/blog/festival-and-conference/2017-winners/ "2017 Winners"] Austin Film Festival, December 18, 2017. Retrieved January 24, 2023. the Audience Choice at the Kingston Canadian Film Festival[https://kingcanfilmfest.com/2018/03/05/winners/ "KCFF'18 Award Winners"] Kingston Canadian Film Festival, March 8, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2023. and the Galet d'Or at the 5th Canadian film festival of Dieppe, France.[http://www.paris-normandie.fr/region/les-laureats-du-5e-festival-du-film-canadien-de-dieppe-AF12603425 "Les lauréats du 5e festival du film canadien de Dieppe..."]. (in French) {{ill|Paris-Normandie|fr}}, March 26, 2018. Retrieved January 24, 2023. In June 2018, Don't Talk to Irene won two Canadian Comedy Awards: Best Feature and Best Writing in a Feature.{{cite web|url=https://www.canadiancomedyawards.org/|title=Recipients of the 2018 Canadian Comedy Awards|publisher=Canadian Comedy Awards|date=June 3, 2018|access-date=January 24, 2023|archive-date=February 1, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201192449/https://www.canadiancomedyawards.org/|url-status=dead}}
Release
Don't Talk to Irene received a limited release at Cineplex Yonge-Dundas in Toronto on September 29, 2017, by Search Engine Films.{{cite web|last=Baldwin|first=David|url=http://www.mrwillwong.com/review/review-dont-talk-to-irene/|title=#REVIEW: "Don't Talk to Irene"|website=Mr. Will Wong|date=September 28, 2017|access-date=January 24, 2023}} In the United States, the film was released on March 2, 2018, by Gravitas Ventures.{{cite web|last=Hipes|first=Patrick|title=Toronto Pic 'Don't Talk To Irene' Lands At Gravitas Ventures|url=https://deadline.com/2018/02/dont-talk-to-irene-release-date-gravitas-ventures-toronto-film-festival-1202288718/|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=January 24, 2023|date=February 15, 2018}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb title|5030452}}
Category:2017 independent films
Category:2010s coming-of-age comedy films
Category:Canadian coming-of-age comedy films
Category:Canadian independent films
Category:English-language Canadian films
Category:Films shot in Hamilton, Ontario
Category:Films directed by Pat Mills