Whale Music (film)

{{Infobox film

| name = Whale Music

| image = Whale Music.jpg

| caption =

| director = Richard J. Lewis

| producer = Steven DeNure
Raymond Massey

| writer = Paul Quarrington
Richard J. Lewis

| narrator =

| starring = Maury Chaykin
Cyndy Preston
Paul Gross

| music = George Blondheim
Rheostatics

| cinematography = Vic Sarin

| editing = Richard Martin

| studio = Cape Scott Motion Pictures

| distributor = Alliance Communications Corporation{{cite magazine|url=http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117903102.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100211125606/www.variety.com/review/VE1117903102.html?categoryid=31&cs=1 |archive-date=2010-02-11 |title=Film Reviews: Whale Music|magazine=Variety|date=September 12, 1994|page=|last=Klady|first=Leonard}}

| released = {{Film date|1994|09|08|TIFF|1994|11|04|Canada}}

| runtime = 107 min.

| country = Canada

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =$39,129 (US/Canada){{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=January 30, 1994|page=17|title=The lowdown on '94's record box office heights|last=Klady|first=Leonard}}

}}

Whale Music is a 1994 Canadian comedy-drama film directed by Richard J. Lewis and starring Maury Chaykin, Cyndy Preston, and Paul Gross.Peter Birnie, "Whale Music: a gentle ode to a blubbering rock star". Vancouver Sun, November 15, 1994. It is based on the comic novel of the same name by Paul Quarrington, who also wrote the screenplay.

The film premiered at the 1994 Toronto International Film Festival.Jane Stevenson, "Naked with the whales". Kingston Whig-Standard, September 9, 1994.

Plot

The film stars Maury Chaykin as Desmond Howl, a former rock star who has lived in seclusion in a seaside mansion since the death of his brother Danny (Paul Gross) in a car accident. Howl spends his time composing a symphonic masterpiece for the whales who congregate in the ocean near his property. His reason for this is revealed in the title of one of his songs, "Have You Seen My Brother?" — Danny died by losing control of his car and driving off a cliff into the ocean.

One day, however, Howl awakens to find Claire (Cyndy Preston), a mysterious young woman, in his living room. Although Howl's world is disrupted, Claire ends up inspiring him to complete the symphony, to write his first great pop song in years, and to begin seeking connections with people again.

The character of Desmond Howl is based largely on Brian Wilson.Craig MacInnis, "Whale Music loosely based on Beach Boy". Calgary Herald, September 9, 1994.

The cast also includes Kenneth Welsh, Jennifer Dale, Jim Byrnes, and Quarrington in a cameo appearance as a bartender.

Soundtrack

Music for the film was written by Rheostatics and released on the soundtrack album Music from the Motion Picture Whale Music.Katherine Monk, "The Rheostatics: happy to be Canadian content". Vancouver Sun, September 23, 1994. The song "Claire" was a Top 40 hit for the band in 1995. Quarrington had chosen the Rheostatics to compose the soundtrack because he had liked their 1992 album Whale Music, which was itself inspired by Quarrington's novel.Robert Reid, "Gala screening: Paul Quarrington and Rheostatics to launch Whale Music in Waterloo". Waterloo Region Record, December 1, 1994.

Reception

The film opened in eight Canadian theaters on November 4, 1994 and grossed almost $20,000 in its opening week.{{cite magazine|magazine=Variety|date=November 14, 1994|title='Gate' tops; 'Frank' 2nd; 'War' OK|page=9|last=Klady|first=Leonard}} It went on to gross $39,129.

Awards

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
scope="col"\|Award ! scope="col"\|Date of ceremony ! scope="col"\|Category ! scope="col"\|Recipient(s) and nominee(s) ! scope="col"\|Result !scope="col" class="unsortable" \| {{Abbr\|Ref(s)\|References}}
scope="row" rowspan=9\|Genie Awards \| rowspan="9"\| 1994 \|Best Motion Picture \|Whale Music \|{{nom}} \|style="text-align:center;" rowspan=9\| Rob Salem, "Exotica picks up eight Genies: Egoyan follows Cannes success with Canadian top film honors". Toronto Star, December 8, 1994.
Best Achievement in Direction \|{{sortname\|Richard J.\|Lewis}} \|{{nom}}
Best Actor in a Leading Role \|{{sortname\|Maury\|Chaykin}} \| {{won}}
Best Adapted Screenplay \|{{sortname\|Paul\|Quarrington}} and Richard J. Lewis \| {{nom}}
Best Overall Sound \|{{sortname\|Daryl\|Powell\|nolink=1}}, Dean Giammarco, Bill Sheppard and Paul A. Sharpe \| {{won}}
Best Sound Editing \|{{sortname\|Cal\|Shumiatcher\|nolink=1}}, Eric Hill, Marti Richa, Issac Strozberg and Shane Shemko \|{{won}}
Best Original Score \|{{sortname\|George\|Blondheim}} \| {{nom}}
Best Original Song \| Rheostatics, "Claire" \| {{won}}
Best Original Song \| Rheostatics, "Song of Courtship" \| {{nom}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"

scope="col"|Award

! scope="col"|Date of ceremony

! scope="col"|Category

! scope="col"|Recipient(s) and nominee(s)

! scope="col"|Result

!scope="col" class="unsortable" | {{Abbr|Ref(s)|References}}

scope="row" rowspan=9|Genie Awards

| rowspan="9"| 1994

|Best Motion Picture

|Whale Music

|{{nom}}

|style="text-align:center;" rowspan=9| Rob Salem, "Exotica picks up eight Genies: Egoyan follows Cannes success with Canadian top film honors". Toronto Star, December 8, 1994.

Best Achievement in Direction

|{{sortname|Richard J.|Lewis}}

|{{nom}}

Best Actor in a Leading Role

|{{sortname|Maury|Chaykin}}

| {{won}}

Best Adapted Screenplay

|{{sortname|Paul|Quarrington}} and Richard J. Lewis

| {{nom}}

Best Overall Sound

|{{sortname|Daryl|Powell|nolink=1}}, Dean Giammarco, Bill Sheppard and Paul A. Sharpe

| {{won}}