Canes (2006)

hyped garbage

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.

This is a gorgeous movie made by a gorgeous spirit.

I gave this movie 2 stars instead of only 1 because I expected a horror movie, but got a comedy instead! The most horrifying character in the movie is Edward Furlong's over-sized suit. It was so ridiculous, it became a character of its own. Even when he starts to make more money, the suits actually get worse. Although this movie has no chance of ever being good, it would have been much better with no special effects at all. Every snarl of the cane was at best a laugh, if not a cringe.If you *must* watch this movie, do so with a glass of beer and a sense of humor. You're going to need it.

The acting is bad. The main actor puts on a flat performance that entirely failed to convince me that it was anything more than an actor going through the motions. He did not show remorse when he spoke of it, though he played out the arrogant bits OK, as is he conveyed this puny little loser-man finding himself with more power than he knows what to do with. But he never explores the regret of the evil things he is made to do. Every scene seemed emotionally disconnected from the last. The supporting acting is not any better. the story is lame; Evil magic item possesses its owner to do bad things. It's been so overdone and there is no original new twist to redeem the worn out plot line. None of the characters have any traits to draw you in and make you care about them at all. The special effects were so-so. Don't waste your time on this one.

If you watch Mrs. Goodman drive around town, one second she is driving a BMW, next second it's an Audi. Also the license plate rotates from one to the next, never on the same car twice. Early in the movie she said Furlongs character bought a Porsche. Never did see it. I got this movie by mistake as there was two movies with the name "The Covenant". This one and the good one. I think the producers figured on riding on the name to get people like me confused and rent their video. If it wasn't for the name, it wouldn't make it on it's own. Michael Madsen really stooped low for this role. The make-up and wardrobe people should not quit their day jobs.

I just saw "Canes" on the pay-TV channel here in British Columbia, and since it was also filmed here I guess that is fitting, and I can also recommend the beautiful scenery! The movie itself, however, was shot on a nothing budget, and contains average performances by all the leads except Furlong, who has not reached any of the potential he showed in his earlier films from the 90's. The most surprising thing about the movie is that the special effects - especially on this budget - are better than the plot (which I'll only describe as "horror"). Somehow, this film was shown at Cannes last month (Canes, Cannes, Uma, Oprah...), but I cannot imagine sitting and watching this film anywhere but at home, as it is slow and not very horrific either. But if you have nothing better to do, and it is free, then...