Gordon Pinsent is an absolute Canadian legend on the big and small screen. Pinsent is also a rather successful writer. Discovered all of this when watching The Rowdyman, a film where he wrote the screenplay and stars in the film.
Will Cole (Pinsent) is always getting into trouble. The schtick is fun and even charming. Lately, his friends want him to finally grow up. Andrew Scott (American actor Frank Converse) is Cole's best friend who is about to get married. Ruth Lowe (Linda Goranson) wants to get married, maybe even to Cole but he isn't interested in making things permanent.
Cole mocks those who go to church on Sunday. He runs a lot, sometimes into trouble and often out of trouble.
Eventually, Cole discovers the consequences of not following his friends' advice.
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Pinsent's dialogue is rapid fire and true to the Newfoundland spirit. The dialogue is at times spoken without seeing the characters like wind in the background. Peter Carter as the director gives us an intimacy of those in a small town who know each other all too well.
The balance of Cole is a break from the conventional norms where Ruth's parents can't believe she evens talks to Will. He is a hero of sorts in that he does like conventions and that can be good. The drawback is that Cole doesn't have a path to anything. A tragedy throws him for a loop.
Will Cole is a flawed hero and also a jerk. Pinsent gives him energy and empathy.
We get to see life on the Rock (Newfoundland) in the 1972 film that doesn't even exist today. We see Cole take a train from Corner Brook to St. John's, a trip that hasn't existed since 1969.
Corner Brook is in western Newfoundland about 700 km (420 miles) due west of Gander.
Doug McGrath and American actor Will Geer have small parts. You might remember McGrath from Goin' Down the Road (1970).
Canadian film review: Goin' Down the Road
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The Rowdyman shows off Newfoundland in a more naive time. Figure that Newfoundland had only been a province in Canada for 23 years when the film came out. The province's name officially became Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001.
For those who know little about Newfoundland or even Canada, The Rowdyman is an entertaining and thoughtful film for its time. The film is about flawed people in a small town, similar to other independent films of that era.
If you are a Gordon Pinsent fan, you must see this film.
Gordon Pinsent won the Canadian Film Award for Best Leading Actor for The Rowdyman. You can watch The Rowdyman on YouTube.
photo credit: The Rowdyman film
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