Python Hyena
Century Hotel (2001): Dir: David Weaver / Cast: Tom McCamus, Sandrine Holt, Colm Feore, David Hewlett, Lindy Booth: Here is a fresh idea done independently but will be appreciated by anyone to loves film as an art form. It explores decades and lifestyles sheltered in one room throughout one century. Various subplots include a crass woman raped by her husband only to be revealed as a virgin. A man receives threatening calls about a briefcase. An enclosed rock star bewilders a cleaning lady. A teenage couple embark upon a dangerous ritual. An unfaithful husband is obsessed with a hooker. Intriguing with lots and lots of sex among other activities. One would think this place was a brothel for all the sex going on within its very thin walls. David Weaver effectively crosses lives and time frames as if he himself has wondered the history of particular rooms. He also makes it intriguing enough to leave viewers guessing what will happen next. Of the seven subplots, sex seems to be the most common factor. Great ensemble cast includes Tom McCamus, Sandrine Holt, David Hewlett, Lindy Booth, and Colm Feore among others. The art direction gives off mood with its lighting and how the room adapts to each decade reflecting time. Theme regards history and change within a story full of mystery awaiting viewers to check in and witness. Score: 8 / 10
anithyng_gose
Anyone who reads the back of the movie sleeve will have some idea of what Century Hotel is about. ONE ROOM, SEVEN STORIES, etc. For the most part, every major event in the film takes place in room 720, as if the room (or a ghost who inhabits the room) is telling us each of these tales.
Since all seven stories are being told from the ROOM'S perspective, we can only expect to know what goes on in that room and nothing more. Not all the stories are completely wrapped up in room 720 and we shouldn't expect them to be. Just as we don't see everyone check in, we shouldn't be surprised that we don't see everyone check out. What Century Hotel provides for viewers are glimpses into different people's lives from different time periods. Each of these stories is about a different form of LOVE and it is interesting to see these sides of love, even if each story only occupies about 15 minutes of film.To quote the great Roger Ebert, "I prefer to evaluate a film on the basis of what it intends to do, not on what I think it should have done." On this basis, Century Hotel succeeds for what it is: Seven glimpses into different forms of love, complimented with good acting, great cinematography and beyond.
Michael Cumming
The problem with a lot of films that revolve around a central concept is the rest of the film suffers because the writer figures that one idea can carry the film.While "Century Hotel" is far from "brilliant" or a "must see" but it is quite good. It's cleverness is nicely balanced with sincere emotion and gender/socio-political commentary.Also the chance to see Chantal Kreviazuk playing maid and Raine Maida as a paranoid, drug, addict, agoraphobic rock star is too tempting to pass up.One of the better English Canadian films I've seen but if you really want to see some incredible Canadian cinema check out "Jésus de Montreal", "Léolo", "A Tout Prendre" and "Le Confessional".
KGB-Greece-Patras
This all takes place in the very same room of a hotel at different times (old & modern). Although it starts off rather indifferently, it slowly unfolds into small really interesting stories which finally end up delivering the "goods" and being satisfying, at least to me. Unpredictable, with intense use of colour filters, it succeeds in its goal and in spite of dealing with -not-so-original- subject matters, it still remains authentic in story, technic & style and leaves you with a smile. Not for everyone...
