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Here's to Life!

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Wikipedia article




'Here's to Life!' is a Canadian comedy-drama film by Arne Olsen, released in 2000."Festival film is old hat to those who recall shoot". 'Victoria Times-Colonist', September 29, 2000.

Plot



The film stars Eric McCormack as Owen Rinard, an uptight retirement home administrator in Spokane, who is caught cheating on the company's taxes by a resident, and is blackmailed into taking Gus (James Whitmore), Nelly (Kim Hunter), and Duncan (Ossie Davis) on a trip to Victoria, British Columbia, so that each can experience a long-held dream: Gus wants to go salmon fishing in the Pacific Ocean; Nelly, a former music teacher, wants to attend the symphony; and Duncan, a retired boxer, wants to attend a highly anticipated prize fight in Vancouver."Graceful geezers loosen up grumpy young man". 'The Globe and Mail', August 24, 2001. Owen himself, in turn, meets and connects romantically with Carley (Marya Delver), an employee in the hotel casino.

Production



The film's original working title was 'Old Hats'."Old, Old Hats shows up at festival". 'Victoria Times-Colonist', September 29, 2000. It was filmed in Victoria in the summer of 1999."Here's to Victoria!: City plays itself in enchanting movie shot here two summers ago. At times you might catch yourself thinking the film was created by Tourism Victoria". 'Victoria Times-Colonist', August 24, 2001.

The film's score was composed by Patric Caird.[https://variety.com/2000/film/reviews/here-s-to-life-1200465341/ "Review: Heres To Life"]. 'Variety', November 19, 2000. It also included several original songs by Michael Bubl, several years before he rose to international fame."Genie nominations a surprise: Buble". 'The Province', December 17, 2000.

Critical response



In 'The Globe and Mail', Ray Conlogue wrote that Whitmore, Hunter, and Davis kept the movie watchable, but concluded that "'Here's to Life' starts briskly, develops shakily and finishes preposterously. Only those who have been really rotten to their aged parents should see this movie, and then only by way of expiation." Ken Eisner of 'Variety' called it a "by-the-numbers heartwarmer" which had the potential to be modestly successful among older audiences, but was likely to play better on television than in a theatre.

Awards



The film garnered eight Genie Award nominations at the 21st Genie Awards in 2001:"Cast, crew of film hopes to make winning Old Hat: Here's To Life gets Eight Genie Nominations". 'Victoria Times-Colonist', January 28, 2001.

*Best Actor: James Whitmore

*Best Actress: Kim Hunter

*Best Costume Design: Patricia Hargreaves

*Best Sound: Bill Sheppard, Mark Berger and Ruth Huddleston

*Best Sound Editing: Dean Giammarco, Maija Burnett, Kris Fenske, John Ludgate and Brendan Ostrander

*Best Original Song: Michael Bubl, "Dumb Ol' Heart" and "I've Never Been in Love Before"

*Best Original Score: Patric Caird

References




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