I was unaware of what the term "sequence shot" meant: it seemed too technical to me. I think I learned it by watching this film. Alexandre Goyette (King Dave) carries it on his shoulders, and it's a deluge of words coming out of his mouth. Nevertheless, I had the impression that the director did not intend his film for the general public, but rather for people involved in the film industry. I found it difficult to stay focused, as it was presented in a too unusual way. It's the story of a hothead playing the swaggerer on the dirty streets of Montreal.
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First of all, I want to salute the remarkable performance of the lead actor, Alexandre Goyette. He delivers an extraordinary performance. The entire film relies on his shoulders; he captivates the screen entirely, everything revolves around him, everything flows around him: sets, situations, secondary characters, in short, everything else becomes secondary to his extraordinary performance. The direction is also at the same level, equally remarkable, a true cinematic tour de force. That's for the form. The content is on a different level, noticeably more inconsequential. The casting, a 40-year-old man portraying a lost and disoriented teenager, the level of language as well, an unknown franglais, even though I've been a Montrealer all my life. The delivery, sometimes incomprehensible, always at the same level, and in the end, often irritating. Instead of drawing our sympathy from the start, his character becomes unlikeable, and we quickly detach from his misadventures, avoiding any pity. In summary, even if the acting performance and the technical aspects deserve a "10", the overall film, with all these irritants, barely deserves a passing grade.
The tracking shot is impressive! But the process of the character addressing the camera creates a lot of detachment. It becomes annoying to see him dictate everything we see him do in real time. The film loses much of its dramatic power because of this. But what a technical feat!
I was impressed from beginning to end. Of course, there is the feat of the single shot, but I especially admire Alexandre Goyette's performance (who is also the originator of this story!) I liked the breaking of the fourth wall. The acting. The devotion of the actor who performs as in theater, without a break, but with all the cinematic constraints around. I would have liked to be a little bird on the set to observe this up close. I also really liked the story of this anti-hero that is hard to follow as he sinks into his problems. Towards the end, I felt like crying as much as laughing. Poor Dave.
I waited a long time before sending this review since I saw the movie at the beginning of its release this summer. The film left me unsatisfied and I was quite unhappy about it.
I had seen the play in the theater many years ago and Alexandre Goyette had blown me away. I had given a very enthusiastic critical description to my children. This was not the case with the film. Let's say that probably not everything is adaptable in another form...
In the theater, we sympathized with Dave le poqué's misadventures. We laughed with him... and sometimes at him. We also felt a little sorry for him for often putting his foot in his mouth. The author's performance literally exploded on stage.
In the cinema, the technical feat of the famous "plan séquence" by Podz took precedence over the story. The "garroché" (high pitch) language of the actors doesn't help because we often miss parts of it. The "f...," the swear words, the racist language didn't bother me because it's part of Dave's experience.
Finally, as other critics have said, the story of a young man in his twenties, interpreted by an actor (VERY talented) in his forties, is a bit off.
I would have liked to be as excited about the film as I was about the play back in the day, but that was not the case.
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An extraordinary film. The high-pitched monologue, direct contact with the audience, the long take, all ingredients that leave us a bit breathless in the end. I saw the film at the beginning of the summer and all I have left is this impression: it was really good. I would watch it again.
Technical feat, some makeup effects for example are amazing, we really have a single shot without editing. However, I didn't believe in the character of Goyette, overacted without depth, and really too old for the script's proposal.
I couldn't stay in the theater for more than 20 minutes. Completely incomprehensible. Podz my eye. Not all inventions are good. I question those who loved this so-called film.
Excellent actor, very good direction, and ingenious shots. I won't watch it a second time even though the story touches on our contradictions and certainties.
David recounts his memories that rush by triggered by a child being assaulted in front of him in the subway. And it all pours out. We are captivated. He throws back everything that's on his mind. It's intense, the pace of the single shot is probably part of it, and it's pathetic. He shouts to us what happens when you've been deprived of love forever. I feel like Alexandre Goyette is not only a very good actor but that there might be a part of him in there too.
What a performance: if Alexandre Goyette doesn't win the (ex-Jutras) award for best actor for this role, it would truly be an injustice. As for the story and screenplay, I liked them, but I can understand why someone might hate them. Jérôme Sabourin's camera work is impressive. And Milk and Bone's music adds to the success of the film.
I loved the originality and funny moments of the film. At times, I was surprised by the actor's comments and movements, which felt like theater. It's not a light film; there is some reflection to be done after watching it.
Clearly, like all great films, King Dave does not please everyone. I hadn't seen the play, and even upon my second viewing of the film, I was captivated by this descent into the life of a lost guy whose story unfortunately remains relevant (a boy raised without a father figure, experiencing intimidation at a young age, starting his adult life torn between a David who lives on the edge and a Dave who only dreams of getting revenge for that intimidation... and who thinks he's a 'King' when he believes he has succeeded in getting that revenge)
Contrary to several critics, I did not find Alexandre Goyette too old for the role. I saw the main character (in his forties when the film begins), pushed to reassess his life from a reminiscence in the subway. The tone is accurate. The cinematic technique is outstanding.
The ending in Laval seemed a bit long to me and I regretted not understanding some of the dialogues, as is often the case in films set in working-class environments. Still a '9' despite that!
I left barely 7 minutes in because I couldn't take it anymore. For me, I was making a big effort thinking I would like it but the stupidity at the beginning made me completely lose interest and I left... Sorry to those who say they liked this... movie...
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Very, very, very disappointing. Podz is technically skilled, but he truly does not know how to direct actors. These poor actors are left on their own without understanding what they are doing... And poor Alexandre Goyette, a very good actor, but he should have left his role to a 20-year-old who could have truly embodied this Dave. Avoid it!!
I saw King Dave in the basement of Théâtre Prospéro during its premiere. After the play, I felt like I had been run over by an 18-wheeler, and I loved it! This descent into hell caused by a series of bad decisions kept us glued to our seats. Captivated. Almost held hostage. However, none of that survived the change of medium.
The character of Dave, endearing in his awkwardness on stage, becomes here just a jerk whose motivations are unclear.
The tone, high-pitched, becomes very annoying and pushes us back in our seats instead of drawing us towards the screen.
The direction takes center stage in the work.
The famous long take, technically skillful, yes, but necessary? In my opinion, no.
Directing is also about guiding your actors. And seeing the HUGE gaps in acting levels among the actors, one wonders if the famous long take did not monopolize all the director's attention.
In the end, King Dave left me cold and passive. I am the first disappointed because there was a story to tell here.
Unfortunately, form took precedence over substance.
Honorable mention to the actor who portrays young Dave at 13. Two minutes of pure grace!
A solid review that makes you think, even if I disagree with their verdict. Perhaps seeing the original in a theater changes the perception of the work? Anyway, Podz must have achieved something because he leaves few viewers indifferent, as evidenced by the extreme ratings: 1s, 2s, as well as 9s or 10s...
I really like your review even though I almost completely disagree! Maybe it's because I didn't see King Dave in the theater. Contrary to you, with this film, I felt taken hostage, precisely because of the "high pitch" tone that kept me stuck in my seat and the frenetic pace imposed by the sequence shot. As for the differences in acting levels, I really only felt Dave's, necessary, compared to all the others. For me, the film's extremely important theme is completely supported by the form. And like you, a huge congratulations to Alexandre Goyette, the author of the play. Who better than him to fully descend into the pathos of his Dave.
I had a lot of trouble grasping the meaning given to this film. Excellent actor but that alone is not enough for a film to hold our interest. I am very disappointed with the progression considering I thought we could be sensitized to the personality of an atypical man that we can find in each of our families. The intended objective is completely missed. I left before the end...
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Obviously, King Dave is confusing for many viewers. The bold but relevant choice of the continuous shot respects and energizes the script's theatrical origin, just as the abolition of the fourth wall, a fundamental element of the original work. The raw, coarse, aggressive language shocks, in the literal sense: it hits us head-on, disturbs us, and some viewers will feel like victims of this verbal assault, judging it as pointless... Far from it: this street language is real, just like the lives of the lost souls that Goyette exposes to our gaze. It gives a voice to the losers, the outcasts, the forgotten, which not everyone appreciates (Tremblay and his "Les Belles-soeurs" once caused the same discomfort among a conservative audience) but is a reason for the existence of art. This film by Podz, ambitious and technically dazzling, proves to be a major work, impactful, and moving for those who accept its constraints, but it may fail to attract the general public, confused by this oddity, as evidenced by the numerous audience reviews giving it a 1 out of 10 while admitting to leaving the theater after 30 minutes. As for Goyette being too old for his character, it's of no consequence: as suggested in the opening scene where he sees himself as a child, the essence of this journey lies in memory, not in the specific reality of events. A film to watch for curious and open-minded cinephiles.
Yes, it's raw, yes, the racist comments can be shocking, yes, the fact that Alexandre Goyette is not 20 years old stands out a bit compared to the character, but we still loved King Dave. I think it's necessary to read a bit about the play and the creation process to fully appreciate the film. All the actors are extremely authentic and contrary to what many people have said, the story is full of twists and turns (in my humble opinion). People who left after 30 minutes gave up a little too quickly in my opinion, but at the same time, movies can't please everyone (I deeply HATED the film Youth while others loved it.)
I went in with an open mind, having read and heard quite a few criticisms about the film's format. Really unique as a cinematic genre. I think they must have had more fun making it than we did watching it. Indeed, Goyette is a bit old to play the role, but at the same time, he wrote it...
I enjoyed this movie, even though at first I thought the actor, Alexandre Goyette, was too old for this role (wrinkle on the forehead), when he should be playing a character around 20 years old. After this adjustment period, I was charmed by his talent, and the script.
Striking direction by Podz, exceptional performance by Alexandre Goyette, I was hooked every single second. If you accept to play along and follow this loser character, which Goyette makes so endearing, in his descent into hell, you will have a true cinematic experience. Bravo!
Maybe we will remember this movie for the long take... But for the rest, it's quite mediocre! To use King Dave's language, "It's f**** long and boring, an hour and forty minutes!"
Goyette's performance. Impeccable direction. I had seen the play and understood what it was about. It's hard to become a man when you have no role model and have been labeled your whole childhood. A gem that will surely be rewarded. A must-see on the big screen.
Small-time criminals are often failures, fuelled by fear and arrogance. This film portrays one of them very well and almost manages to make him sympathetic! It's excellent, but overly verbose, my only downside.
If the play was a monologue to a character, the film moves away from it a bit, but keeps the constant and intimate relationship between the character and the viewer present. The widely publicized single shot technique to present the story and the obvious technical prowess would be worth the trip alone, but that would be forgetting the most important thing. Indeed, it's King Dave who reigns supreme on the screen and in our attention, "oh yeah man". Because right from the start, he puts his hands in the door to drag us into a sequence of events that have all the hallmarks of a skid on a backdrop of oversized ego and uncontrolled emotions. How many times are we tempted to exclaim "watch out man!" or "no man!"? Only the screen prevents us from doing so, and even sometimes, we forget about it.
Alexandre Goyette can bid farewell to his "King Dave" with all honors. This film is a remarkable work that undoubtedly deserves to be seen, "oh yes man!".
It is a very good film, and although they use vulgar and rude vocabulary, and has several strong scenes, is worth seeing. And the main actor is very good. However, I think that it is a film that people will either like it very much or dislike it very much, I don't think there will be many people that will be in between.
From a technical standpoint, King Dave is a success. As for the story, it is mediocre. This film is very racist, the characters are stereotypes without real personality. It is not clear if this film is a sexist, misogynistic, and racist parody or if they are trying to be serious which is even worse. It features a completely foolish character played by an actor who I think is too old and adopts a teenage voice, it's hard to follow... Anyway, the one-shot sequence they attempted is successful, but nothing new, Birdman succeeded even more in this challenge. I give a 2 for the technical aspect, but the lead actor's performance is poor as well as the story.
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Birdman était monté comme un plan séquence, King Dave en est un. Je voulais simplement rectifier votre commentaire.
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pat@ 22.7.2016
age: 26-35
A single sequence shot unfolding in about twenty different locations (a REAL single sequence shot, unlike Birdman), this is something unique. This film is not done causing a stir in the cinema industry.
The theme is timely, the single-shot direction keeps us on edge, the actors are superb. I liked the actor breaking the fourth wall and talking to us, I felt really engaged! Congratulations to all!!!
10
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carole@ 20.7.2016 age: 50+ 1st review
A film that stands out. Original direction and a good story. Lots of emotions and twists. To be seen with an open mind.
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King Dave is a breathtaking film that stands out from the ordinary. And of course, it's not for everyone... It's a drama but you often find yourself laughing because it's not meant to be taken too seriously. Kudos to Podz whom I adore and especially Alexandre Goyette, this great actor! Thank you for such a pleasurable experience.
Honestly... I am very open to all genres, but there are limits to my intelligence. From the start, the annoying voice of the main actor is terrible. His tone is too high. And he narrates everything he does non-stop, not to mention his teenage slang that doesn't fit at all. Did we really need that? Just the images would have been enough, mixed with dialogues. It feels like a film made by amateur college students. After 20 minutes, we couldn't take it anymore. Sorry, nice effort for the idea, but NO. Not for me.
Exceptional! What an acting performance by Alex Goyette and what presence on screen. Daniel Grou's (alias Podz) King Dave passes the test with flying colors, bravo!
10
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gaetan.desrosiers@ 19.7.2016 age: 50+ 1st review
Perhaps a technical success, and quite a tour de force for the actor no doubt. But painfully boring.
1
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antonjurkovich@ 19.7.2016 age: 50+ 1st review
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Interesting review. If I hadn't already seen the film, your comment would encourage me to go.
Perhaps those who adored the film watched it for... more than 20 minutes?