A Brilliant Conflict

a film so unique, intoxicating and bizarre that it not only demands another viewing, but is also forgivable as a satirical comedy where the jokes eventually take the back seat.

Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

A Canadian man discovers he has cancer. He buys a motorbike and goes to Tim Hortons to buy a cup of coffee. He rolls up the rim that tells him "Go West" - so he heads West. You start with a cliché and it doesn't stop there.Bike trip. Lots of open road, nature, etc. Postcard as a film. A tourism promo masquerading as a film.Meets a random stranger who also had cancer. What are the chances? Lots of Canada clichés. Meets some kids who ask him (of all people) where's the nearest Canadian Tire.Meets a cowgirl and goes horseback riding. Meets a girl and they have a moment by a campfire, singing French Canadian songs(!!).Random animals. Random forest stuff. He falls asleep and is awoken by a Native American drumming ritual. Token wise old native man? Check.So we've included nature, Quebec (folk song), Natives, nature, sunsets, cowgirls, forests, animals, nature, Tim Hortons, what's left? Swims in a lake. Oh, random German tourist couple tell him that Canada is beautiful.Oh, and he goes on a hockey rink and kisses the Stanley Cup.When people think Canada is an uninhabited country, just one large forest with a micro-population that's just enough to man the Tim Hortons outlets at truck stops, can you blame them? It's a postcard, not a film. It was one Blackberry and a maple syrup donut away from being a total joke.It's fake depth. There was nothing deep about the man or his experience.If someone made a Swedish film about a man who travels Sweden, stops at an IKEA, listens to ABBA, stops somewhere for meatballs, everyone would laugh. But that's exactly what this film is.There's more to Canada than forests. It's sad that Canadians don't want to show the world the real Canada.This is a sorry excuse for a film. It's an Instagram feed, a series of Vines with a loose narrative and a weak soundtrack. Fake depth, shallow emotions, sepia filters, lens flare and photos of sunsets, desperate and needy, asking for likes, shares and retweets.

It is a wonderful story about a man who just found out he was dying of cancer. He decides to question his life, and his life choices. He goes on a trip to find adventure but ends up finding himself. He meets different people along the way who help him straighten things out a bit. They help him shatter some long held beliefs, like he can't sing or write. In the end, he realizes that he isn't in love with his fiancé and can't marry her. I was mesmerized throughout the entire film. Joshua Jackson was phenomenal. He proved he is a star and can carry a movie all by himself. I was very disappointed that the film didn't more acclaim than it did.

What would you do if you knew you only had a week to live? Based on the tag-lines alone I was worried about viewing this movie. I was quite pleasantly surprised. One Week is a beautiful simple film about discovering what's really important in life. Ben Tyler, portrayed with depth & grace by Joshua Jackson, has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. His reaction to this life altering news is not to jump immediately into treatment, instead he chooses to purchase a (beautiful) vintage motorcycle & head out across Canada. He takes a trek of self discovery from Toronto in the East all the way West to Tofino on Vancouver Island. This unexpectedly uplifting film is both a study on the human condition & a love letter to Canada itself. The breathtaking scenery is a character all its own & the soundtrack of wonderful Canadian talent flows elegantly throughout. The ending is just ambiguous enough for you to draw your own conclusions. It left me feeling hopeful and strangely renewed. It has become one of my favorite movies. Just lovely.

This is another movie that if I did not have Netflix I most likely would have never seen. Having Netflix has led me to some really good movies like this one that I am so glad to have seen. This movie grabbed my attention with the opening scene so much so that I stopped it, called my wife in and asked her to watch it with me. I restarted it and not only did we enjoy watching it, but occasionally paused it to discuss the scene we had just watched.Numerous times we laughed out loud during it and other times our eyes watered up. What a well told heart touching movie. Joshua Jackson did a great job in his role. I actually am one that thinks that Joshua Jackson, James Van Der Beek and Michelle Williams from the TV show Dawson's Creek are very good actors, though James has not been given the break he needs yet IMO. My wife and I both recommend this to others to watch and enjoy. Who knew there were so many statues in Canada? Another movie that I say "well done" and am glad to have spent some time to have watched it.