Citizen Duane

An outstanding jewel :-)
Citizen Duane is one of those films you have never heard of. If you ever happened to stumble across it, the cover would lead you think that it was some manner of strange kids' fare that wouldn't appeal to anyone over 12. However, the truth is that this is a brilliant piece of cinema that strikes every chord it goes for perfectly.

Douglas Smith and Devon Bostick as the dysfunctional brother team are outstanding. Alberta Watson is believable, sweet, funny, strong, and real every moment she's on screen. Donal Logue is great. This is one of the strongest casts you'll find assembled anywhere. Douglas Smith in particular is a breakout here. He's like a very real, quirky, and strange Fred Savage if Wonder Years were written with a slightly psychotic flair. He conveys a world of emotion with his face and is utterly charming. I'd love to see more work by him.

The plot is clever even if not the deepest material around. It's a tad predictable, but well-paced which...

"Time to call in the dogs and p*** on the fire"
CITIZEN DUANE (2008) is an interesting film to review. Filmed in the very pretty city of Hamilton, Ontario, this hilarious, politically deep comedy actually has a powerful message for all Americans--not just our far Northern cousins.

The gorgeous and too-little-seen Douglas Smith is Duane Balfour, a weirdly determined genius who decides he must run for mayor of the fictional city of Ridgeberg (which I have also seen billed as "Ridgeway"). Smith is a very close match to the teenaged Leonardo DiCaprio, right down to the pretty lips and petulant blue eyes...but the resemblance ends there.

Smith gives a polished comedic performance as Balfour, yet he also manages to tug at the heartstrings. Enduring first a patronizing interest from the town, which later becomes outright hatred, Balfour learns what it is to be a budding politician. What he learns will change him forever.

His endearing, goofy younger brother Maurie (the equally cute little Devon Bostick) is...



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