Guy Maddin's Keyhole: A Post Production Diary

Keyhole: Available For Purchase & Download!

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 18:11:00 -0400

Hey cool-kids,

Keyhole has just been released on DVD, BluRay, and is available for purchase at such “stores” as Amazon (or you can really impress me and buy it at an independent retailer). You can also find it on Netflix, if you have that sort of thing.

There is also now an official website for Keyhole. Not that I’m jealous, or that you should stop sending me your questions or anything (*sniff*).

I wish you all the best from Toronto.

Matt

"[A] movie like “Keyhole” plays like a fever dream using the elements of film noir but..."

Thu, 03 May 2012 15:30:01 -0400

“[A] movie like “Keyhole” plays like a fever dream using the elements of film noir but restlessly rearranging them in an attempt to force sense out of them.”

- Roger Ebert’s review of Keyhole, from the Chicago Sun-Times. Yes, that Roger Ebert.

The New York Times Also Likes Us

Sat, 07 Apr 2012 14:25:00 -0400

A certain Mr. “A. O. Scott” has delivered a supportive review in this obscure New York-based newspaper. I know, I know - I don’t want to spam you with every mention of this film, but I thought someone would be interested in this.

The Village Voice Likes Us

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 17:15:43 -0400

Hey peeps. Looks like the Village Voice likes Keyhole. So much so that they have a very nice review posted on their website.

Wie Gehts, Berlin

Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:06:58 -0500

It has come to my attention that Keyhole shall have its international premiere at the 62nd Berlin International Film Festival! Congrats to all involved - I have no clue how it shall be received over there, but I think it will be warmly embraced.

fyi...

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 17:36:20 -0500

Hello all,

Just an FYI, now that Keyhole has found a home in the U.S. and the trailer is released, it would seem my job here (intermittent as it has been over the last month or so) is done.

If anything major comes up, I’ll let you know, otherwise a big thank-you to everyone who has visited. I hope you all get a chance to watch the film (either in theatres or on video), and I encourage you to share your thoughts.

In the meantime, you can find me over at my blog, Imaginary Magnitude.

Cheers,

Matt

Gold, I tell you. I am here to give you gold. Yes, behold the...

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:45:23 -0500

Gold, I tell you. I am here to give you gold. Yes, behold the Keyhole trailer. Thank you all for your patience - I know the trailer has been a long time coming, and I’m happy to finally (finally) give you the goods.

Enjoy. By the way, make sure you watch it in hi-res, if only because it makes the screen nice and big.

Keyhole Has/Lands/Nabs/Finds a U.S. Distributor

Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:45:00 -0500

Keyhole Has/Lands/Nabs/Finds a U.S. Distributor:

Never let it be said that I have abandoned this site. I’m only interested in the gold. That, and sharing it with you, dear considerate reader. Click on the headline (or here) for the full (if brief) story.

Fangoria!

Tue, 20 Sep 2011 22:20:00 -0400

Hawk-eyed cinematographer Ben Kasulke caught this review of Keyhole - on no less than Fangoria!

"Maybe if I just made a ‘gangsters and ghosts in a house’ film, I could really disguise..."

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:59:45 -0400

“Maybe if I just made a ‘gangsters and ghosts in a house’ film, I could really disguise my essay-film about the phenomenology of houses, in a genre or two.”

- Guy discussing his motivations for Keyhole.

NYT on Keyhole

Mon, 12 Sep 2011 23:54:00 -0400

Caught this 2:24m interview with Guy regarding Keyhole, the ideas and experiences behind its execution, and the idea of cinematic “classification”.

A Good TIFF'ing Night

Sat, 10 Sep 2011 18:12:00 -0400

The premiere of Keyhole at TIFF was very enjoyable. It was the first film I’ve seen at the TIFF Lightbox theatre (though I’ve been there in the past as a speaker on stereoscopic 3D post production). The picture quality and sound are tremendous, and I can say this having watched it sitting in the balcony - no complaints on the fidelity. It did seem as if the colour balance between the film reels was not consistent (an issue the producer also noted), which is very easy to notice on a B&W film since, being printed on colour stock, tonal shifts tend to go either toward blue or green - I am hoping the lab will investigate.

Aside from that, nearly the entire cast was in attendance with the exception of Isabella Rossellini, who sadly could not join.

(Guy and cast during the after-screening Q&A with the audience)

Even Jason Patric and Udo Kier were there, though they missed the beginning of the audience Q&A because they were in the mens room. Kudos to Brooke Palsson for an adept handling of an audience member’s “So, what’s it about?” question.

After the screening, title designer Ingrid Paulson and I took a moment to enjoy the atmosphere in the Luma lounge, just outside the screening theatre. There was a lovely view of King Street beneath us.

We soon joined the rest of the cast and crew at a venue on John Street (it had no name), where drinks were poured and hors d’oeuvres were served with little napkins. People came and went, including ex-Sex Pistol, ex-PiL-member, sometimes radio personality, John Lydon. Nothing was broken. Things, however, were cut to pieces on the 3rd floor where a collage-making party was happening.

(Guy, standing, beside Louis Negin, seated, who looks like George C. Scott in the lighting)

It was all very warm and cozy. Both Jason Patric and Udo Kier came by for drinks and nosh. I must say, Udo’s eyes are a most piercing blue, like lapis lazuli.

(Udo Kier posing for a photo with a fan)

All in all, a good evening. No word on a trailer yet, but I will let you know when something surfaces.

They Like It!

Fri, 09 Sep 2011 10:04:00 -0400

They Like It!:

Alt-weekly The Grid has weighed-in on the selections at TIFF ‘11, and Keyhole fares well. As is the case with many TIFF-related reviews, the reviews themselves tend to be quite encapsulated - perhaps they are in fact dehydrated. I will pour water on this review and see if it expands.

TIFF (site suckage) update

Mon, 05 Sep 2011 19:33:00 -0400

For those who have been following my links, perusing the TIFF site, or - god forbid - buying tickets, it seems the consensus is in: the TIFF website is terrible. It crashes. It’s bloated. Links change without warning, thus making previous hyperlinks go nowhere. I’ve heard people say that - at the point they had chosen tickets and were ready to pay - the site crashed them out. Not pretty.

Just saying.

Keyhole on Torontoist's Top 11 @ TIFF '11 Picks

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 11:01:00 -0400

Keyhole on Torontoist's Top 11 @ TIFF '11 Picks:

Keyhole: More TIFF! More Press!

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:36:00 -0400

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has released its screening schedule (printable version here). They have also added more information to their entry for Keyhole, in particular a thoughtful programmer’s note (“It may be Maddin’s boldest film yet” is not hyperbole).

Also of note, two writers for the Globe & Mail, Liam Lacey and Guy Dixon, have individually selected Keyhole as one to watch at the festival.

The stars are aligned!

Kehole/TIFF Press

Wed, 17 Aug 2011 17:20:00 -0400

That ringing in your ears? That’s buzz. Keyhole buzz!

A big shout-out from The Guardian, who picks Keyhole as one of the films to see at TIFF ‘11!

StudioDaily blogger Beth Marchant talks about Keyhole as well as this very diary (how meta can it get?). Thanks, Beth!

Keep it coming, websters!

i'm sorry i didn't find this tumblr sooner! very excited. good job to those who worked on the film; it already looks incredible!

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:54:30 -0400

Thanks for the comment - I should note that I will let everyone know when Keyhole gets video distribution (seeing as not everyone lives in a big city with a film festival).

Keyhole: Hello, TIFF!

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 12:33:00 -0400

It’s official: Keyhole shall make its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival this September!

For details, please check TIFF’s website for screening times. There is a Keyhole summary page on their site also.

It is always a joy to have a film I’ve worked on appear at a festival venue such as Toronto, Cannes, or Berlin. Keyhole will mark my fifth at TIFF. It makes the hard work worthwhile, and exposes that work to a wide (and widely discerning) audience.

Toronto, if not a filmmaker’s city, is without doubt a film lover’s city, which makes Keyhole’s presentation that much more satisfying, particularly considering the film marks a departure for Guy. As far as I’m concerned, Keyhole has a more compelling emotional core; the Maddin tropes and quirks that you would expect are there, but under the surface there is something that engages the audience beyond the wild flights of cine-erotic fantasy. There is, indeed, something dark and wounded, and I feel deserving of reflection.

If any other Keyhole-related news comes up, I’ll let you know.

Jason Patric as Ulysses Pick

Fri, 03 Jun 2011 10:26:15 -0400

Jason Patric as Ulysses Pick