FUBAR (film)

For other uses, see FUBAR (disambiguation).

FUBAR
Directed by	Michael Dowse
Produced by	Michael Dowse David Lawrence Paul Spence Melanie Owen Marguerite Pigott Mark Slone
Written by	Michael Dowse David Lawrence Paul Spence
Starring	David Lawrence Paul Spence Gordon Skilling
Music by	John Powell
Cinematography	Phedon Papamichael
Distributed by	Canada: Alliance Films
Release date(s)	May 24, 2002 (2002-05-24)
Running time	76 min
Language	English
Budget	$400,000 CAD (estimated)

FUBAR is a 2002 mockumentary film, directed by Michael Dowse, based on the lives of two lifelong friends and head-bangers living out their lives, constantly drinking beer. FUBAR debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in the 'Park City at Midnight' category, which previously launched such films as The Blair Witch Project. Since its release, it has gained critical acclaim and a cult status in North America, but especially within Western Canada. It was both filmed and set in Alberta, particularly in and around Calgary.

It was filmed entirely with digital cinematography, on a shoestring budget that required many involved with the project to max out their credit cards in order to complete the movie (according to an interview on their official website).^{[citation needed]} Many of the people featured in the movie (including the fist-fighters) were bystanders who thought that the filmmakers were shooting a documentary on the common man.

FUBAR features characters partly based on a comedy routine performed by David Lawrence and Paul Spence that they developed based on the head-banger subculture. David Lawrence, Paul Spence, and S.C. Lim also appear in Michael Dowse's movie, It's All Gone Pete Tong. (Dr. S.C. Lim plays himself in FUBAR as Dean's doctor. Lim actually is Michael Dowse's doctor.) The characters of Terry and Dean were later seen again, featured in the Michael Dowse-directed music video "The Slow Descent Into Alcoholism" by The New Pornographers.

The movie is notable for introducing several phrases and slang words from the local head-banger and hoser culture of Western Canada into the wider English vocabulary, such as "Give'r". Also notable is the statistic that the word "fuck" is said 274 times in the movie.^{[citation needed]}

Plot

This is the story of two lifelong friends, Terry (David Lawrence) and Dean (Paul Spence), who have grown up together: Shotgunning their first beers, forming their first garage band, and growing the great Canadian mullet known as "Hockey Hair". The lives of these Alberta everymen are brought to the big screen by documentarian Farrel Mitchner (Gordon Skilling), a young director who decides to take a look at Terry and Dean through a lens, exploring the depths of friendship, the fragility of life, growing up gracefully, and the art and science of drinking beer "like a man".

Their lives are complicated by a snubbing by their "party leader" Troy, better known as Tron (Andrew Sparacino). When Farrel discovers that Dean is hiding a serious case of testicular cancer, the wheels are set in motion for Dean to seek treatment from Dr. S.C. Lim (Dr. S.C. Lim). With Dean's last weekend before surgery approaching, Terry decides to take Dean, Farrel and the film crew camping. Things take an unexpected turn by the third day, and Terry and Dean must cope with further tragedy.^[1]

Cast

Role	Actor
Dean Murdoch	Paul Spence
Terry Cahill	David Lawrence
Farrel Mitchner	Gordon Skilling
Trixie Anderson	Tracey Lawrence
Chastity Murdoch	Sage Lawrence
Dr. S.C. Lim	Dr. S.C. Lim
Ron Miller	Jim Lawrence
Troy (Tron) McRae	Andrew Sparacino
Laurie D'Amour	Laurie D'Amour
Fist Fighter #1	Cameron Swirka
Fist Fighter #2	Peter N. Cipriano

Soundtrack

See FUBAR: The Album

Sequel

It was reported in April 2009 that funding had been secured for a sequel film.^[2] FUBAR 2 was filmed in Edmonton, Alberta.^[3] Director Michael Dowse reported that the plot involves Terry and Dean moving to Fort McMurray, Alberta. Once again the dialogue is heavily improvised, and the budget is "a lot more" than the first film.^[4] The sequel premiered at the 2010 Toronto Film festival on September 9, and was released throughout Canada on October 1.

References

1. ^ Slone, M. & Michael Ladano: Story Synopsis (first paragraph) written by Mark Slone. Story Synopsis (second paragraph) written by Michael A. Ladano
2. ^ Barney's Version, Fubar sequel get Cancon movie funding
3. ^ 'Fubar' sequel ready to rock
4. ^ 'Fubar' director Michael Dowse dives into TV with black comedy, 'The Foundation'

External links

• Official website
• FUBAR at the Internet Movie Database
• FUBAR at Rotten Tomatoes