MAKE ‘ROOM’ ON THE TROPHY SHELF
Drama starring Jacob Tremblay sweeps the Canadian Screen Awards with wins in just about every category, while Eugene Levy tops son in family rivalry,
Room, the Toronto-shot Irish-Canadian drama about a kidnapped woman raising her young son in captivity, dominated the Canadian Screen Awards Sunday night with nine wins, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Oscar winner Brie Larson.
But Canadian comic legend John Candy got even more love, after first-time CSA host Norm Macdonald announced the awards should now be known as the Candys in honour of the late Uncle Buck and SCTV star.
Macdonald challenged presenters and winners to refer to the prize by its new name. And most did, including Christopher Plummer.
As he handed out the first award of the evening, Jacob Tremblay, who later won Best Actor for Room, made it official by announcing: “And the Candy goes to . . . ”
“I won a Candy and I got to meet you,” quipped Ari Millen as he accepted the award from the 9-year-old Tremblay for Best Actor in a TV drama for Orphan Black.
Macdonald’s monologue had a standup feel, as the comic stood, hands in pockets, opening with a Chris Rock joke about comparing notes on upcoming gigs with the Oscar host. He went on to pledge “all of you are going to hear the word ‘Schitt’s’ about 100 times.”
MacDonald poked fun at Nelly Furtado, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Cape Breton Island, observing that what Tremblay and 86-year-old Plummer have in common, besides being nominated in the same acting category, is they were “both up way past their bedtimes.”
Martin Short provided the most entertaining segment of the night, initially wackily hilarious in accepting his “Candy Lifetime Achievement Award” and earning big laughs for several jokes before thanking his SCTV castmates and writers, and closing with a touching tribute to his wife Nancy Dolman, who died in 2010. “Thirty-six years of bliss makes one happy creative fella,” said Short.
While Larson was a no-show — she’s on an Australian movie set shooting Kong: Skull Island — B.C. native Tremblay continued to win hearts with another adorable acceptance speech.
“Christopher Plummer, you’re a legend,” said Tremblay who gave his mother and father big hugs before running onstage to thank the academy “for giving me this wonderful Candy . . . I feel like I won real Canadian gold.”
On the TV side, Schitt’s Creek won three awards, including Best Comedy Series.
Schitt’s Creek co-creator and co-star Eugene Levy edged out son Dan Levy for Best Actor in a Comedy — admitting he was “excited . . . and sad” to best his son. Catherine O’Hara picked up Best Actress in a Comedy for the fish-out-of-water show.
“Thirty-six years of bliss makes one happy creative fella.” MARTIN SHORT LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
Tatiana Maslany won the Best Actress in a TV Drama role prize for a third time for playing multiple characters on clone drama Orphan Black, making her acceptance speech via video, while Montreal-set police procedural 19-2 took Best TV Drama.
Teen newcomer Nick Serino won Best Supporting Actor for Canadian drama Sleeping Giant. Room, which won the TIFF People’s Choice Award, also picked up awards for Irish-Canadian writer Emma Donoghue’s screenplay adaptation of her novel and Best Director for Lenny Abrahamson.
Paul Gross’s military drama about Canadians in Afghanistan, Hyena Road, won three CSAs, including Overall Sound, Sound Editing and Visual Effects, while Brooklyn, another Irish-Canadian co-production, picked up two, for Best Cinematography and Original Score.
But it was clearly the night for Room and Donoghue was glad to celebrate with Tremblay in Canada.
“Because we made Room in Toronto and then we really launched it at (the Toronto International Film Festival), it feels like the completion of the circle so I couldn’t be happier.”
Due to the volume of awards after the Genies and Geminis were melded four years ago, prizes were handed out at a pre-show broadcast, as well as at industry nights during Canadian Screen Week.
At earlier events, The Book of Negroes earned 10 awards and also won Best Limited Series Sunday night, while Schitt’s Creek took nine and Orphan Black had seven wins.
Go to academy.ca for a full list of winners.