Doug Ford calls scandal movie ‘hurtful’
Film ‘inspired by true events’ in crime-ridden city of York
Former city councillor Doug Ford said a movie loosely based on the life of his late brother Rob Ford is “hurtful” and called the people behind the film “scumbags.”
Speaking to Newstalk 1010’s Rush with Ryan Doyle and Jay Michaels program Tuesday, Ford called the film Filth City “a joke.”
“It’s not even accurate, even the trailer, people getting shot. You’ve got to be kidding,” Ford told Newstalk 1010. “It’s outside of Rob had that issue, went and got help, I was proud of him. After that, a loss of life, so it’s hurtful.
“But there’s always scumbags out there that are going to do this and try to profit off anything they can.”
A trailer for Filth City was released March 1. Directed by Andy King, the film stars Pat Thornton as Tom Hogg, a drug-addicted mayor of the city of York fighting for re-election, caught on video smoking crack and will do “almost anything” to keep it out of the wrong hands.
Described as “a rollicking, neo-noir tale inspired by true events,” it features crime, corruption and the largest garbage strike in York.
“The crime rate is high. So is the mayor,” the movie’s poster reads.
The film was written by King and comedian Danny Polishchuk. It also stars Kenny Hotz, from Kenny vs. Spenny.
Rob Ford, Toronto’s controversial former mayor who was caught smoking crack in a cellphone video, died at the age of 46 on March 22, 2016.
The premiere of the film is slated for March 25, the closing night of the Canadian Film Fest at the Scotiabank Theatre.
Representatives for Larue Entertainment, the company behind the film, were not immediately available for comment.
It was filmed in Hamilton, and included shoots at the city’s cotton factory and Pier 8.
In 2015, King told the Hamilton Spectator the movie had a nearly $500,000 budget, funded by grants and the cable network Super Channel.