Goin' Down the Road

Of course this is not a Hollywood film at all, but that doesn't stop it from being one of the best from the New Hollywood era anyway. But unfortunately it seems like really one of the only truly decent movies that director Donald Shebib made, though he went to the same film school as some of the greatest directors of that era: UCLA, with fellow students Scorsese and Coppola among others.

Certainly not a slick or glossy film, (some will watch the first 15 minutes and maybe wonder if they are watching a school project) it is never the less a well layered, and warmly human story, with many fine moments, and a fascinating early 1970s Toronto backdrop. Essentially, it's about two young men from Nova Scotia trying to make a go of things in Toronto.

I discovered this film in a bargain bin on Blu-Ray with its sequel and I was immediately excited. This was my kind of film.

There is a rare phenomenon in creative endeavors where the "perfect" end result comes at the first try. Remember the song "Louie Louie" by the Seattle-based group The Kingsmen?

It took me 30+ years to find this film (on video) after being on a TOP TEN list in 1970 by a cool critic. I got a clean copy on Ebay that plays out (like FIVE EASY PIECES) as a mood piece of the times, fascinating character study, and overall good film of the BEST year of films overall (1970) with unknown actors.

This is the worst movie I have ever seen and it has nothing to with the fact that is "low budget" it has to do with its perception people have of people from the Maritimes in general.One can only watch this movie and understand why Toronto is so disliked by the rest of the country.

They just don't make them this way anymore. I'm an American viewed, but appreciated the importance of this film in Canada.

I first saw this movie about 25 years ago and was absolutely struck by it's authentic feel. I'm about the same age as the 2 main actors, Doug McGrath and Paul Bradley and although I was born in Ontario, I clearly recall the tremendous influx of 18 - 25 year old men from Newfoundland and Nova Scotia during the 60s and 70s.

I saw the restored print at the Toronto Film Festival and I was floored. This movie drew me right in and gave me a complete emotional workout, a very rare thing.