Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy
Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy | |
---|---|
Craig McConnell | |
Production company | Ecstasy Film Inc. |
Distributed by | Proteus Entertainment Potential Films |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 99 minutes |
Country | Canada |
Language | English |
Budget | $1 million |
Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy is a 2011 Canadian
Plot
Frustrated with her boring middle class and loveless marriage, Heather Thompson (Kristin Kreuk) seeks a change in her life. At a club, she finds just that in happily partying Lloyd Buist (Adam Sinclair), a drug user. Heather falls hard for Lloyd despite the fact that most of their time spent together is under the influence of illicit substances. As they experiment with this new lifestyle, they are faced with the question of whether they love their drugs, each other, or are just drugged into loving each other.
The romantic storyline is supplemented by a side plot involving Lloyd owing money to a shady character, Solo (Carlo Rota). While Lloyd is out of control with drugs and left unchecked, he must fulfill his "karmic" debt with Solo.
After a while, Heather begins to doubt the veracity of Lloyd's feelings for her, wondering if it might not be the effect of the drugs after all. When Lloyd almost dies after a drug smuggling operation goes terribly wrong and faces the possibility of losing Heather, he decides to turn his life around, and he finds that natural highs might be the best of all. He wants to change, but first must deal with Solo.
Cast
- Adam Sinclair as Lloyd Buist
- Kristin Kreuk as Heather Thompson
- Billy Boyd as Woodsy
- Carlo Rota as Solo
- Keram Malicki-Sánchez as Ally
- Ashley Pover as The Big Man
- Natalie Brown as Marie
- Stephen McHattie as Jim Buist, Lloyd's father
- Dean McDermott as Hugh Thompson
Production
In 2000, director Rob Heydon obtained the rights to the film Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy.[1][2] It took a few years to acquire financing and to get the script approved by author Irvine Welsh.[3] There were difficulties in having the independent film made; the film was initially a Canada/UK co-production up until 2010, but eventually became a Canadian production. The lead female character Heather was initially supposed to be played by actress Lisa Ray, but she was unable to commit due to having cancer.[2]
The film was shot from December 2010 to early 2011 in Scotland, Amsterdam, and Canada[4] [citation needed](including Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario).[5][6][7]
Release
Coincidentally, there was another independent film entitled Ecstasy that came out in 2011. The
The film had its International premiere at the Glasgow Film Festival on February 18, 2012[9] where author Irvine Welsh was present. Its London premiere was held at Ministry of Sound on April 17, 2012 where Sinclair, Rota, Boyd, Andrup, Welsh and Heydon attended.[10] The film opened on April 20, 2012 and was released in over 50 theatres in the United Kingdom.[11][12]
The film was released in select theatres in Australia and New Zealand on April 25, 2012. The film had a limited theatrical release in Canada from November 23, 2012 to December 6, 2012 in Toronto at the Projection Booth Metro and East.[13][14]
Marketing
Mark Blamire, who was also involved with the original marketing campaign of Trainspotting, was hired to do the graphic design and marketing for Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy as well.[15][16]
Awards and nominations
Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy was the recipient of awards at various film festivals:
- Sacramento International Film Festival 2012: Outstanding Foreign Feature.[18]
- Catalina Film Festival 2012: Best Feature.[19]
- Honolulu Film Awards 2012: Grand Jury Prize.[20]
- Pennine Film Festival 2012 (UK): Best Narrative Feature.[21]
- Charleston International Film Festival 2012: Best Feature Jury Award.[22]
- Mexico International Film Festival 2012: Best Foreign Feature.[23]
- Milan International Film Festival 2012: Best Cinematography.[24]
- Big Island Film Festival 2012: Best Foreign Feature.[25]
- Milan International Film Festival 2012: Best Film (Nomination).[26]
- British Independent Film Festival 2012: Best Film (Nomination).[27]
- Litchfield Hills Film Festival 2012: Best Foreign Film.[28]
- Burbank Film Festival 2012: Best Foreign Feature.[29]
- Lady Filmmakers Film Festival 2012: Best Feature Film.[30]
Critical reception
At the weeks of its United Kingdom and Australia releases, the film received a general negative reception garnering 15% approval from 20 critics – an average rating of 3.6 out of 10 – on review aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes.[31]
There were favourable reviews: Dave Griffiths of Buzz Magazine gave the film 5 stars writing, "Irvine Welsh’s Ecstasy is an absolute ripper of a film. With some great acting and one of the best scripts to surface for a while this film is an absolute must see… and you’ll be talking about for a long time to come."[32] Evan Williams of The Australian gave the film 3.5 stars out of 4 saying, "Ecstasy comes with the full bag of cinematic tricks.... The film delivers a powerful and plausible climax."[33]
Rob Salem of
Negative reviews came from critics who noted comparisons to
Box office
On the opening weekend, Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy grossed £26,487 in 56 theatres in the United Kingdom.[38]
Home media
The film was released on DVD,
Ecstasy was released in the United States and Canada on November 21, 2012 via video on demand.[43] Ecstasy has since been released on iTunes as of late November 2012. The DVD was released in North America on May 21, 2013.[44]
Music
Beautiful World (Single)
The single "Beautiful World" by Tiësto and Mark Knight was released on an "Ecstasy Remixes" maxi-single on April 30, 2012 by "Toolroom Records".[45][46][47] A music video was released as well.
No. | Title | Composers | Length | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Beautiful World (Ecstasy Radio Edit)" | Knight, Michael Woods Remix)" | Michael Woods, Knight, Tiësto, Dino | 6:53 |
5. | "Beautiful World (Gina Star Remix)" | Knight, Tiësto, Dino | 6:12 | |
6. | "Beautiful World (Torqux Remix)" | Knight, Tiësto, Dino, Torqux | 4:27 | |
7. | "Beautiful World (Tom Staar & Sam Young Remix)" | Knight, Tiësto, Dino, Sam Young, Tom Staar | 6:45 | |
8. | "Beautiful World (Violet Oversoul Remix)" | Knight, Tiësto, Dino, Violet Oversoul | 5:15 |
Official Movie Soundtrack
Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - Official Movie Soundtrack | |
---|---|
Studio album by Various artists | |
Released | May 14, 2012 | / August 20, 2012
Genre | Soundtrack |
Length | 59:31 / 78:29 |
Label | Ecstasy Film Inc |
Producer | Craig McConnell |
An album was released on May 14, 2012.[48]
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Inflection" | Craig McConnell | 4:21 |
2. | "Beautiful World (Ecstasy Soundtrack Version)" | Tiësto & Mark Knight feat. Dino | 3:01 |
3. | "Altara" | Adam Nickey | 8:49 |
4. | "Broadband" | Craig McConnell | 4:18 |
5. | "Tokyo" | Lost Tribe | 3:51 |
11. | "Morning Jacket" | Craig McConnell | 2:25 |
12. | "Valley Of The Shadows" | Origin Unknown | 4:28 |
13. | "A Little Bit Of Love" | The Mahones | 4:21 |
14. | "Wash It Away" | Craig McConnell | 0:54 |
Bonus Movie Soundtrack (with additional score)
A second alternate album, with additional score from composer Craig McConnell, was released on August 20, 2012 exclusively on Juno Records' Juno Downloads website.[49] This album is distributed by Ecstasy Film Inc.
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Broadband" | Craig Robert McConnell | 7:01 |
2. | "Connection" | Craig Robert McConnell | 5:52 |
3. | "Customs" | Craig Robert McConnell | 1:31 |
4. | "Inflection" | Craig Robert McConnell | 7:00 |
5. | "Morning Jacket" | Craig Robert McConnell | 2:26 |
6. | "Solo" | Craig Robert McConnell | 1:49 |
7. | "Stolen Thunder" | Craig Robert McConnell | 4:54 |
8. | "The Big Man" | Craig Robert McConnell | 0:28 |
9. | "The Mule" | Craig Robert McConnell | 1:04 |
10. | "Wash It Away" | Craig Robert McConnell | 0:56 |
11. | "A Little Bit Of Love" | The Mahones | 4:25 |
12. | "Distress" | Lightfield | 7:17 |
13. | "Reunion" | Lightfield | 13:07 |
14. | "Dance of Thor" | Captain Marryat | 6:48 |
15. | "Cloud Trips" | Craig Robert McConnell | 4:22 |
16. | "Ecstasy In Satellite" | Automated Gardens | 3:32 |
17. | "Electric Ancients" | Automated Gardens | 3:15 |
18. | "WTF Airport" | Craig Robert McConnell | 2:42 |
Best of the Music from the Film
A third soundtrack was released on iTunes for Canada on November 12, 2012[50] and was captioned as "The Best of the Music from the Film". This album contains tracks from the two soundtracks with additional tracks as well. This album was also distributed by Ecstasy Film Inc.
Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - The Best of the Music from the Film | |
---|---|
Studio album by Various artists | |
Released | November 21, 2012 |
Genre | Soundtrack |
Length | 80:04 |
Label | Ecstasy Film Inc |
Producer | Craig McConnell |
No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Dance of Thor" | Captain Marryat | 6:53 |
2. | "Beautiful World (Original Club Mix)" | Tiësto & Mark Knight feat. Dino | 7:49 |
3. | "Inflection" | Craig McConnell | 7:00 |
4. | "Distress" | Lightfield | 7:17 |
5. | ""House of the Rising Void"" | Blue Visions | 7:13 |
6. | "Cloud Trips" | Automated Gardens | 4:22 |
7. | "Broadband" | Craig McConnell | 7:01 |
8. | "Chattertooth" | Automated Gardens | 6:36 |
9. | "Solo" | Craig McConnell | 1:49 |
10. | "Ecstasy in Satellite" | Automated Gardens | 3:32 |
11. | "Small Hours" | Bonjay | 1:35 |
12. | "Electric Ancients" | Automated Gardens | 3:15 |
13. | "Stolen Thunder" | Craig McConnell | 4:54 |
14. | "WTF Airport" | Automated Gardens | 2:42 |
15. | "Swimming Pool Love" | Automated Gardens | 3:41 |
16. | "A Little Bit of Love" | The Mahones | 4:25 |
References
- ^ Gzowski, Alison (5 January 2011). "After 10 years of agony Ecstasy is in sight". The Globe and Mail. Toronto.
- ^ a b "Interview with Rob Heydon (Director of Ecstasy)". Click Online. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2011-10-25.
- ^ "Rob Heydon's debut adaptation of Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy". imaginox.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-11-05.
- ^ "Ecstasy (2011) - Filming & Production". imdb.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ Hopper, Donna (12 January 2012). "Ecstasy to screen in the Sault February 4". sootoday.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ Majury, Rob (5 February 2012). "Saulites Pack the Grand for Ecstasy". sootoday.com. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Film Office - City of Sault Ste. Marie". saultste.marie.ca. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
- ^ "Rob Heydon's Ecstasy sold into 20 foreign territories". Playback. Retrieved 2011-11-23.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - Glasgow Film Festival". GlasgowFilm.org. Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2012-01-18.
- ^ "THE LONDON PREMIERE of IRVINE WELSH'S ECSTASY @ Ministry of Sound". ministryofsound.com. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
- Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 2012-01-10.
- Sault Star. Retrieved 2012-01-12.
- ^ "ecstasy: Based on the Novel by Irvine Welsh Opens in Toronto November 23, 2012". artandculturemaven.com. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy draws parallels between drugs and love". MSN. Archived from the original on 2014-02-25. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ "Ecstasy Posters". delveblog.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2012-08-03. Retrieved 2012-02-25.
- ^ "The (unabridged) Ecstasy poster story". Creative Review. Archived from the original on 2012-05-04. Retrieved 2012-02-27.
- IndieGoGo. Retrieved 2012-05-12.
- ^ "2012 SFF Film Winners". californiafilm.net. Retrieved 2012-05-10.
- ^ "2012 Award Winners". catalinafilm.org. Archived from the original on 2012-05-03. Retrieved 2012-05-09.
- ^ "2012 Competition Winners". honolulufilmawards.com. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ^ "Festival Winnders 2012". penninefilmfestial.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- Charleston City Paper. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ^ "Mexico Film Festival - 2012 Golden Palm Best of Category Award Winners". mexicofilmfestival.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ^ "MIFF Awards 2012 - Ceremony". miff.it. Retrieved 2012-05-23.
- ^ "Big Island Film Festival announces 2012 awards". hawaii247.com. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-29.
- ^ "MIFF Awards 2012 - Features". miff.it. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ^ "BIFF Features". Screen Daily. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ^ "2012 Winners". hillsfilmfestival.org. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ^ "Burbank Film Festival Awards 2012 - Ceremony". burbankfilmfestival.org. Archived from the original on 2012-12-26. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ^ "Lady Filmmakers Film Festival Awards 2012 - Ceremony". ladyfilmmakers.com. Retrieved 2012-11-13.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - Rotten Tomatoes". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy, review". Buzz. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2012-04-25.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy, review". The Australian. 2012-04-28. Retrieved 2012-04-28.
- The Toronto Star. 2012-11-22. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- ^ Collin, Robbie (2012-04-19). "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy, review". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy, An agonisingly watered-down imitation of Welsh's short story". The List. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
- Sky Movies. Retrieved 2012-05-01.
- ^ Gant, Charles (2012-04-24). "UK Box Office - Other Openers". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy DVD". Amazon UK. Retrieved 2012-07-12.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - Films". iTunes. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - Australia". moviehole.net. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
- ^ "Adam Sinclair and Kristin Kreuk indulge in Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy on DVD". dvdfever.com. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-12.
- TriBeCa Film Festival. Retrieved 2012-11-22.
- Amazon. Retrieved 2013-06-13.
- ^ "Beautiful World - Ecstasy Remixes". toolroomrecords.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-29. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
- ^ "Beautiful World - Ecstasy Remixes (BeatPort)". Beatport. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
- ^ "Beautiful World - Ecstasy Remixes (BeatPort)". iTunes. 10 June 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-13.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - Official Movie Soundtrack". Amazon UK. Retrieved 2012-05-17.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy - Official Movie Soundtrack 2". Juno Records. Retrieved 2012-08-09.
- ^ "Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy (Soundtrack #2)". iTunes. 12 November 2012. Retrieved 2012-11-29.