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Undoubtedly the most well known and popular music journalism film ever made, Almost Famous is the kind of all-timer of a movie that many a burgeoning filmmaker would kill to make. An endearing coming-of-age story with a charismatic cast and a classic rock soundtrack to boot, Cameron Crowe's 2000 masterpiece has seared itself into the public consciousness, making it as indelible as it is iconic. It's a comparison that's virtually unavoidable when considering writer-director Chandler Levack's similarly themed Mile End Kicks. And although Levack's sophomore feature doesn't set out to replicate Almost Famous, it's safe to say it follows in its footsteps quite melodically. 20-something-year-old Grace Pine (Barbie Ferreira) is an up-and-coming music critic for Merge magazine in Toronto. But while she enjoys reviewing live concerts and the latest Joanna Newsom album on CD — not to mention the occasional sex toy, courtesy of her boss (Jay Baruchel) — there's one thing she's always wanted to do, and that's write a book about the impact Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill had on her. Finally deciding to pack up and leave for Montreal in 2011, Grace can't wait to spend her summer living in Canada's hippest music hub, and knocking a few of her todo's off her bucket list along the way. However, once she gets there, she soon begins to realize that doing so may be harder than she thought. It's then that she meets Archie (Devon Bostick), the socially awkward lead guitarist for indie band Bone Patrol, and his fellow bandmates, lead singer Chevy (Stanley Simons), drummer Hugo (Robert Naylor), and bassist Jesse (Isaiah Lehtinen). Can Grace manage to stay on top of her summer goals? Or will she wind up on the next Megabus back to Toronto, with her tail between her legs? A semi-autobiography that also functions as a charming coming-of-age story, a sort-of-rom-com, and a humorous love letter to Canadian culture, the result is a film that's clearly very personal to Levack. Yet, despite the inside jokes and intimate details that are peppered throughout the movie, it's impossible for viewers not to see themselves in Ferreira's portrayal. Much like Almost Famous, Mile End Kicks hits all the right notes. And for any filmmaker, whether they're just starting out or a veteran, that should be music to the ears. |
Mile End Kicks screens under the Special Presentations and TIFF Next Wave Selects programmes at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Its runtime is 1 hr. 51 min.
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