Jack (2013 film)

Jack is a 2013 Canadian biopic film about the late leader of the federal New Democratic Party, Jack Layton.
== Cast ==
* Rick Roberts as Jack Layton
* Sook-Yin Lee as Olivia Chow
* Zachary Bennett as Brad Lavigne
* Joel S. Keller as Karl Bélanger
* Wendy Crewson as Anne McGrath
* Judah Katz as Brian Topp
== Production ==
=== Background ===
John Gilbert Layton was the leader of the New Democratic Party from 2003 to 2011. After leading the party to official opposition status in the 2011 election, the first time in the party's history,PROFILE: Jack Layton, the NDP fighter - 25 July 2011 - CBC News - Retrieved 8 June 2021 Layton was diagnosed with an unspecified cancer.Inside the fight of Jack Layton's life - Aaron Wherry, Cathy Gulli, & Martin Patriquin - 8 August 2011 - Maclean's - Retrieved 8 June 2021 Layton voluntarily stepped down from the party leadership while Parliament was recessed to combat the cancer.New cancer sidelines Jack Layton - 25 July 2011 - The Hamilton Spectator - Retrieved 8 July 2021 Layton died on 22 August 2011.NDP leader Jack Layton dies at age 61 - 22 August 2011 - Toronto.Com - Retrieved 8 June 2021
=== Pre-Production ===
Roberts won the role after his first audition. He spent time researching Layton, watching videos, studying his mannerisms, meeting with Olivia Chow and borrowing home movies to add to his performance.The Man Behind The Mustache: Rick Roberts on playing Jack Layton - Dan McPeake - 10 March 2013 - Vancouver Observer - Retrieved 8 June 2021
=== Production ===
Filming began in August, 2012. Chow was on set for some of the shooting, and found it difficult to watch filming of her husband's hospital scenes.Jack Layton movie an emotional affair for cast, late NDP leader's widow - 20 August 2012 - CityNews Toronto - Retrieved 8 June 2021
== Reception ==
Olivia Chow admired Roberts' portrayal of her husband.Rick Roberts wins ACTRA Award for playing Jack Layton - Richard Ouzounian - 23 February 2014 - The Toronto Star - Retrieved 8 June 2021
=== Critics ===
Mitch Wolfe, writing for HuffPost Canada, wrote a negative review of the film, criticising the commercial breaks as ruining the tension, and stating that Roberts was miscast, comparing his performance to the fictional character Sheldon Cooper.The CBC Blew Jack Layton's Biopic, Big Time - Mitch Wolfe - 11 March 2013 - HuffPost Canada - Retrieved 8 June 2021 
Scott Stinson, writing for The National Post, stated "...the film is less about Mr. Layton’s politics than it is about the stranger-than-fiction story of a guy who was struck down at almost the exact moment of his greatest career triumph. That’s a non-partisan tale and, in truth, a viewer’s opinion of Jack-the-film will be largely coloured by their opinion of Jack-the-man."Jack Layton biopic isn’t about politics as much as it’s about telling a true story stranger than fiction - Scott Stinson - 22 February 2013 - The National Post - Retrieved 8 June 2021
=== Awards ===
Roberts and Lee took home the Canadian Screen Awards for Best Performance by a Lead Actor and Best Performance by a Lead Actress, respectively.Less Than Kind, We Were Children and Jack take home Canadian Screen Awards - 14 March 2014 - Manitoba Film & Music - Retrieved 8 June 2021 Roberts was busy performing the role of Stephen Harper in Michael Healey's "Proud",After playing Layton, actor Rick Roberts tries Harper on for size - Marsha Lederman - 6 February 2014 - The Globe and Mail - Retrieved 8 June 2021 a play about an alternate outcome of the 2011 election where the Orange Wave did not occur, and Harper's Conservative Party instead won those Quebec seats.Review: Plenty of fun afoot in Belfry’s political romp - Adrian Chamberlain - 7 February 2014 - The Times Colonist - Retrieved 8 June 2021 Roberts was also awarded the 2014 ACTRA Toronto Award for Outstanding Male Performance for his performance, while still on stage.
==Links==
*Jack on Wikipedia
*Jack on IMDB
==References==
Category:Fiction
Category:Real films
Category:Real Canadian films
Category:Real biopic films
Category:Real Canadian biopic films
Category:Real films released in 2013