Of Dynasties and Nepotism

Of Dynasties and Nepotism
Dan Laxer – Québec Correspondent

(June 5, 2024 – Montreal, QC) Hollywood dynasties are as old as the star system itself, with names like Barrymore, Chaplin, Canadian-born Walter Huston, Carradine, Fonda, Coppola, and others. The rather ungenerous terms “nepotism baby,” and its offshoot, “nepo baby,” are much younger, dating back to the early 2010s, born of the charge that established stars’ less talented offspring are unfairly benefitting from their famous names. Sour grapes, it would seem. For who can deny the talent of John Huston or Angelica Huston, Sofia Coppola, Drew Barrymore, Geraldine Chaplin, Jane and Peter Fonda, Emilio Estevez, etc.?

Hollywood North does have its own dynasties. Here are just a few that happen to be killing it both here and in the U.S>

The Cronenbergs

Caitlin Cronenberg, the spawn of Canadian horror king David, debuted her own horror feature, Humane in late April of this year. With a mostly Canadian cast that includes Emily Hampshire (Schitt’s Creek), Ottawa-born, Montreal-raised Jay Baruchel (Million Dollar Baby, How to Train Your Dragon), and Enrico Colantoni (Just Shoot Me, Flashpoint), Humane, oddly enough, touches on nepotism, while dealing with a solution for over population. Caitlin’s brother, Brandon, is a filmmaker in his own right – also in the science-fiction-horror genre – whose oeuvre includes last year’s Infinity Pool. The film was received well by critics, and garnered a handful of nominations including ten 2024 Canadian Screen Awards, winning two for Best Makeup and Best Visual Effects.

The Reitmans

Montreal-born Jason Reitman, son of Ivan, has an impressive filmography, with awards and nominations to match. He has put out films almost every year since 2005 – sometimes two a year – including Juno (2007), the award-winning Up in The Air (2009), and the most recent Ghostbusters updates. He inherited the franchise originally directed by his father. The second one in the series, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, was released earlier this month. Reitman the younger cut his teeth as a production assistant on some of his father’s films. He’d also played small roles in some of them. He’s directed episode of The Office, SNL Sketches, and a TV reboot of The Princess Bride. Reitman’s younger sister, Catherine, is also an actor-producer whose credits include roles in Knocked Up (2007), I Love You, Man (2009), and TV shows like It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Blackish, and Working Moms, which she created, wrote, and produced.

The Villeneuves

Is there a Villeneuve dynasty? To be sure: the director’s brother Martin, his daughter Salomé, and his wife, Tanya Lapointe, are all also filmmakers. The family are from the small Quebec town of Gentilly. Denis studied at UQAM (Université du Québec à Montréal). He earned early success, awards, and accolades as a filmmaker in Canada before he achieved international success with 2013’s Prisoners, a film that starred Jake Gyllenhaal and Hugh Jackman. Four films later he directed Blade Runner 2049, the sequel to Ridley Scott’s first instalment, with Ryan Gosling, and Harrison Ford reprising his role as Rick Deckard. He followed that up with the spectacular remake of Dune (2021). Its much anticipated sequel, Dune Part 2 is as acclaimed as its predecessor. His brother, Martin, earned a Canadian Screen Award nomination for his 2012 debut, Mars et Avril. Salomé also got a Canadian Screen Award nomination for her short film, III.

The Levys

Like father, like son – Eugene and Dan Levy have both been awarded the Order of Canada, and with good reason. Eugene’s career can absolutely be described as distinguished, and the two together have produced one of the most successful TV shows in Canadian history. Schitt’s Creek was Dan’s brainchild. He and his father produced it together under the banner of their production company, Not a Real Company Productions. The almost all-Canadian cast (except for Chris Elliott) featured Eugene’s daughter, Sarah. The show ran for six seasons, winning many awards, including a record-breaking slew of Primetime Emmys for its last season. Earlier this month Eugene, 77, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His career goes back to 1969, and is as Canadian as a career can get, with appearances in The King of Kensington, Road to Avonlea, and nearly a decade on SCTV. He also enjoyed success in film and TV south of the border, with roles in the American Pie series, A Mighty Wind, and others. Dan recently added to his own impressive filmography with the release, late last year, of Good Grief, a film that he wrote, produced, directed, and starred in.

Caitlin Cronenberg, Jason Reitman, Salomé Villeneuve, and Dan Levy – four Canadian filmmakers whose paths were perhaps paved by their famous forebears. But could any of them have made it if they hadn’t been talented? You be the judge.

Dan Laxer is a Montreal broadcaster, writer, voice-over artist, poet, and erstwhile comedian. He spent nearly 30 years on the air and behind the scenes at CJAD800 where he wrote and hosted “The Trivia Show,” filled in on many news and information broadcasts, and wrote and voiced commercials. He has written for The Suburban, The Montreal Times, and other publications.