When director Harold Ramis and producing partner Trevor Albert stumbled upon the screenplay for Groundhog Day, no one knew it would become a film that viewers would (voluntarily) watch over and over.
Having followed National Lampoon’s Vacation with 1986’s underperforming Club Paradise, Ramis wanted his next project to aim outside the box. CAA’s Richard Lovett tipped him off to Danny Rubin’s spec script for a philosophical comedy about jaded TV weatherman Phil Connors, who gets snowbound covering the Groundhog Day festival in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; he soon finds himself unable to stop reliving the titular holiday.
“I don’t remember much about what I was doing 30 years ago — or three years ago — but I remember sitting down and reading that script, and by the time I got to page 20, yelling to Harold, ‘I think I have a script you’re gonna want to read,'” Albert tells The Hollywood Reporter.
Having followed National Lampoon’s Vacation with 1986’s underperforming Club Paradise, Ramis wanted his next project to aim outside the box. CAA’s Richard Lovett tipped him off to Danny Rubin’s spec script for a philosophical comedy about jaded TV weatherman Phil Connors, who gets snowbound covering the Groundhog Day festival in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania; he soon finds himself unable to stop reliving the titular holiday.
“I don’t remember much about what I was doing 30 years ago — or three years ago — but I remember sitting down and reading that script, and by the time I got to page 20, yelling to Harold, ‘I think I have a script you’re gonna want to read,'” Albert tells The Hollywood Reporter.
- 2/1/2023
- by Ryan Gajewski
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Harold Ramis Film School (Hrfs) at the Second City announced today that it has partnered with NBC for the newly created Emerging Voices Scholarship which will be awarded to students from diverse backgrounds that want to study and flex their funny bone at the renowned comedy film school. The scholarship will be awarded to four aspiring filmmaking students from the forthcoming fall 2019 class.
“For three years, Hrfs has been teaching and mentoring students as they begin or build upon their careers in film,” said says Hrfs Chair Trevor Albert. “To be able to offer students the opportunity to study here and lessen the financial pressure is paramount to the success of this school. We’re so thankful to NBC for supporting our initiatives and the voices we believe are the future of comedic entertainment.”
“As the home of classic hit comedies such as The Office, The Golden Girls, Parks and Recreation...
“For three years, Hrfs has been teaching and mentoring students as they begin or build upon their careers in film,” said says Hrfs Chair Trevor Albert. “To be able to offer students the opportunity to study here and lessen the financial pressure is paramount to the success of this school. We’re so thankful to NBC for supporting our initiatives and the voices we believe are the future of comedic entertainment.”
“As the home of classic hit comedies such as The Office, The Golden Girls, Parks and Recreation...
- 5/2/2019
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Here we go again. The concept behind “Groundhog Day” is perfect in its simplicity. A sarcastic, narcissistic man finds himself stuck in a time loop of the same day, Groundhog Day, until he becomes a better person.
But more than a quarter century after the 1993 movie’s release, producer Trevor Albert and screenwriter Danny Rubin had the same horror story about the film’s development that other filmmakers have dealt with over and over again.
“Somebody whose name I won’t say said, ‘Why does the day repeat? Why the hell … I like it, it’s good, but I don’t understand why he gets stuck in this loop,” Albert told TheWrap about an executive at Columbia’s note regarding the script.
Also Read: Andie MacDowell on 'Groundhog Day' at 25: Bill Murray 'Asked Me to Really Slap Him'
There’s no specific reason given for why Phil...
But more than a quarter century after the 1993 movie’s release, producer Trevor Albert and screenwriter Danny Rubin had the same horror story about the film’s development that other filmmakers have dealt with over and over again.
“Somebody whose name I won’t say said, ‘Why does the day repeat? Why the hell … I like it, it’s good, but I don’t understand why he gets stuck in this loop,” Albert told TheWrap about an executive at Columbia’s note regarding the script.
Also Read: Andie MacDowell on 'Groundhog Day' at 25: Bill Murray 'Asked Me to Really Slap Him'
There’s no specific reason given for why Phil...
- 2/1/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
With a quirky romantic comedy and a gimmicky sci-fi premise, “Groundhog Day” managed to tap into universal, spiritual, larger than life questions. What kind of person do I want to be? What would I do with eternity? Do I have the capacity to change?
But the creators of the classic 1993 film say that the Bill Murray comedy’s deeper themes and success feel almost accidental.
“I was not trying to write a spiritual piece, but I was trying to write a story about a human life,” screenwriter Danny Rubin told TheWrap on the film’s 25th anniversary. “You sort of go through these periods of time where it’s not quite right, and you feel like you want to move on, and you feel like you’ve tried everything and it’s just not changing. Yeah, of course. I think that’s a very common, human experience. I don’t...
But the creators of the classic 1993 film say that the Bill Murray comedy’s deeper themes and success feel almost accidental.
“I was not trying to write a spiritual piece, but I was trying to write a story about a human life,” screenwriter Danny Rubin told TheWrap on the film’s 25th anniversary. “You sort of go through these periods of time where it’s not quite right, and you feel like you want to move on, and you feel like you’ve tried everything and it’s just not changing. Yeah, of course. I think that’s a very common, human experience. I don’t...
- 2/1/2019
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Here we go again. The concept behind “Groundhog Day” is perfect in its simplicity. A sarcastic, narcissistic man finds himself stuck in a time loop of the same day, Groundhog Day, until he becomes a better person. But as the movie hits its 25th anniversary on Feb. 12, producer Trevor Albert and screenwriter Danny Rubin had the same horror story about the film’s development that other filmmakers have dealt with over and over again. “Somebody whose name I won’t say said, ‘Why does the day repeat? Why the hell … I like it, it’s good, but I don’t understand why he...
- 2/12/2018
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
One comment kept getting repeated at the inaugural IndieWire Honors ceremony last night in Los Angeles: “This is so IndieWire.” It began with the venue — No Name, a hush-hush spot resembling a kind of gothic speakeasy where attendees are discouraged from taking too many photos, lest they give away its secrets — and continued with everything from the drink menu (New Fashioned Franco, Sparkling Kruger) to host Nick Thune’s jokes (“The venue has asked if anyone has an iPhone 4 — they’re just suggesting an upgrade”).
Indeed, the event bore only a superficial resemblance to most year-end soirées. The honorees — Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, Sterling K. Brown, James Franco, Diane Kruger, and Issa Rae — had all been announced in advance, so there was no tension over whose names were sealed inside any envelopes. Guests weren’t seated in an auditorium or dining at luxe tables in a hotel ballroom; they...
Indeed, the event bore only a superficial resemblance to most year-end soirées. The honorees — Mary J. Blige, Kumail Nanjiani, Sterling K. Brown, James Franco, Diane Kruger, and Issa Rae — had all been announced in advance, so there was no tension over whose names were sealed inside any envelopes. Guests weren’t seated in an auditorium or dining at luxe tables in a hotel ballroom; they...
- 11/3/2017
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Jesse Eisenberg and Jason Segel in “The End of the Tour”
Champaign, Illinois isn’t quite Cannes or Park City, Utah, but the film festival hosted there annually in Roger Ebert’s name is as charming as they come. Now Ebertfest, in its 17th year, has announced its lineup of films prior to its four day run in April.
It was previously announced that Jean-Luc Godard’s acclaimed Goodbye to Language 3D would be the opening night film. Now Chaz Ebert has penned a touching love letter to her late husband detailing the choices they’ve made for the festival in his absence.
Among them are James Ponsoldt’s The End of the Tour, Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homes, Roy Andersson’s A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting On Existence, Céline Sciamma’s Girlhood, and special screenings of A Bronx Tale with Robert De Niro and the 1926 silent film The Son of the Sheik...
Champaign, Illinois isn’t quite Cannes or Park City, Utah, but the film festival hosted there annually in Roger Ebert’s name is as charming as they come. Now Ebertfest, in its 17th year, has announced its lineup of films prior to its four day run in April.
It was previously announced that Jean-Luc Godard’s acclaimed Goodbye to Language 3D would be the opening night film. Now Chaz Ebert has penned a touching love letter to her late husband detailing the choices they’ve made for the festival in his absence.
Among them are James Ponsoldt’s The End of the Tour, Ramin Bahrani’s 99 Homes, Roy Andersson’s A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting On Existence, Céline Sciamma’s Girlhood, and special screenings of A Bronx Tale with Robert De Niro and the 1926 silent film The Son of the Sheik...
- 3/26/2015
- by Brian Welk
- SoundOnSight
Hollywood’s sound pros nominated Birdman and Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for three awards apiece as the Motion Picture Sound Editors unveiled nods for its 62nd Mpse Golden Reel Awards, honoring the best feature film, television, animation and computer entertainment work of the year.
“2014 was a fantastic year for sound,” said Mpse president Frank Morrone. “The advent of new distribution channels, streaming services and gaming platforms is creating additional opportunities for sound artists to practice their craft beyond the traditional venues of film and television. This year’s nominations reflect that change, spanning an amazing diversity of mediums and genres, all executed at the highest level of creativity. We are truly inspired and impressed by the work of our colleagues.”
This year’s Golden Reels will additionally honor Noah director Darren Aronofsky with the Mpse’s annual Filmmaker Award. Oscar winner Skip Lievsay, known for his work...
“2014 was a fantastic year for sound,” said Mpse president Frank Morrone. “The advent of new distribution channels, streaming services and gaming platforms is creating additional opportunities for sound artists to practice their craft beyond the traditional venues of film and television. This year’s nominations reflect that change, spanning an amazing diversity of mediums and genres, all executed at the highest level of creativity. We are truly inspired and impressed by the work of our colleagues.”
This year’s Golden Reels will additionally honor Noah director Darren Aronofsky with the Mpse’s annual Filmmaker Award. Oscar winner Skip Lievsay, known for his work...
- 1/14/2015
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Exclusive: Virgil Films has acquired U.S. digital/VOD rights to Glen Campbell: I’ll Be Me, a feature-length documentary tracking the country icon and Alzheimer sufferer’s final “Goodbye Tour.” Directed by actor and filmmaker James Keach (Walk The Line), I’ll Be Me gathers a star-studded lineup of country greats and celebrities from Bruce Springsteen, The Edge, Paul McCartney, Blake Shelton, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, Taylor Swift, Steve Martin, and Chad Smith to former President Bill Clinton in appreciation of Campbell, who crooned hits like “Gentle On My Mind,” “Galveston,” “Wichita Lineman,” and “Rhinestone Cowboy.”
The film will have a limited theatrical run in key markets nationwide late this year before hitting VOD, digital, and DVD in early 2015. Produced by Keach and Trevor Albert (Groundhog Day), the docu should find a wide audience among Campbell fans, who helped propel Campbell’s “Goodbye Tour” from an...
The film will have a limited theatrical run in key markets nationwide late this year before hitting VOD, digital, and DVD in early 2015. Produced by Keach and Trevor Albert (Groundhog Day), the docu should find a wide audience among Campbell fans, who helped propel Campbell’s “Goodbye Tour” from an...
- 10/10/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
The trailer for upcoming documentary Glen Campbell I’LL Be Me has finally been released and it doesn’t disappoint. This is a must-see for any Glen Campbell fan, as it humorously and heartbreakingly follows the Rhinestone Cowboy on his final concert tour after being diagnosed with advanced alzheimers disease.
I was fortunate enough to see this film at the Topanga Film Festival and there was not a dry eye in the house. To see fans rally around this man who has given so much of his talent and musical genius for so many years is beautifully moving.
Set for an Oct. 24, 2014 release date (opens in theaters in New York and Nashville on October 24, followed by a nationwide release to more than 50 cities,) I wouldn’t be surprised if I’LL Be Me quietly picks up a documentary feature nomination come Oscar time.
Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me tells...
I was fortunate enough to see this film at the Topanga Film Festival and there was not a dry eye in the house. To see fans rally around this man who has given so much of his talent and musical genius for so many years is beautifully moving.
Set for an Oct. 24, 2014 release date (opens in theaters in New York and Nashville on October 24, followed by a nationwide release to more than 50 cities,) I wouldn’t be surprised if I’LL Be Me quietly picks up a documentary feature nomination come Oscar time.
Glen Campbell I’ll Be Me tells...
- 8/14/2014
- by Melissa Thompson
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Relive the magic of Groundhog Day over and over. Sony Pictures Home Entertainment releases the Bill Murray comedy classic, Groundhog Day, on Blu-ray for the first time on November 5, 2012. The digitally re-mastered Blu-ray arrives with newly-discovered deleted scenes, three featurettes including “The Study of Groundhogs: A Real Life Look at Marmots”, “A Different Day: An Interview with Harold Ramis”, and a making-of documentary, as well as a running commentary by Ramis, all for an Rrp of £12.99.
We have three copies of the Blu-ray to give away to our readers.
Bill Murray is at his wry, wisecracking best in this riotous romantic comedy about a weatherman caught in a personal time warp on the worst day of his life. Teamed with a relentlessly cheerful producer (Andie MacDowell) and a smart-aleck cameraman (Chris Elliott), TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities.
We have three copies of the Blu-ray to give away to our readers.
Bill Murray is at his wry, wisecracking best in this riotous romantic comedy about a weatherman caught in a personal time warp on the worst day of his life. Teamed with a relentlessly cheerful producer (Andie MacDowell) and a smart-aleck cameraman (Chris Elliott), TV weatherman Phil Connors (Bill Murray) is sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover the annual Groundhog Day festivities.
- 11/5/2012
- by Matt Holmes
- Obsessed with Film
Tom Sturridge may fit right in the midst of his generation of dark-haired, handsome British actors, but he refuses to consider his colleagues as competition. "If a film is being made by an intelligent director, they're going to cast the right guy," says Sturridge. "I shouldn't be right for every role, because I'm not." Indeed, the actor says he thoroughly enjoyed himself during a two-year gap between roles. And he won't plot and struggle for his next role. "You can construct something and make decisions and do film after film to try and get to this place, and never get there," he says. "And you can do nothing, and then get a phone call randomly saying X has just seen you do an interview on the Internet and thinks you'd be perfect for this film, and suddenly you're in Brazil shooting the best film ever made. All of it is circumstance.
- 2/8/2011
- backstage.com
Sneak Peek the new poster supporting the upcoming romance "Waiting for Forever", directed by James Keach, starring Rachel Bilson and Tom Sturridge.
"...'Will Donnor' (Sturridge), is a twenty-something guy who exclusively wears pajamas, juggles for a living and has no motivation to do anything other than follow childhood friend, now struggling actress 'Emma Twist' (Bilson) from city to city because he believes that they are destined to be together..."
Produced by Keach, Trevor Albert, John Papsidera, Jane Seymour, Richard Arlook and Jack Giarraputo, working from a screenplay by Steve Adams, cast also includes Nikki Blonsky as 'Dolores, K.C. Clyde as 'Dennis', Blythe Danner as 'Miranda Twist', Roz Ryan as 'Dorothy', Matthew Davis as 'Aaron' and Larry Filion as 'Larry'.
The film will be released February 2011.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Waiting For Forever"...
"...'Will Donnor' (Sturridge), is a twenty-something guy who exclusively wears pajamas, juggles for a living and has no motivation to do anything other than follow childhood friend, now struggling actress 'Emma Twist' (Bilson) from city to city because he believes that they are destined to be together..."
Produced by Keach, Trevor Albert, John Papsidera, Jane Seymour, Richard Arlook and Jack Giarraputo, working from a screenplay by Steve Adams, cast also includes Nikki Blonsky as 'Dolores, K.C. Clyde as 'Dennis', Blythe Danner as 'Miranda Twist', Roz Ryan as 'Dorothy', Matthew Davis as 'Aaron' and Larry Filion as 'Larry'.
The film will be released February 2011.
Click the images to enlarge and Sneak Peek "Waiting For Forever"...
- 12/29/2010
- by Michael Stevens
- SneakPeek
Robert Pattinson's best friend Tom Sturridge has the Twilight star to thank for his latest movie role - the newcomer persuaded the film's producers to let him audition after seeing a script they sent to his pal.
Actor Sturridge has landed a role in upcoming picture Waiting For Forever opposite Rachel Bilson, but movie bosses originally wanted Pattinson to star in the romantic tale.
Sturridge reveals he found the discarded script on the floor while he was staying at his friend's apartment and he was convinced he could play the part better than the Brit superstar - so he rang his agent and begged for an audition.
He tells the New York Daily News, "I saw the script on the floor of Rob's apartment when I was staying on his sofa. I thought to myself, 'I could do this better than he could,' so I called up my agent the next morning. They were kind enough to let me audition and apparently they saw something in me."
The movie's producer Trevor Albert reveals he was shocked to hear from Sturridge, because he couldn't understand how the actor knew about the movie. He adds, "We got a call from his agent who told us Tom loved the script, and we were like, 'We don't remember sending him one.' Finally, we were worn down and just said, 'All right, let's let him come in.'"...
Actor Sturridge has landed a role in upcoming picture Waiting For Forever opposite Rachel Bilson, but movie bosses originally wanted Pattinson to star in the romantic tale.
Sturridge reveals he found the discarded script on the floor while he was staying at his friend's apartment and he was convinced he could play the part better than the Brit superstar - so he rang his agent and begged for an audition.
He tells the New York Daily News, "I saw the script on the floor of Rob's apartment when I was staying on his sofa. I thought to myself, 'I could do this better than he could,' so I called up my agent the next morning. They were kind enough to let me audition and apparently they saw something in me."
The movie's producer Trevor Albert reveals he was shocked to hear from Sturridge, because he couldn't understand how the actor knew about the movie. He adds, "We got a call from his agent who told us Tom loved the script, and we were like, 'We don't remember sending him one.' Finally, we were worn down and just said, 'All right, let's let him come in.'"...
- 4/12/2010
- WENN
Even before we put the spotlight on Robert Pattinson, tMF has been covering the acting career of fellow British actor Tom Sturridge (http://themovie-fanatic.com/hotlist/rising_stars/tom_sturridge/). Following a fantastic performance in Like Minds - together with another favorite, Eddie Redmayne - we were disappointed when the producers of Jumper replaced Tom with the more popular but definitely less talented Hayden Christensen. Now, in a bizarre coincidence of sorts, Tom will be appearing in a new movie with Rachel Bilson (who replaced another actress previously cast in Jumper). Here's the good news for all Tom Sturridge fans - this was just posted by The Hollywood Reporter (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/film/news/e3i324d533915afe51bafbd5fc55f77357e): Tom Sturridge is starring in Waiting for Forever, an indie romantic comedy being directed by James Keach. Jaime King, Nikki Blonsky, Scott Mechlowicz...
- 9/24/2008
- The Movie Fanatic
Actor Tom Sturridge is starring in Waiting for Forever an indie comedy being directed by James Keach. It will also star Jamie King, Nikki Blonsky, Scott Mechlowicz and Riley Smith.
Tome Sturridge plays a wanderer who tries to reconnect with his lost love, an actress in Hollywood played by Rachel Bilson. King plays the man’s sister in law, who helps him after his brother rejects him.
The director is also producing the script written by Steve Adams with Trevor Albert through their PCH Production. The film is being produced for a small budget of around 5 million dollars.
British Actor Tom Sturridge wil be next seen on Working Title’s “The Boat that Rocked.” Jamie King on the other hand who was last...
(more...)...
Tome Sturridge plays a wanderer who tries to reconnect with his lost love, an actress in Hollywood played by Rachel Bilson. King plays the man’s sister in law, who helps him after his brother rejects him.
The director is also producing the script written by Steve Adams with Trevor Albert through their PCH Production. The film is being produced for a small budget of around 5 million dollars.
British Actor Tom Sturridge wil be next seen on Working Title’s “The Boat that Rocked.” Jamie King on the other hand who was last...
(more...)...
- 9/23/2008
- by John
- ReelSuave.com
Tom Sturridge is starring in "Waiting for Forever," an indie romantic comedy being directed by James Keach.
Jaime King, Nikki Blonsky, Scott Mechlowicz and Riley Smith also have roles in the film. Blythe Danner and Richard Jenkins round out the cast.
Sturridge plays a wanderer who tries to reconnect with his childhood love, an actress in Hollywood (played by the already cast Rachel Bilson). King plays the man's sister-in-law, who helps him after his brother rejects him.
Keach is producing the Steve Adams-written script with Trevor Albert through their Pch Prods. Executive producing the film, budgeted at a little less than $5 million, are Forest Backer III and Richard Arlook.
Filming on the private-equity-funded film begins Monday in Utah.
British actor Sturridge is in post on Working Title's "The Boat That Rocked." He is repped by CAA.
Wma-repped King appeared in "Sin City" and has a role in Frank Miller's "The Spirit.
Jaime King, Nikki Blonsky, Scott Mechlowicz and Riley Smith also have roles in the film. Blythe Danner and Richard Jenkins round out the cast.
Sturridge plays a wanderer who tries to reconnect with his childhood love, an actress in Hollywood (played by the already cast Rachel Bilson). King plays the man's sister-in-law, who helps him after his brother rejects him.
Keach is producing the Steve Adams-written script with Trevor Albert through their Pch Prods. Executive producing the film, budgeted at a little less than $5 million, are Forest Backer III and Richard Arlook.
Filming on the private-equity-funded film begins Monday in Utah.
British actor Sturridge is in post on Working Title's "The Boat That Rocked." He is repped by CAA.
Wma-repped King appeared in "Sin City" and has a role in Frank Miller's "The Spirit.
- 9/23/2008
- by By Borys Kit
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Rachel Bilson has been picked up to play the female lead in James Keach's romantic drama, "Waiting For Forever". Produced by Trevor Albert and James, the movie is set to go into production at the end of September in Salt Lake City.
Off a script by Steve Adams, the upcoming big screen mainly speaks of a young man who's happy without a job and decides to spend the rest of his life with his love, a 25-year-old Hollywood actress who is played by Rachel. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any announcement yet concerning the actor that will play the male lead.
Rachel was last seen in "Jumper" landing the part of Millie Harris. After that, she has appeared in one of the segments from upcoming film, "New York, I Love You", which is scheduled to hit the theaters next year, on February 13.
Off a script by Steve Adams, the upcoming big screen mainly speaks of a young man who's happy without a job and decides to spend the rest of his life with his love, a 25-year-old Hollywood actress who is played by Rachel. Unfortunately, there hasn't been any announcement yet concerning the actor that will play the male lead.
Rachel was last seen in "Jumper" landing the part of Millie Harris. After that, she has appeared in one of the segments from upcoming film, "New York, I Love You", which is scheduled to hit the theaters next year, on February 13.
- 9/22/2008
- by AceShowbiz.com
- Aceshowbiz
"Because of Winn-Dixie", based on the popular young people's novel by Kate DiCamillo, can't decide what it wants to be when it grows up.
It starts off as a gently amusing girl-and-her-dog story before awkwardly shifting gears into a more maudlin portrait of a town and its sorrows, then keeps attempting to backpedal into cute animal mode whenever the prolonged downbeat elements threaten to send kids screaming for their Game Boy Advance SPs.
Despite director Wayne Wang's flair for vehicles about characters seeking to fill a void in their lives ("The Joy Luck Club", "Smoke"), he never achieves the right balance here, struggling throughout with an episodic script by first-time screenwriter and former Warner Bros. executive Joan Singleton.
Given the film's tendency toward sermonizing, it's understandable that 20 Century Fox is playing up the lovable-pooch angle in its advertising. In print ads, they've even cut the young female protagonist off above her sneakers so as not to discourage the potential boy-and-his-dog demo.
Even so, the picture will prove to be a tough theatrical proposition, but those complaining that they don't make family movies with good old-fashioned values anymore could give it a boost when it arrives on home video.
Set in fictional, sleepy Naomi, Fla. (played by Napoleonville, La.), the redemptive story is narrated by India Opal Buloni (newcomer Annasophia Robb), a lonely 10-year-old who was abandoned by her mother at age 3.
As the new kid in town whose emotionally closed-off preacher dad (Jeff Daniels) has set up a church in an empty convenience store, India is finding it difficult making friends.
But she finds a kindred spirit in a big, dirty abandoned dog she names Winn-Dixie, after the supermarket in which the wayward mutt was generating mass chaos.
Little by little, and glory be, India and her faithful companion manage to shake the town out of a deep, melancholic funk.
There's always room in the movie market for an emotionally uplifting family story, but "Winn-Dixie"'s book of redemption is short a few green stamps.
Aside from navigating the wildly uneven tonal shifts, the inhabitants of Naomi have been reduced to the most cardboard of stock characters -- the spinster librarian Eva Marie Saint), the eccentric town outcast (Cicely Tyson), the mysterious drifter (singer Dave Matthews) -- and the actors playing them are wasted by those one-dimensional limitations.
Behind the scenes, establishing the comfortably worn-in look of the production are cinematographer Karl Walter Lindenlaub, production designer Donald Graham Burt and costume designer Hope Hanafin, while Rachel Portman, who has scored several of Wang's films, contributes another subtly orchestrated composition.
Because of Winn-Dixie
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox and Walden Media present a Wayne Wang film
Credits:
Director: Wayne Wang
Screenwriter: Joan Singleton
Based on the novel by: Kate DiCamillo
Producers: Trevor Albert, Joan Singleton
Executive producer: Ralph Singleton
Director of photography: Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Production designer: Donald Graham Burt
Editor: Deirdre Slevin
Costume designer: Hope Hanafin
Music: Rachel Portman
Cast:
Preacher: Jeff Daniels
Gloria Dump: Cicely Tyson
Otis: Dave Matthews
Miss Franny: Eva Marie Saint
India Opal Buloni: AnnaSophia Robb
Sweetie Pie Thomas: Elle Fanning
MPAA rating: PG
Running time -- 109 minutes...
It starts off as a gently amusing girl-and-her-dog story before awkwardly shifting gears into a more maudlin portrait of a town and its sorrows, then keeps attempting to backpedal into cute animal mode whenever the prolonged downbeat elements threaten to send kids screaming for their Game Boy Advance SPs.
Despite director Wayne Wang's flair for vehicles about characters seeking to fill a void in their lives ("The Joy Luck Club", "Smoke"), he never achieves the right balance here, struggling throughout with an episodic script by first-time screenwriter and former Warner Bros. executive Joan Singleton.
Given the film's tendency toward sermonizing, it's understandable that 20 Century Fox is playing up the lovable-pooch angle in its advertising. In print ads, they've even cut the young female protagonist off above her sneakers so as not to discourage the potential boy-and-his-dog demo.
Even so, the picture will prove to be a tough theatrical proposition, but those complaining that they don't make family movies with good old-fashioned values anymore could give it a boost when it arrives on home video.
Set in fictional, sleepy Naomi, Fla. (played by Napoleonville, La.), the redemptive story is narrated by India Opal Buloni (newcomer Annasophia Robb), a lonely 10-year-old who was abandoned by her mother at age 3.
As the new kid in town whose emotionally closed-off preacher dad (Jeff Daniels) has set up a church in an empty convenience store, India is finding it difficult making friends.
But she finds a kindred spirit in a big, dirty abandoned dog she names Winn-Dixie, after the supermarket in which the wayward mutt was generating mass chaos.
Little by little, and glory be, India and her faithful companion manage to shake the town out of a deep, melancholic funk.
There's always room in the movie market for an emotionally uplifting family story, but "Winn-Dixie"'s book of redemption is short a few green stamps.
Aside from navigating the wildly uneven tonal shifts, the inhabitants of Naomi have been reduced to the most cardboard of stock characters -- the spinster librarian Eva Marie Saint), the eccentric town outcast (Cicely Tyson), the mysterious drifter (singer Dave Matthews) -- and the actors playing them are wasted by those one-dimensional limitations.
Behind the scenes, establishing the comfortably worn-in look of the production are cinematographer Karl Walter Lindenlaub, production designer Donald Graham Burt and costume designer Hope Hanafin, while Rachel Portman, who has scored several of Wang's films, contributes another subtly orchestrated composition.
Because of Winn-Dixie
20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox and Walden Media present a Wayne Wang film
Credits:
Director: Wayne Wang
Screenwriter: Joan Singleton
Based on the novel by: Kate DiCamillo
Producers: Trevor Albert, Joan Singleton
Executive producer: Ralph Singleton
Director of photography: Karl Walter Lindenlaub
Production designer: Donald Graham Burt
Editor: Deirdre Slevin
Costume designer: Hope Hanafin
Music: Rachel Portman
Cast:
Preacher: Jeff Daniels
Gloria Dump: Cicely Tyson
Otis: Dave Matthews
Miss Franny: Eva Marie Saint
India Opal Buloni: AnnaSophia Robb
Sweetie Pie Thomas: Elle Fanning
MPAA rating: PG
Running time -- 109 minutes...
Variety reports that TV commercial director John Benito has signed to make his feature directorial debut on Fox's action thriller Silver Strike. Scripted by Jay Barton Mitchell, the thriller focuses on a military unit that goes down in Eastern Europe and discovers that their greatest enemies aren't soldiers . they're werewolves. Trevor Albert and Mark Gordon (The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) will produce; no start date or stars have been announced.
- 4/30/2003
- IMDbPro News
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