Tape (film)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tape is a 2001 drama film directed by Richard Linklater and written by Stephen Belber based on his play of the same name. It stars Ethan Hawke, Robert Sean Leonard, and Uma Thurman. The entire film takes place in real-time, in a single motel room, and has a cast of only three characters who argue about their respecetive versions of past events.

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Tape is set in a motel room in Lansing, Michigan. Vince (Ethan Hawke), an outgoing drug dealer/voluntary fireman, is in town to support his old high school friend’s entry into the Lansing film festival.

His friend, documentary filmmaker Jon Salter (Robert Sean Leonard), joins Vince in his motel room and the two begin to reminisce about their high school years. They get on the subject of Amy (Uma Thurman), Vince's former girlfriend. It appears that whilst they dated for some time, Vince and Amy never had sex. However, after their relationship had ended, Amy had slept with Jon. Naturally, Vince was hurt even though he and Amy had broken up some time previously.

Vince claims Amy had told him that Jon had raped her. Vince becomes obsessed with, and eventually succeeds in getting a verbal confession from Jon about the alleged rape. Immediately after Jon's admission, Vince pulls out a hidden tape recorder that had been recording their whole conversation, much to Jon's horror. Vince then tells Jon that he has invited Amy to dinner, and that she will be arriving shortly.

Eventually Amy does arrive and even though all three of them feel awkward, they begin to talk. Amy explains that she is now an Assistant District Attorney in the Lansing Justice Department. Eventually the three discuss what actually happened between Jon and Amy that night at the party.

Amy claims that it was merely rough sex and that Jon did not rape her, leading Jon to believe that she is in denial. After Jon becomes annoyed that Amy is refusing to accept his apology, Amy makes a call with her cell phone to the local police. She asks for a squad car to pick up one person in possession of drugs (Vince), and one in relation to a verifiable rape (Jon). After concluding her phone call, Amy warns the men that they only have about four minutes to make a run for it.

In order to prove to Amy that he is truly remorseful, Jon decides to stay and wait for the police. Vince, realizing that there is nowhere for him to run, flushes his narcotics down the toilet.

Amy reveals that she didn't really call the police, and leaves.

[edit] External links

Tape at the Internet Movie Database

Films directed by Richard Linklater
It's Impossible to Learn to Plow by Reading Books • Slacker • Dazed and Confused • Before Sunrise • subUrbia • The Newton Boys • Waking Life • Tape • School of Rock • Before Sunset • Bad News Bears • A Scanner Darkly • Fast Food Nation