Undertow (film)
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| Undertow | |
|---|---|
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| Directed by | David Gordon Green |
| Produced by | Terrence Malick Lisa Muskat Edward R. Pressman |
| Written by | Lingard Jervey Joe Conway David Gordon Green |
| Starring | Jamie Bell Dermot Mulroney Josh Lucas Devon Alan |
| Music by | Philip Glass |
| Cinematography | Tim Orr |
| Editing by | Zene Baker Steven Gonzales |
| Distributed by | MGM |
| Release date(s) | October 22, 2004 |
| Running time | 108 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Gross revenue | US$143,597 |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
Undertow is a 2004 thriller film directed by David Gordon Green, starring Jamie Bell, Devon Alan, Dermot Mulroney and Josh Lucas. Taking place in Georgia, the film tells the story of two boys pursued by a murderous uncle.
Undertow is Green's third feature film. It met with a mixed response from critics, ranging from admiration to derision.[1][2] The film received special recognition for excellence in filmmaking from the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures.[3][4] In addition, Jamie Bell and Devon Alan won Young Artist Awards for their roles in the film.[5][6]
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[edit] Plot
The protagonist is Chris Munn (Jamie Bell), a troubled and restless teen. His family consists of his younger brother Tim (Devon Alan) and their father John (Dermot Mulroney). They live in an isolated rural house in Georgia.
The story of the film is one of greed and family hatred. It begins when John's brother Deel (Josh Lucas) visits the Munn family, stirring up unease among them. It turns out that Deel wishes to reclaim a hoard of gold coins from John. He eventually finds them hidden behind John's family portrait. John refuses to give them up. In the ensuing struggle, Deel murders him. He tries to kill Chris and Tim too, but they escape him and run away from home. Chris brings the gold coins along with him.
On the run, the boys meet an assortment of fairytale-like characters. Deel pursues them, eventually catching up. Wading into a river, Chris throws away the gold coins into the water. Enraged by their loss, Deel struggles with Chris and tries to drown the boy. In turn, Deel receives a fatal stab wound in the chest.
Rendered unconscious by the struggle, Chris wakes up in hospital. There, he is reunited with Tim and their grandparents, who have found them.
[edit] Cast
- Jamie Bell - Chris Munn
- Kristen Stewart - Lila
- Robert Longstreet - Bern
- Terry Loughlin - Officer Clayton
- Dermot Mulroney - John Munn
- Devon Alan - Tim Munn
- Josh Lucas - Deel Munn
- Eddie Rouse - Wadsworth Pela
- Patrice Johnson - Amica Pela
- Charles 'Jester' Poston - Hard Hat Dandy
- Mark Darby Robinson - Conway
- Pat Healy - Grant the Mechanic
- Leigh Hill - Muriel the Cashier
- Alfred M. Jackson - Dock Worker
- William D. Turner - Dock Worker
- Michael Bacall - Jacob
- Shiri Appleby - Violet
- Carla Bessey - Violet's Friend
- Damian Jewan Lee - Gus
- Bill McKinney - Grandfather
- Michael Gulick - Old Shirtless Man
- David Blazina - Watch-Guard
- Carlos DeLoach - Big Bad Cop
- George Smith - Milk Man
- H.G. Green - Newscaster
- Jesse Scott Nelson - Retardoe
- Craig Zobel - Bridegroom
- Sophia Lin - Mail-Order Bride
- Anne Marie Dove - Tattoo Girl
- Thelma Louise Carter - Grandmother
[edit] Background
Undertow is the third feature film directed by David Gordon Green, following George Washington (2000) and All the Real Girls (2003).[7] It is one of his more mainstream films in that it deals with a more accessible story than his earlier, more personal films.[citation needed] It is also the first in which he used a full cast of well-known actors.[citation needed]
One of the film's influences was Terrence Malick,[citation needed] who was also one of its producers.
[edit] Critical reception
The film received mixed reviews from film critics, whose responses ranged from admiration to derision.[8][9] In Rotten Tomatoes, it earned ratings of 56% based on 108 reviews and 60% based on 30 top critics.[10] In Metacritic, the film earned a metascore of 63% based on 30 reviews.[11]
Roger Ebert praised the film, giving it a full four stars in his review.[12]
[edit] Awards
| Event | Award | Winner/Nominee | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 National Board of Review Awards[13] | Special Recognition For Excellence In Filmmaking | Undertow | Won |
| 2004 Deauville American Film Festival[14] | Grand Special Prize | David Gordon Green | Nominated |
| 2005 Young Artist Awards[15] | Best Performance in a Feature Film: Leading Young Actor |
Jamie Bell | Won |
| Best Performance in a Feature Film: Supporting Young Actor |
Devon Alan | Won | |
| Best Performance in a Feature Film: Supporting Young Actress |
Kristen Stewart | Nominated | |
| 2005 Chlotrudis Awards[16] | Best Director | David Gordon Green | Nominated |
| Best Original Screenplay | Lingard Jervey Joe Conway David Gordon Green |
Nominated |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Undertow at Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ Undertow at Metacritic.
- ^ IMDB: Awards for Undertow (2004). Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ The National Board of Review: Awards for 2004. Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ IMDB: Awards for Undertow (2004). Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ 26th Annual Young Artist Awards. Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ David Gordon Green at the Internet Movie Database.
- ^ Undertow at Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ Undertow at Metacritic.
- ^ Undertow at Rotten Tomatoes.
- ^ Undertow at Metacritic.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (22 Oct 2004). "Movie Reviews: Undertow (R)". Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ The National Board of Review: Awards for 2004. Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ IMDB: Awards for Undertow (2004). Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ 26th Annual Young Artist Awards. Retrieved on June 2008.
- ^ Chlotrudis Society For Independent Film: 2005, 11th Annual Awards, March 20, 2005. Retrieved on June 2008.
[edit] References
[edit] Reviews
- Ebert, Roger (22 Oct 2004). "Movie Reviews: Undertow (R)". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Gleiberman, Owen (20 Oct 2004). "Movie Review: Undertow (2004)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Hoberman, J. (12 Oct 2004). "Tracking Shots: Film". The Village Voice. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Holden, Stephen (2 Oct 2004). "Runaways Loose in the Gothic South". The New York Times. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Hunter, Stephen (29 Oct 2004). "Undertow: Oh, Brother, It's Quite a Thriller". The Washington Post. Retrieved on June 2008.
- McDonagh, Maitland (2004). "Undertow (2004, Movie)". TV Guide. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Morris, Wesley (29 Oct 2004). "Undertow is a mood piece that lacks meaning". The Boston Globe. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Reed, Rex (10 Oct 2004). "Walk Like a Man, Talk Like a Man: Good Men Are Hard to Find". The New York Observer. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Schneider, Dan (27 Jun 2007). "Undertow by David Gordon Green". Alternative Film Guide. Retrieved on June 2008.
- Thomson, Desson (29 Oct 2004). "Caught In Its Own 'Undertow'". The Washington Post. Retrieved on June 2008.
[edit] External links
- Undertow at the Internet Movie Database
- Undertow at Allmovie
- Undertow at Rotten Tomatoes
- Undertow at Metacritic
- Undertow at Box Office Mojo
