Music Within
| Music Within | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Steven Sawalich |
| Produced by |
Brett Donowho Bruce Wayne Gillies Oli Laperal Jr. Steven Sawalich |
| Written by |
Bret McKinney, Mark Andrew Olsen and Kelly Kennemer |
| Starring |
Ron Livingston Melissa George Michael Sheen |
| Music by | James T. Sale |
| Cinematography | Irek Hartowicz |
| Edited by | Timothy Alverson |
Production company |
The Weinstein Company Lionsgate |
| Distributed by |
Articulus Entertainment Quorum Entertainment Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release dates | October 26, 2007 |
Running time | 93 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $153,205 (domestic)[1] |
Music Within is a 2007 drama film directed by Steven Sawalich and starring Ron Livingston, Melissa George, Michael Sheen, Rebecca De Mornay and Marion Ross. The film tells the true story of Richard Pimentel, a respected public speaker whose hearing disability attained in the Vietnam War drove him to become an activist for the Americans with Disabilities Act.[2]
The film, which takes place in Portland, Oregon, was filmed on and around the Portland State University campus.
Plot synopsis
The true story of Richard Pimentel, a brilliant public speaker with a troubled past. As a young man, Pimentel (Ron Livingston) realized he had a remarkable gift for public speaking. Pimentel's idol is College Bowl founder Dr. Padrow (Hector Elizondo), but upon trying out for Dr. Padrow, the ambitious young speaker is informed that he won't have anything to talk about until he has lived a full life.
Realizing that there is some merit to Dr. Padrow's observation, Pimentel subsequently enlists in the military and prepares for duty in Vietnam. Later, while fighting on the battlefield, Pimentel loses most of his hearing and is left with permanent tinnitus. He returns home frustrated. When others inform him that he will never achieve his dreams because he is deaf, the determined veteran makes it his mission to prove them wrong.
But it is not as much about changing others' perceptions of persons with disabilities as it is about altering their perceptions of themselves, and with a little help from foul-mouthed genius Art Honeyman (Michael Sheen) (who has cerebral palsy), free-spirited beauty Christine (Melissa George), and mercurial, hard-drinking veteran Mike Stoltz (Yul Vázquez), Pimentel will play a pivotal role in creating the Americans With Disabilities Act, and finally discover his inner music.
Awards
Movie director Steven Sawalich won an Audience Award at the AFI Dallas International Film Festival for best narrative feature film.
Home video
Music Within was released on Region 1 DVD on April 8, 2008.
Primary Cast
- Ron Livingston as Richard Pimentel
- Melissa George as Christine
- Michael Sheen as Art Honeyman
- Yul Vazquez as Mike Stolz
- Rebecca De Mornay as Richard's Mom
- Hector Elizondo as Ben Padrow
- Leslie Nielsen as Bill Austin
- Ridge Canipe as Young Richard
- Paul Michael as Joe
- Clint Jung as Richard's Dad
- John Livingston as Mr. Parks
References
- ↑ "Music Within". Movies. Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 15, 2007.
- ↑ Friess, Steven (5 November 2007). "Disabled war veteran's activism forges onto film". USA Today. Retrieved 30 November 2012.