Crooked Hearts (1991)

Director:

Michael Bortman

Writers (WGA):

Robert Boswell (novel)
Michael Bortman (screenplay)

Release Date:

6 September 1991 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

How the discovery of a father's affair affects each member of his family.

Plot Keywords:

Secret | Dysfunctional Family | Pierce College | Toast | Dog

Cast

Peter Berg	...	Tom (as Pete Berg)
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Charley
Noah Wyle	...	Ask
Peter Coyote	...	Edward
Cindy Pickett	...	Jill
Juliette Lewis	...	Cassie
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Marriet Hoffman
Wendy Gazelle	...	Eileen
Marg Helgenberger	...	Jennetta
Deanna Milligan	...	Julie (as Deanna Jean Milligan)
Sacha Moiseiwitsch	...	Bonita (as Sasha Moisewitsch)
Joshua Jackson	...	Tom (11 years)
Ryan Jorgenson	...	Ask (9 years)
Ian Tracey	...	Limber Watkins
Vincent Gale	...	Charley's Friend
Doreen Ramus	...	Woman in Bakery
David Longworth	...	Gas Station Owner
Babs Chula	...	Neighbor Woman
Dee Jay Jackson	...	Fire Captain (as D.J. Jackson)
Curt Bonn	...	Fireman
Kenneth Kantymir	...	John Heffel
John Kernahan	...	Driver

Directed by
Michael Bortman

Writing credits (WGA)
Robert Boswell		(novel)
Michael Bortman		(screenplay)

Produced by
Mark Bentley	....	associate producer
Gil Friesen	....	producer
Lianne Halfon	....	associate producer
Dale Pollock	....	producer
Rick Stevenson	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto

Film Editing by
Richard Francis-Bruce

Casting by
Fiona Jackson
Lora Kennedy
Linda Lowy

Production Design by
David Brisbin

Art Direction by
Lawrence F. Pevec

Set Decoration by
Lesley Beale

Costume Design by
Susan De Laval		(as Susan deLaval)

Makeup Department
Ian C. Ballard	....	hair stylist (as Ian Ballard)
Linda A. Brown	....	makeup artist
Francesca von Zimmermann	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Marin Hopper	....	post-production supervisor
Colleen Nystedt	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jack Hardy	....	second assistant director
Jackie Jordan	....	third assistant director (as Jacqueline A. Jordan)
T.W. Peacocke	....	first assistant director
Curtis Petersen	....	second unit director
Mellanie Siteman	....	trainee assistant director

Art Department
Chris Bartleman	....	storyboard artist (as Christopher Bartleman)
Doug Hardwick	....	construction coordinator (as Douglas Hardwick)
Max Matsuoka	....	props buyer
Dale Menzies	....	carpenter
Brian Shell	....	construction foreman
Dan Sissons	....	property master
Ken Wells	....	painting coordinator

Sound Department
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Jay Boekelheide	....	sound designer
Jay Boekelheide	....	supervising sound editor
B.J. Clayden	....	boom operator
Malcolm Fife	....	foley mixer
Barbara McBane	....	dialogue editor
Douglas Murray	....	sound effects editor
Jennifer Myers	....	foley artist
John Nutt	....	dialogue editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
David Parker	....	sound effects mixer
Eric Thompson	....	foley mixer
Rob Young	....	production sound mixer

Special Effects by
Michael Blacklock	....	special effects coordinator
John Thomas	....	special effects consultant

Stunts
Curt Bonn	....	stunt performer
Jim Dunn	....	stunts
Bill Ferguson	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Buckmaster	....	best boy electric
Glen Forrieter	....	best boy grip
Dave Gordon	....	key grip
Christopher Harris	....	first assistant camera
Barbara Harwood	....	camera trainee
John G. Helme	....	rigging gaffer
Nathaniel Massey	....	Steadicam operator
Armin Matter	....	camera operator
Craig Munroe	....	dolly grip
Curtis Petersen	....	camera operator: second unit
Curtis Petersen	....	director of photography: second unit
Geoff Rogers	....	second second assistant camera
Pete Romano	....	underwater camera operator (as Peter Romano)
Jack Rowand	....	still photographer
Al Uglanica	....	best boy grip
Ronald Vidor	....	panaglide operator
Pat Williams	....	second assistant camera (as Patrick Williams)
Ron Williams	....	chief lighting technician

Casting Department
Fiona Jackson	....	casting: Canada

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Crystine Booth	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Patricia A. Galvin	....	first assistant editor
Bruce Giesbrecht	....	first assistant editor
Mike Stanwick	....	color timer
Marcy Stoeven	....	assistant editor (as Marcy Stoeven Gibbens)

Music Department
John Boylan	....	music consultant
Billy Goldenberg	....	musical cues
Stephen Krause	....	score mixer (as Steve Krause)
Stephen Krause	....	scoring mixer
Becky Mancuso-Winding	....	executive music producer (as Becky Mancuso)
Timothy R. Sexton	....	executive music producer (as Tim Sexton)
Jeffery Stephens	....	music editor
Jim Weidman	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Robert MacLean	....	transportation coordinator (as Robert McLean)

Other crew
Natalie Drache	....	script supervisor
Gordon Hardwick	....	location manager
Judith Marcuse	....	choreographer
Steve Newman	....	unit publicist
Elizabeth Pontsa	....	production accountant
John Sanderson	....	video coordinator
Roberta Sheehy	....	production coordinator
Mike Vézina	....	fire coordinator (as Mike Vezina)
Ainslie S. Wiggs	....	assistant location manager
Patricia Warren	....	assistant coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• A&M Films
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1991) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Animal Makers

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes and dollies
• Location Caterers  catering
• PPI Camera Corporation  camera equipment provided by
• PPI Camera Corporation  camera support
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of sensuality

Runtime:

113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

British Columbia, Canada

Company:

A&M Films

Quotes:

Tom:You here to beat me up, Charley? I know you can do it.

Soundtrack:

Ain't Got No Home

Fun Indie Film

When a young man, Tom (Peter Berg), comes home to visit his family, he finds that since he has left the Warrens have become majorly disfunctional as a result of his father's hidden infidelity. His father, Edward (Peter Coyote), refuses to deal with these problems, going into denial and pretending that everything is fine. His older brother Charley (Vincent D'Onofrio) attempts to get kicked out of the family by causing emotional trouble, becoming violent, and he finally beats up Tom in the end, to no avail; Tom realizes that Edward won't throw Charley out because that would be letting him win.

This is the sort of dark little film which is original and wonderfully written but too subdued and depressing to ever gain wider acceptance. The tale of a family's descent into mutual distrust and self pity is not something most people would be willing to watch, regardless of the quality of the work.

Good directorial work and writing here. The performances are also all solid, especially D'Onofrio as the aggressive sociopath son and Noah Wyle as his brother Ask, such a riveting performance from a young Wyle. Take the time to watch this at least once if you see it on the movie channels. It's too extreme for many people to relate to, but it does keep you entertained, and it has a good, realistic ending.