Sphere (1998)

A spaceship is discovered under three hundred years' worth of coral growth at the bottom of the ocean.

Director:

Barry Levinson

Writers:

Michael Crichton (novel), Kurt Wimmer (adaptation),

Stars:

Dustin Hoffman, Sharon Stone, Samuel L. Jackson

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Dustin Hoffman	...	Dr. Norman Goodman
Sharon Stone	...	Dr. Elizabeth 'Beth' Halperin
Samuel L. Jackson	...	Dr. Harry Adams
Peter Coyote	...	Captain Harold C. Barnes
Liev Schreiber	...	Dr. Ted Fielding
Queen Latifah	...	Alice 'Teeny' Fletcher
Marga Gómez	...	Jane Edmunds
Bernard Hocke	...	Seaman
James Pickens Jr.	...	O.S.S.A. Instructor
Michael Keys Hall	...	O.S.S.A. Official
Ralph Tabakin	...	O.S.S.A. Official
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Huey Lewis	...	Helicopter Pilot

Storyline

1000 feet below the ocean, navy divers discover an object half-a-mile long. A crack team of scientists are deployed to the site in Deepsea Habitats. What they find boggles the mind as they discover a perfect metal sphere. What is the secret behind the sphere? Will they survive the mysterious 'manifestations'? Who or what is creating these? They may never live to find out.

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Plot Keywords:

ocean | spaceship | sphere | scientist | secret | 

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Taglines:

A thousand feet beneath the sea, the blackest holes are in the mind...

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Genres:

Drama | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action including some startling images

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 February 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Sfera

Filming Locations:

Mare Island Naval Yard, Vallejo, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$75,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£686,484 (UK) (3 April 1998)

Gross:

£2,397,055 (UK) (24 April 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Baltimore Pictures, Constant c Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

134 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Samuel L. Jackson would work on the film during the week and then move onto Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown at weekends.

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Goofs

When Harry and Norman are talking after the scene in the eating area, and Harry tells Norman they are going to die down there, Harry lies down in his bunk. The first shot shows Harry lying with his head on the pillow and the next shot shows Norman from Harry's perspective and his right foot is hanging over the bed. As the conversation ensues, Harry sits up in his bed and is clearly seen leaning against the wall, which means his legs should have moved up too. The next shot of Norman shows that Harry's right foot is still hanging over the edge.

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Quotes

Captain Harold C. Barnes: If the habitat is full of water, you'll be dead!

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Crazy Credits

The opening credits are cast over an invisible sphere.

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Connections

Referenced in Deep Blue Sea (1999)

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Soundtracks

"I'M MAKING BELIEVE"
Music by James V. Monaco
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Performed by The Ink Spots with Ella Fitzgerald
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Special Markets

User Reviews

Great movie

As I've heard from other people, the first half of the movie is good, and it is. But that doesnt mean that the second half of the movie isn't just as good.

The second half is only interesting if you are patient, listen and watch carefully.

The story is really about how our society is far from utopia, regardless of how intelligent and cultured we are. It opens windows of answers to so many problems that our society is facing every day.