Breakfast of Champions (1999)

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writers (WGA):

Kurt Vonnegut Jr. (book)
Alan Rudolph (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 February 1999 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

In a world gone mad, you can trust Dwayne Hoover.

Plot:

A portrait of a fictional town in the mid west that is home to a group of idiosyncratic and slightly neurotic characters...

Plot Keywords:

Suicide | Breakfast | Science Fiction Writer | Writer | Truck Driver

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Bruce Willis	...	Dwayne Hoover
Albert Finney	...	Kilgore Trout
Nick Nolte	...	Harry Le Sabre
Barbara Hershey	...	Celia Hoover
Glenne Headly	...	Francine Pefko
Lukas Haas	...	George 'Bunny' Hoover
Omar Epps	...	Wayne Hoobler
Vicki Lewis	...	Grace Le Sabre
Buck Henry	...	Fred T. Barry
Ken Hudson Campbell	...	Eliot Rosewater / Gilbert (as Ken Campbell)
Jake Johannsen	...	Bill Bailey
Will Patton	...	Moe the Truck Driver
Chip Zien	...	Andy Wojeckowzski
Owen Wilson	...	Monte Rapid
Alison Eastwood	...	Maria Maritimo
Shawnee Smith	...	Bonnie MacMahon
Michael Jai White	...	Howell
Keith Joe Dick	...	Vernon Garr
Diane Willson Dick	...	Rosemary Garr (as Diane Dick)
Michael Clarke Duncan	...	Eli (as Michael Duncan)
Lahmard J. Tate	...	Elmoro (as Lahmard Tate)
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.	...	Commercial Director
Dawn Didawick	...	Lottie
Karl Wiedergott	...	Homer
Patti Allison	...	Blossom
Alexa Robbins	...	Art Hostess Kaye
Debra Dusay	...	Art Hostess Faye
Tom Robbins	...	Pesky Weber
Raymond O'Connor	...	Rabo Karabekian
Tisha Sterling	...	Beatrice Keedsler
Matt Callahan	...	Zeke
Tracey Lee Mapstone	...	Mailwoman
Mary Kennedy	...	Waitress
Greg Walker	...	Highway Patrolman
David Blampied	...	NY Policeman / Prison Guard
Greg Moore	...	Porn Store Patron
Doug Hamblin	...	Mugger
Patrice Thomas	...	NY Policewoman
Nancy Volle	...	Marlo
Danielle Kennedy	...	Motel Clerk
Scout LaRue Willis	...	Young Girl (as Scout Willis)
Nicolas Small	...	Young Boy
Denise Simone	...	Blue Monday Housewife
Russ Wilson	...	Blue Monday Doctor (as Russell Wilson)
Scott Beauchemin	...	Trypepton Husband
Kassandra Kay	...	Trypepton Wife
Ken Odom	...	Prodigal Life Husband
Erica Evans	...	Prodigal Life Wife
David Kyle	...	Prodigal Life Child
Richard Sheehan	...	Voiceover
Roman Lewis	...	Prisoner
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gina-Raye Carter	...	Inside of Bruce Willis brain (uncredited)
Maxann Crotts	...	Serial Killer (uncredited)
William L. Nagle	...	Horace Durenwurst (uncredited)
Beaux Sedwick	...	Dream Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Rudolph

Writing credits (WGA)
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.		(book)
Alan Rudolph		(screenplay)

Produced by
David Blocker	....	producer
Stephen J. Eads	....	associate producer
W. Mark McNair	....	producer: commercial segment
Sandra Tomita	....	associate producer
David Willis	....	producer

Original Music by
Mark Isham

Cinematography by
Elliot Davis

Film Editing by
Suzy Elmiger

Casting by
Pam Dixon

Production Design by
Nina Ruscio

Art Direction by
Randy Eriksen

Set Decoration by
K.C. Fox

Costume Design by
Rudy Dillon

Makeup Department
Debra Coleman	....	makeup artist
Bunny Parker	....	head hair stylist
Gerald Quist	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Jane Bartelme	....	unit production manager
Charlie Vogel	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cara Giallanza	....	assistant director
Adam Glickman	....	assistant director
Eric Fox Hays	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Matt Callahan	....	art department coordinator
Steven E. Eyrse	....	head painter
Steven E. Eyrse	....	scenic artist
Roman Lewis	....	art department intern
Eric Rosenberg	....	graphic designer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Misty Conn	....	utility sound
Bruce Kitzmeyer	....	foley editor
Brian Langman	....	assistant sound editor
Lisa J. Levine	....	supervising adr editor
Michael W. Mitchell	....	sound effects editor
Eliza Paley	....	supervising sound editor
Donna Powell	....	foley artist
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul P. Soucek	....	supervising sound editor
Becky Sullivan	....	supervising adr editor
Orest Sushko	....	sound re-recording mixer
Susumu Tokunow	....	sound
Daniel Ward	....	apprentice sound editor
Randy Wilson	....	control room operator

Special Effects by
Ray Brown	....	special effects technician
Bob Riggs	....	special effects coordinator (as Bobby Riggs)
John Yorke	....	HPE special effects operator (as J.D. Yorke)

Visual Effects by
Rob Blue	....	digital artist
Mark Breakspear	....	visual effects supervisor: Digital Muse
Alex Deshazer	....	production coordinator
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital effects artist
Mike Goslin	....	digital systems engineer
Simon Holden	....	digital effects artist
Heather Ignarro	....	production assistant: Digital FilmWorks
Suzanne Jack	....	visual effects coordinator
Richard Ivan Mann	....	visual effects producer
Roger Mocenigo	....	lead digital compositor: Click 3x Los Angeles
Sean Murphy	....	visual effects artist
Janet Muswell	....	visual effects supervisor
Robert Stromberg	....	digital matte artist
Chris Wells	....	visual effects

Stunts
Steve Kelso	....	stunt driver
Grady Walker	....	utility stunts
Greg Walker	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Kirk Bloom	....	second assistant camera
Glenn Brown	....	assistant camera
Walter Byrnes	....	electrician
Greg Fausak	....	grip
Richard Mall	....	key grip
John Seravic	....	grip
Roger Wall	....	film loader
Rick A. West	....	gaffer

Animation Department
Ingin Kim	....	animator

Casting Department
Maxann Crotts	....	extras casting
Maxann Crotts	....	location casting: Idaho

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Carrie Bauer	....	set costumer
Lori Fuchs	....	wardrobe intern
Sandy Kenyon	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Pagan Danielle Harleman	....	assistant editor (as Pagan Harleman)
John McNulty	....	post-production assistant
Hilary Schroeder	....	assistant editor
Susan K. Weiler	....	assistant film editor

Music Department
Jeffrey Bass	....	musician: additional keyboards, Bunny Hoover sessions
Stanley Behrens	....	musician: harmonica
David Blocker	....	music producer: Bunny Hoover sessions
Mike Clair	....	musician: drums
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Arni Egilsson	....	musician: bass
Alan Estes	....	musician: marimba
Lukas Haas	....	music producer: Bunny Hoover sessions
Lukas Haas	....	musician: keyboards, Bunny Hoover sessions
Clayton Haslop	....	musician: violin
Mark Isham	....	score producer
Jim Kanter	....	musician: bass clarinet
Jonathan Karp	....	music editor
Josh Kelley	....	musician: drums, Bunny Hoover sessions (as Josh Kelly)
Stephen Krause	....	scoring mixer
Ken Kugler	....	conductor
Ken Kugler	....	orchestrator
Frank Macchia	....	additional orchestrator
Frank Marocco	....	musician: accordion
Sid Page	....	musician: violin
Rich Ruttenberg	....	musician: piano
Hal Sweazey	....	musician: keyboards, Bunny Hoover sessions

Transportation Department
Terry R. Owens	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Don Baldwin	....	assistant location manager
Monica De Armond	....	production associate
Craig Franson	....	production assistant
Steve Kirklys	....	title designer
Jeff Kloss	....	production accountant
Mike Le	....	assistant: Owen Wilson
Laurent Marchand	....	caterer
Janet Muswell	....	title designer
Heather Plott	....	production secretary
Patrick Sheedy	....	post accountant
Alison Sherman	....	production coordinator
Mike Staheli	....	set medic
Kurt Vonnegut Jr.	....	title drawings
Peter Pamela Rose	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
James Spear	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Flying Heart Films
• Hollywood Pictures
• Rain City
• Rational Packaging Company
• Sugar Creek Productions
• Summit Entertainment

Distributors

• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (1999) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Tobis Filmkunst (1999) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Al!ve AG (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Budapest Film (Hungary)
• Buena Vista Pictures
• Ecovídeo (Portugal) (video)
• Les Films de l'Astre (France)
• Mikado
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Bros.
• West Video (Russia) (video)
• mediacs AG (2002) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Click 3X  digital visual effects
• Eclipse Catering  catering
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment
• Sugar Creek Philharmonic  orchestra

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and some language

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Finland:S | Australia:M | South Korea:18 | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:18 | Chile:18 | France:U | Germany:12 | Italy:T | Portugal:M/16 (video premiere) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Twin Falls, Idaho, USA

Company:

Flying Heart Films

Trivia:

Cast members 'Bruce Willis (I)', Will Patton, Michael Clarke Duncan, Owen Wilson, Ken Hudson Campbell, and 'Shawnee Smith (I)' all appeared in Armageddon (1998).

Quotes:

Dwayne Hoover:It's all life until your dead.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Nick Nolte: No Exit (2008)

Soundtrack:

Kalua (Love Song of)

Unfunny things are happening to Dwayne Hoover

Kurt Vonnegut's satirical novel of 1973 resonates as deeply now as it did way back then. The themes of suburban paranoia and soulless consumerism have motivated some of the best films of the last twelve months, so an inspired interpretation of Breakfast of Champions would have been warmly endorsed.

It's clearly been a labour of love for director Alan Rudolph, who has tried for twenty years to make this film. Sadly, twenty years of work appears to have produced one bad draft copy. And Rudolph does not have the slightest grasp on what is funny.

Nick Nolte wanders aimlessly around in a dress but it isn't funny. Albert Finney searches out his chaotic literary masterpieces in pornographic magazines but it isn't funny. Barbara Hershey's character is a product of the chaos, but her appearances lack a motive. She isn't required until the film bursts into chaotic life in its last ten minutes.

This means three great actors are left stranded. It results in the unlikely event of Bruce Willis stealing the acting honours. He is good, but one feels it would have been no great stretch to act insane.

Among the problems here is that the film keeps its feet on the ground. While we're expected to believe the world has gone mad, the actual events are as uninspired as they are unfunny. This doesn't mean it is any easier to understand. In fact, without having read the novel, you'd most likely be lost from the beginning.

The chaos of Vonnegut's vision was its real joy. The way characters conspired to come together was inventive. The film though plays like a cliche. The ending is anarchic, but you get the impression it only serves one purpose: to stop you making rational sense of the rest of the film. And as much as you want to like it, or applaud Rudolph's commitment, the truth is that BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS is a sad, poor film.