IMDb > Pleasantville (1998)
Pleasantville
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Pleasantville (1998) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   47,202 votes
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Down 55% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Gary Ross (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Pleasantville on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 October 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Nothing Is As Simple As Black And White. more
Plot:
Two 1990's teenagers find themselves in a 1950's sitcom where their influence begins to profoundly change that complacent world. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 23 nominations more
User Reviews:
First of all...I really liked it. more (647 total)


Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements emphasizing sexuality, and for language.
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Since every scene from the middle of the movie on had to be in some way digitally changed to have black and white characters interact with characters who are in color, technically this film had the most digital effects shots until Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999). more
Goofs:
Continuity: When Bud is about to go to work for the first time, Mary Sue complains to him about having to wear falsies on her date. When she's talking to her date at the restaurant, the falsies are gone. She's wearing them again right after her date is over and she walks into the house. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
[David is gazing admiringly at a pretty blonde girl]
David: *Hi*
[chuckles]
David: I mean, Hi. Uh, look, you probably don't think I should be asking you this. I mean, not knowing you well and all? I mean, you know, I, I, I know you, 'cause everybody knows you. I just don't know you technically. Uh, anyhow. Uh, I don't know what you're doing this weekend, but my mom's leaving town, and she's letting me borrow the car.
[the camera pulls back to show that the girl is standing several dozen feet away and, in fact, is smiling and looking at another boy]
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in My Sister's Keeper (2009) more
Soundtrack:
Take Five more

FAQ

Won't Jennifers real mother wonder where her daughter is when she is gone for a long time?
more
55 out of 82 people found the following review useful.
First of all...I really liked it., 13 February 2000
Author: gagliano (gagliano@msoe.edu) from Milwaukee Wisconsin

First of all....I really liked it. Ignore any review (and reviewer) that says different. We live in a day and age that we seems like every movie has a touch of this old film and bit of that one...or is a remake or possibly a re-release. But Pleasantville is none of that...it is unique, fresh, reflective, pleasant (you knew I was going to use that word someplace), sad, but yet still had a touch of fun. The film begins by looking at the interaction between and the lives of a brother (Tobey Maguire) and sister (Reese Witherspoon). The brother is very content with his life and enjoys watching television, in particular, the show, Pleasantville. His sister, a bit more outgoing, enjoys meeting new people and seeing where this interaction will lead. A fight over which show to watch results in the intervention by Don Knotts (of Andy Griffith and Three's Company fame). Maguire and Witherspoon are wisked into the television set and take center stage as two of the Pleasantville cast. The only difference is while the world may be watching a tv show, to them, this is their reality. The film appears to be in black and white, but as each character opens their mind or changes from the perception of the Pleasantville tv show, then they begin to gain color. As those in color become more prevalent, the old black & whites become resistant to change. To ebb the flow of change, the black and whites react violently against the "new colors" and begin placing restrictions on them. Yes the similarities of the 60s civil rights movement are here as are the violent acts of the Nazis in pre-World War II. But while you see these, you are also brought to the realization that there still exists a great deal of prejudice, discrimination, and close-mindedness in this world. One of the most pleasing aspects of this film is the cinematography, the mixing of the colors with the black & white shots were great. The story keeps your interest and the characters impact upon each member of the audience in their own special way. This is one film to see for I think you will hear more about it around Oscar time. Bottom line...if we open our minds more towards others, letting them be who they are, rather than who we want them to be, then not only will we be richer in color, but also richer in character.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pleasantville (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
During Mom's bath scene... kristieandbill
Mary Sue and Bud alexisofallon
Colored People angelchic55
Why things changed colors bruuno-1
She's trapped now!! perlke00
Real intention of the TV repairman? federicocristina
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