Bruno (2000)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Shirley MacLaine

Writer:

David Ciminello (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

The comedy that is long on originality and short on pants.

Plot:

Bruno is the story of a unique young boy genius, Bruno (Alex D. Linz), whose expression of his own individuality...

Plot Keywords:

Young Boy | Genius | Fable | Emergency Room | Child Prodigy

Cast

Alex D. Linz	...	Bruno Battaglia
Shirley MacLaine	...	Helen
Gary Sinise	...	Dino Battaglia
Kathy Bates	...	Mother Superior
Stacey Halprin	...	Angela
Kiami Davael	...	Shawniqua
Joey Lauren Adams	...	Donna Marie
Jennifer Tilly	...	Dolores
Brett Butler	...	Sister Della Rosa
Bing Putney	...	Bernard
Gwen Verdon	...	Barbara Weetman
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Derin Altay	...	Nosy Woman
Jennifer A. Barnes	...	Reporter
Barry Bell	...	Wilkinson
Karen Bonner	...	Nurse #3
Jacob Bosch	...	Boy #1
Beatrice Boyle	...	Sister Mary Elaine
Pierre Brulatour	...	Officer #2
Monica Bugajski	...	Claudia
Tamara Burnham	...	Nurse #1
Jill Callahan	...	Sheila Ribundo Fine
Joseph Casterline	...	Murphy
Juliet Cesario	...	Nurse #2
Ashley Monique Clark	...	Girl #2
Christian Durango	...	Young Dino
Jessie Gibbs	...	Student #1
Dylan Hubbard	...	Signorelli
Lee Hughes
Robert Hughes	...	Student #2
Rasool J'Han	...	Reporter
Mark Joy	...	Benny
Lainie Kazan	...	Sister Mary Shirley
Deann Korbutt	...	Female Officer
Tamara Burnham Mercer	...	Nurse #1
Anita Muccia	...	Sister Thelma
Patt Noday	...	Newspaper Photographer
Joanne Pankow	...	Sister Consolata
Jordan Perry
Kyle Phillips
Freddy Robinson	...	Newscrew
Ellie Marissa Ruttenberg	...	Girl #1
Ty Sears	...	Featured Reporter
Aimee Sullivan	...	Julia
Robert C. Treveiler	...	Doctor (as Robert Treveiler)
Hank Troscianiec	...	Paramedic

Also Known As:

The Dress Code (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for rude language, mean-spirited behavior and some thematic material.

Runtime:

108 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:L

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

J&M Entertainment

Trivia:

Last film project for Gwen Verdon.

Goofs:

Continuity: At the end of the film when Bruno is about to board the plane, he hugs multiple people over the shoulder. When the camera cuts to a different angle, he is seen hugging under the shoulder during what is supposed to be the same hug.

Movie Connections:

References Apocalypse Now (1979)

If you liked Matilda, Christmas Story, and Gilbert Grape...

This funny, quirky, and touching story of individuality and tolerance makes it one of 2000's best films.

David Ciminello's film writing debut and Shirley Maclaine's second directorial opus populates the screen with the most memorable characters since "Matilda," "Gilbert Grape," and "Christmas Story." Bruno Battaglia (expertly played by Alex D. Linz) is an eight-year-old prodigy who aspires to win the National Catholic School Spelling Competition and its grand prize, an all expense paid trip to Rome for a private audience with the Pope. After a near-death experience and encounter with angels, he resolves to compete wearing various dresses (which he insists are "holy vestments"), much to the distress of the Long Island school's nuns (Kathy Bates as Mother Superior, Lainie Kazan and Brett Butler as his teachers) and the ridicule of his classmates.

Bruno's morbidly obese mother (Stacey Halprin), his estranged father who is ashamed of his son (Gary Sinese), his hyper-masculine grandmother (Shirley Maclaine), and his Annie Oakleyesque best friend (Kiami Davael) round out the cast with stellar performances. Watch for cameos by Gwen Verdon and Jennifer Tilly.