Waking the Dead (2000)

Director:

Keith Gordon

Writers (WGA):

Scott Spencer (novel)
Robert Dillon (screenplay)

Release Date:

24 March 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Mystery | Romance | Thriller

Tagline:

Sometimes love has a life of its own.

Plot:

A congressional candidate questions his sanity after seeing the love of his life, presumed dead, suddenly emerge.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Politician | Chilean | Vietnam | Law

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Billy Crudup	...	Fielding Pierce
Bill Haugland	...	TV Newsman at Bombing
Nelson Landrieu	...	Francisco Higgens
Ivonne Coll	...	Gisela Higgens
Jennifer Connelly	...	Sarah Williams
Maxine Guess	...	Danny's Receptionist
Paul Hipp	...	Danny Pierce
Hal Holbrook	...	Isaac Green
Lawrence Dane	...	Governor Kinosis
Ed Harris	...	Jerry Charmichael
Robert Harding	...	TV Newsman #2
Janet McTeer	...	Caroline Pierce
Molly Parker	...	Juliet Beck
Larry Marshall	...	Angelo Bertelli
Don Jordan	...	Minister with Bertelli on TV
Caroline Sabourin	...	Little Sarah Look-Alike
Stanley Anderson	...	Fielding's Father
Patricia Gage	...	Fielding's Mother
John Carroll Lynch	...	Father Mileski
Bruce Dinsmore	...	Tony Dayton
Mimi Kuzyk	...	Adele Green
Tony Calabretta	...	Sonny Marchi
Walter Massey	...	Otto Ellis
Norris Domingue	...	Congressman at Isaac's Party
Dean Hagopian	...	Politician at Isaac's Party
Bernard Behrens	...	Father Stanton
Philip Williams	...	Al
Sharon Washington	...	Kelly
Ranee Lee	...	Woman from Fielding's Campaign
Zoe Sakellaropoulo	...	'Sarah' in Caroline's Flashback (as Zoë Sakellaropoulo)
Scott Spencer	...	Man with Sarah in Flashback
Alan Fawcett	...	Reporter at Restaurant
Leah Pinsent	...	Reporter from Fielding's Past
Karina Iraola	...	Seny
Marco Ledezma	...	Gustavo
Walt MacPherson	...	Sarah's Father
John Walsh	...	Protest Leader Outside Sarah's Funeral (as Father John Walsh)
Vlasta Vrana	...	Priest at Sarah's Funeral
Sandra Oh	...	Kim
Pascal Petardi	...	Kids who Mug Fielding
Leonardo Fuica	...	Kids who Mug Fielding
Qariy Hendrickson	...	Kids who Mug Fielding
Sandra Caldwell	...	Concerned Mom from Letter
Justin Bradley	...	Adopted Kid from Letter
Richard Hicks	...	Young Man from Letter
Ed Cambridge	...	Old Man from Letter

Directed by
Keith Gordon

Writing credits (WGA)
Scott Spencer		(novel)
Robert Dillon		(screenplay)

Produced by
Jodie Foster	....	executive producer
Keith Gordon	....	producer
Stuart Kleinman	....	producer
Irene Litinsky	....	co-producer
Linda Reisman	....	producer

Original Music by
Scott Shields
tomandandy		(score by)

Cinematography by
Tom Richmond		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeff Wishengrad

Casting by
Richard Hicks
Ronnie Yeskel

Production Design by
Zoe Sakellaropoulo		(as Zoë Sakellaropoulo)

Set Decoration by
Anne Galéa		(head decorator)
Simon La Haye		(as Simon Lahaye)
Joëlle Turenne

Costume Design by
Renée April

Makeup Department
Béatrice de Lempdes	....	makeup artist: extras (as Béatrice DeLempdes)
Lizane La Salle	....	makeup artist (as Lizanne La Salle)
Martin Lapointe	....	hair: extras
Martine Léveillé	....	hair: extras
Johanne Paiement	....	key hairdresser
Josée Pellerin	....	makeup artist: extras
Pina Rizzi	....	hairdresser
Diane Simard	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Daniel Auclair	....	unit manager
Alain Bernard	....	assistant unit manager
Robert Hoffman	....	post-production supervisor
Irene Litinsky	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Erik Ajduk	....	assistant director trainee
Marie-José Bourassa	....	second assistant director
Pedro Gandol	....	first assistant director
Dandy Thibaudeau	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Carole Arpin	....	assistant property master
Patrick Boulianne	....	swing gang
Anthony Bourgouin	....	swing gang (as Anthony Bourgoin)
Alain Brochu	....	construction supervisor
Andre Brochu	....	head carpenter (as André Brochu)
Eric Brunet	....	swing gang (as Eric Gabriel Brunet)
Frederic Chamoro	....	swing gang (as Fréderic Chamorro)
Emmanuel Cote	....	swing gang (as Emanuel Côté-Ponzoni)
Denis Côté	....	swing gang
Marc Desjardins	....	painter
Marc Desjardins	....	scenic artist
Johanne Dumoulin	....	painter
Johanne Dumoulin	....	scenic artist
Dominic Gaucher	....	artist: back-drop
Martin Gendron	....	assistant art director
Nicolas Godbout	....	swing gang
Dominique Gosselin	....	assistant decorator
Clare Keyte	....	production buyer
Marie-Claude L'Heureux	....	art department coordinator
Eric Lafrance	....	carpenter
Bruno Lahaye	....	property master
Louis-René Landry	....	draftsman
Diane Legris	....	property buyer
Carl Lessard	....	graphic artist
Jean Morin	....	assistant art director
David Nichols	....	pre-production design consultant
Jean-Marie Paquet	....	painter
Lyne Rancourt	....	assistant decorator
Kris Rogers	....	assistant decorator
Eric Turenne	....	swing gang
Marcus von Holtzendorff	....	art department runner (as Marcus Von Holtzendorff)

Sound Department
Mark Berger	....	supervising re-recording mixer
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist (as Leslie Bloome)
Frank Canonica	....	machine room supervisor
Yin Cantor	....	sound effects recordist
Yann Cleary	....	sound trainee
Ben Conrad	....	foley mixer
Tobin Davis	....	assistant sound editor (as Tobin John DeLacca Davis)
Patrick Dodd	....	dialogue editor
Denis Dupont	....	boom operator
Malcolm Fife	....	foley editor
Grant Foerster	....	sound recordist
Anna Geyer	....	transfer room operator
Rick Kahn	....	transfer room operator
James Lebrecht	....	sound effects designer (as James LeBrecht)
Kyrsten Mate	....	sound effects editor (as Kyrsten Mate Comoglio)
John Nutt	....	supervising sound editor
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Dan Olmsted	....	sound recordist
David Parker	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jim Pasque	....	foley recordist (as James Pasque)
Steve Phillips	....	sound mixer
Frank Rinella	....	foley mixer
Patrick Rousseau	....	sound mixer
Daniel Sperry	....	sound consultant: Dolby (as Dan Sperry)
Jeff Whittle	....	supervisor: transfer room
Mary Works	....	assistant sound editor
Frank Canonica	....	supervising sound recordist: mix stage (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Louis Craig	....	special effects supervisor
Mario Dumont	....	special effects senior technician
André Laforest	....	special effects technician
Eric-André Paquin	....	special effects technician
Pierre 'Bill' Rivard	....	special effects coordinator: Les Productions de l'Intrigue (as Bill Rivard)
Sebastien Roussel	....	special effects technician
Martin Williams	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Tom Williamson	....	visual effects supervisor
Jeff Barnes	....	executive producer: Computercafe (uncredited)
Christopher Dusendschon	....	in-show optical compositor: THDX (uncredited)

Stunts
Stephanie Carey	....	stunt performer
Elaine Ford	....	stunt coordinator
Nathalie Girard	....	stunt double
Stéphane Lefebvre	....	stunts
David McKeown	....	stunt coordinator (as Dave McKeown)
Charles Ramsay	....	stunt performer
Jason White	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Kim Alepin	....	camera trainee
Jocelyn Bertrand	....	grip
Mikey Bertrand	....	key grip
Jean-François Chapadeau	....	rigging electric
François Daignault	....	Steadicam operator
Mathieu Décary	....	first assistant camera: dailies
Eames Gagnon	....	rigging best boy
Michel Girard	....	focus puller
John Harris	....	electrician
Maxime Imbeau	....	grip
Pierric Jouvante	....	electric
Keith Kerr	....	grip
Jean Levasseur	....	electric
John Lewin	....	rigging gaffer
Kenneth MacKenzie	....	best boy grip (as Kenneth Mackenzie)
Martin Protat	....	clapper loader
Raymond Rivard	....	grip
Jeff Scott	....	rigging electric
Takashi Seida	....	set photographer
Normand Viau	....	gaffer
Paul Viau	....	best boy electric

Casting Department
Julie Breton	....	casting assistant
Ross Clydesdale	....	casting: Toronto
Jennifer Levy	....	casting assistant
Florence Mourez	....	extras casting
Lucie Robitaille	....	casting: Montreal
Juli-Ann Kay	....	casting assistant: Toronto (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Johanne Baril	....	wardrobe technician (as Joanne Baril)
Sophie Beasse	....	head dresser (as Sophie Béasse)
Marie Bellemare	....	assistant wardrobe: extras
Mureille Blouin	....	breakdown/specialized wardrobe technician (as Murielle Blouin)
Blanche-Danielle Boileau	....	costume supervisor (as Blanche Danielle Boileau)
Josée Boisvert	....	wardrobe mistress: extras
Sylvie Dagenais	....	dresser: cast
Mark J. De Coste	....	tailor (as Mark Joseph De Coste)
Angela Di Marzio	....	wardrobe swing
Sylvie Gagnon	....	extras dresser
Jennifer Lys Grenier	....	extras dresser (as Jennifer-Lys Grenier)
Marie-France Labbé	....	assistant wardrobe: extras fittings
Diane LeBlanc	....	seamstress (as Diane Leblanc)
Caroline Poirier	....	assistant to costume designer
Lison Proulx	....	seamstress
Michel Proulx	....	cutter
Dominique Theriault	....	assistant wardrobe: extras (as Dominique Thériault)
Andrée Tremblay	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Claudette Duff	....	first assistant editor: Montreal
Bob Fredrickson	....	color timer
Michael Gay	....	assistant editor: Los Angeles (as Michael D. Gay)
Jeremy Milton	....	first assistant editor: Los Angeles
Sarah Shetter	....	post-production assistant: Mr. Gordon

Music Department
Bernie Dresel	....	musician: drums
Mala Ganguly	....	vocals
Badar Ali Khan	....	vocals
Steve Mac	....	score engineer
Chris McGeary	....	music editor
Kristina Misiunas	....	score producer
Joni Mitchell	....	composer: songs "A Case of You"
Frankie Pine	....	music supervisor: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment
Nina Plaseckyj	....	musician: cello
Dawn Soler	....	music supervisor: PolyGram Filmed Entertainment (as Dawn Solér)
Bruce Watson	....	musician: guitar
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	additional music editor
Lyle Workman	....	musician: guitar and bass

Transportation Department
David Barry	....	transportation captain
Réjean Bouchard	....	transport coordinator
Michel Brouillette	....	picture car coordinator
Jean-Marc Devieieux	....	transport captain (as Jean-Marc Devirieux)
Marco Fania	....	driver
John Gendron	....	driver
Francois Labrie	....	driver (as François Labrie)
Donal MacCormack	....	driver (as Donal MaCormack)
Ted Wilson	....	driver (as Teddy Wilson)

Other crew
Lysandre Auger	....	production assistant
Rasha Ayouby	....	receptionist
Ilinca Cynthia Balaban	....	assistant accountant
François Baron	....	production assistant
Anne Brosseau	....	production coordinator
Stéphane Byl	....	stand-in: 'Fielding'
Joanne Camacho-Gendron	....	production insurance: B.F. Lorenzetti & Associates (as Joanne Camacho)
Alana Cymerman	....	assistant location manager
Gaetan Fluet	....	craft service (as Gaëtan Fluet)
Philipe Gilbert	....	production assistant
Marc-André Goyer	....	production assistant
Bernard Guay	....	production assistant
Andrew Hill	....	production accountant
Scott Hiskey	....	assistant production accountant
Leah Holmes	....	post-production accountant: R.C. Baral & Company, Inc.
Lorraine Jamison	....	unit publicist
Annika Krausz	....	assistant: Ms. Reisman
Louise Lapointe	....	hotel accommodations: Marriott Residence Inn
Patrick Legault	....	production assistant
Bruce Miller	....	first assistant accountant
Lili Partheniou	....	production accountant (as Lily Partheniou)
Stella Paulin	....	hotel accommodations: Hotel Intercontinental
Nathalie Picard	....	script supervisor
Nathalie Poulin	....	location assistant
Max-Pol Proulx	....	production assistant
Michael Prupas	....	production legal counsel: Heenan Blaikie, Montreal
Patrick Rainville	....	production assistant
Michel Robert	....	office runner
Howard Rosenoff	....	production legal counsel: Heenan Blaikie, Montreal
Julie Shapiro	....	travel: Travel Corps
Judy Sharinger	....	credits secretary
Michèle St-Arnaud	....	location manager
Jim Stevens	....	assistant: Mr. Crudup
Brigitte Tanguay	....	production secretary
Chantal Valade	....	stand-in: 'Sarah' (as Chantale Valade)
Kate Wilson	....	assistant: Mr. Kleinman
Marianne Wisenthal	....	assistant: Mr. Gordon

Thanks
Barbara Coston	....	thanks (as Barbara Costan)
David Daugherty	....	thanks
Griffin Dunne	....	thanks
Rachel Griffin	....	special thanks
Meg LeFauve	....	thanks
Margaret Mitchell	....	thanks
Amy Robinson	....	thanks
Steve Shurtz	....	thanks
Paula Weinstein	....	thanks
Mark Wolfe	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Polygram Filmed Entertainment (presents)
• Egg Pictures (producer)
• Gramercy Pictures (I)

Distributors

• USA Films (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Gativideo (2000) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Lolistar (France)
• USA Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD) (as USA Home Entertainment) (a division of USA Films, LLC)
• Universal Pictures Canada (2000) (Canada) (DVD) (as Universal Studios Home Video Canada)

Special Effects

• Intrigue (special effects) (as Les Productions de l'Intrigue)
• Computer Cafe, The (digital effects) (as Computer Café, Inc. Santa Maria, California)
• CafeFX

Other Companies

• Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA)  acknowledgment (as ACTRA)
• B.F. Lorenzetti & Associates  production insurance provided by
• Berkeley Books  available from: Scott Spencer's novel "Waking the Dead"
• DGC  acknowledgment (as Directors Guild of Canada La Guilde Canadienne des Réalisateurs)
• Digital Filmworks  digital film services
• Evolution System  acknowledgment: score by tomandandy using the
• Heenan Blaikie Lawyers  production legal counsel (as Heenan Blaikie, Montreal)
• Hotel Intercontinental Montréal  hotel accommodations provided by (as Hotel Intercontinental)
• Le Groupe Eclipse  electric equipment provided by
• Les Productions Mikey Inc.  grip equipment provided by
• Locations Michel Trudel  provided by: Panaflex Cameras
• MWP Editorial  editorial services provided by
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutter (as Magic Film & Video Works)
• Marriott Residence Inn  hotel accommodations provided by
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Panavision  camera & lenses (as Panavision®)
• R.C. Baral & Company  post-production accounting
• Ronnie Yeskel Casting  casting
• S.T.C.V.Q.  acknowledgment (as STCVQ)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  post-production sound and mixing facility (as The Saul Zaentz Film Center)
• Saul Zaentz Film Center  sound re-recording
• Title House  main and end titles
• Travel Corps  travel provided by

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Argentina:16 | Chile:18 | France:U | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R (No. 36371)

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Company:

Polygram Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

Brooke Shields was originally cast as Sarah Williams, but turned down the role due to the erotic nature of the film.

Goofs:

Factual errors: 23 January 1983, the election day, was on a Sunday.

Quotes:

Sarah Williams:Ambition is... the ice on the lake of emotion.
[They walk for a moment in silence]
Fielding Pierce:Who said that?
Sarah Williams:I did.

Movie Connections:

References Labyrinth (1986)

Soundtrack:

Help Me Somebody

Politics Vs. Activism

You'll have to choose sides in 'Waking The Dead'. Are you going to be an obedient politician or a liberal activist? Those opposing viewpoints cause a tug-of-war, with eternal love playing the ever-tightening knot in the middle. Billy Crudup and Jennifer Connelly are Fielding and Sarah; he the idealistic politician and she the faithful revolutionary. We know from the start that she dies via car bomb while raging against the machine. The movie's chronology is all over the place (which is occasionally confusing) and we see them when they're blissfully happy and otherwise. But after she's gone, the upstanding young man fears for his marbles after he starts to see & hear his dead lover everywhere. Is she actually alive or is he just too insane for public office?

Seeing ghosts is tricky. It can turn into unintentional humour without the proper direction. Director Keith Gordon doesn't pull it off as well as he should, but at least the heat between them seems real. Crudup and Connelly make a great romantic match. She's sandpaper to his block of wood, but she's also his conscience. The phrase "Jiminy Cricket" is actually used, and he succeeds politically only as he's failing emotionally. He clearly needs her whispering in his ear, even if he wouldn't agree with what she would have to say. It's clear that she wouldn't approve of what he's become and he knows it. So I guess that makes her the ghost of Jiminy Cricket too.

The movie would be a turd without strong performances. While no one in the supporting cast has lingered in my memory, the talented leads have. They're both good in almost everything they do, so I expected them to be an excellent duo here too. Connelly has since won an Oscar and Crudup probably will too. Some of Gordon's directorial choices undercut what his actors are doing. His style of editing and use of too many arty shots don't work. When the actors are already front row centre, the director should get out of their way.

What grabbed me about 'Waking The Dead' was that both Fielding and Sarah are trying to make the world a better giant rock. She's counterculture and he's as mainstream as it gets. Since the story boils down to politics versus religion, it's no wonder the film didn't find an audience. Most people have opinions on those matters, yet political correctness demands you not share them. But you ARE allowed to discuss love. The movie knows how to get that right...the ache, the irritation, the yearning, and the loss of true love.