The Tic Code (1999)

A 10 year old gifted boy wants to be a jazz pianist much to the chagrin of his more classical oriented piano instructor. With his mother's help, he is an underage regular at a local ... See full summary »

Director:

Gary Winick

Writer:

Polly Draper

Stars:

Chris Marquette, Polly Draper, Carol Kane

6 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Chris Marquette	...	Miles (as Christopher George Marquette)
Polly Draper	...	Laura
Carol Kane	...	Miss Gimpole
Desmond Robertson	...	Todd
Robert Iler	...	Denny
Bill Nunn	...	Kingston
Tony Shalhoub	...	Phil
Ismail Bashey	...	Indian Man
Camryn Manheim	...	Mrs. Swensrut
Blair Swanson	...	Confident Girl (as Blair Ashlee Swanson)
Gregory Hines	...	Tyrone Pike
Carlos McKinney	...	Chester
John B. Williams	...	Sparky
Richard A. Berk	...	Tiny (as Dick Berk)
Fisher Stevens	...	Morris

Storyline

A 10 year old gifted boy wants to be a jazz pianist much to the chagrin of his more classical oriented piano instructor. With his mother's help, he is an underage regular at a local nightspot, where he is teamed up with a sax superstar. Both come to learn that each suffers from Tourette's Syndrome (thus the film title). The older man has developed mannerisms to cover up his own fallibilities and resents the boy and his mother's acceptance of the disease.

---

Plot Keywords:

tourette's syndrome | jazz | pianist | interracial relationship | interracial romance | 

---

Taglines:

Every family has something to hide.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Details

Official Sites:

Lions Gate / Jazz Films

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 June 2000 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Jelbeszéd

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$25,190 (USA) (4 August 2000)

Gross:

$203,849 (USA) (29 September 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gun for Hire Films, Jazz Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Crazy Credits

At the end of the credits, the following dialogue is heard: Miles: Mom, which would you rather? Flat fingers like Thelonious or flat fingers like Horowitz? Laura: Flat fingers like Miles. Tyrone: Flat, flat, flat. Miles: Mom, which you rather? Pennies facing heads, or pennies facing tails? Laura: Is this a trick question?

User Reviews

Touching film

The Tic Code is a touching drama about a boy who suffers from Tourette's syndrome, his mother who tries to support her son and a jazz musician who also is afflicted with TS. The film is heart-rending to watch, especially the scenes where the boy tries to understand why his father has abandoned him. In the centre of the film is an absolutely brilliant performance by Chris Marquette as the boy. An astonishing performance.

Tourette's syndrome has also been the focus of Jonathan Lethem's great novel Motherless Brooklyn, which is a novel I recommend, even though it is nothing like this film.

(6/10)