The Adventures of Sebastian Cole (1998)

In June, 1983, in Dutchess County, New York, Sebastian Cole joins his mother, step-father, and sister for dinner. Hank, Sebastian's step-father, drops a bomb: he announces he's changing ... See full summary »

Director:

Tod Williams

Writer:

Tod Williams

Stars:

Adrian Grenier, Clark Gregg, Aleksa Palladino

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Adrian Grenier	...	Sebastian Cole
Clark Gregg	...	Hank / Henrietta Rossi
Aleksa Palladino	...	Mary
Margaret Colin	...	Joan Cole
John Shea	...	Hartley
Marni Lustig	...	Jessica Cole
Joan Copeland	...	Grandmother
Tom Lacy	...	Grandfather
Gabriel Macht	...	Troy
Herbert Russell	...	Wayne (as Russel Harper)
Greg Haberny	...	Jimmy Bogardus
Peter McRobbie	...	Principal
Merritt Wever	...	Susan
Marisol Padilla Sánchez	...	Woman In Desert
Rory Cochrane	...	Chinatown

Storyline

In June, 1983, in Dutchess County, New York, Sebastian Cole joins his mother, step-father, and sister for dinner. Hank, Sebastian's step-father, drops a bomb: he announces he's changing sexes. Sebastian's sister splits immediately for California, and his mother takes him back to England. Jump ahead eight months, Sebastian is back in New York, knocking on Hank's door. Hank (now Henrietta, although all the surgeries aren't complete) takes Sebastian in and is his rock over the next few months of high school. Sebastian's "adventures" are mostly self-destructive.

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Plot Keywords:

high school | england | friendship | spanish | college acceptance letter | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and crude sexual references, and for some substance abuse

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Classics

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 January 1999 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Abenteuer des Sebastian Cole

Filming Locations:

Clermont, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$12,598 (USA) (6 August 1999)

Gross:

$100,041 (USA) (15 October 1999)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Culpan Productions LLC

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Shea and Margaret Colin also play a divorced couple in Gossip Girl.

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Goofs

When Sebastian is running to catch the school bus his blue scarf is on again, off again through the entire scene after he misses the bus.

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Quotes

[following Sebastian's bender]
Henrietta: So tell me about your adventure.
Sebastian: I can't remember anything.
Henrietta: That's going to make a hell of a novel. 300 blank pages.
Sebastian: Shut up.

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Connections

References Enter the Dragon (1973)

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Soundtracks

"Whole Wide World"
Performed by Wreckless Eric

User Reviews

better than expected

This little film is surprisingly quite observant of it's characters and doesn't turn this film into a crazy Farrelly bros. comedy or silly farce. I has good performances,especially from the lead,Grenier,who shows a lot of depth and mystery. You kinda can understand the quiet hauntings inside his head and the fact that he doesn't want to attach to anyone. It's a film that really brings out the trappings of what it is really like to be a growing young adult coping with the problems of understanding love,sex,school,sex changes,stepfather wanting a sex change(I know this is not a usual trapping..just being silly),and wanting more from life than the expected future. Sebastian wants to go on "adventures like Ernest Hemingway." That's the lifeblood of the film. Cole is not your ordinary kid..he thrives to get the most from his life..he wants to discover emotions and unpredictable happenings. He puts himself in situations just to see what results wil occur. He is a complex character and that is what makes this little film special..it's a breath of fresh air and a good experience. ****/*****