Chain of Fools (2000)

Directors:

Pontus Löwenhielm
Patrick von Krusenstjerna

Writer (WGA):

Bix Skahill (written by)

Release Date:

22 September 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Tagline:

A little larceny. A lot of laughs!

Plot:

Salma Hayek plays an avid detective assigned to the heist of a batch of precious coins that end up in the hands of a suicidal barber.

Plot Keywords:

Coin | Hitman | Suicide | Dog Bite | Boy Scout

Cast

Steve Zahn	...	Kresk
Salma Hayek	...	Kolko
Jeff Goldblum	...	Avnet
Elijah Wood	...	Mikey
David Cross	...	Andy
Tom Wilkinson	...	Bollingsworth
Orlando Jones	...	Miss Cocoa
Kevin Corrigan	...	Paulie
David Hyde Pierce	...	Mr. Kerner
Lara Flynn Boyle	...	Karen
John Cassini	...	Henchman
Michael Rapaport	...	Hitman
Myndy Crist	...	Jeannie
Craig Ferguson	...	Melander Stevens
Devin Douglas Drewitz	...	Scottie (as Devin Drewitz)
Dmitry Chepovetsky	...	Dr. Welby
Sean Smith	...	Scout
Vince Metcalfe	...	Captain Weaver
Michael Kopsa	...	Senator Dove
Robin Mossley	...	Guard
Lill Micke	...	Driver
Danny Dworkis	...	Snotty Man (as Danny Danado)
Ted Kozma	...	Brian
James Bamford	...	ER Doctor
Simon Longmore	...	Cop
Constance Barnes	...	Nurse Sandra
Guy Fauchon	...	Waiter
Marke Driesschen	...	News Anchor
Peter Kelamis	...	Reporter
Chavarria Hilario	...	Kolko's Dad (as Hilario Chvarria)
Jonathon Young	...	Poet Reader
Mary McDonald	...	Old Woman
Mike Dopud	...	Dead Guy
Bill Dow	...	Doctor
Fiona Roeske	...	Nurse
David Alexander	...	Patient
Kristene Kenward	...	Woman Visitor
Mark Antoniuk	...	Orderly
John Wardlow	...	IV Guy
Kim Howney	...	Nurse 2
Janina Dall	...	Nurse 3
Rob 'Sluggo' Boyce	...	Orderly 2 (as Rob Boyce)
Bix Skahill	...	Café Guest

Directed by
Pontus Löwenhielm		(as Traktor)
Patrick von Krusenstjerna		(as Traktor)

Writing credits (WGA)
Bix Skahill		(written by)

Produced by
Charles Block	....	executive producer (as Charles X Block)
Tony Lord	....	producer
Steven Reuther	....	executive producer
Alex Schwartz	....	co-producer (as Alexandra Schwartz)
Traktor	....	executive producer
Happy Walters	....	producer
Matt Weaver	....	producer (as Matthew Weaver)

Original Music by
David A. Hughes
John Murphy

Cinematography by
Frederick Elmes		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Harvey Rosenstock

Casting by
Mindy Marin

Production Design by
Gary Frutkoff

Art Direction by
Roxanne Methot

Set Decoration by
Linda Vipond

Costume Design by
Mary Claire Hannan

Makeup Department
Gitte Axen	....	assistant makeup artist
Ian C. Ballard	....	hair stylist (as Ian Ballard)
Nicole Bivens	....	assistant hair stylist (as Nicole Wise)
Thomas R. Burman	....	makeup specialist: prosthetics (as Tom Burman)
Bari Dreiband-Burman	....	makeup specialist: prosthetics (as Bari Burman)
Norma Hill-Patton	....	makeup artist (as Norma Hill Patton)
Fay von Schroeder	....	makeup artist (as Faye von Schroeder)
Toby Lindala	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Tony Wohlgemuth	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)
Vince Yoshida	....	special makeup effects artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Wendy Williams	....	unit production manager (as Wendy S. Williams)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Christine Derek	....	second assistant director
Patrice Leung	....	first assistant director
Jay Henry Moritz	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Jonathan Blackshaw	....	signwriter
Ron Clifford	....	construction foreman
Francesca Dappen Courtois	....	assistant set decorator (as Francesa Dappen Courtois)
Candice Dickens	....	art department coordinator (as Candace Dickens)
Dave Emmonds	....	head greensman (as David Emmonds)
Craig Henderson	....	construction coordinator
Michelle Hendriksen	....	assistant property master (as Michele Hendriksen)
Kelvin Humenny	....	set designer
Bryan Korenberg	....	property master
Malcolm MacLean	....	paint coordinator
Garry Frank Patt	....	construction foreman (as Garry Patt)
Bill Petrie	....	on-set dresser
Jim Ramsay	....	set designer (as Jim Ramsey)
Nick Richardson	....	lead
Ling Yang	....	storyboard artist
Janis Lee	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Paolo G. Venturi	....	graphics (uncredited)

Sound Department
Jan Anderson	....	sound designer (as Janne Anderson)
Paul Aulicino	....	assistant sound editor
Bob Beher	....	foley supervisor
Rick Bold	....	boom operator
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Kevin Carpenter)
Bradley Clouse	....	first assistant sound editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley editor
Thom 'Coach' Ehle	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Marilyn Graf	....	foley mixer
Glenn Hoskinson	....	sound editor
David Husby	....	production sound mixer
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	supervising adr editor (as Kimberly Lowe Voigt)
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Frank Mantano)
Alyson Dee Moore	....	foley artist (as Alyson Moore)
Steve Nelson	....	sound editor (as Steven F. Nelson)
Jay Nierenberg	....	supervising sound editor
Troy Porter	....	adr mixer
John Roesch	....	foley artist
Kim Secrist	....	sound editor
Bruce Stambler	....	supervising sound editor
Tim Walston	....	sound designer
Donald L. Warner Jr.	....	sound editor (as Donald L. Warner)
Bryan O. Watkins	....	adr mixer (as Brian Watkins)
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Greg Watkins)
Bernard Weiser	....	sound editor
Wayne Williams	....	sound assistant
J. Aloysius Flanagan III	....	sound editorial support (uncredited)
Kimberly Ellen Lowe	....	supervising dialogue editor (uncredited)
Carolyn Tapp	....	foley recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Cara E. Anderson	....	special effects (as Cara Anderson)
Rory Cutler	....	special effects coordinator
Roy Gabriel	....	special effects
Scott Macrae	....	special effects (as Scott MacRae)
W. David McGuire	....	special effects (as Dave McGuire)
Kevin Stadnyk	....	special effects
Dennis Briest	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Brian Dowrick	....	animator
Antoine Durr	....	effects animator
Bill Kroyer	....	animation (as Bill Kroye)
Josh Margolies	....	visual effects editor
Aung Min	....	digital lighting (as Min)
Zeke Morales	....	visual effects editor
Maxx Okazaki	....	digital modeling artist
Young Joo Paik	....	digital supervisor
Debbie Pashkoff	....	lighting
Alicia G. Powers	....	visual effects producer (as Alicia Powers)
Amy Ryan Gunson	....	FX animator (as Amy Ryan)
Donna Tracy	....	digital paint
Eric Tsai	....	technical
Chien-Hsiung Wang	....	digital modeling artist
Daniel Aristoteles Collins	....	systems/operations: Rhythm & Hues (uncredited)
Brandon Craig	....	render supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Kevin J. Andruschak	....	stunts (as Kevin Andruschak)
Mark Antoniuk	....	stunts
Curt Bonn	....	stunt rigging coordinator
Dustin Brooks	....	stunts
Kirk Caouette	....	stunts
Marny Eng	....	stunts
Alex Green	....	stunts
David Jacox	....	stunt coordinator
Fred Perron	....	stunts
James Bamford	....	stunts (uncredited)
Janina Dall	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jim Dunn	....	stunts (uncredited)
Dave Hospes	....	stunts (uncredited)
David Mylrea	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Fiona Roeske	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Wardlow	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Allison Beda	....	second assistant camera
Harold Bernard	....	second assistant camera
John Dekker	....	best boy gaffer (as John Decker)
Harvey Fedor	....	key grip
Tommy Lohmann	....	camera operator
Alan Markfield	....	still photographer
David Neveaux	....	lead grip
Rob Parisien	....	video assist
Larry Portmann	....	first assistant camera
Charlie Schultz	....	best boy grip
Jarrod Tiffin	....	rigging gaffer
Jeff Upton	....	gaffer
Peter Wilke	....	dolly grip
Monty Black	....	electrician (uncredited)
Ken Decker	....	generator operator (uncredited)
Bruce Murray	....	lamp operator (uncredited)
Jos Oman	....	camera trainee (uncredited)
Joe Waistell	....	additional first assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Heike Brandstatter	....	location casting associate
Xanthia Decaux	....	casting assistant
James Forsyth	....	extras casting
Sierra French-Myerson	....	casting assistant
Coreen Mayrs	....	location casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Janice Devries	....	assistant costume designer (as Janice DeVries)
Clare Le Floc'h	....	costumer
Danise Lee	....	costumer
Jessica Lythgoe-Green	....	costumer
Gail L. Smith	....	assistant costume designer
Debi Weldon	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Jordan Acomba	....	assistant editor
Matthew Cassel	....	assistant editor (as Matt Cassel)
Peter Fandetti	....	first assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Daniel Kupresan	....	post-production assistant
Florent Retz	....	assistant editor (as Danny Retz)
Michael Smith	....	assistant editor (as Mike Smith)
Jeff Smithwick	....	color timer (as Jeff Sipwich)
Jason Dale	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
J.J. George	....	supervising music editor
Daniel L. Griffiths	....	music scoring mixer (as Daniel Griffiths)
Daniel L. Griffiths	....	score producer (as Daniel Griffiths)
Zigmund Gron	....	music editor
William Kidd	....	music conductor
Michelle Kuznetsky	....	music supervisor (as Michele Kuznetsky)
Jen Monnar	....	assistant music editor
John Murphy	....	score producer
Phillip Murphy	....	music assistant
Mary Ramos	....	music supervisor
Frank Wolf	....	orchestral engineer
Greg Francis	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Cliff Brown	....	transportation captain
Raymond Fairchild	....	transportation captain (as Ray Fairchild)
Sylvia Nablo	....	transportation coordinator
Brian Shumlick	....	transportation captain
Greg Voje	....	transportation captain (as Greg Voge)

Other crew
Laura Arcangeli	....	assistant chef
Barbara Beeby	....	first aid
Sandra Borromeo	....	assistant: Mr. Lord & Mr. Weaver
Barbara Chomos	....	unit publicist
Jessica Clothier	....	script supervisor
Dan Crosby	....	marine coordinator
Jason Crosby	....	assistant marine coordinator
Jason Crosby	....	marine coordinator
Cathy Cunliffe	....	craft service
Jim Dunlap	....	assistant accountant
Ashley Fester	....	production assistant
Patricia Foster	....	assistant coordinator (as Pat Foster)
Brant Handle	....	set production assistant (as Brant Handel)
Rod Jackson	....	assistant accountant
Shannon Kane	....	production accountant
Colin L. McCarthy	....	assistant location manager (as Colin McCarthy)
Barbara Mercer	....	accounting clerk (as Barb Mercer)
W. Robert Millar	....	set production assistant (as Rob Millar)
Eva Morgan	....	assistant coordinator
Lisa Naude	....	assistant accountant
Jess Platt	....	dialect coach
Sandra Rabbin	....	assistant: Ms. Schwartz
Katherine Roussos	....	first aid (as Kat Roussos)
Brigette Roux-Lough	....	assistant: Mr. Reuther
Jay Rupert	....	set production assistant
Mandy Spencer-Phillips	....	production coordinator
Cory Stevens	....	set production assistant
Dean Stoker	....	location manager
Rhonda Taylor	....	set production assistant
Sarah Tichenor	....	assistant accountant
Seth Townsend	....	slave: TRAKTOR
John Tucker	....	security
Joanna Waddell	....	assistant: TRAKTOR
Terence Chase	....	security (uncredited)
Amy Edelson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer Harland	....	background coordinator (uncredited)
Nicholas Podbrey	....	puppeteer (uncredited)
James Thompson	....	trainee location manager (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Bel Air Entertainment (presents) (as Bel-Air Entertainment)
• City Block Productions (producer) (as City Block Films)
• Lord-Weaver (producer) (as Weaver/Lord)
• Shiny Productions

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Tobis StudioCanal (Germany)
• Warner Bros
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Home Video Española S.A. (2002) (Spain) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Rhythm and Hues (visual effects by) (as Rhythm & Hues)
• VIFX (visual effects by)
• International SPFX Group (uncredited)
• Lindala Make-Up Effects (uncredited)
• Lindala Schminken FX (special makeup effects)

Other Companies

• Alpha Cine Laboratory  color by (as AlphaCine Motion Picture Laboratory®)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera systems by (as Clairmont®)
• Edible Planet Catering  caterer (as Edible Planet)
• Fujifilm Canada  motion picture products (as Fujifilm)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.)
• Kodak Canada  motion picture products (as Kodak)
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Playboy Magazine  Playboy Magazine courtesy of (Copyright 1999. Used with permission. All rights reserved.)
• Technicolor  prints by (as Technicolor®)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, sexuality and language

Runtime:

Sweden:96 min | USA:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Finland:K-15 (DVD rating) | Germany:12 | Sweden:11 | USA:R (No. 37280) | Canada:A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

Bel Air Entertainment

Trivia:

Claudia Schiffer was originally cast as Karen.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mikey (Elijah Wood) is about to shoot Bollingsworth (Tom Wilkinson), he points a Walther P99 pistol at him. The pistol is, however, not cocked as revealed by the absence of the bright red "cocked" indicator below the rear sights. This would make it impossible for the weapon to fire. (This may have been an intentional precaution by the filmmakers as the weapon has no safety switch.)

Quotes:

Mikey:Excuse me, is this chair being used?
Snotty Man:Does it look like it's being used?
Mikey:"Does it look like it's being used?" That's a good one.
[Mikey picks up the chair and smashes the man with it]
Mikey:Now it's being used.

Soundtrack:

Selling Your Soul

Very black and pretty funny

This started off a little slow, but quickly accelerated to a very quick pace. It went so fast for the last two thirds of the movie that you really had to pay attention to get everything. The twists are great, and incredibly funny. The plot is pretty good, not brilliant but allows for some very funny twists, and some unbelievably funny, but fairly unlikely, very complicated, situations that will make you laugh for several minutes without stopping for a breath, provided that you like black humor. The actors all do pretty good jobs, even Elijah Wood, who I normally hate with a passion, pulled off an entertaining performance. There weren't really any of the actors I was heavily disappointed by. All of the characters were funny, in their own, twisted sort of way, most of them are either caricatures or stereotypes, but they work really well together. The humor was great, most of the time, though some of the jokes fell flat, but most of it was a treat for fans of black comedy(like me). The sparse number of action scenes there was, were really great. The movie has a very good fast pace throughout most of the movie, there was hardly any moment where I was bored. The movie has some scenes that take place on a non-linear timeline, especially in the beginning, but the moment these are over, the film finds a better pace. This is not to say that these scenes were bad, in fact I find them to be a great start to the film. Overall, the movie was quite good, but some of the humor seemed to be more there to shock than to amuse, some of it did seem over the top. It could have been better, had the humor been more balanced and had more of the characters been believable and likable. In the end, the movie has some great laughs, but that's about it. It's easily forgettable. I recommend this to pretty much any fan of black comedy. It's not the best, but it's a pretty good one. If you're not easily offended, and you like black humor, it's worth checking out. 7/10