'R Xmas (2001)

Director:

Abel Ferrara

Writers:

Abel Ferrara
Cassandra De Jesus (story)
(more)

Release Date:

14 December 2001 (Italy)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Plot:

A New York drug dealer is kidnapped, and his wife must try to come up with the money and drugs to free him from his abductors before Christmas.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Drug | New York | New York City | Heroin

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Drea de Matteo	...	The Wife
Lillo Brancato	...	The Husband (as Lillo Brancato Jr.)
Lisa Valens	...	Lisa, the Daughter
Ice-T	...	The Kidnapper
Victor Argo	...	Louie
Denia Brache	...	Louie's Wife
Gloria Irizarry	...	Aunt
Naomi Morales	...	The Niece
Nelson Vasquez	...	Niece's Husband
Andrew Fiscella	...	Accomplice No. 1 (as Andy Fiscella)
Thomas Murray	...	Accomplice No. 2
Edwin Martinez	...	Accomplice No. 3
Janis Corsair	...	Shopper No. 1
Anne Ackerman	...	Shopper No. 2
Frank Cuervo	...	Bike Pick Up Man (as Frank Antonio 'Anthony' Cuervo)
Antone Pagan	...	The Party Doll Guy
John Robert Tramutola	...	Child Scrooge (as John R. Tramatola III)
Meredith Ostrom	...	Elfie
Dan Sweeney	...	Santa Claus
Andrew Lasky	...	Security Guard
Bersalde Vega	...	Toy Store Manager
James R. Bilz	...	High Rise Doorman
Raymond 'Voodoo Ray' Ultarte	...	Parking Attendant
Luis Santos	...	Tio
Begonya Plaza	...	Tio's wife (as Begonia Plaza)
Orran Farmer	...	Sucio
Jamal Simmons	...	Trey (as Jamal 'Redrum' Simmons)
Oscar Tevez	...	Gypsy Cab Driver (as Oscar S. Tevez)
Rosa Nino	...	Gypsy Cab Driver's Wife
Clarence Dorsey	...	Bronx Dealer No. 1
Roman Rivera	...	Felipe
Javier Nunez	...	Felipe's Brother (as Javier 'Java' Núñez)
Jay 'J-Dog' Dog	...	Felipe's Bodyguard
Anthony Ortiz	...	Latino Dealer No. 1 (as Anthony 'Dust' Ortiz)
Benny Nieves	...	Priest
Victor Pagan	...	Needy P.R. Husband
Yolanda Nieto	...	Needy P.R. Wife
Louise Colon	...	Neighbor
Petra Quinones	...	Stash Pad Old Lady
Jose 'Pepe' Castillo	...	Guitarist
Carlos Leon	...	Husband's Friend
Raul Acosta	...	Night Club Band Member
Anthony Rodriguez	...	Night Club Band Member
Jarol Ceralios	...	Night Club Band Member
Juan De La Cruz	...	Night Club Band Member
Jesús Martínez Jr.	...	Night Club Band Member
Felix Taveras	...	Night Club Band Member
Amilcar Torres	...	Night Club Band Member
Idelfonso Gutierrez	...	Night Club Band Member
Fabio Lovera	...	Night Club Band Member
Ramel De La Cruz	...	Night Club Band Member
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jonathan Bernaber	...	Lilo's Nephew
Rosibel Bernaber	...	Lilo's Niece
John Bryant Davila	...	Student
Lola Pagnani
David Rodriguez	...	Lilo's Nephew
Daria Rumi	...	Party Doll Guy's Wife (uncredited)

Directed by
Abel Ferrara

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Cassandra De Jesus		story
Abel Ferrara
Scott Pardo

Produced by
John P. Adams	....	line producer
Barry Amato	....	executive producer
Stefano Celesti	....	executive producer
Cassandra De Jesus	....	associate producer
Frank DeCurtis	....	co-producer
Denis Heraud	....	co-producer
Pierre Kalfon	....	producer
Richard Klug	....	co-producer
Tony Trimarco	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Schooly-D		(as Schoolly D.)

Cinematography by
Ken Kelsch

Film Editing by
Patricia Bowers
Bill Pankow
Suzanne Pillsbury

Casting by
Louis DiGiaimo		(as Louis Digiaimo)

Production Design by
Frank DeCurtis

Set Decoration by
Guido DeCurtis

Costume Design by
Debra Tennenbaum

Makeup Department
Maryann Marchetti	....	additional makeup artist
Evelyne Noraz	....	key makeup artist
Thom Timan	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Stefano Celesti	....	production manager
Frank DeCurtis	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Vebe Borge	....	first assistant director
Louis Guerra	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Dimitri Apletchef	....	set dresser
Dan Aronson	....	set dresser
Julia Barraclough	....	scenic artist
Shirley Belwood	....	assistant property master (as Shirley Bellwood)
James R. Bilz	....	property master
Ewok	....	graffiti artist
Chris Jordan	....	on-set dresser
Michael Leather	....	set dresser
Karen Mandelbaum	....	stained glass icons
Marcus Mazza	....	graffiti artist
Jonathan Rose	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Ken Hahn	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Hassler	....	audio post-production: Sync Sound, Inc.
David Jaunai	....	adr mixer
Raymond Karpicki	....	dialogue editor
Thomas Kodros	....	stereo sound technician: Dolby (as Tom Kodros)
Lawrence Loewinger	....	boom operator (as Larry Loewinger)
Bill Marino	....	audio post-production: Sync Sound, Inc.
Dow McKeever	....	sound effects editor
Marsha Moore	....	sound editor
Jeff Pullman	....	sound mixer
Michael Ruschak	....	adr mixer
Robert Taz Larrea	....	boom operator (as Robert Larrea)
Karl Wasserman	....	boom operator
Rick Wessler	....	foley artist
Alfredo Viteri	....	sound utility (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Daniel Beaman	....	best boy grip (as Dan Beaman)
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Angelo Di Giacomo	....	first assistant camera (as Angelo Digiacomo)
Pat Donovan	....	company grip (as Patrick Donovan)
Steve Drellich	....	camera operator (as Steven L. Drellich)
Richard Eliano	....	camera operator
John Flanagan	....	company electrician
Pyare Fortunato	....	first assistant camera
Damian Gonzales	....	company electrician
Tim Guinness	....	gaffer (as Timothy Guinness)
Alec Hirschfeld	....	camera operator
Robert Kummert	....	key grip
Dennis A. Livesey	....	first assistant camera (as Dennis Livesey)
James Mah	....	company electrician
Tim McAuliffe	....	best boy electric
Thomas McGrath Woods	....	company grip (as Tom Woods)
John Paul McIntyre	....	dolly grip (as Jack McIntyre)
George Pattison	....	camera operator
Mike Price	....	company electrician
Collin Quinlan	....	company electrician
Larry Riley	....	still photographer
Kory Salomone	....	first assistant camera (as Kory Salamone)
Mike Sime	....	video playback technician
Justin Vanson	....	company grip

Casting Department
Stephanie Corsalini	....	additional casting
Lou DiGiaimo Jr.	....	additional casting (as Lou Digiaimo Jr.)
Jessy Terrero	....	extras casting: T & T Casting
Ulysses Terrero	....	extras casting: T & T Casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nina Johnston	....	wardrobe supervisor
Pamela Kezal	....	additional wardrobe (as Pam Kezal)
Yvette Stapleton	....	assistant wardrobe supervisor
Julia Van Vliet	....	wardrobe assistant

Editorial Department
Evelyn Arroyo	....	editorial consultant
Mike Fay	....	assistant film editor (as Michael Fay)
David Pultz	....	color timer

Music Department
Ray Palagy	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Theodore Brown Jr.	....	teamster driver (as Ted Brown Jr.)
George Campbell	....	teamster driver
Kevin Flynn	....	transportation coordinator
Irv Gooch	....	picture cars
Tom Heilig Jr.	....	teamster driver (as Tom Helig Jr.)
Timothy Paustian	....	teamster driver (as Tim Paustian)

Other crew
Leon Adair Jr.	....	parking coordinator (as Leon Adair)
Michael Anthony	....	location manager
Alphonso Armstrong	....	package printing: Party Girl
Gina Baez	....	doll consultant
Donna L. Bascom	....	legal services (as Donna Bascom)
Liza Bigger	....	set production assistant
Cyndi Brenner	....	production coordinator
Frank DeCurtis Jr.	....	assistant to director
Ric Dispenseri	....	news footage: ABC Newsource
Michael Fucci	....	assistant location manager
Gina Giordano	....	caterer: Premiere Caterers
Jennifer Haber	....	assistant production coordinator
Corey Hennig	....	assistant to producer
Michael E. Hernandez	....	caterer: Premiere Caterers (as Mike Hernandez)
Rick Josephson	....	computers: Crocodile Computers
Jay Julien	....	attorney
Simone Lageoles	....	continuity
Clare Lord	....	location assistant
Marc Mendez	....	set production assistant
Scott Mickulas	....	set production assistant
George Nannas	....	chef
Jesse Nye	....	set production assistant
Heidi Pena	....	assistant production accountant
Paul Polow	....	set production assistant
Philip Schulz	....	location scout (as Philip L. Shulz)
George Sheanshang	....	legal services
Rita Spallone	....	bank services: The Chase Manhattan Bank
Tony Trimarco	....	production accountant
Alfonso Trinidad	....	key set production assistant
Michael L. Walker	....	set production assistant (as Michael Walker)
Rick Washburn	....	armorer
Howard Weiner	....	video playback services: Video 35
Hughroy Williams	....	set production assistant

Thanks
Anna Bravo	....	special thanks
Sherie Harding	....	special thanks
Louis Katz	....	special thanks (as Dr. Louis Katz)
Casper Martinez	....	special thanks (as Caspar Martinez)
Marsha Moore	....	special thanks
Ray Palagy	....	special thanks
Jimmy Rodriguez	....	special thanks: Jimmy's Bronx Café
Kimberly Siler	....	special thanks
Michael Zansky	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Valence Films Inc.
• Barnholtz Entertainment

Distributors

• StudioCanal (2001-2003) (worldwide) (theatrical) (all media) (world sales agency)
• Mars Distribution (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Pathfinder Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Vértigo Films (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Artisan Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (200?) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language, drug content and some violence

Runtime:

85 min

Country:

USA | France

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Certification:

Australia:MA | USA:R | Portugal:M/16

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Valence Films Inc.

Trivia:

Chosen by "Les Cahiers du cinéma" (France) as one of the 10 best pictures of 2001 (#10)

Movie Connections:

Referenced in A Short Film About the Long Career of Abel Ferrara (2004) (V)

The perfect xmas movie for modern America

Ferrara does not know how to make an uninteresting movie. Whatever you think of the content of his films, everything he does is a stylish, riveting exercise in visual story telling. This movie is no exception. There's surprisingly little dialogue, but what there is sings with a sense of modern city life. The aural and visual atmosphere of New York City, both upscale and downscale, is rich and multi-layered, and the characters seem like people you've seen on the street, or in stores, or in clubs, many many times. I don't know how "real" the action of this movie might be, but it seems as real and believable to me as anything I've seen on screen in a good long while. This is the perfect holiday movie for 21st century America, and a near-ideal expression of the meaning of modern Christmas.