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Focus
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Photos (see all 16 | slideshow) Videos (see all 2)
Focus (2001) -- In the waning months of World War II, a man and his wife are mistakenly identified as Jews by their anti-Semitic Brooklyn neighbors...
Focus (2001) -- Open-ended Trailer from Paramount Classics

Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   1,905 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 6% in popularity this week. See rank & trends on IMDbPro.
Director:
Neal Slavin
Writers:
Arthur Miller (novel)
Kendrew Lascelles (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Focus on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
2 May 2002 (Australia) more
Genre:
Drama | Romance more
Tagline:
Everything Is About To Become Very Clear
Plot:
In the waning months of World War II, a man and his wife are mistakenly identified as Jews by their anti-Semitic Brooklyn neighbors... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
Awards:
2 wins & 3 nominations more
User Comments:
Terrific Performances and a finely tuned story more

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

William H. Macy ... Lawrence 'Larry' Newman

Laura Dern ... Gertrude 'Gert' Hart

David Paymer ... Mr. Finkelstein

Meat Loaf ... Fred (as Meat Loaf Aday)
Kay Hawtrey ... Mrs. Newman
Michael Copeman ... Carlson

Kenneth Welsh ... Father Crighton
Joseph Ziegler ... Mr. Gargan
Arlene Meadows ... Mrs. Dewitt

Peter Oldring ... Willy Doyle
Robert McCarrol ... Meeting Hall Man (as Robert Mccarrol)
Shaun Austin-Olsen ... Sullivan
Kevin Jubinville ... Mr. Cole Stevens
B.J. McQueen ... Mel
Conrad Bergschneider ... Tough's Leader
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Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence and some sexual content.
Runtime:
106 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby Digital
Filming Locations:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Neal Slavin claimed to have wanted to make this film since college. more
Goofs:
Continuity: Just after Mr. Newman his been attacked, one of the frames on his glasses is obviously bent. However, when he enters Mr. Finkelstein's shop just seconds later, his glasses are in perfect shape. more
Quotes:
Lawrence 'Larry' Newman: Really, Gertrude, I never stop thinking about you. It's like I've been thinking about you for years. That's why you struck me so the first time I saw you. more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Shanghai Kiss (2007) more
Soundtrack:
My First Love more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 7 people found the following comment useful:-
Terrific Performances and a finely tuned story, 11 November 2001
Author: JackGattanella from United States

One of Arthur Miller's finest works, Focus, comes to the screen and while there was a lot to like about the movie, some of it seemed like it was almost unreal (though I'm not sure if that's in a good or bad way).

William H. Macy, great as always, plays Lawrence Newman, average Joe and good guy in Brooklyn, NY in the early 1940's who finds he needs a new pair of specs. Unfortunately, his choice of glasses makes him appear to be, well, Jewish, as this seems to his mother from the start. Lawrence tries to ignore the ignorance and bigotry in his neighborhood against the Jewish people, but with a string of events involving his neighbors (Meat Loaf, David Paymer), and a new girlfriend (Laura Dern in one of her best performances) who knows what trouble Lawrence is in, push him into the conflict of his life.

Often, Focus, delivers a poignant, startling and smart story in showing a character with so much at stake it is making him insane. Macy and the rest of the cast are so close to perfect and if only for them make this a must see. Not to dissapoint the fans of Miller's book, I suppose, but if it does then that is just another flaw. B+

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possible spoilers oswaldo7777
I REMEMBER carpediembaby
Was Gerty In Fact Jewish? LorNic
FOCUS dedicated to Freida Olive Burkhart stephanlinsenhoff
Very good movie... MaxQuant
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