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. Suddenly the victims of religious and racial persecution... See full summary »

Director:

Neal Slavin

Writers:

Arthur Miller (novel), Kendrew Lascelles (screenplay)

Stars:

William H. Macy, Laura Dern, David Paymer

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William H. Macy	...	Lawrence Newman
Laura Dern	...	Gertrude 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

Storyline

In the waning months of World War II, a man and his wife are mistakenly identified as Jews by their anti-Semitic Brooklyn neighbors. Suddenly the victims of religious and racial persecution, they find themselves aligned with a local Jewish immigrant in a struggle for dignity and survival.

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | discrimination | neighbor | christian | presbyterian | 

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Taglines:

Everything Is About To Become Very Clear

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic material, violence and some sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Classics (USA)(Flash site)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 May 2002 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Foco

Filming Locations:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$24,139 (USA) (19 October 2001)

Gross:

$717,820 (USA) (15 March 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Carros Pictures, Dog Pond Productions, Focus Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Trailers for the film erroneously credit Meat Loaf and 'Michael Lee Aday.'

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Goofs

Just after Mr. Newman has 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.

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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.

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Crazy Credits

In Loving Memory of Frieda Oline Burkhart

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Connections

Version of Theatre 625: Focus (1966)

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Soundtracks

'Taint What You Do (It's the Way That Cha DoIt)
(1939)
Written by Sy Oliver and James Young (as James Oliver Young)
Performed by Ella Fitzgerald
Published by Music Sales Corp. / Universal MCA Music Publishing
A Division of Universal Studios, Inc. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of MCA Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

Terrific Performances and a finely tuned story

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+