Don't Say a Word (2001)

When the daughter of a psychiatrist is kidnapped, he's horrified to discover that the abductors' demand is that he break through to a post traumatic stress disorder suffering young woman who knows a secret...

Director:

Gary Fleder

Writers:

Andrew Klavan (novel), Anthony Peckham (screenplay),

Stars:

Michael Douglas, Sean Bean, Brittany Murphy

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Douglas	...	Dr. Nathan R. Conrad
Sean Bean	...	Patrick Koster
Brittany Murphy	...	Elisabeth Burrows
Skye McCole Bartusiak	...	Jessie Conrad
Guy Torry	...	Dolen
Jennifer Esposito	...	Detective Sandra Cassidy
Shawn Doyle	...	Russel Maddox
Victor Argo	...	Sydney Simon
Conrad Goode	...	Max Dunlevy
Paul Schulze	...	Jake
Lance Reddick	...	Arnie
Famke Janssen	...	Aggie Conrad
Oliver Platt	...	Dr. Louis Sachs
Aidan Devine	...	Leon Edward Croft
Alex Campbell	...	Jonathan

Storyline

A group of thieves steal a rare gem, but in the process, two of the men double cross the leader of the thieving group, Patrick, and take off with the precious stone. Ten years later, prominent psychiatrist Nathan Conrad is invited to examine a disturbed young woman named Elisabeth. Patrick immediately kidnaps Nathan's daughter, forcing Nathan to attempt to get Elisabeth to reveal a secret number which will ultimately lead Patrick to the whereabouts of the precious gem that has eluded him.

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Plot Keywords:

psychiatrist | post traumatic stress | burial | greed | outlaw gang | 

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Taglines:

You want what they want, don't you... I'll never tell... any of you.

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Genres:

Crime | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, including some gruesome images, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Fox

Country:

USA Australia Switzerland Canada

Language:

English Italian Chinese

Release Date:

28 September 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

Ni una palabra

Filming Locations:

Hart Island, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£597,896 (UK) (22 February 2002)

Gross:

£1,757,429 (UK) (15 March 2002)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Regency Enterprises, Village Roadshow Pictures, NPV Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sean Bean actually spoke to Michael Douglas and Famke Janssen on the cell phones during filming.

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Goofs

When Dr. Conrad and Elizabeth take the boat to go to Hart Island, neither of them ever bother to untie it from the dock.

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Quotes

Aggie Conrad: You brush your teeth?
Jessie Conrad: Yep!
Aggie Conrad: Let me smell?
Jessie Conrad: [opens mouth]
Aggie Conrad: Mmmmm delicious.

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Connections

Features Home Alone (1990)

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Soundtracks

"Music"
from the movie Home Alone
Composed and Conducted by John Williams

User Reviews

Fast moving thriller

My 11 year old nephew said it was the scariest movie he's ever seen. I can't quite agree with that, but the level of intensity and the fast moving plot really impressed me, even if it all didn't quite add up in the end. I can't remember a movie that I've seen in awhile that just MOVED along so well and had so little downtime. Given the 'deadline', it felt like it was in real-time for the second half of the movie.

I was a little bothered by Michael Douglas having a wife the age of Famke. I love her and its not a knock against her but there was no need to keep up Douglas' legacy of attracting wives under 35 for him. Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore and Daryl Hannah have all been love interests for him - why? Because its the male fantasy? Reeks of insecurity to me. Plus I don't see Dame Judi Dench romancing Leo, do I? Meryl Streep and James Franco? Anyway, this is not important, just slightly annoying.

There are questions I'd like to ask the screenwriter because there are inconsistencies along the way and about one or two things that are totally out of the question.

However, as I mentioned, the movie moves along so fast that you might not have time to dwell on anything for too long. I don't think it was speeded up to cover anything up either.

The best part is the acting, especially by Brittany Murphy. I didn't enjoy her in "Clueless" but really loved her in "Girl Interupted" and thought she was the best thing about that movie. Here she gives it all, in a part that could have been laughed off the screen if it weren't played exactly right. Jennifer Esposito is also very believable as a cop, Sean Bean as a kidnapper and, as mentioned, Famke as a trophy wife.

Worth watching, for sure. 7/10.