Auto Focus (2002)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writers (WGA):

Robert Graysmith (book)
Michael Gerbosi (written by)

Release Date:

8 November 2002 (Canada)

Genre:

Biography | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A day without sex is a day wasted.

Plot:

A story about "Hogan's Heroes" star Bob Crane and his friendship with John Carpenter.

Plot Keywords:

Video | Sex | Friendship | Marriage | Motel

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Greg Kinnear	...	Bob Crane
Willem Dafoe	...	John Carpenter
Rita Wilson	...	Anne Crane
Maria Bello	...	Patricia Olson / Patrica Crane / Sigrid Valdis
Ron Leibman	...	Lenny
Bruce Solomon	...	Edward H. Feldman
Michael E. Rodgers	...	Richard Dawson (as Michael Rodgers)
Kurt Fuller	...	Werner Klemperer
Christopher Neiman	...	Robert Clary
Lyle Kanouse	...	John Banner
Donnamarie Recco	...	Melissa / Mistress Victoria
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Mel Rosen
Michael McKean	...	Video Executive
Cheryl Lynn Bowers	...	Cynthia Lynn
Don McManus	...	Priest

Also Known As:

Autofocus (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality, nudity, language, some drug use and violence.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Singapore:R21 | Italy:VM14 (re-rating) (2004) | Italy:VM18 (original rating) (2003) | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:R (cut) | Argentina:16 | Australia:R | Canada:18A | France:-12 | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:III | Japan:R-18 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:15 | UK:18 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Iceland:16 | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Arizona, USA

Company:

Focus Puller Inc.

Trivia:

The bald actor who plays a reporter interviewing Crane about midway through the film is Crane's real son, Bob Crane Jr. (Robert David Crane).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The issue of "Guideposts" shown by Crane's interviewers is from the early '90s.

Quotes:

Lenny: Sex is not the answer.
Bob Crane: I know that Lenny, it's the question. 'Yes' is the answer.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Gilmore Girls: We Got Us a Pippi Virgin (#5.5)" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Nice Evening, Wasn't It

a day without sex is a day wasted

-I've never seen "Hogan's Heroes" before so I had no idea who Bob Crane was going into this movie, but the great thing about this movie is that you don't need to know anything about the show or Crane to enjoy the movie. It tells the story of how Bob Crane rose to the top with his show "Hogan's Heroes" whiles spiraling out of control with his sex addiction. He first takes pictures of his sex adventures but then meets a man called John Carpenter that introduces him to video cameras. He uses the cameras to record his sex adventures and um.....does things to himself whiles watching it. His friendship with Carpenter plays a big role in the movie as the two of them share the same addiction for sex. They both need each other in some weird way. Crane needs him for the video cameras and other technical know hows, and Carpenter needs him for sex because once women learn that he's with Crane they flock to be with him. Crane's sex addiction kinda ruins his life, it becomes his source for pleasure and at the same time of pain. Later on in the movie we get to see just how addicted he is as he shocks everyone with a comment he makes about a busty women sitting in front of him. This is true addiction, and the movie shows that for what it is.

-This movie marks the return of the underrated Paul Schrader, and he comes back strong with his A game. He thankfully avoided the pitfalls that many biopics make by showing you stuff about the person we're watching that we never knew before. My biggest problem with most biopics is that they never really tell you anything that you already didn't know, but in this one they packed it full of useful info. Greg Kinnear does a great job here playing a man that really has two faces. One he puts on in public which is a nice and gentle man that's religious and never drinks, and the other one which is the horny man that thinks that a day without sex is a day wasted.

-Willem Dafoe also does a great job of playing John Carpenter who is essentially Crane's only friend in the movie. his character is probably a closet homosexual although that is never dealt with properly in the movie. In the end his friendship with Crane is what leads to him doing an act that ends their friendship for good. This movie is obviously not for kids, it has semi-graphic sex scenes and an abundance of nudity. The only problem for me was that I wish they had explained where Crane's addiction came from but the world isn't perfect

-Paul Schrader has once again made another great movie and actually made a biopic that's not predictable or boring which I thought was impossible. He lets you see the effects of addiction and how badly it can destroy someone's life. It may have gotten lost in the sea of movies that came out but if you can find it then watch it. You'll be glad you did