Holes (2003)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Andrew Davis

Writers (WGA):

Louis Sachar (novel)
Louis Sachar (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 April 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Comedy | Family | Mystery

Tagline:

The book is now the movie.

Plot:

A wrongfully convicted boy is sent to a brutal desert detention camp where he joins the job of digging holes for some mysterious reason.

Plot Keywords:

Lake | Desert | Digging | Shoe | Buried Treasure

Awards:

3 wins & 9 nominations

Cast

Sigourney Weaver	...	Warden Walker
Jon Voight	...	Marion Sevillo / 'Mr. Sir'
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Dr. Pendanski
Shia LaBeouf	...	Stanley Yelnats IV / 'Caveman'
Khleo Thomas	...	Hector Zeroni / 'Zero'
Jake M. Smith	...	Alan / 'Squid'
Byron Cotton	...	Theodore / 'Armpit'
Brenden Jefferson	...	Rex / 'X-Ray'
Miguel Castro	...	José / 'Magnet'
Max Kasch	...	Ricky / 'Zigzag'
Noah Poletiek	...	Brian / 'Twitch'
Zane Holtz	...	Lewis / 'Barfbag'
Steven Kozlowski	...	Lump (as Steve Kozlowski)
Ski Carr	...	Guard
Roma Maffia	...	Atty. Carla Morengo
Ray Baker	...	Asst. Attorney General
Alex Daniels	...	Texas Ranger #1
Tom Brainard	...	Texas Ranger #2
Haleigh Ann Trickett	...	Young Warden
Siobhan Fallon	...	Stanley's Mom (as Siobhan Fallon Hogan)
Henry Winkler	...	Stanley Yelnats III
Nathan Davis	...	Grandfather Stanley Yelnats II
Rick Worthy	...	Male Officer
Mary Jo Mecca	...	Female Officer
Shelley Malil	...	Nosy Landlord
Rick Fox	...	Clyde 'Sweetfeet' Livingston
Nicole Pulliam	...	Mrs. Livingston
Michael Cavanaugh	...	Judge
Bruce Ramsay	...	Prosecutor
Shirley Butler	...	Mrs. Zeroni
Conrad E. Palmisano	...	Private Investigator (as Conrad Palmisano)
Eartha Kitt	...	Madame Zeroni
Damien Luvara	...	Elya Yelnats
Sanya Mateyas	...	Myra Menke
Ravil Isyanov	...	Morris Menke
Ken Davitian	...	Igor Barkov
Patricia Arquette	...	Miss Kathryn 'Kissin' Kate' Barlow
Scott Plank	...	Charles 'Trout' Walker
Dulé Hill	...	Sam the Onion Man
Allan Kolman	...	Stanley Yelnats I
Louis Sachar	...	Mr. Collingwood
Eric Pierpoint	...	Sheriff (as Eric Peirpoint)
Brian Peck	...	Townsman in Classroom
Melissa Mitchell	...	Young Linda Miller
Allison Smith	...	Linda Miller Walker
Brooke Eby	...	School Kid
Gary Bullock	...	Prospector
Jeff Ricketts	...	Partner
Paul Norwood	...	Doc
Benny Manning	...	Stage Coach Driver
Jim Wilkey	...	Kissed Stage Coach Driver
Julian Reed Davis	...	Prisoner in Green Lake Jail
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Talula Holt	...	Various (voice)
Ricardo Alaniz	...	Kate's Gang #2 (uncredited)
Alex Castillo	...	Mexican Farmer (uncredited)
Greg Cipes	...	Various (voice) (uncredited)
Richard L. Duran	...	Kate's Gang #1 (uncredited)
Edwin Garcia II	...	Raymond / 'Bones' (uncredited)
Clifford Happy	...	Kate's Gang #4 (uncredited)
Ty Hodges	...	Food Server (uncredited)
Steven Lambert	...	Trout Gang #2 (uncredited)
Clay M. Lilley	...	Kate's Gang #5 (uncredited)
Eddie Matthews	...	Trout Gang #1 (uncredited)
Gilbert Rosales	...	Kate's Gang #3 (uncredited)
Lola Sanchez	...	Student (uncredited)
Dynette Streich	...	Teacher (uncredited)
Brian J. Williams	...	Trout Gang #3 (uncredited)

Directed by
Andrew Davis

Writing credits (WGA)
Louis Sachar		(novel)
Louis Sachar		(screenplay)

Produced by
Lowell D. Blank	....	producer
Andrew Davis	....	producer
Marty P. Ewing	....	executive producer
Clark Henderson	....	associate producer
Mike Medavoy	....	producer
Louis Phillips	....	executive producer
Teresa Tucker-Davies	....	producer

Original Music by
Joel McNeely

Cinematography by
Stephen St. John

Film Editing by
Thomas J. Nordberg
Jeffrey Wolf

Casting by
Amanda Mackey Johnson
Cathy Sandrich

Production Design by
Maher Ahmad

Art Direction by
Andrew Max Cahn

Set Decoration by
Gene Serdena

Costume Design by
Aggie Guerard Rodgers		(as Aggie Rodgers)

Makeup Department
David Atherton	....	key makeup artist
Matt Danon	....	hair department head
Matt Danon	....	key hair stylist
Linda DeVetta	....	makeup artist: Ms. Weaver
Bryan Ewing	....	assistant hair stylist
Art Harding	....	makeup artist
Isabel Harkins	....	makeup artist: Patricia Arquette
Mark Landon	....	makeup artist
Lucia Mace	....	assistant hair stylist
Jacklin Masteran	....	hair stylist
Gilbert A. Mosko	....	assistant makeup artist
Lyndell Quiyou	....	hair stylist: Ms. Weaver
Randy Westgate	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Clark Henderson	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Sammaciccia	....	executive in charge of production
David Siegel	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
James A. Dennett II	....	second second assistant director
Carolyn Esposito	....	dga trainee
Vincent Lascoumes	....	first assistant director
Christophe Le Chanu	....	second second assistant director
William Mesa	....	second unit director
David Ticotin	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Tom Acosta	....	greensman
Jory Alvarado	....	swing gang
Tighe Barry	....	property master
Bryan Belair	....	construction coordinator
Michelle R. Belair	....	assistant to Bryan Belair
Mike Boudreau	....	swing gang
David B. Brenner	....	propmaker
Jeff Brown	....	greens gang boss (as Jeffrey S. Brown)
Don Cooke	....	labor foreman
Kurt Corbitt	....	props
Antonio Corillo	....	swing gang
Jack Cornelius	....	swing gang
Dimitri Denne	....	propmaker
Tim Durrell	....	propmaker location foreman
Randall C. Engle	....	propmaker
Ernesto Felix	....	swing gang
Andy Flores	....	stand-by painter
Mark Foley	....	greensman
Stephanie Gilliam	....	set designer
J. Michael Glynn	....	swing gang
Austin Gorg	....	assistant art director
Erik Grasteit	....	assistant property master
Ted Harms	....	propmaker gang boss
T.J. Harms	....	propmaker
Russel Harvey	....	propmaker
Kenny Hayes	....	location foreman
Tim Jackson	....	general foreman
Alan James	....	painter
Patrick Janicke	....	illustrator: designing lizards
Brian Jewell	....	set designer
Tom Jung	....	storyboard artist
Chris Langevin	....	assistant property master
Ubaldo Marquez	....	propmaker
T.J. Martin	....	art department production assistant
Frank McEldowney	....	greens foreman
Augustine Mendez Jr.	....	toolman/foreman
Michael Mikita Jr.	....	paint foreman
Don Miloyevich	....	property master
Todd Morris	....	on-set dresser
Joaquin Navarro	....	set designer
Jose Ochoa	....	laborer
Scott Reiber	....	painter
Scott Reiber	....	propmaker
Steve Rice	....	greens stand-by
Ingred Rofkar	....	propmaker
Tom Safron	....	greensman
Grant Samson	....	lead man
Ed Sher	....	paint foreman
Thomas Spencer	....	swing gang (as Tom Spencer)
Robert Stover	....	buyer (as Robert L. Stover)
Holly Sudduth	....	swing gang
Tom Tollefson	....	propmaker
Joseph J. Virdone	....	art department coordinator
Scott Vollmer	....	propmaker location foreman
Rod Walton	....	propmaker
Mike Wiley	....	labor foreman
David Forline	....	custom props (uncredited)
Dylan Martens	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Paul Aulicino	....	first assistant sound editor
Frank Bradley	....	sound utility
Kevin E. Carpenter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael C. Casper	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Curtis	....	supervising dialogue editor
Marc Deschaine	....	adr assistant
Michael Dressel	....	supervising foley editor
Jason Freidman	....	cable person
Angela Hackner	....	sound recordist
Hilda Hodges	....	foley artist
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Steve Nelson	....	sound mixer
Steve Nelson	....	sound effects editor
Bruce Stambler	....	supervising sound editor
Becky Sullivan	....	supervising adr editor
Shawn Sykora	....	foley editor
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist
Robert Troy	....	dialogue editor
Tim Walston	....	sound designer
Ian Wright	....	boom operator
Richard E. Yawn	....	sound editor
Carl D. Ware	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Dan Crawley	....	special effects technician
Larry Fioritto	....	special effects coordinator
Virgil Sanchez	....	special effects
Doyle Smiley	....	special effects technician
Bryan Wohlers	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Dave Bailey	....	3D character animator
Tatjana Bozinovski	....	rotoscope artist
Trisha Burton	....	visual effects plate unit script supervisor
Robert Camargo	....	visual effects storyboard artist
John Coats	....	digital artist
Michael Colin	....	pre-visualization editor
Richard Eberhardt	....	digital lineup
Tim Everitt	....	holes and lizards supervisor
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital artist (as Steve Fagerquist)
David Feinner	....	digital artist
Dave Fiske	....	digital effects coordinator
David Fogg	....	digital compositor
Christopher Grandel	....	digital artist (as Christopher Grandell)
Michael L. Griffin	....	digital lineup (as Mike Griffin)
Shauna M. Hirdler	....	rotoscope artist
Jeff Hutchison	....	digital effects producer
Dave Jacobs	....	visual effects production assistant
Patrick Janicke	....	visual effects storyboard artist
Pete Kleinow	....	3D animation
Mark Kochinski	....	pre-visualization artist
Peter Koczera	....	digital artist
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist
Lincoln Kupchak	....	visual effects editor
Derek Ledbetter	....	digital artist
Dave Lockwood	....	digital compositor
Dawn Brooks Macleod	....	digital compositor (as Dawn Brooks)
John P. Mesa	....	co-visual effects supervisor
William Mesa	....	visual effects supervisor
Don Myers	....	3D modeling & animation
Shannon Noble	....	digital artist
Dan Novy	....	visual effects technical supervisor
Bruce Pearson	....	3D animation
Jerad Pitts	....	3D pre-visualization artist
Matt Seckman	....	pre-visualization artist
Brian Smallwood	....	digital artist
Ken D. Smith	....	digital effects supervisor
Ken Stranahan	....	3D modeling & animation
Tammy Sutton	....	digital compositor
Etienne Terblanche	....	digital artist
Don Waller	....	3D animator
Don Waller	....	character animation supervisor
Jeffrey White	....	visual effects producer
Johnny Wilson	....	digital compositor
Darrell Abney	....	visual effects intern (uncredited)
John Attard	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Chia Evers	....	rotoscope artist (uncredited)
Lisa Yoshisato	....	rotoscope artist (uncredited)
Erik Zimmermann	....	visual effects: HDRI Acquisition (uncredited)

Stunts
Gregory J. Barnett	....	utility stunts (as Gregg Barnett)
Zane Cassidy	....	stunt double
Alex Daniels	....	stunt coordinator
Christopher Doyle	....	stunts
Tad Griffith	....	stunts
Zach Hudson	....	stunt double: Jacob Merten Smith
Terry James	....	stunt double: Jon Voight
Svetla Krasteva	....	stunt double
Jasmine Martin	....	stunt driver
Eddie Matthews	....	stunt player
Julie Michaels	....	stunt double: Kate
Bob Minor	....	stunt double
Gary Morgan	....	stunt double
Pee Wee Piemonte	....	utility stunts
Ben Scott	....	stunts
Neil Summers	....	utility stunts
Banzai Vitale	....	utility stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Dave Amberik	....	generator operator
Andy Bertelson	....	grip
Terry Bowen	....	camera operator
Eddie Bowlin	....	rigging gaffer
Phil Bray	....	still photographer
Jeff Burrage	....	video assist operator
Jerry G. Callaway	....	camera operator
Robert C. Carlson	....	director of photography: additional photography
Robert C. Carlson	....	first assistant camera
Ray D. Chase	....	best boy grip (as Ray Chase)
Cheli Clayton	....	second assistant camera: additional camera
Eric Cochran	....	rigging electrician
Alex Cruz	....	dolly grip
Javier Ferrer	....	rigging electrician
Jason C. Fitzgerald	....	rigging best boy
James Frederick	....	rigging electrician
David Golia	....	camera operator
Rick Gowing	....	assistant camera
Jim Grce	....	gaffer
Hector Gutierrez	....	dolly grip
Charles Hart	....	set grip
Chip Hart	....	grip
Sean Higgins	....	rigging electrician
Richard Jones	....	grip
Ronald Kline	....	best boy
Kelly Krotine	....	camera loader
Joseph LaStrape III	....	electrician (as Joey Lastrape)
Karl Linde	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Greg Luntzel	....	first assistant camera
Amber Maahs	....	grip
James M. McClure	....	rigging electrician
Geary McLeod	....	camera operator
Mark Meyers	....	dolly grip
John D. Miller	....	grip
Sean Hunter Moe	....	assistant camera
Max Neal	....	assistant camera
David O'Brien	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
J. Michael Popovich	....	key grip (as Michael Popovich)
Eugene Rivera	....	grip
Chad Rivetti	....	technician: libra head
Scott Romsos	....	rigging electrician
Jerry Sandager	....	key rigging grip
Jake Sarfaty	....	lamp operator
John Scott	....	assistant camera
Steve Serna	....	grip
David W. Slodki	....	lamp operator
Ueli Steiger	....	director of photography: splinter unit
Baird Steptoe	....	assistant camera
Ken Sylvester	....	electrician
Rick Tschudin	....	assistant camera
Robert Ulland	....	camera operator
Makiko Watanabe	....	second assistant camera
Rick Whitfield	....	24 frame video operator
Scott C. Williman	....	lamp operator
Vincent Wrenn	....	lamp operator

Animation Department
Dave Bailey	....	character animator

Casting Department
Sig De Miguel	....	casting associate
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
Jennifer Madeloff	....	extras casting associate
Marshall Peck	....	extras casting
Wendy Weidman	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Fran Allgood	....	costumer: Ms. Weaver
Deborah Myles Davis	....	costumer
Bruce Ericksen	....	costume supervisor
Scott R. Hankins	....	set costumer
Lorenzo Hearns Jr.	....	costumer
Mathew Hooey	....	key costumer
Hope Johnson	....	costume production assistant
Candice Sabbah	....	key costumer
Tim Wilson	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Laura Behary	....	assistant editor
Mike Bellamy	....	final colorist
Peter Fandetti	....	assistant editor
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Sean Thompson	....	assistant editor
Lee Wimer	....	color timer
Calvin Wimmer	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Michael Atwell	....	score recordist
Sandy DeCrescent	....	music contractor
Latashia DeVeaux	....	music coordinator
Lindsay Fellows	....	executive in charge of music
Tanya Noel Hill	....	assistant music editor (as Tanya Hill)
Charles Martin Inouye	....	supervising music editor (as Chuck Martin Inouye)
Charles Martin Inouye	....	temp score designer (as Chuck Martin Inouye)
Joel McNeely	....	orchestrator
Shawn Murphy	....	scoring mixer
Karyn Rachtman	....	music supervisor
Angela Reid	....	assistant to music supervisor
David Slonaker	....	orchestrator
Lisa Stone	....	music coordinator
Booker White	....	music preparation
Peter Erskine	....	musician (uncredited)

Transportation Department
J. Wesley Adams	....	driver
Norma Allard	....	driver
John Anderson	....	driver
Gene Biernot	....	driver
Jesse Cartwright	....	driver
Lyle Christensen	....	shotmaker driver
Linda Cipperley	....	driver
Michael Coady	....	driver
Vashti Desire	....	driver
Scotty Goudreau	....	driver
Carl E. Hodge	....	driver
Mike Kulisch	....	driver
Joel Larson	....	driver
Jeff Lira	....	driver
Ernie Lueras	....	driver
Patrick McCombs	....	driver
Don Newman	....	driver
John Pierce	....	driver
Rick Purdy	....	driver
Christopher Rigby	....	transportation co-captain (as Chris Rigby)
Jonathan A. Rosenfeld	....	transportation coordinator
Robert Santoro	....	driver
Gary Schorr	....	driver
Brian Steagall	....	driver
Howard Taft	....	driver
Brian Taylor	....	driver
David Teasley	....	driver
Dave Tellez	....	driver
Jim Tornero	....	driver
David Urich	....	driver
Jeff Verdick	....	transportation captain
Richard Vincent	....	driver
Mike Westra	....	driver

Other crew
Drew Aveling	....	accounting production assistant
Bob Beltz	....	special advisor
Alasdair Boyd	....	assistant location manager
Eddie Brega	....	production assistant
Mark Brooks	....	wrangler
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach: Ms. Weaver
Kimmie Brown-Graehl	....	stand-in: Ms. Weaver
Roberta Brown	....	bullwhip trainer
Trisha Burton	....	script supervisor: additional photography
Drucilla Ann Carlson	....	script supervisor
Mike Cook	....	chef
W. Ty Crawford	....	production assistant
Jesús Crespo	....	assistant to cast
James A. Dennett II	....	technical advisor (as Jamey Dennett)
Rhonda DeVictor	....	production coordinator
Maureen Duffy	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances
Sean Duhame	....	interactive designer
Adam Emperor	....	photo double: "Stanley"
Adam Emperor	....	stand-in: "Stanley"
Corinne Fixmer	....	second assistant accountant
Brian Kula Fung	....	trainer: Ms. Weaver
Elise Ganz	....	teacher
Sharon Gardner	....	assistant accountant
Jeff Geoffray	....	production executive
Jeffrey Gladu	....	payroll accountant
David Gutiérrez	....	stand-in: Squid
Michael Heithaus	....	stand-in: D. Luvara
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach: Ms. Weaver
Mandy Hoke	....	set medic
Brandon Hollyer	....	first assistant accountant
Pat Jackson	....	teacher
April A. Janow	....	production accountant
Jasmine Johnson	....	photo double: "Zero"
Jasmine Johnson	....	stand-in: "Zero"
Mark Benton Johnson	....	location manager (as Mark B. Johnson)
Earl Jones	....	stand-in: X-Ray
Mark Joseph	....	lead marketing
Walter Josten	....	production executive
Catherine Kagan	....	assistant location manager
Kevin LaRosa	....	pilot
Kiosha Lee	....	stand-in: Armpit
Josh Leith	....	assistant: Tucker-Davies and Blank
Clay M. Lilley	....	horse wrangler
Jack Lilley	....	horse wrangler
Larry Madrid	....	animal wrangler
John W. McCammon	....	stand-in: Mr. Sir
Carol McConnaughey	....	unit publicist
Michael J. McKelvey	....	construction medic
Aaron Merrell	....	assistant: Louis Phillips
Aaron Merrell	....	production coordinator: Phoenix Pictures
Christine Miller	....	teacher: Shia LaBeauf
Judd Miller	....	synthesizer
Michael Neipris	....	marine coordinator
Mark Neth	....	production assistant
Steven T. Nolan	....	technician: HotHead
David B. Nowell	....	aerial coordinator
Randy Offer	....	projectionist
Brian Peck	....	acting coach
Mike Phillips	....	senior consultant: film production, Anschutz Corp.
Mike Phillips	....	vice president: physical production/production finance
Nicholas Plasschaert	....	safety coordinator
Jeff 'Doc' Porter	....	construction medic
John H. Price	....	on-set interviews
Lois Radcliff	....	craft service assistant
Willie Radcliff	....	craft service
Bill Ramirez	....	craft service assistant
William Ramirez Jr.	....	second craft service
N. Sandberg	....	senior consultant: film production
N.L. Sandberg	....	senior consultant: film production
Nina Saxon	....	title designer
Thomas M. Seber	....	production assistant
Frederick Shear	....	production assistant
Tom Sieber	....	production assistant
Deborah Simmrin	....	unit publicist
Linda Stanley	....	studio teacher
Jeff Steele	....	assistant: Mike Medavoy
Anthea Strangis	....	assistant production coordinator
Tony Swatton	....	knife maker
Dawn Todd	....	location accountant
Carrie Tyson	....	production secretary
Gerald A. Vitatoe Jr.	....	accounting clerk
Daniel Williams	....	stand-in: Pendanski
Lisa Zambri	....	production assistant
Bob Zamudio	....	assistant: Andrew Davis
Christopher Tin	....	synthesizer programmer (uncredited)
Daniel Veluzat	....	location liaison (uncredited)

Thanks
Cindy Falcone	....	special thanks
Chip Schofield	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Walt Disney Pictures (presents)
• Walden Media (in association with)
• Chicago Pacific Entertainment (as Chicago Pictures Entertainment)
• Phoenix Pictures (as Phoenix Pictures Entertainment)

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (Austria) GmbH (2003) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Spain (2003) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership (2003) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Pinema (2002) (Turkey) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (all media)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Japan) (DVD)
• Buena Vista International (2004) (Argentina) (all media)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2004) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Tien (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Universal Pictures Benelux (2004) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Walt Disney Home Entertainment (2003) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Flash Film Works

Other Companies

• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animal wrangling
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Chicago Pacific Entertainment  additional sound re-recording
• Digital Filmworks  digital film scanning and recording
• Howard Anderson Digital  digital titles & opticals
• Limelight Catering  catering
• Mackey/Sandrich Casting  casting
• Mind Your Music  music clearances
• Nina Saxon Film Design  titles designed by
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• SoundStorm  sound post-production
• Warner Bros. Studio Services  sound re-recording

MPAA:

Rated PG for violence, mild language and some thematic elements.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:MG6 | Iceland:10 | Iceland:LH (video rating) | Brazil:Livre | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG | Denmark:11 | Germany:6 | New Zealand:PG | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG (certificate #39623)

Filming Locations:

Anderson Street Overpass, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Walt Disney Pictures

Trivia:

In the Warden's house, there is a framed newspaper cutting, with the words, "Kate Barlow Robs Chicago Pacific." Chicago Pacific is the name of director Andrew Davis's company.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Stanley gets hit on the head with the shoes at the beginning of the movie, you can clearly see Stanley's face grimace just before the shoes "unexpectedly" hit him.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Barfbag walks towards a rattlesnake]
X-Ray: Hey, Barfbag. What are you doing?
[Barfbag takes his shoe and sock off and steps on the snake, which bites him]
Barfbag: [yells] Aaaaaah!

Movie Connections:

References Cleopatra (1963)

Soundtrack:

For Old Times Ache

What was Disney thinking? It made a great movie.

Holes is a fable about the past and the way it affects the present lives of at least three people. One of them I will name, the other two are mysteries and will remain so. Holes is a story about Stanley Yelnats IV. He is unlucky in life. Unlucky in fact characterizes the fates of most of the Yelnats men and has been since exploits of Stanley IV's `no good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.' Those particular exploits cursed the family's men to many an ill-fated turn. It is during just such a turn that we meet Stanley IV. He has been accused, falsely, of stealing a pair of baseball shoes, freshly donated to a homeless shelter auction, by a famous baseball player. He is given the option of jail, or he can go to a character building camp. `I've never been to camp before,' says Stanley. With that the Judge enthusiastically sends him off to Camp Green Lake.

Camp Green Lake is an odd place, with an odd philosophy, `If you take a bad boy, make him dig a hole every day in the hot sun, it will turn him into a good boy.' We learn this little pearl of wisdom from Mr. Sir (John Voight) one of the camp's `counselors.' We get the impression right away that he is a dangerous man. He at least wears his attitude honestly; he doesn't think he is nice. The camp's guidance councilor, Mr. Pendanski (Tim Blake Nelson) is a different matter entirely. He acts the part of the caring sensitive counselor, but he quick, quicker than anyone else in authority to unleash the most cruel verbal barbs at his charges. The Warden has a decided capacity for meanness, but other than that she is a mystery. These three rule Camp Green Lake, a place that has no lake. It is just a dry dusty desert filled with holes, five feet deep and five feet wide. Its local fauna, seem only to be the vultures, and dangerous poisonous yellow-spotted lizards. Green Lake seems is, in many ways, a haunted place.

Holes works in spite of the strange setting, and the strange story, because it understands people. Specifically because it is honest in the way it deals with the inmates of Camp Green Lake. The movie captures the way boys interact with one another perfectly. It captures the way boys can bully each other, they way they can win admiration, the way they fight with one another, and the way boys ally themselves along the age line. It is this well nuanced core that makes everything else in the film believable. What is also refreshing about this film the good nature of its main character. He does not believe in a family curse, he is not bitter about the infamous exploits of his `no good-dirty-rotten-pig-stealing-great-great-grandfather.' In fact he loves hearing the story. Stanley IV is not bitter about the past, and determined not let it affect him in the way it has affected his father and grandfather. There is at times a lot of sadness in the film, but not a lot wallowing angsty silliness. And that is refreshing.

Holes is an intelligent, insightful and witty family movie. It entertains, and not in any cheap way. It is not a comedy, though it has its laughs. It dares to be compelling, where many family movies tend to play it safe and conventional. As such it transcends the family movie genera and simply becomes a good film that everyone can enjoy. I give it a 10.