Saved! (2004)

User Rating:

7.0/10   

Director:

Brian Dannelly

Writers (WGA):

Brian Dannelly (written by) &
Michael Urban (written by)

Release Date:

16 September 2004 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Heaven Help Us.

Plot:

When a girl attending a Christian high school becomes pregnant, she finds herself ostracized and demonized, as all of her former friends turn on her.

Plot Keywords:

High School | Pastor | Sex | Friendship | Satire

Awards:

1 win & 6 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Sat. July 18	3:30 PM	OXYGEN
Sun. July 19	1:00 AM	OXYGEN

Cast

Jena Malone	...	Mary
Mandy Moore	...	Hilary Faye
Macaulay Culkin	...	Roland
Patrick Fugit	...	Patrick
Heather Matarazzo	...	Tia
Eva Amurri	...	Cassandra
Chad Faust	...	Dean
Elizabeth Thai	...	Veronica
Martin Donovan	...	Pastor Skip
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Lillian
Kett Turton	...	Mitch
Julia Arkos	...	PE Coach
Donna White	...	Trudy Mason
James Caldwell	...	Hairdresser
Nicki Clyne	...	Guitar Player
Aaron Douglas	...	Paramedic
Patricia Drake	...	Dean's Mother
Brent Fidler	...	Church Man
Jay Hilliker	...	Waiter / Host
John Innes	...	Pastor
Greg Kean	...	Dean's Father
Joe MacLeod	...	Lead Singer
Althea McAdam	...	Church Wife
Thomas Plustwik	...	Carpenter / Jesus
Syndie Skeeles	...	3 Year Old Mary
Susan Wilkey	...	Pink Bouffant Lady
Valerie Bertinelli	...	Herself

Directed by
Brian Dannelly

Writing credits (WGA)
Brian Dannelly		(written by) &
Michael Urban		(written by)

Produced by
H. Kaye Dyal	....	co-executive producer
Steven Gagnon	....	co-executive producer
Michael Ohoven	....	producer
David Prybil	....	co-executive producer
Kerry Rock	....	co-executive producer
Cal Shumiatcher	....	line producer
Sandy Stern	....	producer
Michael Stipe	....	producer
William Vince	....	producer

Original Music by
Christophe Beck

Cinematography by
Bobby Bukowski		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Pamela Martin

Production Design by
Tony Devenyi

Art Direction by
Kristina Lyne

Set Decoration by
Laura Killam
James Willcock

Costume Design by
Wendy Chuck

Makeup Department
Ian C. Ballard	....	key hair stylist (as Ian Ballard)
Russell Brady	....	hair stylist: Mary-Louise Parker
James Dean Patten	....	assistant hair stylist
Sydney Silvert	....	key makeup artist
Donna Stocker	....	first assistant makeup artist
Debra Wiebe	....	hair stylist: Mary-Louise Parker (as Deborah Wiebe)
Geralyn Wraith	....	makeup artist: Mary-Louise Parker
Rebecca Lee	....	assistant makeup artist (uncredited)
Tara Smith	....	wig designer: Mary Louise Parker (uncredited)

Production Management
Lorne Davidson	....	unit production manager
Michael Toji	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Scott J. Ateah	....	second unit director (as Scott Ateah)
Steven Catlin	....	assistant director trainee
Steve Eathorne	....	second assistant director
Jennifer Nelson	....	assistant director trainee
Sarah Ostrow	....	third assistant director (as Sarah Nicole Ostrow)
Kate Vanderbyl	....	assistant director
Pete Whyte	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Mike Allen	....	paint foreman
Jim Bruder	....	lead carpenter
Allan Burdett	....	construction coordinator (as Alan Burdett)
William Glenn Burdett	....	construction foreman
Greg Coombs	....	greens person
Dawn Marie Dowling	....	on-set dresser
Valerie Farlette	....	set dresser
Sierra Laflamme	....	assistant set decorator
Ian Langmann	....	lead set dresser
Iain MacLeod	....	set dresser (as Iain Macleod)
David MacMillan	....	set dresser (as David Macmillan)
Alistair Macrae	....	assistant property master (as Ali Macrae)
Stanley J. Miller	....	set dresser (as Stanley Jacob Miller)
Toni Nick	....	set dresser
Noni Peck	....	property master
Dave Righton	....	lead property
Cynthia Rose	....	set dresser
Cheri 'Cheryl-Lynne' Trewin	....	set dresser
Scott Trewin	....	set dresser
John Werner	....	set dresser
Rick Whitfield	....	art department assistant
Todd Keller	....	on-set dresser (uncredited)
Adrien Van Viersen	....	storyboard artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Eric Batut	....	production sound mixer (as Eric J. Batut)
Matthew C. Beville	....	adr mixer (as Matt Beville)
Gary Blufer	....	additional sound effects
Patrick Cusack	....	assistant sound editor
Andrew DeCristofaro	....	supervising sound editor
David Esparza	....	sound effects editor
Marshall Garlington	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Glyn-Jones	....	boom operator
Aaron Green	....	manager of sound services
Chris Higgins	....	sound assistant
Shawn Kennelly	....	foley mixer
Laura Macias	....	foley artist
Michael A. Morongell	....	sound mixing engineer
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist
Nancy Nugent	....	dialogue editor (as Nancy Kyong Nugent)
Nancy Nugent	....	foley editor (as Nancy Kyong Nugent)
Michael Payne	....	sound effects supervisor
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Dan Scolnik	....	foley editor
John C. Stuver	....	adr editor
John C. Stuver	....	dialog editor
Ken Teaney	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Wright	....	consultant: Dolby Sound
Sean Wright	....	mixing recordist
Manvel Barsegyan	....	sound mixer (uncredited)
William Cawley	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Paul Drenning	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Caila Anderson	....	special effects assistant
Cara E. Anderson	....	special effects assistant
Rory Cutler	....	special effects coordinator
W. David McGuire	....	special effects assistant (as William David McGuire)
John Reynolds	....	special effects assistant (as John S. Reynolds)
Jayme Smith	....	special effects assistant

Visual Effects by
Heather L. Anderson	....	producer: iO Film
Christopher Dusendschon	....	digital imaging supervisor (as Christopher Dusendschön)
Chris Ervin	....	title designer: VAFX
Adam Hawkey	....	digital colorist (as Adam S. Hawkey)
Julie Landholt	....	title graphics (as J. Kathryn Landholt)
Kevin Mullican	....	research & development: imaging, Color Science
Christopher Elke	....	visual effects coordinator (uncredited)
John Fukushima	....	digital compositor: Toybox (uncredited)
Erik Nordby	....	digital compositor: Toybox (uncredited)
Lorraine Rozon	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)
Joel Tong	....	digital compositor: Toybox (uncredited)

Stunts
Scott J. Ateah	....	stunt coordinator (as Scott Ateah)
Brent Connolly	....	stunt player
Garvin Cross	....	stunt coordinator
Caroline Field	....	stunt player (as Carolyn Field)
Corry Glass	....	stunt player
Michael Langlois	....	stunt player (as Mike Langlois)
Phil Medwid	....	stunt player
Trish Schill	....	stunt player
Owen Walstrom	....	stunt coordinator
Corry Glass	....	stunt double: Mandy Moore (uncredited)
Gerald Paetz	....	stunt driver (uncredited)
Sharon Simms	....	stunt player (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Adams	....	first assistant camera
Paul Arnel	....	grip (as Paul G. Arnel)
Troy Bassett	....	dolly grip
Tony Beck	....	grip
Martin Biggerstaff	....	grip
Simon Doucet	....	best boy grip
Todd Elyzen	....	camera operator
Todd Elyzen	....	director of photography: second unit
Lee Gibeau	....	best boy grip
Matt Greenhough	....	rigging grip
John G. Helme	....	chief lighting technician (as John Helme)
Scott Hodges	....	grip
Ian Houghton	....	assistant lighting technician
Trevor Kenny	....	grip
Brian A. Kuchera	....	key grip (as Brian Kuchera)
John Kuchera	....	key grip
Carl Leveque	....	rigging grip
Robert Little	....	grip
Lane MacDonald	....	still photographer
Scott MacDonald	....	camera operator
Chris Madden	....	chief lighting technician
Chris Madden	....	rigging
Stephen Maier	....	first assistant camera
Stephen J. McKnight	....	second assistant camera (as Stephen McKnight)
Ryan Monro	....	dolly grip
Greg Novosad	....	grip
Diane Osowetski	....	key grip
Diyah Pera	....	still photographer (as Diyah Perah)
Mike Scoffield	....	dolly grip
Doug Stover	....	best boy grip
Marie-Helene Tremblay	....	second assistant camera (as Marie Helene Tremblay)
Gus Ward	....	grip
Trevor Williams	....	grip
Ryan Young	....	grip
Ryan Bailey	....	gaffer: second unit (uncredited)
Oliver Hajdu	....	rigging best boy (uncredited)
Max Torroba	....	playback operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Heike Brandstatter	....	casting: Canada
James Forsyth	....	extras casting
Coreen Mayrs	....	casting: Canada
Sally Stern	....	casting: US
Edward D. Rea	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Linda Chow	....	cutter
Laurie Giles	....	assistant costume designer
Karin Nosella	....	costumer
J.B. Owen	....	extras costumer
Nicola Ryall	....	seamstress
Debra Torpe	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Joe Fineman	....	post-production consultant: EPC
Suzy Gilbert	....	assistant editor
Dan Muscarella	....	color timer
Mato	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Christophe Beck	....	score producer
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Rossano Galante	....	orchestrator
Tim Isle	....	music editor
Andrew Kaiser	....	score coordinator
Kevin Kliesch	....	orchestrator
David Klotz	....	assistant music editor (as Dave Klotz)
Jon LeShay	....	music supervisor (as Jon Leshay)
Casey Stone	....	score recordist
Tristana Ward	....	music clearances
Mike Deasy	....	musician (uncredited)
Chad Greer	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Darren Collins	....	transportation co-captain
David Halliday	....	transportation captain
John O'Toole	....	transportation coordinator
Darryl Litke	....	driver: hair/make-up/wardrobe (uncredited)

Other crew
Holly Atchison	....	script supervisor: second unit
Andrea Bastin	....	production coordinator
Jon Bell	....	assistant: Cal Shumiatcher
Portia Belmont	....	script supervisor
Lenard 'Mike' Boultbee	....	office production assistant
Bobby Bukowski	....	choreographer
Sean Cummings	....	production assistant
Shane Deschamps	....	set supervisor
Mike Doiron	....	key location assistant
Al Farman	....	security captain (as John 'Al' Farman)
Holly Ferguson	....	assistant production coordinator
Shawn Flynn	....	key set production assistant
Julia Frittaion	....	unit publicist: EPC
Paul Giordano	....	production assistant
Ann Goobie	....	location manager
Sheila Goodman	....	production accountant
Jennifer Harland	....	extras coordinator
Raj Hundal	....	assistant: Sandy Stern
Sue Ing	....	production assistant
Kelly Johnson	....	assistant accountant
Bruce C. Jones	....	security coordinator
Laura Keane	....	production assistant
Peter Klassen	....	assistant location manager
Justin Marks	....	assistant: Sandy Stern
Jodi Mitchell	....	assistant accountant
Aimee Morono	....	assistant: Brian Dannelly
Travis Murao	....	wheelchair technician
Manbir Parhar	....	post-production accountant
Levon Parseghian	....	assistant: Michael Ohoven
Michael Roberts	....	key set production assistant
Dylan Staniforth	....	production assistant
Linda Strathdee	....	script supervisor
Robyn Switzer	....	production assistant
Denise Szabo	....	craft service
Denise Szabo	....	first aid
Reba Szabo	....	craft service
Reba Szabo	....	first aid
Matt Towstyka	....	chef: Tivoli Moving Pictures Caterers (as Matt Towistyka)
David Valleau	....	assistant: William Vince (as Dave Valleau)
Kyle Weldon	....	production assistant
Dove Cresswell	....	animal wrangler (uncredited)
Dove Cresswell	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Byron Drinkle	....	playback coordinator (uncredited)
Charles Heaphy	....	production financing (uncredited)
Warner Loughlin	....	acting coach (uncredited)
Jay May	....	product placement (uncredited)
Chris McFarlane	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Jane Wang Beck	....	thanks
Thomas Blackshear	....	thanks
Mark Blackwell	....	thanks
Susan H. Bodine	....	thanks (as Sue Bodine)
Peter Buck	....	thanks
Gerard Chataigneau	....	thanks
Alison S. Cohen	....	thanks (as Alison Cohen)
Joe Hobel	....	thanks: Infinity Media Inc.
Laura Ivey	....	thanks: Infinity Media Inc.
Kyle Mann	....	thanks: Infinity Media Inc.
Julie Panebianco	....	thanks
Paul Westerberg	....	thanks
Farley Ziegler	....	thanks

Production Companies

• United Artists (presents) (copyright owners)
• Single Cell Pictures
• Infinity Media
• James Forsyth Casting Inc. (uncredited)
• Red Bull Productions (uncredited)

Distributors

• United Artists (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (an M G M company)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Bodega Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Compañía General de la Imagen (CGI) (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Lighthouse Pictures (2004) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Pioneer Films (2004) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Solida (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Solo Film Verleih (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Brazil) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Mediafilm (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Special Effects

• International SPFX Group (uncredited)
• Toybox (uncredited)
• iO Films (as iO Film)

Other Companies

• Chubb Insurance Company of Canada  insurance provided by
• Cinesonic Productions  post-production editing
• City National Bank  production funding
• Film Finance  completion guaranty provided by
• Goff-Kellam Productions  the producers wish to thank
• Gravity Entertainment  the producers wish to thank
• Infinity Media  the producers wish to thank
• James Forsyth Casting Inc.  casting: background preformers (uncredited)
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as Jo Ann Kane Music Services)
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Lowdown Music Inc.  music editorial services
• MAC Cosmetics  the producers wish to thank
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting (as Magic Film & Video Works)
• NT Audio Visual  optical sound negative (as N.T. Audio)
• Planned Parenthood Federation of America  the producers wish to thank
• Prometheus Books  the producers wish to thank: "Atheism: The Case Against God" by George M. Smith, used by permission of
• The Bush Edit House  negative cutting
• Tivoli Moving Pictures Caterers  catering
• Wilshire Stages, The  recorded at

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for strong thematic issues involving teens - sexual content, pregnancy, smoking and language.

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Sweden:7 | Malaysia:U | Ireland:15PG | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39323) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Ontario) | Chile:TE | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Iceland:L | Norway:A | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:M18 | Singapore:NC-16 (cut) | UK:12A | Peru:PT

Filming Locations:

Clayton Heights Secondary, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada

Company:

United Artists

Trivia:

According to producer Sandy Stern, the film had gone through "about 200 rewrites". The original script had Hilary Faye, played by Mandy Moore, shooting up the school.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: Shots of trees with leaves that have changed colors appear throughout the early part of the film, yet it takes place at the beginning of the school year, presumably September. Fall foliage would not start that early in Maryland, where the film takes place.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Mary: [voice over] I've been born again my whole life... accepting Jesus.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Anatomy of a Scene: Saved!" (2004)

Soundtrack:

Things Are What You Make of Them

Terrific first half, then loses its edge

Despite losing its punch in the latter stages, "Saved!" remains an enjoyable and viciously funny satire. Poking fun of judgmental fundamentalists really isn't that tough a task or groundbreaking. They tend to spoof themselves. But what writers Brian Dannelly (who also directed) and Michael Urban do is not ridicule the fundamentalists' beliefs but their awful behavior. And that definitely deserves to be satirized.

The first 50 minutes are sensational, brimming with pointed dialogue, terrific humor and sharp observations about the preposterous idea of "degayification," the real reason people are sent to deprogramming centers and these teens obviously missing the true meaning of Christ's message.

But the film falters in the third act when it veers from clever satire to preaching about intolerance. It's a noble idea, but the punchy writing gets forsaken for the message. And the film concludes with a tired denouement. Surely, there are more original ways to conclude a high school film than one seen many times before.

Some of the characters, I suppose, could be seen as stereotypes. Then again, speaking from personal experience, the Hillary Fayes of this world exist and they're every bit as judgmental and nasty as she is. Unfortunately, Mandy Moore goes over-the-top a bit, often turning Hillary Faye into a broad caricature. That's a shame. Reining Moore in would have done wonders, because the other performances are uniformly good.

Macaulay Culkin turns in a fine performance as Roland. He finally might have shed his "Home Alone" image, proving he's capable of perfectly delivering sharp, well-written dialogue. The other revelation is young Eva Amurri, who has all the attitude, spunk (and I hope much of the talent) of her mother. She gives Cassandra a delightfully anarchic spirit; the film soars whenever she's on screen.

One peeve: Why does the radiant and sexy Mary-Louise Parker dress down so much in this film?

People who are judgmental about gays, teen pregnancy, other religions, and see life's myriad issues in purely black and white terms likely will be offended by this film - they might see themselves manifested as Hillary Faye. But if you appreciate life's gray areas and take delight in biting satire, you're bound to enjoy this film.

"Saved!" is by no means an attack on Christianity. Quite the contrary. It shows the importance of stressing in our lives the true side of Christianity - one that's about compassion, love and tolerance, and not the biased, judgmental approach that seeks to take control and bastardize religion, whatever it may be.

Although "Saved!" deals primarily with Christianity, it proves we'd all be better off adopting Mahatma Gandhi's ideals – that each and every one of us is a Hindu, Christian, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist and Jew.