The Woodsman (2004)

Director:

Nicole Kassell

Writers:

Steven Fechter (play)
Nicole Kassell (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

2005 (Peru)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

What's the worst thing you ever did?

Plot:

A child molester returns to his hometown after 12 years in prison and attempts to start a new life.

Plot Keywords:

Prison | Child Molester | Lumberyard | Job | Apartment

Awards:

6 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Kevin Bacon	...	Walter
David Alan Grier	...	Bob
Eve	...	Mary-Kay
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Vicki
Benjamin Bratt	...	Carlos
Carlos Leon	...	Pedro
Michael Shannon	...	Rosen
Kevin Rice	...	Candy
Mos Def	...	Sgt. Lucas
Hannah Pilkes	...	Robin
Jessica Nagle	...	Annette
Liam Daniels	...	Boy at Playground
Joey Hazinsky	...	Cherub
Clara Hopkins Daniels	...	Little Girl on Bus (as Clara Infinity Daniels)
Ashley C. Coombs	...	Girl on Bus
Floriane Miniscloux	...	Girl in Mall (as Floriane Maniscloux)
Aunt Dot	...	Saleswoman
Spencer Ross	...	Sportscaster (voice)
Nicole Gibson	...	Girl with Red Ball
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Van Cameron	...	Lumber Yard Worker (uncredited)
Colleen Dengel	...	School Girl (uncredited)
Suzanne Dengel	...	School Girl (uncredited)
Laura Holloway	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Paul Majors	...	Lumber Yard Worker (uncredited)
Bobby Prochaska	...	Clerk (uncredited)
David C. Roehm Sr.	...	Older Barfly (uncredited)

Directed by
Nicole Kassell

Writing credits
Steven Fechter		(play)
Nicole Kassell		(screenplay) and
Steven Fechter		(screenplay)

Produced by
Kevin Bacon	....	executive producer
Marvet Britto	....	co-executive producer
Lisa Cortes	....	co-producer (as Lisa Cortés)
Lee Daniels	....	producer
Damon Dash	....	executive producer
Valerie Hoffman	....	co-producer
Brook Lenfest	....	executive producer (as Brook)
Dawn Lenfest	....	executive producer
David Robinson	....	co-producer (as Dave Robinson)
Simone Sheffield	....	associate producer
Candice Williams	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Nathan Larson

Cinematography by
Xavier Pérez Grobet		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lisa Fruchtman
Brian A. Kates

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Mark Bennett
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Stephen Beatrice

Set Decoration by
Christine Wick

Costume Design by
Frank L. Fleming		(as Frank Fleming)

Makeup Department
Ljiljana Lee Cado	....	assistant makeup artist (as Ljiljana Cado)
Diane Dixon	....	key hair stylist
Anthony Giunta	....	assistant hair stylist
Lindsay Irish-Desarno	....	body makeup (as Lindsay Irish)
Robert Johnson	....	key makeup artist
Eva N. Marinakis	....	assistant makeup artist (as Eva Marinakis)
Jaqueline Noel	....	hair stylist: Eve

Production Management
Kelley Cribben	....	post-production supervisor
Michael Mezaros	....	post-production supervisor
Missy Moyer	....	production supervisor
Debra J. Olchick	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Colleen Casey	....	second second assistant director
Thomas Fatone	....	first assistant director
Patrick Gibbons	....	second assistant director (as Patrick D. Gibbons)

Art Department
Greta Alexander	....	scenic artist
Scott Anderson	....	construction coordinator
D. Keith Cleary	....	shop craftsman
Jonathan A. Davidson	....	shop craftsman (as Jonathan Davidson)
Michael Davidson	....	construction grip
Matthew Dicks	....	set production support
Jordan Gable	....	construction grip
Michael T. Galvin	....	set dresser
Jon E. Graf	....	shop craftsman (as Jon Graf)
Alicia Jacobson	....	charge scenic
Erika S. Katz	....	scenic artist (as Erica S. Katz)
Laila Kjoersvik Swanson	....	scenic artist (as Laila Swanson)
David W. Lowe	....	construction grip (as David 'Bigfoot' Lowe)
Janice E. Manser	....	draper (as Janice Manser)
Nicole Marsella	....	art department support
Ken McCallum	....	construction grip (as Kenneth Mccallum)
David McMahon	....	shop craftsman (as David P. Mcmahon)
Alan J. Mehlbrech	....	key construction grip
Morgan Miller	....	on-set dresser
Charles D. Minter	....	shop craftsman (as Charles Minter)
Evan O'Neill	....	set production assistant
Sharon Potts	....	property master (as Sharon L. Potts)
Charles J. Scott	....	on-set dresser
Christopher Sneade	....	props production assistant
Nancy Stroud	....	camera scenic artist
Jay C. Stuart Jr.	....	shop craftsman
Christine Sysko	....	leadman
Kendra D. Wadsworth	....	scenic artist (as Kendra Wadworth)
Tom West	....	assistant property master
Patrick Edward White	....	construction grip
Jim Williams	....	set dresser
Linda Yeckley	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Joe Caterini	....	re-recording mixer
Joe Caterini	....	supervising sound editor
Matthew Haasch	....	supervising foley editor
Brian Jordan	....	boom operator (as Brian M. Jordan)
Chris Kellet	....	boom operator (as Chris Kellett)
Igor Nikolic	....	sound effects editor
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
Michael Primmer	....	boom operator
Jennifer Ralston	....	supervising dialogue editor (as Jen Ralston)
Aaron J. Rudelson	....	boom operator (as Aaron Rudelson)
Paul Sacco	....	consultant: Dolby
Thomas Varga	....	sound mixer
Karl Wasserman	....	boom operator (as Karl G.E. Wasserman)

Visual Effects by
Jennifer Russomanno	....	titles and opticals: Duart
Keith Yurevitz	....	titles and opticals: Duart
Brian Scott Benson	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Luke DiTommaso	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist (uncredited)

Stunts
Dakota Anderson	....	stunt coordinator
Norman Douglass	....	stunts (as Norman Douglas)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Asbury	....	best boy electric
Chris Beattie	....	key grip (as Christopher Beattie)
Patrick Bentley	....	photographer: Lee Daniels Entertainment
David Brandon	....	electrician
Sheridan Braxton	....	grip (as Sheridan Braxton Jr.)
Ryan Callahan	....	grip
Mark Catania	....	dolly grip
Andrew Reed Conner	....	gaffer
Adger W. Cowans	....	still photographer
Lindsay Curtius	....	rigging grip (as Lindsay K. Curtius)
David A. Darrowski	....	rigging grip (as David A. Dabrowski)
Michael Davidson	....	rigging grip
Dave Fortino	....	rigging grip (as David Fortino)
Susan Gabbay	....	first assistant camera (as Susan Gabay)
Kevin Hackenberg	....	dolly grip
Matthew Hanlon	....	best boy rigging grip
Jerry Holway	....	additional Steadicam operator (as Jerome Holway)
Michael Kleiman	....	second assistant camera
Michael Leonard	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Craig Ligget	....	rigging gaffer (as Craig Heston Liggett)
Rob Mabin	....	electrician
Paul S. Magee	....	director of photography: second unit
James 'Otis' Mayfield	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera (as James O. Mayfield III)
Richard A. Mitchell	....	electrician (as Richard Mitchell)
Francine Natale	....	generator operator
Chong K. Pak	....	additional camera loader
Brian Raby	....	electrician
Kimberly A. Rial	....	best boy grip (as Kimberly Rial)
Leon Sanginiti	....	second assistant camera (as Leon S. Sanginiti Jr.)
Daniel D. Sariano	....	camera loader
Jennifer Schoenewald	....	electrician (as Jennifer Shoenwald)
David Schwartz	....	Steadicam operator
David Schwartz	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Michael Staranowicz	....	electrician
Jay Stuart	....	rigging grip (as Jay Stuart Jr.)
Tim Weston	....	grip
Timothy Weston	....	rigging grip
Daniel Wiener	....	additional camera loader

Casting Department
Diane Heery	....	location casting: Mike Lemon Casting
Jason Loftus	....	extras casting assistant
Maribeth Rubenstein	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Teresa Binder	....	costume supervisor: Philadelphia (as Teresa Binder-Westby)
Lisa R. Frucht	....	costume supervisor: New York (as Lisa Frucht)
Monica Gonzalez	....	costume support
Kara Morasco	....	seamstress
Gabriella Palumbo	....	costume support
Kathie Pierson	....	on-set costumer
Maren Reese	....	costume support

Editorial Department
Laura Galli	....	post-production intern
Fred Heid	....	color timer
Florence Holdeman	....	post-production intern
Desiree Jones	....	post-production intern
Marin Sander-Holzman	....	assistant editor
Stan Sztaba	....	additional negative cutter
Joe Violante	....	coordinator: Technicolor
Sam Daley	....	colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Âsa Håkansson	....	musician
Brian A. Kates	....	music editor
Nathan Larson	....	musician

Transportation Department
Patrick Bolger	....	driver
Gregory J. Cimino	....	driver
Gerald Ehresmann	....	driver (as Jerry Ehresmann)
Don Greenleaf	....	driver (as Donald J. Greenleaf)
Robert Hall	....	driver
William M. Hamilton Jr.	....	transportation coordinator (as William Hamilton Jr.)
John Keller	....	driver
William MacCready	....	driver (as William Mccready)
Ed Malseed	....	driver
John Morrone IV	....	driver (as John Marrone IV)
George Naylor	....	driver (as George D. Naylor)
Robert J. Rocco	....	driver
John Tarlini Jr.	....	driver (as John A. Tarlini)

Other crew
Lauren Almasy	....	location supporter
Nana Ashong	....	set production assistant
R.C. Baral	....	post-production accountant
Mary Berkelbach	....	medic (as Mary Frances Berkelbach)
Jason Block	....	post-production accountant
Ronald Brescio	....	set production assistant
Andrew Brett	....	set production assistant (as Andrew M. Brett)
Erika S. Byard	....	producer/director support
Maya Choldin	....	set production assistant
Andrew Cinquino	....	set production assistant (as Andrew J. Cinquino)
Wayne Clemons	....	chef assistant: Premiere Catering
Carol A. Compton	....	clearances: Indieclear (as Carol Compton)
Amy Comstock	....	accountant (as Amy S. Comstock)
Kenneth Cue	....	chef: Premiere Catering
Amy D'Alio	....	set production assistant
Katie R. Dailey	....	craft service support
Denise DePalma	....	medic (as Denise Mallee Depalma)
Victoria Dilks	....	craft service assistant
Josh Dorn	....	assistant location manager
Princess Idia Gamble	....	producer/director support
Todd Giresi	....	additional production assistant (as Todd Tirisi)
Benjamin Goldberg	....	production coordinator
Staci Hagenbaugh	....	location assistant
Colin Helb	....	welfare worker
Michael E. Hernandez	....	catering: Premiere Catering (as Michael Hernandez)
Carolyn Holloway	....	production consultant
Steven Holtzman	....	first assistant accountant
Steven Holtzman	....	payroll accountant
Jennifer James	....	office production assistant
Sondra James	....	loop group coordinator
Terra Johnson	....	additional production assistant
Kathleen Kelly	....	set medic (as Kathleen Maller Kelly)
Monique LaMontagne	....	location manager (as Monique Lamontagne)
Eileen Marks	....	stand-in: Ms. Sedgwick
Jason Marshall	....	additional production assistant
Tom Martin	....	set production assistant
Jonathan Martofel	....	office support
Margaret Mazzei	....	medic
Syreeta Mccoy	....	additional production assistant
Hally McGehean	....	welfare worker (as Hally Mcgehean)
Brett McKenzie	....	office production assistant (as Brett Mckenzie)
Megan McNichol	....	set production assistant (as Megan Mcnichol)
Susan Mieras	....	assistant: Kevin Bacon / Kyra Sedgwick
Kenneth Min	....	office production assistant
Barbara Muehleib	....	animal coordinator
Ruben O'Malley	....	office production assistant
Doreen S. Oliver-Akinnuoye	....	assistant: Lee Daniels / Nicole Kassell
Anthony Pettine	....	script supervisor
Jennifer Pope	....	additional production assistant
Irwin M. Rappaport	....	legal services
Gil Richardson	....	process trailer
Andy Sforzini	....	creative consultant
Raushanah S. Shamsid-Deen	....	producer/director support
Mark Shandley	....	set production assistant (as Mark Shandlay)
Amy Silverman	....	key set production assistant (as Amy Danielle Silverman)
James Sloane Jr.	....	security officer
Edward Spencer	....	craft service support
Jared Springer	....	office support
Shannon Stewart	....	craft service
Tim Susco	....	location supporter (as Timothy Susco)
Kim Thompson	....	stand-in: Mr. Bacon (as Kimberly Anne Thompson)
Pamela Thompson	....	set teacher
Jim Titus	....	adr voice (as James T. Williams II)
Robert Tyler	....	set production assistant
Ryan Wachter	....	additional production assistant
Charles Washington Jr.	....	key production assistant
Thaddeus Weintzen	....	craft service support
Joyce Werner	....	additional production assistant
Mark Westman	....	falconer
Michael J. Arbouet	....	graphic artist: motion graphics and logos (uncredited)
Luis Garcia	....	office clerk (uncredited)
Larry Strong	....	graphic artist: motion graphics and logos (uncredited)

Thanks
Sarah Alpert	....	thanks
David Altman	....	thanks
Barry Bella	....	thanks
Dinky Bingham	....	thanks
Chris Brooks	....	thanks
Matt Carey	....	thanks
William Case	....	thanks
Drew Crevello	....	thanks
Carol Dysinger	....	thanks
Kenny Gamble	....	thanks
Stuart Gelwarg	....	thanks
Kay Jackson	....	thanks
Patti LaBelle	....	very special thanks (as Patti Labelle)
Peter Leokum	....	thanks
Bill Luterman	....	thanks
Steve McKeever	....	very special thanks (as Steve Mckeever)
Beth Melillo	....	thanks
Tamara Menteer	....	thanks
Al Momjian	....	thanks
Ashley Nichols	....	thanks
Natasha Kassell Osborne	....	thanks
Sharon Pinkenson	....	very special thanks
Hal Roseman	....	thanks
Ronald Rubin	....	thanks
Rashmi Skaadegard	....	thanks
Mike Smyth	....	thanks
John F. Street	....	thanks (as Mayor John Street)
Jessica Trupin	....	thanks
Vurv	....	the producers wish to thank
Steve Yung	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Dash Films (presents)
• Lee Daniels Entertainment (presents)
• The Woodsman LLC (copyright owners)

Distributors

• Alliance Atlantis Communications (2004) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Artecinema (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2005) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Gussi Artecinema (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• LNK Audiovisuais (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• LNK Filmes (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Luxor Entertainment (2005) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Nexo (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Noble Entertainment (2005) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• One Plus One (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• RCV Film Distribution (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Rialto Entertainment (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• TOBIS Film (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Telexcel (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Telexcel/ImpactoCine (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Blanco & Travieso (2005) (Venezuela) (all media)
• Civite Films (2005) (Spain) (all media)
• DVD Liider (2006) (Estonia) (DVD)
• Divisa Home Video (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
• Front Row Filmed Entertainment (2004) (United Arab Emirates) (all media) (Middle East)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• KinoVista (2004-2008) (France) (TV)
• Newmarket Films (USA)
• Palisades Tartan (2009) (UK) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Vendetta Films (2004) (New Zealand) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Du Art Film Laboratories  titles and opticals (as Duart)
• Altman, Greenfield & Selvaggi  the producers wish to thank
• American Humane Association, The  animals monitored by
• Armadale Vodka  the producers wish to thank
• Barbara's Animal People  animals
• C. Ronson  the producers wish to thank
• Camera Service Center  camera: lighting and grip equipment
• Cashman & Associates  publicity
• Caterini Studios Inc.  sound editorial and mixing facilities
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies (uncredited)
• Coca-Cola Company, The  the producers wish to thank (as Coca-Cola)
• Emily Mason and Wolf Kahn Foundation, The  the producers wish to thank
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Great Britains Automotive Group, The  the producers wish to thank
• Greater Philadelphia Film Office  the producers wish to thank
• Hidden Beach Recordings  the producers wish to thank
• IndieClear  clearances
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  unit publicity
• Mike Lemon Casting  location and extras casting
• Noëlle Penraat  negative cutting
• Postworks New York  avid facilities (as Postworks)
• Premiere Catering  catering
• Remy V.S.O.P.  the producers wish to thank
• Rocawear  the producers wish to thank
• Slamdance  the producers wish to thank
• Sound One  optical sound negative
• Studiomedia Recording  ADR recording studio
• Taylor and Taylor  insurance
• Vurv  the producers wish to thank

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, disturbing behavior and language

Runtime:

87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color | Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Australia:MA | Brazil:16 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Ireland:16 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Singapore:M18 | Sweden:11 | UK:15 | USA:R | Ireland:18 (video rating) | Mexico:B15 | Norway:15 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Fairmount Park, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Dash Films

Trivia:

The original script took first place at the 2001 Slamdance Screenplay Competition.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Walter and Vicki are driving in her truck for the first time, the transmission selector is clearly in "park".

Quotes:

Carlos:Sometimes when I walk down the street and I pass a sexy-looking woman she makes me feel like I'm bothering her. Hey, I see a pretty lady, I look. That's the price of beauty, my friend.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 20th IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2005) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Chop Wood, Carry Water

Disturbing, unsettling, but brilliant and spellbinding

The last film that unsettled me much like "The Woodsman" did was Todd Solondz's superb and exceedingly black comedy, "Happiness" (1998), which dealt with similar themes. But unlike Solondz, who never seems to like any of his characters, screenwriters Nicole Kassell and Steven Fechter appear to genuinely care about the people they create.

Their story's really very simple: Walter (Kevin Bacon) gets out of prison after serving a dozen years for molesting young girls. He takes a job at a Philadelphia-area lumber mill and tries to get his life back together again, while dealing with his inner demons.

What's likely to disturb many about "The Woodsman" is that Kassell and Fechter raise the intriguing question of whether someone who's done something despicable is not only capable of putting his life back together again after serving his time, but also whether society ought to allow him to do so. And to make our job even tougher, Kassell and Fechter don't turn Walter into a monster.

"The Woodsman" is aided immensely by a strong, compelling performance by Bacon. It's easily his best work, a role that requires him to underplay his character. Director Kassell isn't shy about letting the camera linger on Bacon's face and Bacon credibly brings to life Walter's suffering. It's a sensationally good performance. Bacon gives him depth and feeling and we suddenly find ourselves caring about this reprehensible man.

There are some superb supporting performances, including Mos Def as a cop, David Alan Grier as Walter's boss and Benjamin Bratt proving he really can act if he's given a good role. The most interesting supporting character is Vickie, a coworker willing to give Walter a second chance at life. Kyra Sedgwick, a gifted, yet under-rated, actress, is utterly convincing as Vickie, a woman almost as damaged as Walter is.

The Walter-Vickie relationship works because there's terrific chemistry between Bacon and Sedgwick. True, they're husband and wife, but real-life couples can fail miserably on screen. Kidman and Cruise in "Far and Away" (1992), anyone?

Bacon and Sedgwick's scenes are tender, passionate and real. Though, there's one intimate moment between Walter and Vickie that's clearly inspired by the famous Donald Sutherland-Julie Christie love scene in Nicolas Roeg's "Don't Look Now" (1973).

What makes "The Woodsman" such gripping viewing is that the film doesn't shy away from letting us into Walter's struggle. There's a particularly uncomfortable scene on a park bench as Walter comes to terms with his true nature.

"The Woodsman" is a film that deserves to be seen. It's a pity that less-than-mediocre movies, such as "Connie and Carla" and "Twisted," get widely released, while a gem like "The Woodsman" gets to very few theaters. Seek out this film. It's not an easy film to watch, but the performances are all good, the story's riveting and it's definitely one of the best, most thought-provoking films of the year.