The Woodsman (2004)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Nicole Kassell

Writers:

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

Release Date:

28 January 2005 (Greece)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

What's the worst thing you ever did?

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Prison | School | Apartment | Colleague | Job

Awards:

6 wins & 16 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 Maniscloux	...	Girl in Mall
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)
Scott Hatfield	...	Bus Passenger (uncredited)
Laura Holloway	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Paul Majors	...	Lumber Yard Worker (uncredited)
Bobby Prochaska	...	Clerk (uncredited)
David C. Roehm Sr.	...	Older Barfly (uncredited)
David Von Roehm	...	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
Dave Robinson	....	co-producer
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	....	body makeup
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 Asa Leonard	....	first assistant 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	....	extras casting: Mike Lemon Casting
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
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
Katie R. Dailey	....	craft service support
Amy D'Alio	....	set production assistant
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
Doreen S. Oliver-Akinnuoye	....	assistant: Lee Daniels / Nicole Kassell
Ruben O'Malley	....	office production assistant
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
Joe Violante	....	coordinator: Technicolor
Ryan Wachter	....	additional production assistant
Jeremy Walker	....	unit publicist
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
Steve Yung	....	thanks

Production Companies

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

Distributors

• Artecinema (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Audio Visual Enterprises (2005) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Blanco & Travieso (2005) (Venezuela) (all media)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Civite Films (2005) (Spain) (all media)
• Divisa Home Video (2005) (Spain) (DVD)
• Front Row Entertainment (2005) (United Arab Emirates) (theatrical)
• Future Film (2005) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Gussi Artecinema (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• KinoVista (2004-2008) (France) (TV)
• LNK Audiovisuais (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• LNK Filmes (2005) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Luxor Entertainment (2005) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Newmarket Films (USA)
• 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)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• TOBIS Film (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2005) (UK) (theatrical)
• Telexcel (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Telexcel/ImpactoCine (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 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 Finance  completion bond
• 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 Screenplay Competition, The  the producers wish to thank
• Sound One  optical sound negative
• Taylor and Taylor  insurance
• Vurv  the producers wish to thank

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:

Norway:15 | Iceland:14 (original rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | New Zealand:R16 | 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

Filming Locations:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Company:

Dash Films

Trivia:

As part of the research, director Nicole Kassell conducted interviews with sex offenders and the therapists working with them.

Goofs:

Continuity: The length of Vicki's cigarette changes from almost smoked, to part-smoked to just lit when Walter first tells her about his past.

Quotes:

Walter: [Repeated line] When will I be normal?

Movie Connections:

References "Late Show with David Letterman" (1993)

Soundtrack:

Faith

Kevin Bacon is towering in a tough-sell film.....

The journeyman actor Kevin Bacon blows most of the current Oscar Best Actor competition out of the water with his searing portrayal of a paroled pedophile in The Woodsman. The difficult subject matter may spell box-office suicide for this film, particularly at Christmas time. However, if Newmarket Films is smart, they will market this the same way Monster was promoted for Charlize Theron's performance.

Bacon employs a minimalist acting style and submerges himself into this complex character, on the strength of his physicality alone. Thin and gaunt, hair darkened, eyes dead, and jaw severely set, Bacon doesn't waste a facial muscle or telegraph anything more than necessary. He allows us to get into the character's head piece by piece, and it's not always a pleasant place to be. Bacon is uncompromising in his refusal to make anything about the character trivial and sentimental, and that is the key to his success in making Walter such a vivid, believable man.

The screenplay seems to almost be stripped bare, with little actually revealed through dialogue. However, monologues are used to great effect.

Bacon's mesmerizing performance is enhanced by astute direction from first-timer Nicole Kassell, who also adapted the screenplay with the original playwright, Steven Fechter. The cast is superb-Benjamin Bratt, Kyra Sedgwick, David Alan Grier, the beautiful Eve, and best of all, Mos Def, who steals virtually every scene he is in against Bacon, no small task. for those celebrity-watchers, Madonna's baby's daddy, Carlos Leon (father of Lourdes) is in a few scenes.

This is a must-see for Bacon's work, and for the tasteful, intelligent way the subject matter is handled. In short, Tough material, good solid film.