The Final Cut (2004)

Popularity:

Up 4% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Omar Naim

Writer:

Omar Naim (written by)

Release Date:

15 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Every moment of your life recorded. Would you live it differently?

Plot:

Set in a world with memory implants, Robin Williams plays a cutter, someone with the power of final edit over people's recorded histories. His latest assignment is one that puts him in danger.

Plot Keywords:

Memory | Microchip | Death | Memory Implant | Implant

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Alan Hakman
Mira Sorvino	...	Delila
Jim Caviezel	...	Fletcher
Mimi Kuzyk	...	Thelma
Stephanie Romanov	...	Jennifer Bannister
Thom Bishops	...	Hasan
Genevieve Buechner	...	Isabel Bannister
Brendan Fletcher	...	Michael
Vincent Gale	...	Simon
Casey Dubois	...	Young Alan - 9
Liam Ranger	...	Young Louis - 9
Joely Collins	...	Legz the Tattoo Artist
Michael St. John Smith	...	Charles Bannister
Chris Britton	...	Jason Monroe
Wanda Cannon	...	Caroline Monroe
Chaka White	...	Pregnant Woman On Bus
Don Ackerman	...	Tattooed Man
Sarah Deakins	...	Eliza Monroe
George Gordon	...	Daniel Monroe
Spencer Achtymichuk	...	Jason Monroe - 6
Erin Wright	...	Battered Woman
Mig Macario	...	Rom (as Miguelito Macario)
Emy Aneke	...	Security Guard
Stephen Dimopoulos	...	Uncle Murray
Wendy Noel	...	Guest #1
Kwesi Ameyaw	...	Guest #2
Leanne Adachi	...	Natalie
Peter Hall	...	Adult Louis
Johnna Wright	...	Mrs. Hakman
Bart Anderson	...	Mr. Hakman
Stefan Arngrim	...	Oliver
Darren Shahlavi	...	Karim
Blu Mankuma	...	Zoe Tech Representative
Richard Hendery	...	Balding Man
Jim Francis	...	Professor
Jason Diablo	...	Bobby
Lisa Bunting	...	Sobbing Woman
Doreen Eby	...	Delivery Nurse
Andrew Bramley	...	Doctor
David James	...	Dad
Elizabeth Urrea	...	Patient Parent
Barbara Krebesova	...	Squabbling Wife
Kolja Liquette	...	Squabbling Husband
Elliot Mandelcorn	...	Pregnant Woman's Husband (as Bryan Elliot)
Ryan Gates	...	Aging Man
Ian Gschwind	...	Man
Ellen Kennedy	...	Woman
Mike Jocelyn	...	Business Man
Kevin Mundy	...	Toasting Guy
Katina Robillard	...	Pretty Woman
Lee Walker	...	Friend #1
Anne Whitmore	...	Friend #2 (as Anne Whitemole)
Darren Hird	...	Voice of Danny Monroe (voice)
Bill Waters	...	Old Man (as W.J. [Bill] Waters)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Robert Brakey	...	Groom in Zoe Footage (uncredited)
Sharon Simms	...	Screeching Car Passenger (uncredited)

Directed by
Omar Naim		(as Omar Naïm)

Writing credits
Omar Naim		(written by) (as Omar Naïm)

Produced by
Michael Burns	....	executive producer
Marc Butan	....	executive producer
Guymon Casady	....	executive producer
Eberhard Kayser	....	co-producer
Marco Mehlitz	....	executive producer
Michael Ohoven	....	executive producer
Nancy Paloian	....	executive producer (as Nancy Paloian-Breznikar)
Michael Paseornek	....	executive producer
William Vince	....	co-producer
Nick Wechsler	....	producer

Original Music by
Brian Tyler

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Dede Allen
Robert Brakey

Casting by
Sheila Jaffe
Georgianne Walken
Meg Morman		(uncredited)

Production Design by
James Chinlund

Art Direction by
Kelvin Humenny

Set Decoration by
Shane Vieau

Costume Design by
Monique Prudhomme

Makeup Department
Jayne Dancose	....	makeup artist: Zoe unit/second unit
Rachel Griffin	....	makeup artist: Zoe unit/second unit (as Rachel Griffiths)
Rebecca Lee	....	first assistant makeup artist
Rebecca Lee	....	makeup artist: Zoe unit/second unit
Lisa Leonard	....	key hair stylist
Lisa Love	....	key makeup artist
Malcolm Marsden	....	first assistant hair stylist
Malcolm Marsden	....	hair stylist: Zoe unit/second unit
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist: Robin Williams
Lee Novak	....	first assistant hair stylist: Zoe unit/second unit
Sherry Van Gool	....	additional assistant makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Carl Pedregal	....	post-production supervisor
Fran Rosati	....	unit production manager
Rosemary Lara	....	production manager: Lions Gate Films (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie Hemmerling	....	third assistant director
Rachel Leiterman	....	first assistant director: Zoe unit/second unit
Craig Matheson	....	first assistant director
Darius Matheson	....	second assistant director
Lynda Mills	....	third assistant director: Zoe unit/second unit (as Linda Mills)
Rob Turner	....	second unit director
Kate Weiss	....	second assistant director: Zoe unit/second unit
Quincy Wheeler-Hendren	....	trainee assistant director
Tarnya Cook	....	third assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Don Anderson	....	props buyer
Brian Beatty	....	head sculptor
John Beatty	....	construction coordinator
Terri Bishop	....	set dresser
Desi Brett	....	lead carpenter
Greg Campbell	....	leadman: setup
Jim Cebrowski	....	stand-by carpenter
Michael Church	....	set dresser (as Mike Church)
Garth Elliott	....	greens department
Julie Fontaine	....	set decoration office coordinator
Ellen Freund	....	props master
Doug Girling	....	set designer
Chris Hayward	....	on-set painter
Michael Jovanovski	....	leadman
Omar Khouri	....	storyboard artist
Mike Lilley	....	graphic designer
Craig Macmillan	....	on-set dresser
François Milly	....	set decoration buyer (as Francois Milly)
Diane Nachlik	....	assistant set decorator
Ted Polkinghorn	....	paint foreman
Jim Ramsay	....	set designer
Duane Robinson	....	tool maintenance
Christopher Rosamond	....	set dresser (as Chris Rosamond)
Nadine Sekora	....	art department coordinator (as Nadine Sekopa)
J.P. Sinnott	....	on-set props
Sigrid M. Spade	....	set dresser
James Spoor	....	lead painter
Kevin Tomecek	....	construction foreman
Collis Verdicchio	....	lead laborer
Ron Vreekem	....	paint coordinator (as Ron Vreeken)
Ric Walkington	....	assistant props master
Ric Walkington	....	props: Zoe unit/second unit
Brett Warren	....	lead carpenter
Heather Watson	....	art department assistant
James Willcock	....	set dresser
James Willcock	....	set dresser: Zoe unit/second unit
Barbara Wilson	....	assistant art director
Sean Wynia	....	lead painter

Sound Department
Steve Bartkowicz	....	stage engineer
Paul Timothy Carden	....	sound effects editor
Matt Colleran	....	sound recordist
Rickley W. Dumm	....	sound effects editor (as Rickey Dumm)
Marc Fishman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dave Griffiths	....	boom operator
Joel Iwataki	....	mixing engineer
Elizabeth Kenton	....	dialog editor
Elizabeth Kenton	....	supervising sound editor
Jason King	....	sound effects editor
Claude Letessier	....	sound effects editor
Jeff MacFarlane	....	boom operator: Zoe unit/second unit (as Jeff McFarland)
Christian P. Minkler	....	sound re-recording mixer
Glenn T. Morgan	....	dialog editor
Glenn T. Morgan	....	supervising sound editor
Thomas O'Neil Younkman	....	foley editor (as Tom Younkman)
Aynee Osborn	....	assistant sound editor
Don Painchaud	....	sound mixer: Zoe unit/second unit (as Donald Painchaud)
Patrick Ramsay	....	sound mixer
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Naan Spiess	....	sound assistant
Lauren Stephens	....	sound effects editor
Jon Taylor	....	sound re-recording mixer
Amy Giammarco	....	assistant adr supervisor (uncredited)
Robert Hunter	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Claude Letessier	....	supervising sound designer (uncredited)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Unsun Song	....	sound re-recordist (uncredited)
Edward M. Steidele	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Jerry Trent	....	foley artist (uncredited)
David Yonson	....	adr recordist: Toronto (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeffrey Butterworth	....	assistant special effects (as Jeff Butterworth)
Amanda Paller	....	assistant special effects
Gary Paller	....	special effects coordinator
Amanda Paller	....	on set supervisor (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Franklin Cofod	....	line-up/editorial: Pixel Magic
Peter 'Beak' Cvijanovic	....	Inferno artist: Zoe
Brigitte Daloin	....	visual effects assistant editor
Jeremy Dawson	....	graphics designer: Amoeba Proteus
Victor DiMichina	....	visual effects producer: Pixel Magic (as Victor Dimichina)
Mark Dornfeld	....	additional opticals: Custom Film Effects
Roy Erickson	....	systems administrator: Pixel Magic
Kevin Fisher	....	scanning and recording: Pixel Magic
Patrick Flanagan	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Tyler Foell	....	2D supervisor: Pixel Magic
Jim Gorman	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
David Michael Green	....	systems technician: Pixel Magic (as David Green)
Nate Haggard	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Mike Hardison	....	3D supervisor: Pixel Magic
Andrew Harper	....	technical director: Collider, Inc.
James David Hattin	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Tom Jones	....	post-production executive: The Post group
Bonnie Kanner	....	executive producer: Pixel Magic
Kevin Kipper	....	roto/paint artist: Pixel Magic
Richard Kratt	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Jeff Kryvicky	....	graphics producer: Collider, Inc.
Brian A. Lamb	....	scanning and recording: Pixel Magic (as Brian Lamb)
Ray Lewis	....	artist: Collider, Inc.
George Macri	....	visual effects coordinator: Pixel Magic
Paul Maples	....	motion control operator
John R. McConnell	....	digital matte painter: Pixel Magic (as John McConnell)
Ray McIntyre Jr.	....	visual effects supervisor: Pixel Magic (as Raymond McIntyre Jr.)
Brad Moylan	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Patrick Murphy	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Reid Paul	....	digital effects supervisor: Pixel Magic
Alfredo Ramirez	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Ray Scalice	....	general manager: Pixel Magic (as Ray Scalise)
Dan Schrecker	....	graphics designer: Amoeba Proteus
Tefft Smith	....	artist: LookFX (as Tefft Smith II)
Geordie Spradling	....	composite artist: Pixel Magic
Kevin Struckman	....	3D tracking: Pixel Magic
Melinka Thompson-Godoy	....	graphics coordinator: Collider, Inc.
Edi Tsuda	....	artist: Collider, Inc.
Jeff Varga	....	roto/paint artist: Pixel Magic
Juan Carlos Vargas	....	3D tracking: Pixel Magic
John Walsh	....	motion control operator
Scott Beverly	....	mechanical effects supervisor: New Deal Studios (uncredited)
Shannon Blake Gans	....	visual effects executive producer: New Deal Studios Inc. (uncredited)
Leigh-Alexandra Jacob	....	lead painter (uncredited)
Ray Lewis	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Josh Novak	....	lead compositor: main title sequence (uncredited)
Scott Schneider	....	lead model maker (uncredited)
Jeff Varga	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Noah Beggs	....	stunt actor: Protestor
Duane Dickinson	....	stunt driver
Caroline Field	....	stunt actor: Screeching Car Passenger (as Carolyn Field)
Mike Mitchell	....	stunt double: Alan
David Mylrea	....	stunt double: Young Alan
Shawn C. Orr	....	stunt safety
Rick Pearce	....	stunt actor: Screeching Car Driver
Rick Pearce	....	stunt safety
Suzi Stingl	....	stunt actor: Swing Girl (as Suzie Stingle)
Suzi Stingl	....	stunt double: Young Louis (as Suzie Stingle)
Duane Dickinson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Mike Mitchell	....	stunt coordinator (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Ken W. Anderson	....	chief rigging electrician (as Ken Anderson)
Jim Bach	....	video playback coordinator: Video A compurter, Imagecorp Film Effects
John Carron	....	video playback operator: Imagecorp Film Effects
Scott Cozens	....	camera trainee
Glen A. Dickson	....	camera operator: "b" camera (as Glen Dickson)
Serge Duchesne	....	rigging electrician
William L. Flanagan	....	first company grip: Zoe unit/second unit (as Bill Flanagan)
Stephen Goad	....	chief lighting technician: Zoe unit/second unit (as Steve Goad)
John Robert Graham	....	dolly grip: Zoe unit/second unit (as John Graham)
Grant Hamakawa	....	grip
David Harris	....	electrician
Cynthia Hayes	....	second company grip: Zoe unit/second unit
Kieran Humphries	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, Zoe unit/second unit (as Keiran Humphries)
Simon Jori	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Barry Kaiser	....	video camera technician: Zoe unit/second unit
Don Kazakoff	....	generator operator: Zoe unit/second unit
Neil McBride	....	second company grip
Rob McEwan	....	still photographer
Marty McInally	....	Steadicam operator
Marty McInally	....	camera operator
Bonnie McLean	....	assistant chief lighting technician: Zoe unit/second unit
James McMurachy	....	electrician
Jos Oman	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Tom Paleczka	....	electrician
Andrew Pereszlenyi	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Ryan Purcell	....	dolly grip
Richard Sinclair	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Rich Sinclair)
David Tickell	....	chief lighting technician (as Dave Tickell)
Johnny Walker	....	first company rigging grip
Thomas E. Watson	....	generator operator (as Tom Watson)
Tony Whiteside	....	first company grip (as Anthony Whiteside)
Peter Wunstorf	....	director of photography: Zoe unit/second unit
Ryan Bailey	....	gaffer: second unit (uncredited)
Chris Bolton	....	digital imaging technician (uncredited)
Oliver Hajdu	....	rigging gaffer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Susan Taylor Brouse	....	casting: Canada (as Susan Brouse)
Andrea Brown	....	extras casting director
Lynne Carrow	....	casting: Canada
Amaris Meyer	....	casting assistant: US
Melissa Perry	....	casting assistant: Canada
Crystal Wilson	....	assistant extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Derek J. Baskerville	....	costumer: Robin Williams (as Derek Baskerville)
Laurie Giles	....	costumes: Zoe unit/second unit
Laurie Giles	....	set costumer
Lise Hache	....	costumes: Zoe unit/second unit
Lise Hache	....	prop costumer
Jane Henry	....	assistant costume designer
Susie Hill	....	set costumer (as Susi Hill)
Julia Linn	....	wardrobe cutter (as Julia Lin)
Diana Patterson	....	costume set supervisor

Editorial Department
Jennifer Hwang	....	post-production coordinator
Trevor Mirosh	....	assistant editor
Josh Moore	....	laboratory contact: Technicolor
Jeff Smithwick	....	color timer: Technicolor
Anna Solorio-Catalano	....	first assistant editor
Kevin James Brown	....	colorist (uncredited)
Christi Franck	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Rick Grayson	....	apprentice editor (uncredited)
Jessica Roberts	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Dana Burke	....	orchestra recordist
Dante Dauz	....	score assistant
Robert Elhai	....	orchestrator
Zigmund Gron	....	music editor (as Zig Gron)
Joel C. High	....	music supervisor
Joel Iwataki	....	music mixer
Simon James	....	orchestra contractor
Gary Krause	....	music editor (as Gary L. Krause)
Dana Niu	....	orchestrator
Oji Nwankwo	....	music business affairs
Reed Ruddy	....	orchestra recordist
Tiffany Ryan	....	music coordinator
Jon Schluckebier	....	orchestra recordist (as John Schluckenbier)
Eric Stonerook	....	music preparation services
Brian Tyler	....	conductor
Brian Tyler	....	orchestrator
Brian Valentino	....	orchestra recordist
Jeff Vaughn	....	music recordist: orchestra
Ja Wah	....	performers
Tim Davies	....	music arranger (uncredited)

Transportation Department
David Ash	....	driver
Rodney Beech	....	driver: cast (as Rod Beech)
Larry Boyce	....	driver: cast
Dave Driscoll	....	driver
Ron England	....	driver
Ron Gavin	....	driver: Zoe unit/second unit
Dan Groseclose	....	driver
Jim Hickman	....	driver: Zoe unit/second unit
Dennis Houser	....	transportation coordinator
Howard Huntley	....	driver
Michael Huntley	....	transportation captain
Ron James	....	driver
Tony Johnson	....	driver
Ron Lacroix	....	driver
John G. Oliver	....	transportation captain (as John Oliver)
Les Peters	....	driver
Charles Pinkus	....	driver
Mike Prestay	....	driver: Zoe unit/second unit
Les Ray	....	driver: Zoe unit/second unit
Fred Sherbinin	....	driver
Dennis Stone	....	transportation coordinator: Zoe unit/second unit
Dan Thorn	....	driver: Zoe unit/second unit
Gary Trowski	....	driver: Zoe unit/second unit
Geoff Williams	....	picture car coordinator
Gary Wilson	....	driver

Other crew
Laura Arcangeli	....	chef: Edible Planet
Rachel Austin	....	first assistant chef: Edible Planet
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances, Inc.
Bill Barclay	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
Violet Barisoff	....	craft service: Zoe unit/second unit
Violet Barisoff	....	first aid: Zoe unit/second unit
Mitchell Barmash	....	office production assistant (as Mitch Barmash)
Jo Bates	....	third assistant chef: Edible Planet
Dale Bredeson	....	location production assistant
Adam Bryant	....	stand-in
Patrick Carroll	....	video insert coordinator
Patrick Carroll	....	video insert coordinator: Zoe unit/second unit
Stephen Chan	....	pre-production assistant
Steve Chan	....	location production assistant: Zoe unit/second unit
Lisanne Collett	....	key chef: Edible Planet
Dale Cornick	....	assistant accountant (as Dale Cornik)
Vincent Dela Luna	....	location production assistant: Zoe unit/second unit (as Vince Della Luna)
Vincent Dela Luna	....	pre-production assistant (as Vince Della Luna)
Elizabeth Dixon	....	business & legal affairs coordinator: Lions Gate Entertainment
Mark Dumas	....	animal wrangler
Mark Dumas	....	animal wrangler: Zoe unit/second unit
Blair Dyers	....	location production assistant
Blair Dykes	....	location production assistant: Zoe unit/second unit
Trevor Fieldhouse	....	extras wrangler
Larry Foulds	....	security
Darin Friedman	....	assistant: Guyman Casady
Warren Dean Fulton	....	location production assistant: Zoe unit/second unit (as Warren Fulton)
Jaye Gazeley	....	assistant location manager
Michelle Gorley	....	assistant chef: Zoe unit/second unit, Edible Planet
Michelle Gorley	....	second assistant chef: Edible Planet
Michael Grigsby	....	production accountant
Ed Hatton	....	location production assistant: Zoe unit/second unit
Ed Hatton	....	pre-production assistant
Bonnie Hay	....	stand-in: Mira Sorvina
Andrea Hughes	....	extras wrangler
Andrea Hughes	....	extras wrangler: Zoe unit/second unit
Sonya Hull	....	location production assistant
Carla Dawn Jackson	....	office production assistant
Nina Aurora Jeerh	....	trainee assistant location manager (as Nina A. Jeerh)
Richard Jordan	....	executive vice president of physical operations: Lions Gate Entertainment
Sean Kennedy	....	security
Peter Kepkay	....	pre-production assistant
Lana Krotenko	....	script: Zoe unit/second unit
Rosemary Lara	....	assistant: Mike Paseornek
David Lee	....	chef: Zoe unit/second unit, Edible Planet
Wayne Levin	....	executive vice president of business affairs: Lions Gate Entertainment
Daniel MacArthur	....	production coordinator: Lions Gate Entertainment
Dominic Main	....	key location pre-production assistant: Zoe unit/second unit
Dominic Main	....	pre-production assistant
Carol Marks-George	....	publicist
Cam Mason	....	assistant: Marc Butan
Hamish McArthur	....	location production assistant
Robert M. Melnik	....	senior vice president of business affairs: Lions Gate Entertainment (as Robert Melnik)
Terry Mialkowsky	....	assistant location manager
Curtis A. Miller	....	director of production: Lions Gate Entertainment
Shawn Murphy	....	key location production assistant: Zoe unit/second unit
Shawn Murphy	....	location production assistant
Maryam Nasiri	....	accounting clerk
Ed Nesling	....	location manager
Sandra Palmer	....	production coordinator
Pamela Paloian	....	assistant: Nancy Paloian Breznikar
Elva Parsons	....	payroll
Dixie Plaxton	....	production assistant: prep
Anna-Marie Plosz	....	assistant production coordinator
Karen Powell	....	production services
Topher Rafuse-Wilkinson	....	location production assistant
Jon Raitt	....	prep assistant location manager
Emily Rice	....	post-production accountant
Neil Robertson	....	location manager: Zoe unit/second unit
Darren Seiden	....	business & legal affairs: Lions Gate Entertainment
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances, Inc.
Donna Sloan	....	senior vice president of production: Lions Gate Entertainment
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Robin Williams
Mason Steinberg	....	assistant: Omar Naïm
Susan Strubin	....	craft service
Susan Strubin	....	first aid
S. Corissa Stuckey	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Drew Thompson	....	animal wrangler
Stephen Tibbetts	....	stand-in
Keith Towstego	....	playback assistant
Shane Travis	....	key location production assistant (as Shane Scott-Travis)
Michael Umble	....	unit publicist
Helga Ungurait	....	script supervisor
Caileen Uznis	....	business & legal affairs coordinator: Lions Gate Entertainment
Charlyn Ware	....	director of business and legal affairs: Lions Gate Entertainment
Keri Winters	....	insurance: AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services
Steve Woodley	....	animal wrangler
John Woods	....	location production assistant
Dave Wynnyk	....	security
Marni Wynnyk	....	security (as Marnie Wynnyk)
Richard Wynnyk	....	security officer (as Rick Wynnyk)
Riley Cantner	....	photo double: "Young Louis" (uncredited)
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond representative (uncredited)
John Kirby	....	acting coach: Mr. Caviezel (uncredited)
Lukasz Madziag	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Robert Milicevic	....	security (uncredited)
Bernhard Speck	....	production controller: Cinerenta (uncredited)
Ryan Steacy	....	armorer (uncredited)
Jeff Wonnenberg	....	office production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Keith Addis	....	special thanks
Santiago Amigorena	....	special thanks
Josef Brandmaier	....	thanks
Geyer Kosinski	....	special thanks
Elias Muhanna	....	special thanks
Jonathan Nossiter	....	special thanks
Randa Chahal Sabag	....	special thanks (as Randa Chahal Sabbagh)

Production Companies

• Lions Gate Entertainment (present)
• Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG (in association with) (present) (as Cinerenta)
• Industry Entertainment (producer)
• Cinetheta (in association with)
• Final Cut Productions (uncredited)
• Milestone Entertainment (production services)

Distributors

• Lions Gate Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Lions Gate Entertainment Company)
• Alfa Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Filmax S.A. (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Hoyts Distribution (2004) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Lark Films Distribution (2005) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Viva International Pictures (2005) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Asia Video Publishing Co. Ltd. (2005) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Eagle Films (2004) (non-USA) (all media) (Middle East)
• Eagle Pictures (2004) (Italy) (all media)
• LNK Audiovisuais (2005) (Portugal) (all media)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Net5 (2008) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Splendid Film (2005) (Germany) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Pixel Magic (visual effects)
• Amoeba Proteus (graphics design: Guillotine)
• Collider (graphics production)
• Custom Film Effects (additional effects)
• Imagecorp Film Effects (video playback)
• New Deal Studios
• Post Group Production Suites, The (color correction: Zoe footage)

Other Companies

• A.T. Cross Company  special thanks
• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance provided by
• Alpha Cine Motion Pictures Laboratory  optical soundtrack (as Alpha Cine)
• Artemide  special thanks
• Bayerische HypoVereinsbank AG München  film banking [de]
• British Columbia and Yukon Council of Film Unions  unspecified
• Buzz Woodcraft  special thanks
• Canadian Camera Cranes  camera cranes
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)  with the participation of
• City of Vancouver Film Department and Special Events  special thanks
• Corporate Express  special thanks
• DBC Sound  adr recording
• Dell Computers  special thanks
• Dragon Models  special thanks
• Edible Planet Catering  catering
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Equinoxe  special thanks
• Executive Cutting Service  negative cutting (as Executive Cutting Services)
• Getty Images  stock footage (as Image Bank Film by Getty Images)
• Gund  special thanks
• Hero Product Placement  product placement
• Kinetic Imageworks  post-production facilities
• Kodak  motion picture film
• LG Electronics Canada  special thanks
• Magneto Digital Post  Avid systems provided by
• Manhattan Toy  special thanks
• NT Audio Visual  optical soundtrack (as NT Audio)
• New Deal Studios  special thanks
• Panavision  camera and lenses
• Picture Mill, The  titles
• Radio Flyer/Aim Productions  special thanks
• Sound Satisfaction  foley recording facilities
• St. Thomas Chapel, Seattle  orchestra recorded at (as Saint Thomas Chapel, Washington)
• Technicolor  color
• Toybox (West)  optical soundtrack (as Toy Box West)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack released by
• Visual Mechanics Motion Control  motion control
• Zaph Creation  special thanks

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, some violence, sexuality and language

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA | Canada | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:U (cut version) | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Philippines:PG-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:NC-16 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:15 | Taiwan:PG-12 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Berlin, Germany

Company:

Lions Gate Entertainment

Trivia:

Pink Floyd's 1983 album, The Final Cut, shares a character with this film, Fletcher (named after Roger Waters' father). It isn't clear if this connection is deliberate, but the album also features overtones of tragic loss and memories.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: When the movie dollies back to a wide shot of Alan doing his work with a large number of little screens in the background, one of the scenes on the left shows the supposed subject looking at a urinal. From there, the subject turns around and looks at a mirror, revealing a woman holding a camcorder.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Young Louis - 9:Can I play?
Young Alan - 9:Do you have any marbles?
Young Louis - 9:Yep.
[reaches into his pocket]
Young Alan - 9:Okay.
Young Louis - 9:Thanks.
Young Alan - 9:You're welcome. So what's your name?
Young Louis - 9:Louis. Yours?
Young Alan - 9:Alan.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Murder Pact (2015)

Soundtrack:

Violin Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002

A lot of unfulfilled promise, but still worth watching

Set during an unspecified future era, or perhaps an "alternate universe" present era, The Final Cut posits a world in which "first person viewpoint" computer chip implants are possible for those who can afford it. These record a person's entire life from a first person viewpoint--the "camera" sees what the person sees, hears what they hear. The intention is to have an accurate, documentary-like record after the person dies. These are presented as films at their funerals. Citizens known as "cutters" (just a slang for a film editor) pare down one's life to a feature length presentation. There are also those who protest the implants. The Final Cut is the story of the latter days of a cutter, Alan W. Hakman (Robin Williams).

While The Final Cut is enjoyable enough, it has tremendous squandered potential. As one would expect, Williams turns in an incredible performance, but the script, by writer/director Omar Naim, could have used a lot of work.

The premise is fabulous. It opens many philosophical and psychological cans of worms. Some are dealt with, but only cursorily. Surely cutters go through a lot of emotional trauma as they vicariously experience the lows and the mundanities of other person's lives. Naim shows us this briefly with a recording of someone who was an abuser. But as soon as he shows us this material, he drops it. The film is advertised as a thriller. How much more exciting would it have been to embed Hakman in the middle of some grand, suspenseful plot, the details of which became known to him through data from an implant? As one of the opponents of the implant technology remarks, the implants have changed the way people relate to each other. That is a good point--it would have a profound impact on that. So why aren't we shown instances of this in the film? This could have been another hinge for a very intriguing, tense plot.

There are also issues of invasion of privacy, surveillance paranoia, consent (the implants are shown being put into infants and being permanent), and "misuse" of the data. Most of these are barely touched. Often they're only broached with a single comment, or a protester's sign.

Other fascinating issues brought up by the idea of the technology are not even mentioned. Surely, such technology would prove to be invaluable as evidence in crimes. And surely many people, especially victims, would voluntarily offer a "tap" into their implants so they can be witnesses. Why not comment on these kinds of possibilities? The Final Cut is also oddly understated with such a far-reaching sci-fi premise in this era of rubber reality films. A number of plot points, such as the one involving Louis Hunt, have almost disappointingly mundane resolutions. For that matter, for a sci-fi film set in the future or an alternate reality, there isn't much that is different about the world except for the implants. Probably the lack of differences was due to budget. It costs a lot of money to build alternate realities.

This might sound far too negative for the film to warrant a 7 out of 10 from me, which is equivalent to a "C" letter grade. Much of the film is saved by the performances. In combination with direction that is more often than not interesting and unusual, it's easy to focus on the promise of the premise rather than the unfulfilled extensions of the same.

Hakman, and presumably the other cutters, have odd dispositions. Their task is to make everyone look good--like a mortician making up a mangled body so it's "presentable" at a funeral. They spend hour upon hour as voyeurs. They are something like archivists, but also have to play detective. It makes them strangely aloof and dour. It's difficult for them to have relationships. Naim gets in a couple cracks that portray the cutters and their social relationships as similar to geeky "Internet addicts". This is all good stuff, and it's excellently played by Williams.

The flow of the film is a bit odd, and especially the ending (which I praised for its relative nihilism) is eventually abrupt in a way that doesn't exactly work (and I usually love abrupt endings). Being generous, we could take the wonky flow as a "level-removed" kind of self-reference. Of course Naim was faced with cutting the film to make it look good, but it's a bit awkward and arbitrary-feeling, just as a cutter's work would likely be when faced with having to produce a coherent 90-minute film out of 80 years' worth of material. Being less generous, Naim simply needs to learn how to better tell a story, and there was no intention of real-world reflexivity with his fictional material.

The Final Cut is worth seeing, especially if you're a Robin Williams fan as I am, but it's a disappointment considering what it could have been.