Everyday People (2004)

Director:

Jim McKay

Writer (WGA):

Jim McKay (written by)

Release Date:

12 January 2006 (Hungary)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You can't wash out all the color and keep the flavor.

Plot:

The closing of a local restaurant concerns a number of employees who've dedicated their lives to the eatery. |

Plot Keywords:

Restaurant | Mother Daughter Relationship | Kitchen Scene | Interracial Relationship | Subway Train

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Steve Axelrod	...	Sol
Earl Baker Jr.	...	Benjamin
Bridget Barkan	...	Joleen
David Barroso	...	Customer
Kalimi Baxter	...	Ruby
Ron Ben Israel	...	Walter
Stephanie Berry	...	Angry Black Waiter
Miles Bridgett	...	Joleen's Son
David Brummel	...	Ira's Father
Ron Butler	...	Ron Harding
Kadijah Carlisle	...	Benita
Julia Carothers Hughes	...	Miss Meyers
Reg E. Cathey	...	Akbar
Kenloy Davis	...	Stoop Kid
Erin Dilly	...	Arianna
Thomas Dozol	...	French Waiter
Alex Emanuel	...	East Village Man
Angela Blue Faulk	...	Lynda
Ramon Fernandez	...	Chico
Elizabeth Flax	...	Female Customer
Sein Gay	...	Jumbo Shrimp Bus Boy 1 (as Hussein Gay)
Jordan Gelber	...	Ira
Tom Gilroy	...	Erin's Professor
Craig muMs Grant	...	Ali (as muMs)
Billoah Greene	...	Samel
Eric LaRay Harvey	...	Bartender
Jamie Hector	...	Devon
Stephen Henderson	...	Arthur
Verna O. Hobson	...	Lady with Blue Drink
Polly Humphreys	...	Shirley
Jennifer Jai	...	Waitress
Freddie L. King	...	Subway Doo Wop 1
Mei Hlia Li	...	Subway Erhu Player
Stacie Linardos	...	Angry White Waiter
Iris Little Thomas	...	Erin's Mother (as Iris Little-Thomas)
Lou Martini Jr.	...	Mr. Califano
Warner Miller	...	Beadle
Tommoraw Mortimer	...	Subway Doo Wop 3
Nathan De'Shon Myers	...	Subway Opera Singer
Dante Nero	...	Biker
Jack O'Connell	...	John
Philliph Oden	...	Ty
Darryl Offley	...	Subway Doo Wop 4
Victor Pagan	...	Victor
Garry Pastore	...	V
Jesus A. Del Rosario Jr.	...	Bus Boy
Frantz Saint Louis	...	Frantz (as Frantz St. Louis)
Candice Sanchez-McClaren	...	Mel
Víctor Sierra	...	Jumbo Shrimp Bus Boy 2
Anna Simpson	...	Birthday Waiter
Cate Smit	...	Mom
Omar Aramando Soriano	...	Omar
Sydnee Stewart	...	Erin Persaud
Marc Anthony Thompson	...	Marc
Charles Vickers	...	Subway Doo Wop 2
Donna Vivino	...	Samel's Caseworker
Kristopher Wilder	...	Raymond

Also Known As:

Brooklyn (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

91 min | USA:81 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-3 | UK:15

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Alphaville Films

Movie Connections:

References Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)

Soundtrack:

O Jane Jaan

An undiluted look at human experience.

One of the most genuine and sincere filmic representations of human life that I've seen in recent months. I originally thought that it was overly ambitious, as the director focuses on the lives of upwards of a dozen characters during a course of the day, attempting to share their individual struggles and paint an accurate picture of their personalities. Directors often encounter difficulties in breathing life into one character, but somehow this film manages to show the inner substance of all of these people.

The story revolves around the decision to close a diner in Brooklyn due to economic shortfalls. It looks at everyone: the ethical conflicts of the restaurant owner, the hard-edged competitiveness of the businessman behind the deal, and even the ex-junkie dishwasher's story. It makes a point of avoiding, perhaps even negating, stereotyping based on racial backgrounds, gender, age and every other social factor.

The world shown in Everyday People is a world of problems and hardships with no direct solution - it merely offers the viewer an understanding, something which is extremely undervalued. There is a certain bleakness that arises from this postmodern realism, but McKay doesn't leave you with the sense of futility and sadness. Rather he helps break down the sense of social alienation in the viewer through this truly compassionate and impartial gaze.

Everyday People is comparable to Spike Lee's Do the Right Thing (1989), but I would argue that it's more subdued and mature exploration. Do the Right Thing has a more progressive story that builds up to and revolves around a central intense climax, whereas Everyday People is merely a snapshot of these people's lives with some minor character growth. Also, I feel that Do the Right Thing is also heavily biased in its initial premises, which Everyday People is generally free of.

Solid script, solid acting, (all the actors are more or less "unknowns") and an amazing final product. This is one of those movies that will never get the recognition it deserves.