Don't Come Knocking (2005)

Howard Spence (Sam Shepard) has seen better days. Once a big Western movie star, he now drowns his disgust for his selfish and failed life with alcohol, drugs and young women. If he were to... See full summary »

Director:

Wim Wenders

Writers:

Sam Shepard (screenplay), Sam Shepard (story),

Stars:

James Roday, Sam Shepard, Tim Roth

1 win & 7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Roday	...	1st AD
Jeffrey Vincent Parise	...	2nd AD (as Jeff Parise)
Majandra Delfino	...	1st Girl
Marieh Delfino	...	2nd Girl
Sam Shepard	...	Howard Spence
George Kennedy	...	Director
Julia Sweeney	...	Producer 2
Tim Matheson	...	Producer 1
James Gammon	...	Old Ranch Hand
Tim Roth	...	Sutter
Robin Twogood	...	Patrolman
Gabriel Mann	...	Earl
Fairuza Balk	...	Amber
Mike Butters	...	Businessman
Sarah Polley	...	Sky

Storyline

Howard Spence (Sam Shepard) has seen better days. Once a big Western movie star, he now drowns his disgust for his selfish and failed life with alcohol, drugs and young women. If he were to die now, nobody would shed a tear over him, that's the sad truth. Until one day Howard learns that he might have a child somewhere out there. The very idea seems like a ray of hope that his life wasn't all in vain. So he sets out to find that young man or woman. He discovers an entire life that he has missed ...

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Plot Keywords:

movie star | butte montana | horse riding | cemetery | automated teller machine | 

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Genres:

Drama | Music

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Océan Films [fr] Official site

Country:

France Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 August 2005 (Germany)

Also Known As:

Estrela Solitária

Filming Locations:

Arches National Park, Moab, Utah, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$11,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$30,630 (USA) (17 March 2006)

Gross:

$438,732 (USA) (28 July 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Reverse Angle Pictures (II), Reverse Angle International, arte France Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min 113 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Originally, Shepard wrote the character of Sky as part Native American, but because of Wenders desire to cast Sarah Polley, that aspect of the character was set aside. Both agreed that her being Native American was not essential to the character, and Wenders had wanted to work with Polley because he'd been so impressed with her acting in past projects.

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Goofs

The blown tire on Howard's car changes sides between shots.

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Quotes

Earl: [singing] Where is Howard? Who is Howard? We wanna know, we wanna know. Where is Howard? Who is Howard? Where did he go, where did he go? He's down in the ditches. He's down in the ground. Disappeared himself. He's no-where to be found! Where is Howard? Who is Howard? He's long gone, he's long gone.

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Connections

References High Noon (1952)

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Soundtracks

"Lonely Man"
Written by T-Bone Burnett (as Henry Burnett)
Performed by Gabriel Mann
Published by Henry Burnett Music

User Reviews

A slow, beautiful, meandering, improbable, poorly written, beautifully filmed film...

Don't Come Knocking (2005)

A disappointing attempt at gritty Western aura, movie insider savvy, and creative parallel plotting and editing. It has elements of camp, of post-modern drama (references to earlier movies or movie types), and even some genuine sincerity.

There is a terrific George Kennedy, who is still active and very much making movies with his over-sized persona. There are smaller roles by several women, including a wan and frankly dull if pretty Sarah Polley. And mostly there is Sam Shepard being Sam Shepard, which is pretty good stuff. But he plays a famous actor who walks off a cheesy movie shoot into reality, and for the rest of the movie is walking as if in a dream through a reality he never quite knew existed.

I think this looked great on paper. At least until someone read the script. It just doesn't hold water, partly for the simple fact that we couldn't care less about most of these folk. In particular, the movie makers, the directors and execs are playing meaningless roles that might mean something to insiders, but to the rest of us (I'm not an insider, thankfully), it's self-indulgent and, well, boring.

What works best? Well, since the story pushes you out you look at the performances straight up, and some, like Shepard's, are strong (he reminds me of Woody Harrelson in this film, for some reason). There's the music (by T-Bone Burnett), an often used electric guitar sound with a country twang that is appealing and sometimes even evocative. And there is the filming, which is unadorned and very nice, depending on some amazing scenes, and the light and color in them. If there is ever an Oscar for scouting, for period sets that hype up the truth of a certain period, this is a good candidate. Certainly the light is romantically appealing.

But I'm stretching to see the best in a plodding film that had potential and lost its velocity very early on.

It has to be added that the director, Wim Wenders, has done some amazing work, and has his own following. But he might be trying to cash in on "Paris, Texas" which has its own small cult following, and which at least has a quirky and disturbing element to it. Here it is mostly a matter of wandering in the modern wilderness, and Wenders, I really believe, is not quite in touch with what makes America America. It feels cold and superficial. See his "Wings of Desire" for a masterpiece. Here? Have patience. Oh...and enjoy the scenery!