The Weather Man (2005)

A Chicago weather man, separated from his wife and children, debates whether professional and personal success are mutually exclusive.

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Writer:

Steve Conrad

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Michael Caine, Hope Davis

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	David Spritz
Michael Caine	...	Robert Spritzel
Hope Davis	...	Noreen
Gemmenne de la Peña	...	Shelly (as Gemmenne De La Peña)
Nicholas Hoult	...	Mike
Michael Rispoli	...	Russ
Gil Bellows	...	Don
Judith McConnell	...	Lauren
Chris Marrs	...	DMV Guy
Dina Facklis	...	Andrea
J. Nicole Brooks	...	Clerk (as Deanna NJ Brooks)
Sia A. Moody	...	Nurse (as Sia Moody)
Guy Van Swearingen	...	Nipper Guy
Alejandro Pina	...	Fast Food Employee
Jackson Bubala	...	Fast Food Child

Storyline

Dave Spritz is a local weatherman in his home town of Chicago, where his career is going well while his personal life -- his relationship with his perfectionist writer father, his neurotic ex-wife, and his now-separated children -- is spiraling downward. Despite being both loathed and loved by the local masses, Dave is a guy who doesn't seem to have it all together, and in this film, he begins to feel it. An attractive job offer presents Dave with a major question: to pursue his career in New York City, or to remain at home with his family.

---

Plot Keywords:

weatherman | new york city | couples therapy | terminal illness | camel toe | 

---

Taglines:

... bring an umbrella

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual content

Details

Official Sites:

Paramount Pictures [us]

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monsieur Météo

Filming Locations:

333. N Canal St Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£406,217 (UK) (3 March 2006)

Gross:

£860,440 (UK) (10 March 2006)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Escape Artists, Kumar Mobiliengesellschaft mbH & Co. Projekt Nr. 2 KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The Naperville Central High School marching band was asked to be in that parade, and the song they are playing is their school's fight song.

---

Goofs

In the final archery scene, David removes all but one of his arrows from the target, then is distracted by someone asking for an autograph. In the following long shot, the final arrow has disappeared without David ever having removed it.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Dave Spritz: That was refreshing. I'm refreshed. I'm refreshing.

---

Connections

Featured in Relative Humidity: The Characters (2006)

---

Soundtracks

"Like a Rock"
(1986)
Written & Performed by Bob Seger
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Looking inside your heart and predicting your future

Thankfully Hollywood has made a movie that values our integrity and intelligence. Here is a film showing us that life is beautiful but challenging and requires a little bit of work to move through. Through its protagonist, we encounter daily frustrations of every type, from conjugal discord to simple dissatisfaction's with our everyday existence. Nicholas Cage might not have the extended range of performers like Penn or Brando, but he does competent work here. He earns our sympathy and our attention with some of the best work he has done recently.

"The Weather Man" is an extended metaphor for what goes on in our lives every day. The film apparently didn't charm the pants off a few members of the audience when I saw it. It didn't have the prepackaged bombs and special effects. It lacked enough vulgarity to appeal to those people;instead it had one of the most touching and intelligent scripts in the last year. Attendance might be down, and ironically quality is up in Hollywood. "The Weather Man" deals with real issues such as insecurity, love, and trust. It presents scenarios where the audience might become uncomfortable looking at an aspect of their lives they might not like. Here is a parent who is challenged by his inability to connect with his own children, who appears to have unsurmountable challenges dealing with a spouse, and who is now not very sure his job is truly what he always wanted.

Michael Caine once again shines in his supporting role as the father who can't communicate with his son, and has now pressing issues to deal with before it's too late. Hope Davis does a bit of against-type work with a woman who might be lacking in the warmth department. Both are impeccable and very effective in their performances.

Verbinsky keeps a leisured pace, allowing the audience to meditate and understand how critical this stage of his life is for Dave (Cage). This is a sink or swim situation, and he must do some careful reevaluation in order to succeed. Whether he is able or not, is one of the joys of the film. This movie will be remembered for its depth and quality, for its attention to detail, as well as its realistic approach. It's a 10!