What the #$*! Do We (K)now!? (2004)

User Rating:

5.2/10   

Directors:

William Arntz
Betsy Chasse
(more)

Writers:

William Arntz (written by)
Betsy Chasse (written by)
(more)

Release Date:

27 November 2004 (Japan)

Genre:

Documentary | Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

a quantum fable

Plot:

"WHAT THE #$*! DO WE KNOW?!" is a radical departure from convention. It demands a freedom of view and greatness of thought so far unknown...

Plot Keywords:

Science | Photographer | Physics | Channeling | Biochemistry

Cast

Marlee Matlin	...	Lead
Elaine Hendrix	...	Jennifer
John Ross Bowie	...	Elliot
Robert Bailey Jr.	...	Reggie
Barry Newman	...	Frank
Larry Brandenburg	...	Bruno
Daniela Serra	...	Bride
James Langston Drake	...	Groom (as Jame Drake)
Michele Mariana	...	Tour Guide (as Michelle Mariana)
Armin Shimerman	...	Older Man (in subway)
Robert Blanche	...	Bob
Pavel Mikoloski	...	Priest
Alex Rogers	...	Guy #1
Tin Tran	...	Guy #2
Leslie Taylor	...	Bridesmaid
Sherilyn Lawson	...	Bridesmaid
Mercedes Rose	...	Bridesmaid
Joelle Anthony	...	Bridesmaid
Dawnn Pavlonnis	...	Bridesmaid (as Dawnn Pavlonis)
Danny Bruno	...	Caterer
Josh Santos	...	Best Man
Kerensa Gimre	...	Kid
Heather Robertson	...	Bridesmaid
Patti Collins	...	Mother Of The Bride
Tammy Mischke	...	Chick
Justin Canfield	...	DJ
Gordon Grobelny	...	Guitar Player
Brent Pendleton	...	Conga Player
Jonathan Cammon	...	Player
Val Landrum	...	Ticket Sales Girl
Kyle Lunde	...	Bartender
Gloria Manon	...	(voice)
Robert McKeehen	...	(voice)
Eric Newsome	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Kirk Thornton	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (as Kirk Thorton)
Michelle Ruff	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Lia Sargent	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Michael Sorich	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Steve Blum	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (as Steven Jay Blum)
Tom Fahn	...	Various Character Voices (voice)
Allison Gottfried	...	(voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Albert	...	Himself (as David Albert PhD)
Joseph Dispenza	...	Himself (as Dr. Joe Dispenza DC)
Amit Goswami	...	Himself (as Amit Goswami PhD)
John Hagelin	...	Himself (as John Hagelin PhD)
Stuart Hameroff	...	Himself (as Stuart Hameroff MD)
J.Z. Knight	...	Ramtha (as Ramtha)
Miceal Ledwith	...	Himself (as Dr. Miceal Ledwith)
Daniel Monti	...	Himself (as Daniel Monti MD)
Andrew Newberg	...	Himself (as Andrew B. Newberg MD)
Candace Pert	...	Herself (as Candace Pert PhD)
Jeffrey Satinover	...	Himself (as Jeffrey Satinover MD MS)
William Tiller	...	Himself (as William Tiller PhD)
Fred Alan Wolf	...	Himself (as Fred Alan Wolf PhD)
Marsha Clark	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (uncredited)
William Joseph Elk III	...	Shaman (uncredited)
Evan Jacobs	...	Priest in flashback (uncredited)
Jeff S. Dodge	...	Extra (on train) (uncredited)
Carol Stanzione	...	Various Character Voices (voice) (uncredited)
Casper Van Dien	...	Romantic Moritz (uncredited)
Tara Walker	...	Girl at Train Station (uncredited)

Directed by
William Arntz
Betsy Chasse
Mark Vicente

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
William Arntz		written by
Betsy Chasse		written by
Matthew Hoffman		written by
Mark Vicente		written by

Produced by
Scott Altomare	....	line producer
William Arntz	....	producer
Betsy Chasse	....	producer
Mark Vicente	....	producer
Straw Weisman	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Christopher Franke

Cinematography by
David Bridges		(director of photography)
Mark Vicente		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jonathan P. Shaw		(as Jonathon Shaw)

Casting by
Valerie McCaffrey
Danny Stoltz

Production Design by
Nava

Costume Design by
Ronald Leamon

Makeup Department
E. Larry Day	....	hair department head
E. Larry Day	....	makeup department head
Amanda Williams	....	department head hair

Production Management
Stephen McDaniel	....	production manager
Straw Weisman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Craig Borden	....	first assistant director
Todd Guzze	....	second second assistant director
Eugene Mazzola	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Greg McMickle	....	assistant property master
Shandy Ray	....	assistant set decorator

Sound Department
Nathan Atkins	....	assistant adr recordist
Nathan Atkins	....	foley artist
Karma Barber	....	adr mixer
Karma Barber	....	foley artist
Jason England	....	dialogue editor
Stanley Kastner	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Lyles	....	sound re-recording mixer
Donald Lyles	....	sound recordist
Shannon Potter	....	sound recordist
Vic Radulich	....	sound editor
Edgar Rothermich	....	sound recordist
John Rotondi	....	chief engineer
Clancy T. Troutman	....	supervising sound editor (as Clancy Troutman)
Scott Westley	....	sound editor
Austin Storms	....	sound mixer (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mark Benard	....	visual effects producer
Barb Benoit	....	digital compositor
Dennis Berardi	....	visual effects producer: Mr. X Inc.
David M. Blum	....	visual effects supervisor
Jose Burgos	....	visual effects
Sharlto Copley	....	visual effects producer
Rob Del Ciancio	....	digital compositor
Bonnie Dickson	....	tape operator: Mr. X Inc.
Matthew Esterhuizen	....	digital artist
Kevin Genzel	....	digital compositor
Marc Greyvenstein	....	digital artist
Heather Grieve	....	office administrator
Simon Hansen	....	visual effects producer
Evan Jacobs	....	visual effects supervisor
Denny Kurien	....	animator
Mike Leben	....	motion control operator (as Mike Lebone)
Jef Lonn	....	digital compositor
Ali Maleka	....	digital artist
Matt McFarland	....	digital imaging supervisor
Mark Meloche	....	digital compositor
Diane Miller	....	visual effects coordinator (as Diane Evangelista Miller)
Douglas Miller	....	digital effects supervisor
Andrew Nguyen	....	compositor
Mark Palowich	....	animation supervisor
Chris Paxson	....	motion control technician
Vladimir Popovic	....	systems administrator
Julian Potgieter	....	digital compositor
Darcy Reno	....	senior systems administrator (as Darcy Bangsund)
Eric J. Robertson	....	visual effects producer
Andy Robinson	....	digital compositor: Mr. X Inc.
Andy Robinson	....	digital compositor
Michael Stewart	....	digital compositor: Lost Boys Studios
Andre Van Der Merwe	....	visual effects producer
Aaron Weintraub	....	compositing supervisor
Steve Wittmann	....	3D animator

Stunts
Steve Buckley	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Matt Barbee	....	additional assistant camera
Mike Booth	....	grip: California
Melani C. Brown	....	film loader (as Melani Brown)
Noal Clemons	....	electrician (as Noal Clemmons)
Frank DiMarco	....	photographer: black and white photography
Frank DiMarco	....	still photographer
Russ Eaton	....	lighting director
Frank Engel	....	photographer: black and white photography
Brian Fleskes	....	grip
Brian Fuller	....	second assistant camera
Nate Goodman	....	videographer
Mike Hanauska	....	grip
Marc Hazewinkel	....	still photographer
Josh Hicks	....	electrician
Steve Hubert	....	electrician
David R. Kohn	....	electrician (as David Kohn)
Brent Lawson	....	best boy grip
Brian C. Lawson	....	dolly grip
Stuart T. Lillas	....	first assistant camera (as Stuart Lillis)
Richard Mauro	....	gaffer
Matthew May	....	electrician (as Matt May)
Stephen Purcell	....	electrician (as Stephen Purcel)
Scott Richmond	....	best boy electric
Greg Schmitt	....	grip (as Greg Schmidt)
Chris Steele	....	electrician
Joel Stirnkorb	....	key grip
Shawn Sundby	....	grip (as Shawn Sunby)
Mark Vicente	....	photographer: black and white photography
Aiken Weiss	....	camera operator
James WilderHancock	....	grip (as James 'Junior' Wilder Hancock)

Animation Department
Steve Wittmann	....	animator

Casting Department
Sally Gates	....	extras casting
Danny Stoltz	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Marienne O'Brien	....	set costumer
Gerard Parr	....	costume department coordinator

Editorial Department
Evans Butterworth	....	post-production executive
Brian J. Cavanaugh	....	additional editor (as Brian Cavanaugh)
Jason Henderson	....	additional assistant editor
Greg Podunovich	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Tim Bomba	....	music supervisor
Brent Pendleton	....	composer: additional music
Edgar Rothermich	....	music producer
Brian Schvartz	....	music editor
Jeff Tropeano	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Nick Edgerton	....	star driver (as Nicholas Edgerton)
Larry Gudgel	....	driver: honeywagon
Philip Krysl	....	driver
David Norris	....	transportation coordinator
Eric Solmonson	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Janet Anneman	....	script supervisor
Linda Bloom-Hedine	....	studio teacher (as Linda Bloom)
Scott Challgren	....	outreach
Hannah Childs	....	stand-in: Marlee Matlin
Mike Colemna	....	office assistant
Christopher J. Corabi	....	production legal (as Christopher Corabi)
Jonathan Dana	....	producer's representative
Julianna Darling	....	sacred mom
Victoria Dreyer	....	assistant accountant
Stephen Finders	....	assistant location manager
Michael Fine	....	set medic
Sam Gros	....	set medic
Gail Heinzman	....	corporate accountant
Melissa Henderson	....	marketing
Robin Lane	....	choreographer
Gary Laurent	....	set medic
Pavel Mikoloski	....	marketing
Adam Palmer	....	production coordinator
Scott Schmidt	....	set medic
Crystal Shade	....	body double (as Crystal Rasmussen)
Laura Stride	....	location manager
Kerby L. Verley	....	set medic (as Kerby Verley)
Aaron Walrod	....	accountant

Production Companies

• Captured Light
• Lord of the Wind

Distributors

• Samuel Goldwyn Films (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Roadside Attractions (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Cinemien (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Comart Films (2006) (South Africa) (theatrical)
• Einhorn-Film (2006) (Austria) (theatrical)
• Filmhouse (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Hopscotch Productions (2005) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Medula Films (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Pachamama Cine (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2007) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Boeddhistische Omroep Stichting (2008) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• Filmtrade (2005) (Greece) (all media)
• Gaia Films (2006) (Italy) (all media)
• Homescreen (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Icelandic Film (2005) (Iceland) (all media)
• Isaan Entertainment (2005) (Spain) (all media)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Propeller Communications (2005) (Germany) (all media)

Special Effects

• Atomic Visual Effects
• Lost Boys Studios
• Mr. X

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies

Also Known As:

What the Bleep Do We Know!? (International: English title) (informal title) (USA)
Sacred Science (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

109 min | Germany:113 min

Country:

USA

Language:

German | English | Spanish

Color:

Black and White | Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:12 (video rating) (2005) | UK:12A (original rating) | Brazil:14 | Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:o.Al. | Iceland:L | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Canada:14A (Alberta/Ontario) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (British Columbia) | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:AL | USA:Unrated (not rated) | New Zealand:M

Filming Locations:

Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Captured Light

Trivia:

The movie that Amanda is watching is _Chasing Destiny (2001)_, which was originally called "Romantic Moritz" as shown on the marquee.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Depiction of quantum mechanics in the movie bears no resemblance to the real theory of that name. In particular, the common misconception that the "observer effect" is dependent upon a sapient, human observer is incorrect. If any object interacts with any other, and either requires information regarding the current state and properties of the other, then that constitutes an observation.

Quotes:

Title card: [first title card] In the beginning was the Void
Title card: [second title card] Teeming with infinite possibilities
Title card: [third title card] Of which you.
Title card: [fourth title card] Are one...

Movie Connections:

Spoofed in Scary Movie 4 (2006)

Soundtrack:

Crossroads of the World

Ramtha will see you now. Bring your checkbook.

About 20 years ago, I encountered quantum mechanics in The Dancing Wu Li Masters by Gary Zukav, and the Tao of Physics by Fritjof Capra. Despite the *relative* popularity (note the emphasis on "relative") of such books, the average person in the street has never read a science book that wasn't assigned to them in high school or college. And those books certainly weren't speculating on the nature of Life, the Universe and Everything based on the implications of quantum physics!

In my own life, awareness of the intersection of science of spirituality has given me a smidgen of additional fuel in my life of studying Christian and Eastern mysticism. So imagine my delight when I learned "What the Bleep" promised an exciting investigation into the cutting edge of science and spirituality. Surely there would interviews with people like Rupert Sheldrake, Freeman Dyson, and Larry Dossey!

Well, no, although most of the scientists were well-qualified to speak on the quantum concepts addressed. Strangely, the film undercut itself intellectually by not giving the names and qualifications of the speakers underneath their "talking heads" but only at the end. Regarding spiritual speculations, I find Capra, Sheldrake, and Dossey have more depth when it comes to this sort of thought, but the opinions shared may be eye-opening for many viewers who have never considered the inter-connectedness of mind, the universe, and God.

"What the bleep" has a beautiful visual style, exciting graphic effects, and also gets out of typical documentary mode by creating a small story of a deaf woman photographer's frustrations with life. The "Polish Wedding" sequence is hilarious, and might actually have you rolling in the aisles, as it did me!

The disappointment comes, oddly enough from the "Spiritual Teachers, Mystics, and Scholars" used. Sounds impressive right? There were only two. One was "Miceal" Ledwith, (elsewhere spelled Micheal), former member of the Catholic International Theological Commission, (who retired from Maynooth College in Ireland about the same time he made a private settlement regarding sexual abuse of a minor--see the Irish Times article of June 1 2002). The other was--get ready--RAMTHA! Yes, Ramtha, the absurd "Neolithic entity" supposedly channeled by JZ Knight.

Both Ledwith and Ramtha seemed to only be used to bash conventional religion with "the shackles of restrictive doctrine," and in Ramtha's case, assure us all that we are God. Yippee! No need to worry about meditation, service, or denying the ego. Why, I wondered, would someone go to the trouble of sharing the scientific plausibility of mysticism only to undercut it with the bitter statements of a former Catholic priest and the laughingstock of New-Age kookiness?

Perhaps it's because, according to Wikipedia.org, all three filmmakers are students of the Ramtha School of Enlightenment. Ultimately this was a long, entertaining commercial. Ramtha will see you now. Keep your ego, but bring your checkbook.