The Hawk Is Dying (2006)

User Rating:

5.8/10   

Director:

Julian Goldberger

Writers:

Harry Crews (novel)
Julian Goldberger (writer)

Release Date:

9 July 2008 (France)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

A Gainesville Florida auto upholsterer (Giamatti) attempts to subvert his mundane life by training a wild, red-tailed hawk. |

Plot Keywords:

Gainesville Florida | Upholsterer | Hawk | Obsession | Drowning

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Paul Giamatti	...	George Gattling
Michelle Williams	...	Betty
Michael Pitt	...	Fred
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Precious
Robert Wisdom	...	Billy Bob
Ann Wedgeworth	...	Ma Gattling
Mark Campbell	...	Football Player
Ayana Rhoden	...	Girlfriend
Taylor Simpson	...	Gray Bony Lady
John Hostetter	...	Nebbish Professor
Steve DuMouchel	...	Marvin Hill
Katie Dixon	...	Young Female Undergrad
Veryl Jones	...	Ambulance Driver
Karl Anthony	...	Dr. Leep
Marc Macaulay	...	Alonzo

Runtime:

USA:112 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Australia:M | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Florida, USA

Company:

Antidote Films (I)

Trivia:

The production schedule only allowed for 24 days of shooting.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The captured bird featured in the film is identified as a red tailed hawk. The bird shown in the film is most likely a Lanner Falcon.

Quotes:

Fred: You never have.

Movie Connections:

References "Aquaman" (1968)

beautiful movie

I just saw this movie in Los Angeles in quite a limited screening. I was compelled to go as a Crews fan, yet this movie surpassed my expectations. Julian Goldberger is now one of my favorite directors and I believe this movie is brilliant. Beautifully shot with incredible hand held cinematography, a lush setting where "nature was a character"and a deep commitment to humanism and the complex feelings of love and meaning, this film truly resonates within the individual. The idea of how we relate to the day to day, to the absurd, to nature and the wild are just some of the things I loved about the movie. The setting was magical as the bird. I felt the wild, I felt the loneliness, I felt the love and the music of the earth. Giamatti(amazingamazing),Williams(really good), Schwimmer, Wisdom, Pitt, MacCaulay all were attop form; they portrayed the true characters and the realism that makes Crews so attractive. I found myself unbelievably moved at the sadness and joy and everything in between. This movie is so layered in good flimmaking, I could go on and on...from the players, the director, the incredible sound (THE SOUND!!), and the unbelievable photography/cinematography. The screen adaptation is slightly different from the novel, but I believe it captures the largeness and smallness of our world and mysteries of life. It flows and the tension and release are palpable. Although this film was not well-received atSundance and, according to the QandA, most reviews dismal, I found thisrefreshing. So often what is outside the status quo is co-opted; themarginalized becomes the mainstream in a base and compromised position. I hate that people namedrop Harry Crews as a badge of cool, along with their silkscreened tshirts and overpriced jeans. I doubt that Jarmusch or Altman were well received at first either. Now they are listed on those "cool" folks myspace page. This movie should extend beyond all reviews; it stands as a strong work of art and an intelligent beautiful movie. The only reason I do not give it a 10 is because ...well I'm changing my vote to a 10. This ranks as one of my favorite movies of all time.