The Darwin Awards (2006)

A forensic detective and an insurance investigator trek to investigate a potential Darwin Award winner. From www.darwinawards.com: "Honoring those who improve the species...by accidentally removing themselves from it!"

Director:

Finn Taylor

Writer:

Finn Taylor

Stars:

David Arquette, Ty Burrell, Joseph Fiennes

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Arquette	...	Harvey
Ty Burrell	...	Emile
Josh Charles	...	Paramedic
Kevin Dunn	...	Insurance Exec
Nora Dunn	...	Mrs. Pearlman
Joseph Fiennes	...	Michael Burrows
Judah Friedlander	...	Simon
Lukas Haas	...	Farley
Tom Hollander	...	Henry
Brad Hunt	...	Stan
Juliette Lewis	...	Joleen
Julianna Margulies	...	Carla
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Perp
Alessandro Nivola	...	Ad Exec
Chris Penn	...	Tom

Storyline

A forensic detective and an insurance investigator trek to investigate a potential Darwin Award winner. From www.darwinawards.com: "Honoring those who improve the species...by accidentally removing themselves from it!"

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Plot Keywords:

kitchen | accidental suicide | lincoln continental | white trash | chicago illinois | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violent images, some sexuality and drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 July 2006 (United Arab Emirates)

Also Known As:

Darwin Awards

Filming Locations:

Adelanto, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Ring Circus Films, Blumhouse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min 94 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The scene involving the JATO rocket is not the only "Mythbusters" connection in the film. Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman also examined (and debunked) the story of the ice fishing with dynamite mishap in a subsequent episode of Alaska myths. Additionally, the "pulley" sequence with Michael and the filmmaker sliding up and down the building face on a rope is a slightly-altered retelling of the "barrel of bricks" myth which Adam and Jamie also investigated (and found somewhat plausible if highly unlikely).

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Goofs

When Burrows and Siri are driving in the car, before they hit the metal grate, the documentary filmmaker is not in the car. Also, there is no other vehicle shown. However, after the accident, the documentary filmmaker is with them again.

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Quotes

Siri Taylor: For an ex-cop, you're kind of a pussy, aren't ya?

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Crazy Credits

The film was granted MPAA certificate #999999, which, technically, won't be awarded until decades later.

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Connections

References Popeye the Sailor (1960)

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Soundtracks

"My Mathematical Mind"
Written by Britt Daniel
Performed by Spoon
Courtesy of Merge Records

User Reviews

Less would be best......

While quite original in it's concept of studying people who kill themselves in incredibly stupid ways, the delivery is jumbled and not as entertaining as it might have been. If you were to lose the totally unnecessary documentary film maker and the ridiculous, cartoon-like serial killer, the movie would have benefited. When it is describing one of the outrageous idiots and their stunts, the film is in high gear. Unfortunately it repeatedly bogs down and this starting and stopping ruins the whole tone of "The Darwin Awards". I recommend simply checking out the idiotic segments and skipping the rest. This would have made a superior short, but as a feature it fails, because there is too much going on at once. Less would have been best. - MERK