Bubble (2005/I)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Steven Soderbergh

Writer (WGA):

Coleman Hough (written by)

Release Date:

27 January 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

Another Steven Soderbergh Experience

Plot:

Set against the backdrop of a decaying Midwestern town, a murder becomes the focal point of three people who work in a doll factory.

Plot Keywords:

Factory | Doll Factory | Investigation | Murder | Hidden Agenda

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Debbie Doebereiner	...	Martha
Omar Cowan	...	Martha's Father
Dustin James Ashley	...	Kyle (as Dustin Ashley)
Phyllis Workman	...	Bakery Shopkeeper
Laurie Lee	...	Kyle's Mother
Daniel R. Christian	...	Factory Supervisor
Misty Wilkins	...	Rose
Madison Wilkins	...	Jesse
K. Smith	...	Jake
Decker Moody	...	Detective Don Taylor
Thomas R. Davis	...	Sergeant Davis
Ross Clegg	...	CSI
Scott Smeeks	...	Officer Smeeks
M. Stephen Deem	...	Pawn Shop Owner
Leonora K. Hornbeck	...	Tackle Shopkeeper
Katherine Beaumier	...	Hairdresser
Joyce Brookhart	...	Martha's Niece
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Hubbard	...	Pastor (uncredited)

Directed by
Steven Soderbergh

Writing credits (WGA)
Coleman Hough		(written by)

Produced by
Mark Cuban	....	executive producer
Gregory Jacobs	....	producer
Jason Kliot	....	executive producer
Todd Wagner	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Steven Soderbergh		(as Peter Andrews)

Film Editing by
Steven Soderbergh		(as Mary Ann Bernard)

Casting by
Carmen Cuba

Production Management
Robin Le Chanu	....	production manager
Gretchen McGowan	....	executive in charge of production

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Trey Batchelor	....	second assistant director
Gregory Jacobs	....	first assistant director

Art Department
Scott Getzinger	....	property master

Sound Department
Paul Flinton	....	boom operator
Dennis Towns	....	sound mixer

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Jordan	....	second assistant camera
Steven Meizler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
John Joseph Minardi	....	key grip
Edward Viola	....	digital imaging technician
Peter Walts	....	gaffer

Casting Department
Kelly Hunt	....	extras casting
Rich King	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Garet Reilly	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
David Kirchner	....	assistant editor

Transportation Department
Shane Greedy	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance
Betsy Dennis	....	production secretary
Rick Flowers	....	production assistant
Jason Hinkel	....	first accountant
Steve Holmgren	....	office manager
Kate Kelly	....	production coordinator
Sonya Lunsford	....	accountant
Carlos Moore	....	location manager
Irwin M. Rappaport	....	production attorney
Matthew Reid	....	production assistant
Jenna Theobald	....	office assistant
Jenna Theobald	....	production assistant
Kevin Wines	....	production assistant
Jason Zyla	....	production assistant: art department

Production Companies

• Extension 765
• HDNet Films
• 2929 Productions
• Magnolia Pictures
• Section Eight

Distributors

• Magnolia Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 2929 International (2006) (non-USA) (all media)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2005) (Romania) (all media)
• Tohokushinsha Film (2007) (Japan) (all media)

Other Companies

• Donna Daniels Public Relations  publicity
• IndieClear  script clearance
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity
• Orbit Digital  HD services
• Technicolor  color correction

MPAA:

Rated R for some language.

Runtime:

73 min | Hong Kong:73 min (Hong Kong International Film Festival) | Canada:90 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Netherlands:MG6 | Brazil:14 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Argentina:13 | South Korea:15 | Portugal:M/16 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Belpre, Ohio, USA

Company:

Extension 765

Trivia:

Simultaneously released on cable, DVD and in theaters.

Movie Connections:

References Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (2004) (VG)

Soderbergh's minimalist view on a Gothic small-town 'love triangle': Well worth a glimpse

Lisa Swartzbaum of Entertainment Weekly opened the New York Film Festival screening of "Bubble" by introducing the writer Coleman Hough (a woman, to my minor shock). She said about 10 words and the screening began.

Upon the first scene, any film guru would note that it's amazingly captured on HD. Some scenes I couldn't believe weren't 35mm.

"Bubble" doesn't belittle the simple people it depicts, as many Hollywood-takes-on-small-town-USA films do, but really gives them great depth and complexity. Coming from a small town myself, I felt like I knew the people that were on the screen.

The neurotic "love" triangle that emerges in the film is wonderfully dark and comedic, as is the film entirely. From the assembly of the dolls in the factory to the simple lunch break conversations, everything has a seeded, underlying element of humanity that is both jocular and haunting.

Without giving away anything damaging to the story, "Bubble" is a great escape from Hollywood for both Soderbergh and the public alike with amazing performances by the non-professional leads and supporting cast and an ending that will make you say "Huh?"

8/10 (and for as much as I paid for tickets to the NYFF, Soderbergh should've been there dammit!)