IMDb > Off the Black (2006)
Off the Black
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Off the Black (2006) More at IMDbPro »

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Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   759 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?

Up 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

James Ponsoldt

Writer:

James Ponsoldt (writer)

Contact:

View company contact information for Off the Black on IMDbPro.

Release Date:

8 December 2006 (USA) more

Genre:

Drama more

Tagline:

Would you let this man be your father?

Plot:

An aging, disillusioned alcoholic (Nolte) gets a younger friend (Morgan) and wants him to pose as his son at a school reunion. | full synopsis

NewsDesk:

James Ponsoldt of OFF THE BLACK: The Media Diet
 (From Spout. 18 August 2008, 10:35 AM, PDT)

User Comments:

Film works because of the withered poignancy found in America's most tired actor more (15 total)


Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)
Trevor Morgan ... Dave Tibbel

Nick Nolte ... Ray Cook
Rosemarie DeWitt ... Debra
Thomas Schall ... Male Parent #1

Paul Urcioli ... Male Parent #2

Johnathan Tchaikovsky ... Paul Michaels

Noah Fleiss ... Todd Hunter
Sonia Feigelson ... Ashley Tibbel

Timothy Hutton ... Mr. Tibbel
James Ponsoldt ... Robby
Darrell Larson ... Doctor

Richard Petrocelli ... Man in Doctor's Office
Richard Terwilliger ... Teacher
Marlyne Afflack ... Nancy
Michael Higgins ... Al Cook
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:

Rated R for a crude sexual remark.

Runtime:

USA:90 min (Sundance Film Festival) | Argentina:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1 more

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Argentina:16 | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

Suffern, New York, USA

Company:

Forensic Films more


Fun Stuff

Goofs:

Continuity: On the way out the door from Dave's house, Ray asks Dave if he, himself can drive the truck. Dave says yes, and hands the keys to Ray. In the next scene on the highway, we can see from the long hair, shot from behind, that Dave is the one driving. more

Movie Connections:

References Doctor Zhivago (1965) more

Soundtrack:

A Part Of Being With You more


FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
6 out of 10 people found the following comment useful.
Film works because of the withered poignancy found in America's most tired actor, 9 April 2007
6/10
Author: D A from SoFla, UsA

This low-key character study, mixing humor and depression to a tender effect, paints a picture of this odd coupling between an elderly bitter drunk and the teenage pitcher responsible for vandalizing his property with a fairly charming success rate. Off the Black is a noteworthy minor work that completely thrives off of the gruff charisma lead Nick Nolte injects into an otherwise typically off-beat, indie-mannered screenplay dabbling in peculiar friendship. The script, while appealing enough to attract the likes of a fine actor such as Nolte (a fact rendered even more impressive given it is a first time feature effort from newcomer James Ponsoldt), really would not have been able to shine unless this perfect spot of casting had fallen into place.

The movie works, and works best, only when Nolte's scenery chewing antics are present, and in retrospect, the entire piece, while gracefully dealing in issues of family, isolationism, and connectivity, is really just a 90 minute excuse for one of America's bona fide talents to flex his considerable sandpaper-throated heft around in a role that was clearly conceived with him in mind. It is not so much Nolte's outstanding talent as a diversified actor that has made him survive and stay relevant these few decades as it has been his continuing effort to refine his natural instincts to help make his character's all seem completely believable and unquestionably human. With his continued approach for taking lower profile but higher developed material as of late, this performance continues the respectably eclectic, under-the-radar winning streak with a front and center take that puts the legend square in his element. Add the believable high school sensitivities from costar Trevor Morgan into the mix and we have a pleasing relationship movie with some dynamics that really work.

So where does Off the Black fail? Quite simply in all other scenes not showcasing these two main characters together. Ponsoldt tries to detail the reality behind the young man's life with little success, instead falling prey to the usual pratfalls of underdeveloped subplot and supporting roles. Directed in a straightforward way though at times impressively framed, any immersion garnered throughout the modest film will remain Nick Nolte's chief responsibility.

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Heartbreaking work of staggering genius... dgotzh
Suffern High School coolestone221
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Syd Barrett song on intro... shelly10538
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