Nobel Son (2007)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Randall Miller

Writers (WGA):

Jody Savin (written by) &
Randall Miller (written by)

Release Date:

5 December 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Keep your eyes on the prize.

Plot:

Barkley Michaelson is in a deep life rut. He's struggling to finish his PhD thesis when his father, the learned Eli Michaelson...

Plot Keywords:

Nobel Prize | Ransom | Phd | Revenge | Thesis

Cast

Alan Rickman	...	Eli Michaelson
Bryan Greenberg	...	Barkley Michaelson
Shawn Hatosy	...	Thaddeus James
Mary Steenburgen	...	Sarah Michaelson
Bill Pullman	...	Det. Max Mariner
Eliza Dushku	...	City Hall
Danny DeVito	...	George Gastner
Lindy Booth	...	Beth Chapman
Tracey Walter	...	Simon Ahrens
Ted Danson	...	Harvey Parrish
Ernie Hudson	...	Sgt. Bill Canega
Hal B. Klein	...	Tully's Guy
Kevin West	...	Jaundice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kirk Baily	...	Wil Cavalere
Dawn Balkin	...	Stewardess
Greg Collins	...	Foreman
Reid Collums	...	Delivery Guy
Lucy DeVito
Tiffany Downey	...	Model
Bennett Dunn	...	Bartender
Mark Famiglietti	...	Officer Relyea
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Ruby
Brendon Graham	...	Soldier
Joyce Guy	...	Eileen Moses
Larry Hankin	...	Dr. Polaczek
Juliette Jeffers	...	Claire
Matthew Kimbrough	...	Deacon
Joe Koons	...	Poet
Valerie Long	...	Excrement Woman
Wayne Lopez	...	Cabbie
Danika Quinn	...	Opera Singer (as Danika Osterman)
Dean Rader-Duval	...	Ernie
Johanna Torell	...	Analea
Matt Winston	...	Clifford
Avis Wrentmore	...	Model

MPAA:

Rated R for some violent gruesome images, language and sexuality.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | Dolby SR

Certification:

USA:R | Ireland:15 | UK:15 | Netherlands:16

Filming Locations:

City of Industry, California, USA

Company:

Eli's Son Production

Trivia:

Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson are married in real life, but their characters never interact. Danson's role is little more than a cameo.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: Near the end of the Mini in the Mall sequence, a stunt driver can be seen in the driver's seat of the car. He first appears when the vehicle is stationary, about 20 seconds before the end of the scene, then immediately after, when the car is headed for one of the walls.

Quotes:

Eli Michaelson: If anyone in this room ever doubted my intellectual superiority, you may now formally kiss my fine white ass.

Movie Connections:

References Scarface (1932)

Awesome and gripping film.

Let me just start by saying I didn't get the first comment on this movie. Alan Rickman's FIVE minutes? The entire movie is about him.

Now, about the movie. I thought it was FANTASTIC. From writer/director/producer/editor Randall Miller is now at the top of my list of festival favorites. This dark comedy could draw on the audience for Alan Rickman and Danny DeVito, and on the growing public for extremely seductive Eliza Dushku. It's *very* fast paced – moving quickly from scene to scene. The music is a major, major component of this film – fantastic techno type stuff. And it's really an ensemble piece – it's not just dominated by Rickman or a couple of characters. Each of them plays a large role and it's pretty evenly distributed. It's a complicated film – you really have to pay attention and follow the plot twists. Stylishly directed, with very interesting cinematography, it features exceptional acting from a large and noteworthy cast, too. Eliza Dushku stands out as the criminally involved City Hall. It is definitely headed for a distribution deal soon.

A M A Z I N G.