The Good Night (2007)

Director:

Jake Paltrow

Writer (WGA):

Jake Paltrow (written by)

Release Date:

15 November 2007 (Israel)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

A comedic fantasy.

Plot:

A former pop star who now writes commercial jingles for a living experiences a mid-life crisis.

Plot Keywords:

Dream | Friend | Lucid Dreaming | Band | Female Nudity

Cast

Keith Allen	...	Norman
Steffan Boje	...	Karlheinz
Penélope Cruz	...	Anna / Melodia
Danny DeVito	...	Mel
Sonia Doubell	...	Shawna
Martin Freeman	...	Gary Shaller
Michael Gambon	...	Alan Weigert
Stephen Graham	...	Victor
Kate Harper	...	Ballet Teacher
Juliana Kiehl	...	Naresta
Bruno Lastra	...	Italian Slickster #2
Martino Lazzeri	...	Italian Slickster #1
Meredith MacNeill	...	Tica
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Dora Shaller
Simon Pegg	...	Paul

Also Known As:

The good Night - Träum weiter... (Germany) (DVD title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content.

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA | UK | Germany

Language:

English | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/12 | USA:R | South Korea:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | New Zealand:R16 | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Good Night Productions

Quotes:

Mel: Sometimes I wish that you could just hit the sack and never wake up. If your favorite song never ended, or your best book never closed, if the emotions mustered from these things would just go on and on, who wouldn't want to stay asleep? The guy who discovers that perpetual dream, he's my man.

Movie Connections:

References Shane (1953)

Soundtrack:

The Universal

Jake Paltrow should have spent less money on first try

The idea is interesting enough. A musician in his thirties suffers from a major dip in his career and his relationship. But instead of addressing these problems, and have a serious talk with his girlfriend, the main character is more interested in explaining his childish dreams of a hot brunette. I didn't feel gripped for one minute by the story. And at the end, we are supposed to believe that Gary has surmounted his problems because the dreamgirl has said she for one believes in him. He composes a piano tune, gets one more chance from his girlfriend, and that's that. By the way, why has Paltrow used the documentary form? Was there anything to make a documentary about? The guy broke his leg, for heaven's sake. That's not to say there's nothing enjoyable about this film, but it's very little. It's okay if director's debut doesn't smash box office records or win three Palms in Venice. But Paltrow should dig deeper into his subject before making any other movie at all. No matter how good your cast is (and it's pretty decent), without good ideas, any film is bound to disappoint.