Bonneville (2006)

Three women take a road trip to Santa Barbara in order to deliver the ashes of one of their dead husbands to his resentful daughter.

Director:

Christopher N. Rowley

Writers:

Daniel D. Davis (screenplay), Daniel D. Davis (story),

Stars:

Jessica Lange, Robert Conder, Kathy Bates

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jessica Lange	...	Arvilla Holden
Robert Conder	...	Taxi Driver (as Bob Condor)
Kathy Bates	...	Margene Cunningham
Joan Allen	...	Carol Brimm
Bruce Newbold	...	Bishop Evans
Kristen Marie Jensen	...	Student
Christine Baranski	...	Francine Holden Packard
Tom Amandes	...	Bill Packard
Laura Park	...	Riva Fox
Tom Wopat	...	Arlo Brimm
Ivey Lloyd	...	Evelyn Brimm (as Ivey Mitchell)
Evan May	...	Robert Brimm
Erin May	...	Lauren Brimm
Tom Skerritt	...	Emmett L. Johnson
Victor Rasuk	...	Bo

Storyline

The distressed emotions that Arvilla Holden are feeling upon the death of her husband Joe Holden are compounded by dealing with Joe's adult daughter, Francine Packer. Joe and Arvilla were lovingly married for twenty years, and although they lived in Pocatello, Idaho - Arvilla's home town - they traveled the world on one adventure after another. Joe was from Santa Barbara, California, where Francine and the extended Holden family still live. Arvilla is certain that Joe wrote a new will after they got married, but since that will is nowhere to be found, the official will is the one that Francine has in her possession, which outlines certain things that Arvilla knows Joe would not now have wanted. That will states that Joe's embalmed body is to be interned with Francine's mother in Santa Barbara, despite Joe already having been cremated. Arvilla knows that Joe would have wanted his ashes scattered into the wind. The will also deeds the house in which Arvilla and Joe lived their entire ...

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Plot Keywords:

female protagonist | road movie

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some mild language and innuendo

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 February 2008 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Por siempre amigas

Filming Locations:

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$174,571 (USA) (29 February 2008)

Gross:

$488,393 (USA) (11 April 2008)

Company Credits

Production Co:

SenArt Films, Drop of Water Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The car used in this film was a 1966 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible, of which about 11,000 were produced. The standard model came with a 389 cubic inch (6.4 liter) engine with 2-barrel carburetor that produced about 325 horsepower. It was also available with an optional 421 cubic inch (6.9 L) engine with 4-barrel carb or GM's "Tri-Power" carb. Turbo-Hydramatic 3 speed transmission was standard, manual optional. The front seat in the movie car was a standard split-back bench seat, but bucket front seats were also available. The dark copper-red exterior of movie car was not an authentic color offered by Pontiac-General Motors in 1966. Original available colors included Black, White, Milano Maroon, Nocturne Blue, Martinique Bronze (aka Martinique Gold), and a creamy shade of Yellow. The interior of the movie car appears original (judging by the door panels) and is white/ivory. Other available interior colors included Black, Nocturne Blue, and Martinique Bronze. The rear-view mirror had been removed from all of the movie cars, probably to prevent the chrome mirror housing from casting a reflection of the film crew. The opaque black steering wheel appeared to be an aftermarket replacement, as the originals were transparent acrylic, tinted to match the interior color, overlaid on a chrome circular rod.

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Goofs

A stretch of highway with a large distinctive rock formation in the background is seen right before the scene in which Arvilla gives her friends their sunglasses and scarves. Much later in the film, when they are supposedly in another state, the same stretch of road with the unique rock formation (also same trees, etc.) is seen again.

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Quotes

Carol: I can't leave Arlo alone that long!
Margene: Well how would you know? You haven't left his side since highschool.
Carol: I have so!
Margene: Trips to the ladies' room don't count.

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Soundtracks

"Down the Track'
Written by Paul Taylor & Bobby Messano
Performed by Bobby Messano
Courtesy of MasterSource

User Reviews

Kudos to the cast

I watched Bonneville this past week at a screener in New York and this film motivated me to get out there and try and spread the good word and the great feelings of friendship and commitment to your friends. I also give a lot of credit to the producers of the film for bringing such a stellar cast together for a common cause. Kathy Bates doesn't disappoint and she plays a great supporting cast for Jessica Lange. Joan Allen rides in the back seat and she provides a good balance of Bates and Lange as they take the Road Trip through some awesome scenery that is filled with a lot of turns and wonderful moments along the way. I will be looking for the film to come out wide so I can take my Mom and my Aunt out to see this film.