The Girl in the Park (2007)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

David Auburn

Writer:

David Auburn (writer)

Release Date:

12 September 2008 (Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Enduringly traumatized by the disappearance of her 3-year-old daughter 15 years ago, Julia Sandburg...

Cast

Sigourney Weaver	...	Julia Sandburg
Kate Bosworth	...	Louise
Alessandro Nivola	...	Chris
Keri Russell	...	Celeste
David Rasche	...	Doug
Elias Koteas	...	Raymond
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Felipe Bonilla	...	Bartender
Alex Burns	...	Guy
Curtiss Cook	...	Actor
Samantha Gallo	...	Girl riding spring animal in park
Mark Gerrard	...	Doctor (as Michael Gerrard)
Maury Ginsberg	...	Marcus Broyard
Joanna Gleason	...	Sarah Graczyk
Seiko Higuma	...	Euro Trash
Jeffrey Joseph	...	Bobby
Patricia Kalember	...	Amanda
Jeremy Kareken	...	Bartender
Stephen Kunken	...	Lee Hall
Ian McWethy	...	Dean
Flaco Navaja	...	Contractor
Elizabeth Newman	...	Colleague
Michael Lee Patterson	...	David Graczyk
Katharine Powell	...	Waitress
Tijuana Ricks	...	Narissa
Rich Rothbell	...	Justice of the Peace
Jack Rovello	...	Young Chris
Kristen Ruhlin	...	The girl mistaken for Louise
Brendan Sexton III	...	Stuart
Bill Sorice	...	Bartender
Andrew Stewart-Jones	...	Louise's Date
Daisy Tahan	...	Maggie
Sarah Megan Thomas	...	Hairdresser
Elisabeth Waterston	...	Alice
Stacey Yen	...	Woman

Also Known As:

Girl in the Park (UK)

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

Canada:109 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Canada:14A | USA:R | Mexico:B

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Furst Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When Julia's co-worker brings her a coffee to try out from his new coffee machine, he places it on her desk. The shot changes to him a few seconds later. When back to her, the coffee cup is turned 180 degrees - the handle is on the other side, the computer mouse is moved, and a stack of papers near her planner is moved. She did not move all of these things in those few seconds because she is holding some papers that she was reading when he walked into her office.

Weaver and Bosworth give Oscar-worthy performances!

I just watched this and OMFG.

I really hope this film gets some sort of theatrical release, even if it's just a NY/LA one week deal. It's too way good to be relegated to the "made for TV" or "direct-to-DVD" status, especially considering the performances.

Seeing how this is Auburn's second film, it's a great step up from the good-but-not-great "Proof" (which to me, had great performances, but flowed too much like a play). Watching the film pulled me into the world of these characters, and it felt like each character was well-written. From the leads to the supporting (like Keri Russell and Elias Koteas), each person had various emotions and motives within themselves.

The film plays more like a suspense drama, seeing how the main payoff you're aiming for is whether or not Bosworth's "Louise" is the long-lost daughter. And wow, once you get it, it's amazingly worth it.

I didn't really care for Signourney Weaver's performance in "Baby Mama" earlier this year so I was apprehensive of sitting through this film (with her in the lead) but here, she truly impressed me. From every heartbreaking emotion, or her rage and hatred towards people & herself, she brought out a fully dimensional character that I haven't been taken back by in so many years.

Meanwhile, Bosworth has impressed me with her supporting dramatic roles in "Beyond The Sea" and "Wonderland" and I was really happy to see her finally have a film where she has the ability to show off her talent. This is her finest performance to date and she completely blew me away with the various emotions she conveyed.

I loved this film, and I hope more people are able to see it.