Winged Creatures (2008)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Rowan Woods

Writer (WGA):

Roy Freirich (written by)

Release Date:

26 February 2009 (Hong Kong)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

You have to lose your way to find it.

Plot:

A group of strangers form a unique relationship with each other after surviving a random shooting at a Los Angeles diner.

Plot Keywords:

Random Shooting | Brother Sister Relationship | Post Traumatic Stress | Based On Novel

Cast

Marshall Allman	...	Dan the Bellhop
James Babson	...	Bike Shop Owner
Jacquie Barnbrook	...	Lori's Mom
Kate Beckinsale	...	Carla Davenport
Ankur Bhatt	...	Cubicle Neighor
Kevin Cooney	...	Travis Carlson
Embeth Davidtz	...	Joan Laraby
Michael Drummond	...	Prayer Group Kid #2
Kevin Durand	...	Bagman
Dakota Fanning	...	Anne Hagen
Andrew Fiscella	...	Numbers man
Soren Fulton	...	Howard
Gina Gallego	...	Waitress
Ted Garcia	...	Funeral Reporter
Troy Garity	...	Ron Abler
Walton Goggins	...	Zack
Beth Grant	...	Carla's Mom
Tim Guinee	...	Aaron Hagen
Jackie Earle Haley	...	Bob Jaspersen
Gwen Holloway	...	Social Worker
Jennifer Hudson	...	Kathy Hammett
Josh Hutcherson	...	Jimmy Jaspersen
Cohl Klop	...	Prayer Group Kid 1
Mela Lee	...	Internal Medicine Receptionist (voice)
Elaine Loh	...	Losing Gambler
Brooke Mackenzie	...	Traci
Hayley McFarland	...	Lori Carline
Jamie McShane	...	Stickman
Debrah Neal	...	Casino Lounge Singer
Lu Parker	...	TV Reporter
Randall Park	...	Resident
Guy Pearce	...	Dr. Bruce Laraby
Lara Phillips	...	Woman
Tarina Pouncy	...	ICU Nurse
Jeff Rector	...	Sheriff
Santos Reyes	...	Eddie
Al Ruscio	...	Angelo
Kent Shocknek	...	TV reporter
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Doris Hagen
Robin Weigert	...	Lydia Jasperson
Forest Whitaker	...	Charlie Archenault
Whittni Wright	...	Hannah

Also Known As:

Fragments (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for violent content, sexuality and language.

Runtime:

USA:100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R | Hong Kong:IIB | Germany:16 (DVD rating) | Singapore:M18 | Argentina:16

Filming Locations:

Altadena, California, USA

Company:

Peace Arch Entertainment Group

Trivia:

Director Rowan Woods was rumored to have said that Dakota Fanning was difficult to work with and to have claimed he ended up cutting many of her scenes. The director released a statement denying these rumors.

Quotes:

Anne Hagen: God knows they were brave, Jimmy. Dad smiled down at me like he didn't have a care in the world. God wants you to be brave. You can be too. God can help you see into the hearts of everyone who fell, like I do. His witness, which you are too.
Jimmy Jaspersen: [pointing the gun at her] So witness, but tell what you really saw! Tell it!
Doris Hagen: [timidly approaching] Jimmy, this is dangerous. Whatever you two think you have to hide, it's not worse than...
Jimmy Jaspersen: Tell it.
Doris Hagen: Annie.
Anne Hagen: [takes a shaky breath, beginning to cry] I saw Dad. And he smiled down and he told me not to be scared. He was so brave. And then... I was holding his hand, and he was holding mine... and then his Coke spilled.
Jimmy Jaspersen: No!
Anne Hagen: [seemingly composing herself] Then there were more shots, and the alarm went off.
Jimmy Jaspersen: No, remember it!
[starts to cry]
[...]

A very effective and accurate ensemble piece.

It's hard to be an ensemble drama in a time when the other films in this sub-genre have a very sturdy track record, with "Crash" being a Best Picture winner, "Babel" and "Traffic" being Best Picture nominees, and "Magnolia" being a cult favorite, among many other popular multi-storied films. Yes, these ensemble pieces all are quite distinctive from one another, but it's very hard to not compare them to each other, as their common goal is the same: to tell many stories and convey one focused message.

In my opinion, films like "Crash" and "Babel" are hurt by the fact that they are forced to cheat the viewers in order to come to the film's end message, whereas a film like "Magnolia" or "Traffic" arrives at it through brilliant film-making and storytelling.

Luckily, this adaptation ensemble piece manages to land itself far closer to the likes of "Magnolia" or "Traffic" than "Crash" or "Babel." While I consider that a very good thing, some may not. Some may want a film that focuses on leaving a strong emotional impact more than telling its many stories as well as possible, and they may in fact be disappointed by "Winged Creatures." But if you appreciate low-key films that are effective without hitting you over the head in any way, this film is definitely a must-see.

One of the first things praise-worthy in this ensemble film is, of course, its terrific ensemble cast. Many of these actors provide performances that prove they have more potential than I had previously thought. The film is about numerous characters who witness a murder, and the PTSD that follows them around afterward, and most of the actors have to portray a different PTSD side-effect with his or her performance, and all of them do it very well.

I never believed that Kate Beckinsale had anything to her name besides hot looks, but she plays a stressed-out mother very convincingly. After his ridiculous over-performance in "Vantage Point," I thought that Forrest Whitaker's fabulous performance in "The Last King of Scotland" may have just been a fluke. But his portrayal of a man whose luck is all over the place after the event is spot-on. As Dakota Fanning moves towards adulthood, she handles a particularly tricky (and religion-heavy) performance with ease. Heck, even Jennifer Hudson (how the hell did she win an Oscar?) gives a performance that indicates some talent, even though her role is small.

Then you get to the direction, and all that goes with it. The film moves between its stories just as well as the higher-budget, more mainstream ensemble pieces, transitioning very well without ever killing the mood with a sudden shift. The film's score adds to this , as it keeps the same feel throughout the movie, giving the film an unchanging pace and mood, so even though you're watching a bunch of stories at once, it's one wholesome experience.

I don't know if this will get recognition come Oscar time, but frankly, it doesn't need to. This is a movie that shows talent out of a lot of actors about whom you may have been skeptical, and is a very worthy addition to the ensemble piece genre.