Winged Creatures (2008)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

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:

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 Archenault
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) (USA) (new 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

Certification:

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

Filming Locations:

Altadena, California, USA

Company:

Artina Films

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]
[...]

The Aftermath of an Urban Violence

In an ordinary day, a deranged man has a rampage in a diner and randomly shoots the costumers. The survivors of the tragic episode are deeply affected by the shooting and have the most different reactions: the youngster Anne Hagen (Dakota Fanning) becomes popular at school telling her version of the shooting and shows a great faith on God; her friend Jimmy Jaspersen (Josh Hutcherson) becomes mute and closes himself to the outer world like an autist; the waitress Carla Davenport (Kate Beckinsale) neglects her baby and has a vulgar behavior with men; Dr. Bruce Laraby (Guy Pearce) loses his self-confidence and tries an experimental treatment to the migraine of his wife; and the compulsive gambler Charlie Archenault (Forrest Whitaker) believes that he is lucky in the game and gambles all his money but he has a jinx.

"Winged Creatures" is a depressing movie about the aftermath of an urban violence that every now and then happens in North America – shooting in a public space. There are rich characters developed in a short running time that deserved a longer time to explain their motives better. The bleak experiment of Dr. Bruce Laraby with his wife is weird and bizarre, and it is hard to understand his motives. Why Carla neglects her baby is also very strange since the viewer does not know her behavior at home before the tragic incident. Charlie deserves his fate since he is an addicted gambler. However the kids Jimmy and Anne are perfectly developed and have the best drama in the story, with a heartbreaking conclusion. My vote is seven.

Title (Brazil): "O Efeito da Fúria" ("The Effect of the Fury")