The Lucky Ones (2008)

Director:

Neil Burger

Writers (WGA):

Neil Burger (written by) &
Dirk Wittenborn (written by)

Release Date:

26 September 2008 (Canada)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | War

Tagline:

Sometimes losing your way home means finding yourself

Plot:

The story revolves around three soldiers - Colee, TK and Cheever - who return from the war after suffering...

Plot Keywords:

Soldier | Road Trip | Iraq War | College Tuition | Guitar

Cast

Rachel McAdams	...	Colee
Tim Robbins	...	Cheaver
Michael Peña	...	TK
Molly Hagan	...	Pat Cheaver
Mark L. Young	...	Scott Cheaver
Howard Platt	...	Stan Tilson
Arden Myrin	...	Barbara Tilson
Coby Goss	...	Peter Tilson (as Coburn Goss)
John Heard	...	Bob
Jennifer Joan Taylor	...	Bob's Wife
Katherine LaNasa	...	Janet
Leo Ford	...	Janet's Husband
Susan Yeagley	...	Kendra
Emily Swallow	...	Brandi
John Diehl	...	Tom Klinger
Annie Corley	...	Jeanie Klinger
Katie Korby	...	Shannon
Kirk B.R. Woller	...	Army Psychologist
James Errico	...	Soldier in Hospital
Meredith Siemsen	...	Woman in Airport
Michael Aaron Lindner	...	Guy on Cellphone
Jason Knowles	...	Reporter on T.V.
Vis Brown	...	Rental Car Agent
J.D. Mathein	...	Car Dealer
Kerry Bishé	...	College Girl
Brianne Carden	...	College Girl
Sarah Steele	...	Girl with Jacket
Glen Allen Pruett	...	Carl (as Glen Pruett)
Karin McKie	...	Clinic Nurse
Anthony Irons	...	Mechanic (as Anthony Lee Irons)
Anne Jacques	...	Woman in Church
Spencer Garrett	...	Pastor Nolan
Scott Jaeck	...	Guitar Store Owner
Katherine Cuba	...	Bartender at Airport
John Hoogenakker	...	Army Recruiter
Michael A. Rizza	...	Croupier (as Michael Rizza)
Christian Stolte	...	Police Desk Sergeant
Kevin Michael Doyle	...	Detective #1
K. Todd Freeman	...	Detective #2
Tim Gamble	...	Police Captain
Rachel Foszcz	...	Caterer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sarah Arend	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Sorin Brouwers	...	Soldier in Hospital (uncredited)
Maritza Cabrera	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Shawn I. Chevalier	...	Air Canada Flight Attendant (uncredited)
Kelli Clevenger	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Cyn Dulay	...	Affluent Guest (uncredited)
Sue Durso	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Kristy Farrell Schires	...	Stranded Airline Passenger (uncredited)
Nichole Fischer	...	Airline Employee / Passenger (uncredited)
Destiny Graham	...	Stranded Airline Passenger (uncredited)
Carlos Michael Hagene	...	Stranded Airport Passenger (uncredited)
Joe Hammerstone	...	Stranded Airport Passenger (uncredited)
Thomas Kosik	...	Restaurant Customer (uncredited)
Valentino Moralez	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Bob Pepper	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Ron Provencal	...	Metro Police Officer (uncredited)
Robert Ramos	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Greg Reynolds	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Jan Seybold	...	Army Nurse (uncredited)
Amit Shah	...	Caterer (uncredited)
Malik Simmons	...	Stranded Airport Passenger (uncredited)
Jaxon Stanford	...	Stranded Airport Passenger (uncredited)
Barb J. Stroud	...	Stranded Airport Passenger (uncredited)
Giota Trakas	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Darryl Villacorta	...	Soldier (uncredited)
Dale Ward	...	Fast Food Customer (uncredited)
Robert Douglas Washington	...	Army Guy (uncredited)
Lisa Wolf	...	Nurse (uncredited)

Directed by
Neil Burger

Writing credits (WGA)
Neil Burger		(written by) &
Dirk Wittenborn		(written by)

Produced by
Deborah Aquila	....	co-producer
Steffen Aumueller	....	executive producer
Bill Block	....	executive producer
Said Boudarga	....	executive producer
Neil Burger	....	producer
Claus Clausen	....	executive producer
Elliot Ferwerda	....	executive producer
Marina Grasic	....	executive producer
Paul Hanson	....	executive producer
John J. Kelly	....	line producer: additional photography
Brian Koppelman	....	producer
Jan Korbelin	....	executive producer
David Levien	....	producer
Brian McCormack	....	executive producer
Adam Merims	....	executive producer
Tom Ortenberg	....	executive producer
Rick Schwartz	....	producer
Glenn M. Stewart	....	co-producer (as Glenn Stewart)
Dirk Wittenborn	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Rolfe Kent

Cinematography by
Declan Quinn

Film Editing by
Naomi Geraghty

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Claire Simon
Tricia Wood

Production Design by
Leslie A. Pope
Jan Roelfs

Set Decoration by
Tanja Deshida

Costume Design by
Jenny Gering

Makeup Department
Breezy Brezany	....	additional hair stylist (as Martha Brezany-Adams)
Lisa Brockman-Kalz	....	makeup artist: St. Louis
Norayne Deters	....	additional hair stylist
Lori Hicks	....	makeup department head
Lori Hicks	....	makeup designer: Rachel McAdams
Lisa Jelic	....	additional makeup artist (as Lisa Marie Jelic)
Kayleen McAdams	....	assistant makeup artist
Jennifer McDaniel	....	makeup department head: additional photography
Francesca Paris	....	hair designer: Rachel McAdams
Sacha Quarles	....	hair department head
Maria Romita	....	local hair stylist
Thomas Terhaar	....	local hair stylist

Production Management
Gigi Causey	....	production supervisor
Robert Hackl	....	post-production supervisor
Heather Longerbeam	....	production supervisor: New Mexico
Philip Stilman	....	post-production supervisor: re-cut (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Timothy Bird	....	first assistant director
Mitchell Bock	....	first assistant director: New Mexico
Michelle Gonsiorek	....	second second assistant director
Heather Grierson	....	second assistant director
Keith Potter	....	second assistant director: New Mexico
Adam Pray	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Dean DeMatteis	....	props
John Donahue	....	on-set dresser
Daniel Fisher	....	property master
Sean Gartner	....	props
Jourdan Henderson	....	art department coordinator
Kyle Holden	....	set dresser
Brent Jaimes	....	set dresser
Frank Kasy	....	storyboard artist
Paul Knubley	....	assistant property master
Ellen Lampl	....	graphic designer
Chris Wolfgang Mauch	....	storyboard artist
Troy Osman	....	construction coordinator
Jim Tudor	....	set dresser
Merje Veski	....	props
Gary Wimmer	....	charge scenic
Clark Woodman	....	props

Sound Department
Shaun Brennan	....	foley artist
Stacy Brownrigg	....	production sound mixer
Rachel Chancey	....	foley engineer
Thadd Day	....	boom operator
Rusty Dunn	....	sound effects editor
Mark Filip	....	sound effects editor
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	sound re-recording mixer
Lewis Goldstein	....	supervising sound editor
Mike Howells	....	adr recordist
Steve La Fayette	....	sound utility
Allen Lau	....	assistant sound editor
Mark Levinson	....	loop group editor
Nathan Lindsey	....	sound intern
Cate Montana	....	supervising adr editor
Jac Rubenstein	....	dialogue editor
Tom Ryan	....	sound intern
Michael Suarez	....	adr recordist
Bartek Swiatek	....	cable utility
Dominick Tavella	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Vierhaus	....	sound consultant: dolby

Special Effects by
Everett Byrom III	....	special effects supervisor
Craig Byrom	....	special effects foreman
Elia P. Popov	....	special effects foreman

Visual Effects by
Anthony Davis	....	digital compositor: Technicolor Digital Services
Stevan Del George	....	digital compositor
John Follmer	....	visual effects producer
Vít Komrzý	....	visual effects producer
Jesse Morrow	....	visual effects artist
Viktor Muller	....	visual effects supervisor
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration
Jiri Stamfest	....	matte painter
Jan Vseticek	....	visual effects coordinator

Stunts
Gilbert B. Combs	....	stunts
Steve M. Davison	....	stunt coordinator
James Fierro	....	stunt driver
G. Peter King	....	stunt coordinator
Daniel Maldonado	....	stunt performer
Carrick O'Quinn	....	stunt driver
Jeff Shannon	....	stunt performer
Alicia Skirball	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Sam Bertone	....	best boy electric
Kelly R. Borisy	....	key grip
Jim Bridges	....	still photographer
Fernando M. Briones	....	best boy grip
Dante Cardone	....	gaffer: additional photography
Mark Castelaz	....	gaffer
Lisa Clauson	....	camera production assistant
Dawn Copeland	....	electrician
Jaime Dawkins	....	grip
Julian J. Delacruz	....	second assistant camera
Matt Dinerstein	....	still photographer
Stanley Fernandez Jr.	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Anne Freivogel	....	second assistant camera: St. Louis
Dan Gartner	....	additional electrician
Tim Hawn	....	additional electrician
Marty Hechinger	....	additional electrician
Robert Hicks	....	car rigging grip
David Houlle	....	additional electrician
David Knox	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Dave Kube	....	additional grip
Oliver Larry	....	grip
Matthew LeCrone	....	electrician
Jeremy Long	....	electrician
David 'Louie' Lukasik	....	electrician
Darryl Miller	....	grip
Chris Murray	....	grip
Charles 'Chaz' Norcross	....	additional grip
Jonah Ravine	....	key video assist
Adam Reisz	....	additional grip
Richard Rutkowski	....	director of photography: additional photography
Chris Ryerson	....	best boy grip
Kory Salajka	....	dolly grip
Gerard Sava	....	camera operator
John Sennott	....	electrician
Stuart Slack	....	grip
Richard Speed	....	additional grip
Jeff Taylor	....	second assistant camera: re-shoot
Jerry Tran	....	electrician
Brian Wells	....	additional second assistant camera
Hunter Whalen	....	camera production assistant
Dave Wightman	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Wittenborn	....	camera loader
Jeff Tomcho	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Scott Blasko	....	extras casting assistant
Shelby Cherniet	....	casting associate: Chicago
Darlene R. Hunt	....	extras casting
Tina Kerr	....	extras casting: St. Louis, Denver, Las Vegas
Rachel Komar	....	extras casting
Garrett McGuire	....	casting associate
Teresa Thoma	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kevin Draves	....	costume supervisor
Steven Frendreis	....	costumer
Lindsay Kouri	....	costume supervisor: second unit
Hatsephi Kushma	....	set costumer: extras
Jared B. Leese	....	tailor
Karla Strum	....	costume intern
Cathy Wilke	....	set costumer
Monique Long	....	costumer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Dana Bloder	....	digital intermediate producer
Joe Gawler	....	digital intermediate colorist
Nick Houy	....	apprentice editor
Jesse Morrow	....	smoke editor
Vit Sedlacek	....	northlight operator
Daniel Silverman	....	video mastering supervisor
Arturo Sosa	....	first assistant editor
Tim Stipan	....	digital intermediate colorist
Michael P. Whipple	....	digital intermediate engineer

Music Department
Doug Bernheim	....	music supervisor
Joseph S. DeBeasi	....	music editor: temp score
Tracy McKnight	....	music consultant
Nick South	....	music editor
Greg Townley	....	scoring mixer
Eve Nelson	....	composer: additional music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Dan 'the Mayor' Cowden	....	transportation captain: St. Louis, MO
Jimmy Cowden	....	transportation
Glenn Korbesmeyer	....	driver: picture car
Richard Ladendecker	....	driver
Thaddeus E. Larkowski	....	transportation coordinator
Daniel Rodell	....	driver
Margo J. Zuffante	....	picture car assistant

Other crew
David E. Augustson	....	weapons
Donielle Augustson	....	weapons
Kit Bland	....	production assistant
J. Todd Breasseale	....	technical advisor: military (as Major Joseph Todd Breasseale)
Rocky Brito	....	stand-in
Mary J. Carlson	....	script supervisor
Bill Casey	....	animal handler
Jean Chien	....	assistant location manager: Chicago
David Dilley	....	set production assistant
Ron Durham	....	location scout: St. Louis
Matthew Eberle	....	production assistant
Taylor Estell	....	production assistant
Justin Fox	....	location production assistant (as Justin Fuchs)
John Friedberg	....	assistant: Mr. Hanson
Keoni Fukino	....	location assistant
Pablo Gambetta	....	additional production assistant
Liz Goldsmith	....	assistant location manager
Matthew Goodwin	....	additional production assistant
Marci Graber	....	second assistant accountant
Mike Grosky	....	location assistant: Chicago
P.J. Haines	....	caterer
Callie Hersheway	....	additional office production assistant
Eric Hingst	....	key set production assistant
Kyndall Holstead	....	production coordinator: New Mexico
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	movement coach
Phyllis Johnson	....	adr loop group
Kate Kelly	....	production coordinator
Tara Ketterer	....	stand-in
Nora Killoran	....	unit production supervisor
Daniel V. Kinkade	....	location scout
Robert Kreiling	....	production assistant
Robert Kreiling	....	production intern
Irec Kriske	....	set production assistant
Holly Lee	....	production secretary
Yvette Long	....	location assistant: Las Vegas
Sean Lynn	....	chef
Brendan MacDevette	....	location assistant
Brent Madison	....	additional production assistant
Tanera Marshall	....	dialect coach: Ms. McAdams
Eric McCoy	....	location assistant (as Eric Bednarowicz)
Alex McCullough	....	production assistant
Mary McGinn	....	production assistant
Jordana Mollick	....	assistant: Mr. Koppelman and Mr. Levien
Christie Moreau	....	adr loop group
Farid E. Nassif	....	assistant: Mr. Robbins
Dave Novak	....	production assistant
Rosemary Orlando	....	co-production coordinator
Talia Osteen	....	assistant: Mr. Schwartz
Joaquin Diego Prange	....	assistant location manager: las vegas
Adam Pray	....	assistant: Mr. Burger
Bridget Quinn	....	travel coordinator
Santiago Quinones	....	supervising location manager: Illinois, Missouri, Colorado, Nevada
Christina Riegert	....	photo double
Tiffany Romero	....	assistant production accountant
Scott Rose	....	assistant: Mr. Burger
Justin Ruane	....	production assistant
Aaron Z. Schor	....	office production assistant
Kevin Schroeder	....	production assistant
Amy Smolev	....	first assistant accountant
Tim Territo	....	assistant location manager
Geoffrey Tippit	....	office production assistant
Saul Villarruel	....	additional office production assistant
David Dino Wells Jr.	....	extras coordinator
Joanna Wende	....	production assistant
Anna Zenner	....	set production assistant
Gregory Fein	....	clip clearance (uncredited)
Jørgen Pedersen	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Karl R. Austen	....	special thanks (as Karl Austen)
Spencer Baumgarten	....	special thanks
Cheryl Bergman	....	special thanks
Christopher J. Corabi	....	special thanks (as Christopher Corabi)
Patricia Foulkrod	....	special thanks
Dawn Frederick	....	special thanks
Jon Gumpert	....	special thanks
Jerry Jones	....	special thanks: Missouri Film Commission
Diana Kellogg	....	special thanks
Vicente C. Ogilvie	....	special thanks
Michele Rosen	....	special thanks
Betsy Steinberg	....	special thanks: Illinois Film Office

Production Companies

• Lionsgate (presents)
• Roadside Attractions (presents)
• QED International (in association with) (presents)
• Sherazade Film Development (as Sherazade Films) (in association with)
• Visitor Pictures (in association with)
• Overnight

Distributors

• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Bulgaria) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Hungary) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Romania) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2007) (Slovakia) (all media)
• Lionsgate (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Maple Pictures (2008) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Roadside Attractions (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2009) (Brazil) (all media)
• Lionsgate Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Maple Pictures (2009) (Canada) (DVD)
• SP Films (2009) (Argentina) (all media)
• Sony Pictures Entertainment (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)

Special Effects

• Universal Production Partners (UPP) (visual effects) (as UPP, Prague)
• Technicolor Digital Services (visual effects and compositing)

Other Companies

• American Roadshow Motion Picture And Television Catering  catering
• Aramid Capital Partners  funding
• Aramid Entertainment Fund  funding
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• ExtraOrdinary Casting  extras casting
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Post Factory NY  post-production facilities

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Runtime:

Canada:113 min | USA:115 min | Argentina:115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #44062) | Canada:18A | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Finland:K-7 | Argentina:13 | Netherlands:6 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Alsip, Illinois, USA

Company:

Lionsgate

Trivia:

The drinks that Cheaver's wife offers Colee and T.K. are Coca-Colas.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Cheaver could not use his $20,000 re-enlistment bonus for his son's tuition. The bonus would be given in increments and would be heavily taxed. He would not get more than $8,000 of that initially.

Quotes:

Colee Dunn:[sobbing]
Fred Cheaver:Listen. How about you stop crying and we will stop?
Colee Dunn:What do you mean?
Fred Cheaver:You have been wanting to sight seeing, right?
Colee Dunn:Yeah?
Fred Cheaver:Ok, so we will go somewhere, do something.
Colee Dunn:Can we have a picnic?
Fred Cheaver:pauses
T.K. Poole:Yeah, picnic, whatever.
Fred Cheaver:Yeah!

Movie Connections:

References Brooklyn Rules (2007)

Soundtrack:

Evil Ways

Excellent

This is excellent. This movie is a great example of how those in the military take care on one another. After my five years of military service as a Marine, I have found no other organization that works so well. This was a great example of how we (those in the military) get it done each and every day. It also illustrates that in the military we learn to work with both men and women and all colors. It is a simple matter of what is required to get the job done. Thanks for a good example of life in and out of the military.

The characters were true to form and based on my experience showed the way it really is as one tries to adapt and adjust to live after returning from a deployment. It was so smart to include a woman and to write the lines in such a way to show that she was an equal. While only a newbie to the military, she demonstrated life experiences and knowledge that helped the more senior members of the cast. A great job of balancing and showing that life experiences help those in the military deal with situations.

I do not think I can say enough how much I enjoyed watching this movie and experiences the life of military members through the characters in this film. Again, great job!