The Open Road (2009)

Popularity:

Down 20% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.

Director:

Michael Meredith

Writer:

Michael Meredith (writer)

Release Date:

28 August 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

they've got a long way to go.

Plot:

Movie centers on the adult son of a baseball legend who, together with his girlfriend, embarks on a road trip with his estranged father.

Plot Keywords:

Road Trip | Baseball | American South | Motel | Farmland

Cast

Justin Timberlake	...	Carlton
Ted Danson	...	Coach
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Amon
Mary Steenburgen	...	Katherine
Kate Mara	...	Lucy
Jeff Bridges	...	Kyle
Bret Saberhagen	...	Himself
Robert Casserly	...	Moderator
Tony Sanford	...	Fan #1
Kevin Lee Foxx	...	Fan #2 (as Kevin Foxx)
Paxton Brown	...	10-Year Old Kid
Douglas M. Griffin	...	10-Year Old's Father
Wayne Douglas Morgan	...	Organizer
Clay Chamberlin	...	Impatient Fan (as Clay Chamberlain)
Yohance Myles	...	Convention Assistant
J. Omar Castro	...	Fan #3
E. Roger Mitchell	...	TSA Manager
Ann Marie Guidry	...	Waitress (Kentucky)
Lawrence Turner	...	Store Clerk (Kentucky)
Michael P. Cahill	...	Pharmacist
James Harlon Palmer	...	Memphis Ticket Taker (as James Palmer)
Donna Duplantier	...	Flight Attendant
Karson Kendall	...	Airline Employee
Yvonne Landry	...	Waitress (Memphis Airport)
Billy Slaughter	...	Rental Car Employee
Allen O. Battle III	...	Peabody Clerk (as Allen Battle III)
Lyle Lovett	...	Peabody Bartender
Ryan Rottman	...	Peabody Bellhop
Laurie Foxx	...	Louisiana Waitress
Katrell Dixon	...	Orderly
Lenore Banks	...	Virge
Louis Herthum	...	Surgeon
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monica Rene'e Anderson	...	Airplane Passenger (uncredited)
Dewayne Bateman	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Burton Bridges	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
LaVita Brooks	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Dane Brown	...	Traveler (uncredited)
Lindsay Caldwell	...	Front Desk Agent (uncredited)
Loyd Catlett	...	Johnny (uncredited)
James DuMont	...	Clerk (uncredited)
Geoff Falk	...	Peabody Porter (uncredited)
Jan Falk	...	Peabody Tourist (uncredited)
Gino Galento	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Geraldine Glenn	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Nick Gomez	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Russell M. Haeuser	...	Airport Passenger (uncredited)
Emily D. Haley	...	Bar Goer (uncredited)
Destin M. Hebert	...	Autograph Fan at Convention (uncredited)
Marguerite Hibbets	...	Tourist Outside Peabody (uncredited)
Felecia Kirkland	...	Airplane Passenger (uncredited)
Cynthia LeBlanc	...	Airline Passenger (uncredited)
Elton LeBlanc	...	Airline Passenger (uncredited)
Don Lincoln	...	Baseball Convention Ticket Taker (uncredited)
Don Mac	...	Airplane Passenger Row #7 (uncredited)
Donald Meyers	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Jay Oliver	...	Airport Security Officer (uncredited)
Robert E. Pecunia	...	Autograph Fan at LA Bar (uncredited)
Charles Pineda	...	Valet (uncredited)
Chris Plumlee	...	Peabody Guest (uncredited)
Lyssa Prine	...	Baseball Fan (uncredited)
Yalonda Lisa Reeves	...	Waitress Sammy (uncredited)
Lawanda Smith	...	Baseball Convention Audience / Airplane Passenger (uncredited)
Daniel Vincent	...	Airline Clerk - Memphis (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Meredith

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Michael Meredith		writer

Produced by
Deborah Del Prete	....	executive producer
Jordan Foley	....	producer
Kevin Lee Foxx	....	executive producer (as Kevin Foxx)
Laurie Foxx	....	producer
Jonathan Gray	....	executive producer
Jason Hewitt	....	executive producer
Heidi Levitt	....	executive producer
Roy Scott MacFarland	....	executive producer
Charlie Mason	....	producer
Michael Meredith	....	producer
Justin Moore-Lewy	....	producer
Brigitte Mueller	....	co-producer
Gigi Pritzker	....	executive producer
David Schiff	....	producer
Suzanne Unrein	....	associate producer
Wim Wenders	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Christopher Lennertz

Cinematography by
Yaron Orbach

Film Editing by
Suzy Elmiger

Casting by
Heidi Levitt
Kim Petrosky

Production Design by
Paki Smith

Art Direction by
Frank Zito

Set Decoration by
Julie Ochipinti

Costume Design by
Molly Grundman

Makeup Department
Carla Brenholtz	....	key makeup artist
Thomas Nellen	....	makeup department head
Thomas Nellen	....	personal hair stylist: Jeff Bridges
Thomas Nellen	....	personal makeup artist: Jeff Bridges
Susan 'Star' Orr	....	assistant hair stylist
Scott H. Reeder	....	department head hair
Amy Wood	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Luca Borghese	....	post-production supervisor
Brion Hambel	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Aaron Barsky	....	first assistant director
Sean O'Regan	....	second second assistant director
Katey Wheelhouse	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Cecile Aymami	....	scenic
Paul Blanchard	....	leadman
Beau Harrison	....	assistant property master
Elizabeth Herberg	....	art coordinator
Juliana Hoffpauir	....	set decoration buyer
Ty Landry	....	on-set dresser
Leonard Marchand	....	property master (as Leonard Lavigueur)
Scotty Morris	....	set dresser
Michael O'Sullivan	....	construction utility
Christopher Ryan Paul	....	art department production assistant
Markus Wittman	....	swing gang

Sound Department
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist
Kelly Cabral	....	supervising sound editor
Melissa A. Corns	....	sound effects editor
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Dan Izen	....	sound mixer
Betsy Lindell	....	boom operator
Aynee Osborn	....	dialogue editor
Chris Reynolds	....	additional re-recording mixer
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound recordist
Eric Thompson	....	adr mixer

Visual Effects by
Jon Greenhalgh	....	digital compositing lead: Michael Kaelin & Associates, Inc.
Alex Jacobs	....	technical assistant: Michael Kaelin & Associats, Inc.
Michael Kaelin	....	compositing supervisor: Michael Kaelin & Associates, Inc.
Chris Kirkpatrick	....	iq assistant

Stunts
Dan Brown	....	stunt double: Justin Timberlake
Loyd Catlett	....	stunt double
Chad Guerrero	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Gerard Bartley	....	lighting technician
Craig Carter	....	grip
Oswald Colunga	....	grip
Christopher Crowther	....	electrician
Rusty Davis	....	grip
Tracy Facelli	....	additional second assistant camera: Tennessee Unit
Anne Marie Fox	....	still photographer
Gerard Martin	....	additional second assistant camera: "b" camera
Chris Quackenbush	....	camera production assistant (as Christopher J. Quackenbush)
Kennith G. Smith	....	a dolly grip
Robert A. Sutton	....	chapman crane operator
Newton TerMeer	....	gaffer
Theodore Thyssen	....	grip
Gary Tolbert	....	aerial photographer
Brett Walters	....	first assistant camera
Louis Zlotowicz	....	film loader

Casting Department
Brent Caballero	....	extras casting
Lauren Fernandes	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Christy Hebert Crouch	....	key costumer
Olivia Hill	....	costume assistant
Pamela Lee Incardona	....	costume supervisor
Gia Jimenez	....	wardrobe assistant
Diana Savone	....	set costumer
Carmen Thompson	....	wardrobe assistant
Lesley D. Wickham	....	seamstress

Editorial Department
Justine Halliday	....	additional editor
Gordon Holmes	....	post-production intern
Nick Houy	....	first assistant editor
Ian Kezsbom	....	assistant editor
Mathieu Reid	....	color timer
Amber Taylor	....	digital intermediate producer
Kathy Thomson	....	digital intermediate colorist

Music Department
Christian Dwiggins	....	music editor
Dan Evans Farkas	....	music editor
Nick Fevola	....	score coordinator
Daniel Hubbert	....	music supervisor (as Dan Hubbert)
Gary Liu	....	assistant to composer
Michael Lloyd	....	music supervisor
Jeff Vaughn	....	scoring mixer
Jay Weigel	....	music contractor
Philip White	....	music programmer

Transportation Department
Doug Dovichi	....	transportation coordinator
Vinny Dovichi	....	picture car coordinator
Mitch Masoner	....	transportation captain
Willie D. Partin	....	transportation captain

Other crew
Jamie Abramowitz	....	assistant: Mr. Lischak
Clay Achee	....	key set production assistant
Les Arceneaux	....	assistant location manager
Brenda Arson	....	assistant to producer
Eric Burrows	....	security: Mr. Timberlake
Jared Callan	....	production assistant (as Jared B. Callan)
Abigail Carpenter	....	assistant: Mr. Meredith
Gregory Cassin	....	production assistant
Loyd Catlett	....	assistant: Mr. Bridges (as Lloyd Catlett)
Carmen Chan	....	assistant production coordinator
Nicole Compas	....	production counsel
Todd Crockett	....	accounting clerk
André Des Rochers	....	production counsel
Brandon Sonny DeSorbo	....	location scout
Earl Gabbidon	....	security: Mr. Timberlake
Emily Gannett	....	product placement
Jonathan Gray	....	production counsel
Micah Haley	....	assistant to unit production manager
Robin Hardy	....	production secretary
Rachael Harrell	....	director of development
Jeffrey J. Hartwick	....	set production assistant
Mandi Hicks	....	assistant: Ms. Del Prete
Ronnie Joseph Higgins	....	production assistant
Rachel Jacob	....	key set production assistant
Brandon Kerr	....	production assistant
Martin Lane	....	location manager: Memphis
Amy Law	....	set medic
Kevin Lorio	....	set production assistant
Nat McCormick	....	business affairs
Richard McDonough	....	assistant: Mr. Mason & Mr. Moore-Lewy
Aaron Michiel	....	business affairs executive
Jasmine Mohamed	....	assistant: Ms. Del Prete
Susan Neal	....	set production assistant
Ryan Nichols	....	production assistant (as Ryan W. Nichols)
Brian O'Shea	....	world sales executive: Odd Lot International
Erika Pahk	....	assistant: Ms. Pritzker
Sandy Parker	....	script supervisor
Nick Reasons	....	stand-in
Brandon Rohwer	....	unit publicist
Robert Saba	....	assistant locations manager: Memphis
Weiman Seid	....	unit publicist
Phil Seifert	....	location manager
Jenna Spesard	....	post production assistant
Barbara-Ann Stein	....	production accountant
Ian M. Stratford	....	financial counsel
Craig Thompson	....	assistant: Ms. McDonough
Heather Tyler	....	post-production accountant
Sharyn Umaña	....	assistant production coordinator
Nancy Valle	....	post consultant
Alice Wang	....	post production assistant
Christopher H. Warner	....	production coordinator
Brianne Watson	....	assistant: Mr. Schiff (as Brianna Castillo-Huang)
Jessy Cale Williamson	....	production assistant
Rachel Yarbrough	....	assistant: Mr. Timberlake (as Rachel Yarborough)
Wei-Ning Yu	....	assistant: Mr. O'Shea

Thanks
Steve Buscemi	....	the director wishes to thank
Jeremy Davidson	....	thanks
Daniel Duro	....	very special thanks
Atom Egoyan	....	the director wishes to thank
Steven Garcia	....	special thanks
Carlin Glynn	....	special thanks
John Hadity	....	special thanks
Avram 'Butch' Kaplan	....	special thanks
Neil LaBute	....	the director wishes to thank
Marco Londoner	....	special thanks
Alexandra Masterson	....	special thanks
Mary Stuart Masterson	....	special thanks
Peter Masterson	....	special thanks
James McMurtry	....	the director wishes to thank
Robert Rodriguez	....	the director wishes to thank
Thom Zadra	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• OddLot Entertainment
• Perfect Weekend
• Aqua Foxx Productions
• Heavy Lifting
• Maximon Pictures

Distributors

• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Bulgaria) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Czech Republic) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Hungary) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Poland) (all media)
• Blue Sky Media (2008) (Romania) (all media)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Anchor Bay Films (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Spentzos Films (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Anchor Bay Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Atlantic Film (2010) (Finland) (DVD)
• Hamburger Medien Haus (HMH) (2010) (Germany) (DVD) (and Blu-ray)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2010) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Fine Films (2012) (Japan) (DVD)
• ION Television (2012) (USA) (TV)
• Edel Media & Entertainment (2015) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray) (Starmovie)
• Edel Media & Entertainment (2015) (Germany) (DVD) (Starmovie)

Special Effects

• Films In Motion
• Michael Kaelin & Associates (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Caballero Casting  extras casting
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• DeWitt Stern Group  insurance services
• Event Rental  locations equipment rentals
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Films In Motion  post-production sound services
• Films In Motion  production services
• Fireman's Fund Insurance Co.  insurance
• Global Tactical Services  security services
• Gray Krauss Stratford Sandler Des Rochers  legal services (as Gray Krauss Des Rochers)
• Hollywood Rentals Productions Services  grip and lighting equipment
• Hollywood Trucks  entertainment transportation
• Louisiana Media Productions  louisiana production support
• Modern VideoFilm  digital intermediate services
• Music Shed, The  recorded at
• Piety Street Studio  recorded at
• Postworks New York  dailies
• Prep Shoot Post  post production accounting services
• Que, The  casting
• Sonic Fuel Studios  mixed at
• Sound Satisfaction  foley recording facilities
• Travelcorps International  travel services (as Travelcorp Services)
• Turnkey Louisiana  louisiana production support
• Wildfire Studios  adr recording facility
• Wildfire Studios  sound post-production
• Wildfire Studios  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some language

Runtime:

USA:90 min | Germany:91 min (European Film Market) | Argentina:90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Germany:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:11 (DVD rating) | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44679)

Filming Locations:

Hammond, Louisiana, USA

Company:

OddLot Entertainment

Trivia:

Jeff Bridges' character's surname is Garrett. Bridges had an older brother named Garrett, born June 14, 1948 but died from SIDS on August 3, 1948.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Carlton is descending the escalator at the baseball signing convention at the beginning of the film, you can see a young boy wearing an orange & dark striped polo shirt sitting on the steps behind him. Then you see the boy in front of Carlton, walking away with his dad. When the shot changes back, the boy is, again, on the escalator.

Quotes:

Kyle:Why didn'y you love us?
Kyle:I did. I just loved myself better.

Movie Connections:

References The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956)

Soundtrack:

Que Sera Sera

Long road

Great actors (Jeff Bridges always delivers, but even Justin Timberlake and his "girlfriend" in the movie are great too). As the title suggest, you are aware that this going to be a road movie. With characters that have flaws and a story that is very close to the directors heart (see a review of crew member for more information on that), this has everything a road movie needs.

While a few story tweaks may seem a bit far stretched (for something that seems to be so close to life), the whole thing still feels very real. The relationships in the movie are explored nicely without much glamour and there are a few treats along the way. There is not one real bad guy (which you might see as a bad thing or a good thing, depending on how you're going to feel about it), which made me like this even more and might have to do with the influence Jeff B. had on the script.