The Maiden Heist (2009)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Peter Hewitt

Writer (WGA):

Michael LeSieur (written by)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime

Plot:

A comedy centered on three museum security guards who devise a plan to steal back the artworks to which they have become attached after they are transferred to another museum. |

Cast

Morgan Freeman	...	Charles
Christopher Walken	...	Roger
Marcia Gay Harden
William H. Macy	...	George
Wynn Everett	...	Docent
Bates Wilder	...	Warehouse employee
Joseph McKenna	...	Lead Villain
Nicki Connors	...	Museum Goer
Sophya Gudelman	...	Car driver
Rich Skinner	...	Dog Owner
Christy Scott Cashman
Albert Gornie	...	Warehouse employee
Adam Zalt	...	Shipping Co. Personnel / Van Passenger
Roger Dillingham Jr.
Chuck Slavin	...	Frank
Todd Weeks	...	The Curator
Tarek Moussa	...	Street pedestrian
Kimmie Johnson	...	Park Goer
Haytham Kandil	...	Art Buyer
Robert Masiello	...	Pedestrian
Todd Mello	...	Security Guard
Dale Appel	...	Screaming Woman
Fraser Townley	...	Milton LeRouge
Vincent J. Earnshaw	...	Museum Patron / Public Garden Pedistrian
Patrick Mel Hayes	...	Warehouse Manager
Vic Clay	...	Janitor
Mike Phelan O'Toole	...	Pedestrian on Phone
Douglass Bowen Flynn	...	The Danish Guard
Ben Skinner	...	Frisbee Player
Lauren E. Clarke	...	Jordan Smalt - Museum Guard
Eric Hofer	...	Danish Guard
Jimmy F. Wilson	...	Museum Goer
Anthony Cascio	...	Tony Bargello
Stephen E. Stapinski	...	Bob
Luis Moco	...	Allen
Beau C. Bedugnis	...	Adam Roffman
Amanda Wall	...	Little Dutch girl in Museum
Peter Darrigo	...	Phil
Bhavesh Patel
David J. Curtis	...	Security Guard
Osmani Rodriguez	...	Carlos
Scott C England	...	Museum Executive
Lawrence Hollie	...	Pedestrian
A.G. Wilde
Roger	...	Dillingham jr
Ellen Becker-Gray	...	Woman in Boston Public Gardens (uncredited)
Burke Bryant	...	Brian (uncredited)
Gail Bugeja	...	City Dweller / SUV driver (uncredited)
Desiree April Connolly	...	Museum Goer / City Dweller (uncredited)
Michael Anthony Coppola	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Elisangela	...	Museum Tourist (uncredited)
David J. Garfield	...	Shipping Manager (uncredited)
Mark Hemphill	...	Shipping Co. Personnel / Van Passenger (uncredited)
Edmund J. Janas	...	City Dweller (uncredited)
Glenn W. Kane	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Dan Marshall	...	Museum Visitor / Arts Fair Artist with Booth (uncredited)
Giovanni Pantaleo	...	Boston Police Officer (uncredited)
Michael J. Peluso	...	Diner Patron (uncredited)
Billy Silvia	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Kal Thompson	...	Tourist (uncredited)
Donald Warnock	...	The Curator (uncredited)
Rob Williams	...	Pedestrian (uncredited)
Ashley Wolfe	...	Model (uncredited)

Directed by
Peter Hewitt

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael LeSieur		(written by)

Produced by
Morgan Freeman	....	producer
David Glasser	....	executive producer
William H. Macy	....	producer
Jonathan McCoy	....	line producer
Lori McCreary	....	producer
Rob Paris	....	producer
Kim H. Winther	....	co-producer
Bob Yari	....	producer

Original Music by
Rupert Gregson-Williams

Cinematography by
Ueli Steiger

Film Editing by
Carole Kravetz

Casting by
Susan Shopmaker

Production Design by
Chris Roope

Art Direction by
Gershon Ginsburg

Set Decoration by
Lisa Nilsson

Costume Design by
Ha Nguyen

Makeup Department
Brenda McNally	....	key hair stylist
Thomas Nellen	....	makeup department head
Sherryn Smith	....	key makeup artist
Candy L. Walken	....	hair department head

Production Management
Buddy Enright	....	executive in charge of production
Jill Greenblatt	....	post-production manager
Jonathan McCoy	....	unit production manager
Linda L. Miller	....	executive in charge of production
Ines Mongil-Echandi	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
David Eric Chapman	....	second second assistant director
Branko Racki	....	second unit director
Adam T. Weisinger	....	additional assistant director
Kim H. Winther	....	first assistant director
Eric Yellin	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Daniel J. Courchaine	....	charge scenic artist
Gina B. Cranham	....	set designer
Zack Gorman	....	set dresser
Matt Harrington	....	gang boss
Deborah Kehs	....	set dresser
Hannah King	....	scenic artist
Jason Mayoh	....	storyboard artist
John 'Butch' McCarthy	....	leadman
Adam McClain	....	carpenter
Janine Moore	....	assistant property master
Amy Morrison	....	assistant set decorator
John F. O'Neil	....	property master
Scott T. Pina	....	construction coordinator
Eugene Pope	....	general foreman
Paul Raymond	....	set dresser
Michael Ricci	....	construction gang boss
Adam Roffman	....	on-set dresser
David C. Romano	....	shop steward
Timothy Rowcroft	....	additional on-set dresser
Robert Smedley	....	prop maker
Debra Sugarman	....	additional props
Chris Sullivan	....	art department coordinator
Nicholas Tzikas	....	art department production assistant

Sound Department
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ryan Baker	....	utility sound
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
Jonathan Coomes	....	foley editor
Brian Courchine	....	boom operator
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Robert Getty	....	supervising sound editor
Danielle Ghent	....	dialogue editor
Justin Herman	....	sound recordist
Mark Purcell	....	sound recordist
Eric Raber	....	sound effects editor
David J. Schwartz	....	sound mixer
Alec St. John	....	supervising sound editor

Special Effects by
Ken Gorrell	....	special effects supervisor
William 'Billy Jack' Jakielaszek	....	special effects technician
Bruce E. Merlin	....	special effects foreman
Brian Ricci	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Briana Aeby	....	visual effects bidding coordinator: Frantic Films
Melissa Best	....	digital compositor
Jonathan Butchard	....	visual effects production coordinator: Frantic Films VFX
Tim Christensen	....	digital compositor: Frantic Films
Mark J. Flores Corpuz	....	digital compositor
Theodor Groeneboom	....	digital compositor
Christoffer Hulusjö	....	digital compositor
Jiwoon Kim	....	digital compositor
Simon Martinsson	....	digital compositor
Tricia Pifer	....	visual effects producer: Frantic Films
Safiya Ravat	....	digital compositor
Richard Sällqvist	....	digital compositor
Jeevan Singaram	....	digital compositor
Allen Tracy	....	visual effects editor: Frantic Films Los Angeles
Anne Trotman	....	digital compositor
Karin Eunson-Ross	....	visual effects production manager: Frantic Films (uncredited)

Stunts
Scott Burik	....	stunts
Chris Colombo	....	stunts
John Copeman	....	stunt performer
Jim Ford	....	stunts
John Gilbert	....	utility stunts
Caroline Leppanen	....	stunts
Paul Marini	....	utility stunts
Jeff Medeiros	....	stunt driver
Luis Moco	....	utility stunts
Dino Muccio	....	utility stunts
Brian Peters	....	stunt double: William H. Macy
Christopher Place	....	stunts
Branko Racki	....	stunt coordinator
Aaron Vexler	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Lee Ayrton	....	rigging electrician
Woody Bell	....	best boy grip
Adam D. Bouchard	....	electrician
Arnold F. Brown	....	rigging electric
Dave Cambria	....	best boy electric
Joshua Dreyfus	....	rigging best boy electric
Scott Drinon	....	first dolly grip
Tim Dunbar	....	electrician
Dru Dunnaway	....	rigging electrician
Geoff Eads	....	electrician
David Eubank	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Dan Furst	....	video assist operator
Eric Goddard	....	electrician
Brian Heller	....	aerial cinematographer
Dan Hutchinson	....	shop electrician
William T. Iversen	....	technocrane technician
Brendan Keefe	....	generator operator
Tom Keenan	....	dimmer board operator
Mark Killian	....	second assistant camera:second unit
Dan Kneece	....	camera operator
Michael Kowalczyk	....	film loader
David LaCarubba	....	camera production assistant
Gordon D. Manson	....	electrician
Roger Marbury	....	rigging gaffer
Anthony T. Marra II	....	key grip
James R. Mitchell	....	rigging electric
Phil Nason	....	rigging electrician
Joey O'Donnell	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
David Puopolo	....	rigging key grip
David C. Romano	....	grip
Dave Rudolph	....	grip
Joe Sanchez	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Matt Stenerson	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Walter Thomson	....	still photographer
Jon R. Tower	....	chief lighting technician
Greg Wimer	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Joe Cappelletti	....	adr voice casting
Randi Glass	....	casting: new york
Katy Joyce	....	extras casting assistant
Angela Peri	....	location casting
Jodi Purdy-Quinlan	....	extras casting
Matt Bouldry	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Katalina Iturralde	....	costumer
Parrish Kennington	....	set costumer
Alyson MacInnis	....	set costumer
Faye Sevilla	....	costume supervisor
Cathie Valdovino	....	costumer Morgan Freeman
Eric Van Wagoner	....	costume supervisor
Taryn Weaver	....	key costumer (as Taryn Walsh)

Editorial Department
Doug Delaney	....	digital intermediate colorist
Ben Hasler	....	post-production coordinator
Jennifer Hatton	....	first assistant editor
Matthew W. Johnson	....	digital intermediate editor
Harry Muller	....	color timer
Tim Schmidt	....	digital film restoration
Leland Sexton	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Tony Clarke	....	composer: additional music
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Richard A. Harrison	....	music editor
Alastair King	....	conductor
Alastair King	....	orchestrator
Steven Kofsky	....	music production services
Katia Lewin Palomo	....	score mixing assistant
Christopher Willis	....	composer: additional music
Nick Wollage	....	score engineer & mixer

Transportation Department
Robert Gaskill	....	driver: cast

Other crew
Lisa Arnone	....	script supervisor
James Berkery	....	set production assistant
Jennifer Booth	....	production supervisor
Erin Borel	....	production coordinator
Stuart Burkin	....	executive in charge of post
Chris Centola	....	production assistant
Gary Chandler	....	set production assistant
Greg Chiodo	....	first assistant location manager
Trevor Cohen	....	production assistant
Adam Donnelly	....	assistant production coordinator
Gleanna Doyle	....	animal trainer
Dani DuHadway	....	assistant: Ms. McCreary
Nathan Ehrlich	....	location assistant
Farnaz Fahid	....	assistant: David C. Glasser
Catherine Feeny	....	set production assistant
James Ferrera	....	unit publicist
Darcy Forlenza	....	production assistant
Michael Grigsby	....	production accountant
Marike Jainchill	....	production assistant
Heidi May Johnson	....	assistant: Rob Paris
Christopher G. Kurose	....	production assistant
Mela Lee	....	adr voice replacement
Jeff N. Maclean	....	location manager
Liliana M. Molina	....	script supervisor: Puerto Rico
Hyunsoo Moon	....	location assistant
Jennie Myers	....	second assistant accountant
Lucas Nalepinski	....	location scout
Karen S. Neasi	....	product placement
Malee Nerenhausen	....	production executive
Rachel Okerman	....	assistant: Peter Hewitt
Phoebe Parros	....	assistant: Ms. McCreary
Michael Peavey	....	helicopter pilot
Quentin Pierre	....	personal assistant: Mr. Freeman
Meredith C. Powell	....	production assistant
Giancarlo Rebella	....	production assistant: Puerto Rico
Michelle Reed	....	assistant: Mr. Immerman
Jessica Renzi-Bailey	....	production secretary
Jacqueline Roberts	....	payroll accountant
Rip Russell	....	first assistant accountant
Christopher Sachs	....	production assistant
Charlie Scimone	....	key craft services
Tracy Scott	....	script supervisor
Skye Stolnitz	....	assistant: Linda L. Miller
Shawn Tanaka	....	assistant: William H. Macy
Josias Tapia	....	location manager
Amanda Treat	....	production assistant
José R. Varona	....	set medic
Joshua Youman	....	second assistant location manager
Adam Zalt	....	stand-in: Todd Weeks (as Adam Zalt)
Joel Arsenault	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Dog Pond Productions
• Paris Film
• Revelations Entertainment
• Yari Film Group (YFG)

Distributors

• Entertainment One (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Magna Pacific (2009) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Yari Film Group Releasing (2008) (USA) (theatrical)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Film Art  art consulting
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility

Also Known As:

The Lonely Maiden (USA) (working title)
The Maiden Heist (USA)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some strong language, nudity and brief fantasy violence.

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Boston Common, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Dog Pond Productions

An unusual comedy platter

Art shouldn't just be for highbrow types. A painting can have special meaning. Even for an ordinary blue-collar Joe. At least that's the message from director Pete Hewitt. This is knockabout comedy that might make Woody Allen fans affectionately recall Small Time Crooks, even though this film is very different to Allen's caper and wears its point on its sleeve. "Great art is not solely the domain of the connoisseur," says Hewitt. "Anyone can be emotionally transported by a few paint smudges on a canvas." Hewitt (Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey, Thunderpants) has here come up with a grand robbery that is for love rather than money. Three misfit security guards at the museum embark on a dangerous journey to save the things they hold dear.

Decorated with a galaxy of stars, the Maiden Heist has been avidly awaited by fans worrying if it will see the light of day. In December 2008, the distribution arm of the Yari Film Group responsible filed for bankruptcy. Yari's Emily Lambert e-mailed the Globe saying, "I don't anticipate any screenings of The Maiden Heist in the near future," and producer Rob Paris went scrambling to find a new distributor. With a comparatively modest budget of $20 million, Paris feels he has got great value. "Our movie needed the scope the size of the Worcester Art Museum," he says. "It gave the film a look, a richness, that we otherwise wouldn't have gotten." The WAM is used to establish the interior of the fictional Boston Art Museum (BAM) in which our story takes place.

Scriptwriter Michael LeSieur had a top comedy actor in his previous hit (You, Me & Dupree) in the form of Owen Wilson. In The Maiden Heist, the chameleon-like talents of William H Macy first spring to mind as being suited to comedy, due to his Fargo fame, when he played the police story with subtle humour. Christopher Walken and Morgan Freeman are better known for their serious roles, but we should remember that Walken has also starred in comedy (Wedding Crashers, Hairspray), even if it is to play the straight man against the likes of Owen Wilson. Freeman has had brushes with his funny side in Bruce Almighty. Heading up the supporting cast is Marcia Gay Harden, who won an Oscar playing an artist (Lee Krasner) in the art biopic, Pollock. But it is probably fair to say that all these great stars are known primarily for their power to bring great depth to serious dramatic roles. There were moments in The Maiden Heist where I felt they were bumbling through the comedy rather than playing bumbling heisters. I found this a bit worrying as I have deep respect for their work. But maybe other viewers could find the apparent mismatch of seemingly inappropriate casting oddly rewarding.

The big star of The Maiden Heist though is of course the central painting. Roger (Christopher Walken) stares at 'The Lonely Maiden' for years. First as a way to pass time, but now as a way to address or replace what is lacking in his life. The painting has become his passion. His obsession. Supplanting the passion he once felt for his wife. This particular artwork in the film was especially created by painter Jeremy Lipking. "When I first met with the director he opened up the Gabriel Weisberg book Beyond Impressionism: the Naturalist Impulse, (which is probably the most worn out book on my shelf) and said, 'We need something like this.' A painting in the manner of Naturalist painters George Clausen, Emile Friant and Jules Bastien Lepage. I had to finish the painting in 7 days. It normally would have taken me a month or longer to do something this size. I got artist model Toni Czechorosky help me out with the period costume." Macy's character, on the other hand, is obsessed with a statue. Creating it involved photographing a naked Macy from a three-hundred and sixty degree perspective. (The photographs went to a sculptor in Los Angeles, who brought in another model and photographed him in the same fashion before creating a mould for the statue.)

The Maiden Heist quickly sold out at its opening at the Edinburgh International Film Festival. It's a light-hearted caper that makes for undemanding viewing. I don't see audiences flocking to galleries as a result, but who knows? While Roger might find his wife has been his lonely maiden all along, many viewers may more identify with the bit where he flits to Florida with the missis. Missing out on the art appreciation stuff seems a convenient bypass. If this is the case, the film is somewhat hypocritical in its claim about art and the general masses. It uses the notion to entertain without encouraging us to seriously engage. LeSieur, who wrote the script as a film school thesis project, may well be an art enthusiast. But the idea that ordinary people don't love art is a bit worrying to those of us that do. Shortly after I visited (during extensive bar-hopping) the beautiful Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, it was victimised by amateur thieves who posed as security guards. If you see me exit the Tate Modern with a naked William H Macy under my arm, please shoot me. Or take him back – he is a high-value asset of the acting profession and should not be high-jacked. "But it was a maiden heist, officer. . ."