The Answer Man (2009) Arlen Faber (original title)

Director:

John Hindman

Writer:

John Hindman (screenplay)

Release Date:

30 December 2009 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

He wrote the book on life's big questions. But the truth is he hasn't got a clue.

Plot:

A reclusive author of spiritual books, is pursued for advice by a single mother and a man fresh out of rehab.

Plot Keywords:

Single Mother | Back Injury | Reclusive Writer | Chiropractor | Writer

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Jeff Daniels	...	Arlen Faber
Lauren Graham	...	Elizabeth
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Kris Lucas
Olivia Thirlby	...	Anne
Kat Dennings	...	Dahlia
Nora Dunn	...	Terry Fraser
Tony Hale	...	Mailman
Annie Corley	...	Mrs. Gold
Max Antisell	...	Alex
Thomas Roy	...	Riley Lucas
Peter Patrikios	...	Ross
Greg Wood	...	Businessman #1
Richard Lyntton	...	Journalist (as Richard G. Lyntton)
Richard Barlow	...	Paul
Sally Mercer	...	Customer
Lauren Emily Jacobs	...	Young Girl
David Mulholland	...	Male Customer
Charles J. Corrado Jr.	...	Roy
Bev Appleton	...	Patient
Sylvia Kauders	...	Old Woman
Sandra Landers	...	Singing Wife
Ginny Graham	...	Singing Grandmother
Conor O'Brien	...	Singing Son
Morgan Turner	...	Singing Daughter
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Brandon Hanson	...	Ty
Ricky Heidelbaugh	...	School Boy
Marguerite Mastromatto	...	Teacher
Jean Orlando	...	Chiropractor Patient
Charles Pendelton	...	Dining guest
Valerie Bittner	...	Restaurant patron (uncredited)
Robert Bizik	...	Fan of Arlen Faber (uncredited)
Gina Hernandez	...	Book Signing Patron (uncredited)
William James Kelly	...	Bookstore Customer (uncredited)
David Kneeream	...	Business Man (uncredited)
Nicole Lee	...	Bookstore Customer (uncredited)
Michelle Nagy	...	Cute Girl on Street (uncredited)
Steven Pasquale	...	Elizabeth's Date (uncredited)
Vincent Riviezzo	...	Theater Attendee (uncredited)
Chuck Schanamann	...	Bookstore Customer (uncredited)
David Adam Smith	...	AA Member (uncredited)
Francine Bianco Tax	...	Reporter (uncredited)
Dan Van Wert	...	Diner Patron (uncredited)
John Wooten	...	Parent (uncredited)

Directed by
John Hindman

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
John Hindman		screenplay

Produced by
Deborah Aquila	....	co-producer
Rachel Cohen	....	executive producer
Daniel Crown	....	executive producer
Jana Edelbaum	....	producer
Peter Graham	....	executive producer
Stephen Hays	....	executive producer
Michael Lesser	....	executive producer
Kevin J. Messick	....	producer
Rebecca Rivo	....	line producer

Original Music by
Teddy Castellucci

Cinematography by
Oliver Bokelberg

Film Editing by
Gerald B. Greenberg

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Jennifer L. Smith
Tricia Wood

Production Design by
Alex DiGerlando

Art Direction by
Dawn Masi

Set Decoration by
Bruce Sumerfield

Costume Design by
Rebecca Gregg		(as Rebecca Bentjen)

Makeup Department
Qodi Armstrong	....	hair department head
Diane Heller	....	department head makeup artist
Pamela Peitzman	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Nancy Kirhoffer	....	post-production supervisor
Wendy Mooradian	....	production manager
David Townsend	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bobby Kennedy	....	second second assistant director
Josh Newport	....	first assistant director
Mark Shandley	....	second assistant director (as Mark Shandlay)

Art Department
Brett Acker	....	set dresser
Greta Alexander	....	set dresser
Eric de Jesus	....	scenic artist
Elizabeth Duby	....	scenic artist
Kenneth H. Finn	....	assistant property master (as Ken Finn)
Tom Groody	....	set dresser
Jeffrey Heinbach	....	art department intern
Erika S. Katz	....	buyer (as Erika Katz)
Paul Maiello	....	construction coordinator
Douglas Poland	....	art department production assistant
Charles J. Scott	....	on-set dresser
John Sedlack	....	art intern
Christine Sysko	....	lead dresser
Steve Sysko	....	gang boss
Adam Ursone	....	art department intern
Eric Wahlstrom	....	art department production assistant
Tom West	....	set dresser
Jim Williams	....	property master
Linda Yeckley	....	camera scenic

Sound Department
Michael J. Benavente	....	supervising sound editor
Jonathan Golodner	....	sound effects editor
Vincent Guisetti	....	foley artist
Brian Jordan	....	boom operator
Suhail Kafity	....	sound editor (as Suhail F. Kafity)
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Tricia Linklater	....	dialogue editor
Bruce Litecky	....	sound mixer
Howard London	....	adr mixer
Derek Marcil	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kevin Nanaumi	....	assistant sound editor
Nancy Parker	....	foley artist
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
Nello Torri	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Wright	....	sound consultant: Dolby

Stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Asbury	....	gaffer
John Baer	....	still photographer
Chris Beattie	....	key grip
David Brandon	....	electrician
Sheridan Braxton	....	grip
Mark Catania	....	grip
Bill Fiedler	....	best boy electric
Dave Fortino	....	grip
Thomas Greco	....	first assistant camera: 'b' camera (as Tom Greco)
Nicholas Hahn	....	first assistant camera: second unit
April Lanci-Leseur	....	assistant camera
Michael Leonard	....	key first assistant camera
Robert D. Liccio Jr.	....	generator operator (as Robert Liccio Jr.)
Ken McCallum	....	dolly grip
Rob Mock	....	best boy grip
Vincent Morsillo	....	electrician (as Vince Morsillo)
Mike Panczenko Jr.	....	film loader
John Pirozzi	....	director of photography: second unit
Leon Sanginiti	....	second assistant camera
I. Nate Scaglione	....	electrician (as Nate Scaglione)
Steven Seese	....	electrician (as Steve Seese)
David Taicher	....	Steadicam operator
David Taicher	....	camera operator
Greg Yurkivich	....	electrician
Kevin Kindle	....	camera intern (uncredited)

Casting Department
Regina Haigh	....	casting assistant
Diane Heery	....	casting director: Philadelphia
Jason Loftus	....	casting director: Philadelphia
Jennifer Painter	....	casting assistant
Erin Toner	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Rachel Courtney	....	wardrobe intern
Sharon Curley	....	costume assistant
Honora Jackson	....	key costumer
Kara Morasco	....	tailor
Kathie Pierson	....	tailor
Andrew Salazar	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Glenn Cocco	....	first assistant editor
Rob Giglio	....	dailies film colorist
Lee Wimer	....	color timer
Benjamin Wiser	....	post-production assistant

Music Department
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Mark Curry	....	score mixer
Trevor Howard	....	temp music
Greg Morgenstein	....	music editor
Robert Puff	....	music preparation
David Sabee	....	conductor
David Sabee	....	music contractor
Steven A. Saltzman	....	music editor
Richard Ziegler	....	music editor

Transportation Department
John J. Sullivan	....	transportation captain (as John Sullivan)

Other crew
Nicole Agostino	....	production assistant
Kristofer Barton	....	office production assistant
Eric R. Bellamy	....	payroll accountant
Brooks Boutwell	....	location assistant
Tim Bradley	....	key production assistant
Matt Braunsdorf	....	assistant to Ms. Edelbaum and Ms. Cohen
Carol A. Compton	....	script clearance
Jen Cox	....	production accountant
Amy Cutler	....	assistant location manager
Lee Davis	....	script supervisor (2008)
Anthony DeFrancesco	....	production assistant
Sean Donnelly	....	parking coordinator
Maureen Duffy	....	completion guarantor
John Galloway	....	assistant location manager
Karen Gehres	....	epk producer
Dan Gorman	....	location scout
Chris Gormley	....	location assistant
Vanessa Gutin	....	assistant production coordinator
Staci Hagenbaugh	....	location manager
Samantha Higgins	....	clearance coordinator: art
Kathleen Kelly	....	set medic
Elizabeth Kitchens	....	production secretary
Nick Klinger	....	office production assistant
Adam Leach	....	assistant accountant
Pat Lombardo	....	assistant to Ms. Edelbaum and Ms. Cohen
Gabriella Ludlow	....	production legal
Sean Maher	....	dailies film assistant
Jim McNutt	....	production assistant
David Midgen	....	titles producer
David Raynor	....	production coordinator
Dan Reddy	....	craft service
Kelsey Robinson	....	stand-in: Ms. Graham
Marlena Schaefer	....	parking coordinator
Adam Schoon	....	production assistant
Dee Schuka	....	post production accountant
Christopher Sneade	....	location coordinator
Ricky Staub	....	production assistant
Kate Stewart	....	production assistant
Mariellen Ward	....	production assistant
Andy Williams	....	dailies

Thanks
Sharon Pinkenson	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• 120dB Films
• Messick Films
• iDeal Partners Film Fund

Distributors

• MK2 Diffusion (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• DTP Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (DVD)
• HBO Hungary (2010) (Hungary) (TV) (Cinemax)
• HDNet Movies (2009) (USA) (TV)
• Ledafilms (2010) (Mexico) (TV)
• Prisvídeo - Edições Videográficas (2010) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title (visual effects)

Other Companies

• ARRI / Camera Service Center  camera equipment provided by
• Blink Entertainment  marketing and promotion
• D.R. Reiff & Associates  insurance
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• EMS Payroll  extras payroll (uncredited)
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• IndieClear  script clearance
• Media Services  payroll services
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Picture Mill, The  main title design
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Reel Team, The  adr casting
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Sony Pictures Studios  post-production sound services
• Walt Disney Studios Negative Cutting  negative cutting

Also Known As:

"Arlen Faber" - USA (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language

Runtime:

97 min | USA:95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | Singapore:NC-16 | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

Company:

120dB Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When Arlen first tries to sell books to the bookstore he is taking a different number to or from the cart or counter each time the camera leaves and returns to his character (takes two but has three and visa versa).

Quotes:

[first lines]
Arlen Faber:We would like to do a full exposé on Arlen Faber. It would coincide with the 20th anniversary release of Me and God. People want to read this story. I've read Me and God twelve times, for Christ's sake!

Movie Connections:

References A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Soundtrack:

Aborigen/Indigena

Doesn't have the answer

When drama is rushed it can feel like the slowest thing in the world. The characters never get any time to breathe. The turmoil that they go through feels so compact, tidy, and meager that it's like your watching nothing at all. That's what it's like watching "The Answer Man", writer/director John Hindman's dramedy-romance about trying to find God and the answers to life's problems. The quest for life's answers seems like a subject done before and this movie is way too bland, stale, and unbelievable to really find the heart.

Jeff Daniels plays Arlen Faber, who 20 years ago wrote a book called "Me and God", centering around a conversation he had with the big man himself. The book was a mega-hit but nobody has ever really seen Faber in person. Perhaps because he's a reclusive, angry, stressed out asshole that hates people. He spends his days reading other self-help books and meditating; neither seems to lighten his miserable mood though. When he throws his back out one day, he meets a chiropractor named Elizabeth (Lauren Graham), an obsessive single mother trying to raise a young son. She has no idea who Arlen is at first but after reading the book, she seems to think that he is the one for her. Luckily he likes her too. Kris (Lou Taylor Pucci) completes this tripod of people. He's a recovering alcoholic, just out of rehab, managing a failing bookstore.

The whole thing follows James L. Brooks' "As Good as it Gets", without ever reaching a great movie, or even a good one. These people will come together and help each other but it's all done in such a weak and contrived way that none of it is effective. Arlen wants to get rid of some books so he makes a deal with Kris in exchange for some life answers. But can't Arlen just throw them away and not be bothered with Kris at all? And who is Arlen exactly? He changes from miserable crank to charming romantic lead with the snap of a finger. Saying he hates people in one scene and then taking on this silly relationship with Elizabeth where he shows her his monster action figure collection and befriends and acts as father to her young son are very schizophrenic and unbelievable. And Kris' failing business, his alcohol problem, Elizabeth's struggles raising a young son, and the daddy issues that Arlen, Kris and the son have are all given short shrift so that we can see a too-cute romance that never gets off the ground.

If Hindman had taken more risks and allowed us to empathize with the characters a little more, this movie would have been much better but it just feels like everyone is trying to shoot it and then move on. No care is given. Daniels tries. He's a good physical comedian and some of the movies best lines come at his most cranky. "I hope to find a cure for people who listen to techno" Arlen mumbles at one point. Graham has a nice smile but she's not called upon to do much. And Pucci tries to grapple with the weight of addiction but he seems more like a fifth wheel than a character and his plot line is just distracting.

"The Answer Man" looked like a mature, adult answer to some of the crappier romantic comedies coming out this year but it winds up getting it mostly wrong.