Observe and Report (2009)

Director:

Jody Hill

Writer (WGA):

Jody Hill (written by)

Release Date:

10 April 2009 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Crime | Drama

Tagline:

Right now, the world needs a hero.

Plot:

Bi-polar mall security guard Ronnie Barnhardt is called into action to stop a flasher from turning shopper's paradise into his personal peep show. But when Barnhardt can't bring the culprit to justice, a surly police detective, is recruited to close the case.

Plot Keywords:

Mall | Flasher | Security Guard | Bi Polar | Police Detective

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Seth Rogen	...	Ronnie
Ray Liotta	...	Detective Harrison
Michael Peña	...	Dennis
Anna Faris	...	Brandi
Dan Bakkedahl	...	Mark
Jesse Plemons	...	Charles
John Yuan	...	John Yuen
Matt Yuan	...	Matt Yuen (as Matthew Yuan)
Celia Weston	...	Mom
Collette Wolfe	...	Nell
Randy Gambill	...	Flasher
Alston Brown	...	Bruce
Cody Midthunder	...	D-Rock
Deborah Brown	...	Female Reporter (as Debra-Jayne Brown)
Aziz Ansari	...	Saddamn
Eddie Rouse	...	Angry Store Owner
Patton Oswalt	...	Toast A Bun Manager
Lauren Miller	...	Girl Employee (as Lauren A. Miller)
Rafael Herrera	...	Janitor
Ben Best	...	Detective Nichols
William Sterchi	...	Department Store Manager
Robbie Hill	...	Tyler
Marlon Cunningham	...	Little Kid
Danny McBride	...	Caucasian Crackhead
Milos Milicevic	...	Random Crackhead
Antonia DeNardo	...	Hot Clerk
Danielle Martin	...	Young Girl
David House	...	Policeman
Fran Martone	...	Psychologist
Gail L. Harrington	...	Flashed Lady
Cody Weselis	...	Skateboarder (as Cody Tyler Weselis)
Wyatt Tipton	...	Skateboarder
Shane Habberstad	...	Skateboarder
Dylan Hice	...	Skateboarder
Lucy Hill	...	Makeup Counter Lady
Parker Ewing	...	Young Girl Shoplifter
Ivan Kraljevic	...	Mall Patron
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Amy Baklini	...	Young Mother (uncredited)
Steven Blacksmith	...	Mall Shopper (uncredited)
Tina Borek	...	Cosmetic Counter Employee (uncredited)
Kevin Christopher Brown	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Shane Crown	...	Stationery Store Clerk (uncredited)
Kathryn Dove	...	Mall Employee (uncredited)
Zach Dulin	...	Mall Patron (uncredited)
Chase A. Fox	...	Boy on Train (uncredited)
Cliff Gravel	...	Mall Shopper (uncredited)
Jamie Haqqani	...	Detective (uncredited)
Alessandra Hayden	...	Mall Employee (uncredited)
William T. Johnson	...	Mall Patron (uncredited)
Carlton Liggins	...	Police Officer (uncredited)
Alexandria Morrow	...	Mall Girl (uncredited)
Paul J. Porter	...	Mall Shopper (uncredited)
Michael Neal Powell	...	Postman (uncredited)
Sandi K Shelby	...	Frightened Shopper (uncredited)
River Shields	...	Child in Mall (uncredited)
Z. Ray Wakeman	...	Mall Executive (uncredited)
Foued Zayani	...	CSI Agent (uncredited)

Directed by
Jody Hill

Writing credits (WGA)
Jody Hill		(written by)

Produced by
Donald De Line	....	producer
Marty P. Ewing	....	executive producer (as Marty Ewing)
William Fay	....	executive producer
Andrew Haas	....	executive producer
Jon Jashni	....	executive producer
Thomas Tull	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Joseph Stephens

Cinematography by
Tim Orr		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Zene Baker

Casting by
Jo Edna Boldin
Sheila Jaffe

Production Design by
Chris L. Spellman

Art Direction by
Masako Masuda

Set Decoration by
Helen Britten

Costume Design by
Gary Jones

Makeup Department
Lorraine N. Alex	....	additional hair stylist
Enid Arias	....	department head hair
Garnett Burk	....	key hair stylist
Berlinda Cantu-Lewis	....	additional hair stylist
Tarra D. Day	....	makeup department head
Tarra D. Day	....	special makeup applications
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special makeup effects artist (as Matthew Mungle)
Angelique Ortiz	....	additional make-up
Sheila Trujillo	....	key makeup artist (as Sheila Trujillo-Gomez)
Frieda Valenzuela	....	makeup artist: second unit
Corey Welk	....	special makeup effects artist

Production Management
Ravi D. Mehta	....	executive in charge of production
Todd Ulman	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gary Hymes	....	second unit director
Ivan Kraljevic	....	key second assistant director
Milos Milicevic	....	first assistant director
Denise Anderson Poore	....	second second assistant director
Darin Rivetti	....	first assistant director: second unit
Marcia Woske	....	additional second assistant director

Art Department
Brett Andrews	....	assistant property master
James Barth	....	construction general foreman
Thomas J. Barton	....	greensman
Jess Coffer	....	set dresser
Jason Delap	....	set dresser
Christian Di Salvo	....	set dresser
Leandro Di Salvo	....	staff assistant
William Eliscu	....	graphic designer
Robert Fechtman	....	set designer
Amy Giedraitis	....	props
Virginia Hopkins	....	lead painter
Arlen Johnson	....	construction general foreman
Kristen Kogler	....	art department coordinator
Ben Lowney	....	property master
Amy Marsh	....	art department coordinator
Ashley Michelle Marsh	....	art department production assistant
Geni McAndrews	....	staff assistant
John McKey	....	storyboard artist
Nichole Miller	....	paint foreman
Randy Moffitt	....	property maker
Leigh Anne Montaño	....	set decorating coordinator (as Leigh Anne Stoudenmire)
Johanna Nelson	....	production design assistant
Sara M. Pennington	....	product placement/clearance coordinator (as Sara M. Lewis)
Christina Pizzala	....	set painter
Ian Scroggins	....	set dresser
Zack Shisslak	....	leadman
Juan Souter	....	set dresser
Thomas Traugott	....	leadman
Christopher Windisch	....	construction coordinator
Colin Zaug	....	on-set dresser

Sound Department
Bob Beher	....	foley supervisor
Sandy Berman	....	sound editor
Christof Gebert	....	production sound mixer
Eric Gotthelf	....	adr mixer
Charles Hamilton	....	temp-dub recordist
Steve Mann	....	sound editor
Jason Oliver	....	adr mixer
Jason Oliver	....	adr recordist
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark Purcell	....	dubbing recordist
Terry Rodman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Terry Rodman	....	supervising sound editor
Katherine Rose	....	foley artist
Sean Rowe	....	foley artist
Edwardo Santiago	....	sound utility
Ric Schnupp	....	adr recordist
Zac Sneesby	....	sound mixer: second unit
Karen Spangenberg	....	dialogue editor
Joseph Stephens	....	boom operator (as Joey Stephens)
Jake Wilson	....	foley mixer
Ross Wissbaum	....	adr recordist
Ryland Witten-Smith	....	sound utility
David Wolowic	....	first assistant sound editor (as Dave Wolowic)
Ryan Young	....	additional adr mixer

Special Effects by
Compton Brodhead	....	special effects foreman (as D. Compton Brodhead)
Scott Forbes	....	special effects coordinator
Dick Hogle	....	pyrotechnician
Daniel Holt	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
John Carcieri	....	post production assistant
Erin L. Nelson	....	digital restoration
Wilson Tang	....	digital restoration
Chris B. Schnitzer	....	director of visual effects: Warner Bros. (uncredited)

Stunts
Laura Albert	....	stunt performer
Randall Archer	....	stunt double: Danny Mcbride
Jeff Brockton	....	stunts
Mark Brooks	....	stunts
Mark Chadwick	....	stunts
Eddie Fiola	....	stunts
Christian J. Fletcher	....	stunt rigger
Al Goto	....	stunts
Sean Graham	....	stunt double
Mark Hicks	....	stunt performer
Collin Hymes	....	stunts
Gary Hymes	....	stunt coordinator (as Gary M. Hymes)
Michael R. Long	....	stunts
Tom McComas	....	stunt performer
Angelique Midthunder	....	stunt double
Lin Oeding	....	stunts
Steve Rizzo	....	stunt double: Seth Rogen
Jimmy Romano	....	stunts
Brady Romberg	....	stunt actor
Tomas Sanchez	....	stunt performer
Mike Seal	....	stunt performer
Russell Solberg	....	stunt performer
Ryan Staats	....	stunts
McKay Stewart	....	stunts
Sonny Surowiec	....	stunt performer
Shelby Swatek	....	stunts
Wyatt Tipton	....	stunts: skateboard kid
Jay Torrez	....	stunts
Jermaine Washington	....	stunt performer
Jeff Brockton	....	stunt double: Ray Liotta (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Benson	....	director of photography: second unit (as Michael A. Benson)
Matt Bizer	....	second video assist operator
James M. Black	....	rigging technician (as James Black)
Theodore Y. Bott	....	best boy electric: second unit
Jonathon Bradley	....	chief lighting technician
Michael A. Chavez	....	camera operator: "a" camera: second unit
Matthew Coleman	....	lighting technician
James F. Cornick	....	rigging gaffer
Jacob Cottrell	....	electrician
James B. Crawford	....	chief lighting technician: seond unit
Morgan Davis	....	grip
Ronald K. De torres	....	lighting console programmer
Shane Duckworth	....	additional second assistant camera
Allen Eaves	....	rigging electrician
Brent Egan	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Matt Ervin	....	electrician
Justin Geoffroy	....	video assist
Lamarr Gray	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Steven A. Guerrero	....	b dolly grip
Steven A. Guerrero	....	key grip: second unit
Steven A. Guerrero	....	second unit: key grip
Ian Hanna	....	grip
Greg Hewett	....	key rigging grip
Tom Hutchinson	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera
Jimmy E. Jensen	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Jason Kilgore	....	chief rigging technician
Kurt Kornemann	....	best boy grip
Jason Linebaugh	....	lighting technician
Otis Mannick	....	dolly grip: "b" camera
Robert L. Mant	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Luis Martinez	....	lighting technician
David Melhorn	....	second unit lighting technician
Dave Midthunder	....	rigging grip
David Jaxx Nagro	....	dolly grip
Charlie Newberry	....	second assistant camera: second unit
Guy Olds	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Jeremy Antonio Oliver	....	rigging electrician
Matthew A. Petrosky	....	Steadicam operator
Matthew A. Petrosky	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Jessica Ramos	....	film loader
Walter 'Bud' Scott	....	key grip
Nick Shuster	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Alejandro Snodgrass	....	grip
Peter Sorel	....	still photographer
Eric Steinig	....	dolly grip: second unit
Eric Steinig	....	grip
Mark Steinig	....	best boy rigging grip
George Stephenson	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Stefan Tarzan	....	additional camera assistant
Paige Thomas	....	camera operator: "c" camera: second unit
Ralph Watson	....	camera operator: "b" camera: second unit
Cody West	....	grip
Dwayne Willis	....	lighting technician

Casting Department
Karin Aragon	....	extras casting assistant
Michael Scott Baker	....	extras casting assistant
Sandy Holt	....	adr voice casting
Tina Kerr	....	extras casting director
Marie A. Kohl	....	casting associate
Ruth Salen	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jerry Carnevale	....	key costumer
Jessica Peel	....	assistant costume designer
Claire Sandrin	....	set costumer
Mitchell Travers	....	costume intern

Editorial Department
Sara Hyoun	....	assistant editor
Kathleen Latlip	....	assistant editor
Bruce Lomet	....	digital intermediate producer
April McMorris	....	digital intermediate producer
Michael Underwood	....	digital intermediate colorist
Everette Webber	....	digital intermediate editor
Michael A. Webber	....	additional film editor
Chris DeLaGuardia	....	color timer (uncredited)
Daniel Paress	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Benjamin Sutor	....	digital intermediate editor (uncredited)
Darin Wooldridge	....	additional digital colorist: Technicolor (uncredited)

Music Department
Christian Almiron	....	music editor
Ryan Blaine	....	score recordist
Bob Engel	....	score engineer
Scott Nurkin	....	score recordist
Joseph Stephens	....	score recordist
Richard Ziegler	....	music editor

Transportation Department
Ted Basso	....	genny operator
Greg Bronner	....	transportation captain
Charley Bob Burnham	....	driver
Penny Hicks	....	driver
Dennis Milliken	....	transportation coordinator
Harold L. Woods	....	driver generator operator

Other crew
Lynn Ambrosino	....	production assistant: second unit
Alexander Andrews	....	staff assistant
Matthew Bass	....	assistant: Seth Rogen (as Matt Bass)
Spencer Beighley	....	staff assistant
Natalie Bloomer	....	additional set production assistant
Daniel Booko	....	adr loop artist
John Carcieri	....	set staff assistant
Joann Connolly	....	additional set production assistant
Dax A. Cuesta	....	second assistant accountant
Robert Cupp	....	staff assistant
Amy Czigan	....	staff assistant
Angelina Del Rio	....	staff assistant
Lisa Dilenschneider	....	assistant: Andrew Haas
Francisco A. Fernandez	....	office production assistant
Mathew Ferrante	....	production coordinator: Warner Bros.
Carey Field	....	set production assistant
Matt Gamboa	....	staff assistant
Audrey Garrison	....	studio teacher
Colin Garza	....	set production assistant
Marissa M. Gonzales	....	accounting clerk
Kevin Graham-Caso	....	assistant: Jody Hill
Dia Hahn	....	studio teacher
Sean Halvorson	....	stand-in: Seth Rogen
Karen A. Harris	....	assistant office production coordinator
Brett Heicher	....	location production assistant
Hillary A. Higgins	....	staff assistant
Rebecca Hilliard	....	production coordinator
Alex Holcomb	....	assistant: Donald De Line
Jason Huberman	....	post-production accountant
Scott Hussion	....	set staff assistant
David Israel	....	location manager
Jim Ivy	....	set medic
Ryan Spencer Jackson	....	set medic
David Jacobson	....	assistant: Marty Ewing
Elissa Kannon	....	additional assistant production coordinator
Brady Kephart	....	production assistant
Brad LaChance	....	stand-in
Erin Lander	....	adr loop group
Kym Langlie	....	unit publicist
Ian Larsson	....	additional location assistant
Brian G. Lax	....	key medic
Lee David Lee	....	key assistant location manager
Ashley Marie Lowry	....	set staff assistant
Cyndy McCrossen	....	assistant location manager
Mamie Mitchell	....	additional script supervisor
Walter E. Myal	....	additional set production assistant
Michael Neal	....	payroll accountant
Tiffany Patterson	....	set production assistant
Hilton Clay Peres	....	location scout
Ryan J. Pezdirc	....	additional set production assistant
Mayda Renizzi-Holt	....	first accountant
Ken Ryan	....	production accountant
Ben Salazar	....	staff assistant
Brendan Shepherd	....	assistant production coordinator
Lisa Vanallen	....	key craft service
Brenda K. Wachel	....	script supervisor
Sarah J. Williams	....	production secretary
Helena Wyss	....	set medic
Emily Lipson Zambello	....	studio teacher
Tim Granlund	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• De Line Pictures
• Legendary Pictures

Distributors

• Warner Bros (2009) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. Entertainment (2009) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2009) (UK) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2009) (Finland) (all media)
• Turner Network Television (TNT) (2011) (USA) (TV)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Belgium) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Germany) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (UK) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (UK) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2009) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Pacific Vision Productions (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Behind the Scenes Freight  shipping by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Hula Post  editing systems
• LoopEase  loop group
• New Line Records  soundtrack
• No Stone Unturned Security & Investigative Services  set security
• Pacific Title  main and end titles (as Pacific Title and Art Studio)
• ReadySetMedic.com  first aid/medic
• Star Waggons  cast trailers
• Technicolor Digital Intermediates  digital intermediate
• Technicolor  release printing

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for pervasive language, graphic nudity, drug use, sexual content and violence

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45064) | Australia:MA | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A | Finland:K-15 | Iceland:16 | Argentina:16 | Singapore:R21 | Netherlands:16 | Singapore:M18 (edited version) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | Malaysia:U (re-rating) | New Zealand:R16 | Sweden:11 (DVD rating) | Sweden:15 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Bosque Farms, New Mexico, USA

Company:

De Line Pictures

Trivia:

Warner Bros. was concerned about the dark subject matter and demanded the production team come up with a "lighter, softer" version of the film. It wasn't until test audiences gave the edited version poorer test scores than the original version that Warner Bros. let them release the film in its original form.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Brandi and Detective Harrison are having sex in his car, Detective Harrison repeatedly says the name Mandy instead of Brandi.

Quotes:

Detective Harrison:You wanna get hurt?
Ronnie Barnhardt:You didn't bring enough pigs to hurt me.

Movie Connections:

References The Foot Fist Way (2006)

Soundtrack:

Brain

The new, darker Seth

Most actors, if they want to have a lengthy career, have to prove their versatility (Johnny Depp, for example). 'Observe and Report' marks a big step for Seth Rogen; as opposed to his good-natured, man-child teddy bear image from 'Knocked Up' and 'Zack and Miri Make an Porno', O&R sees Seth playing a bi-polar mall cop determined to save his workplace from a serial streaker. While this film has the same basic idea as 'Paul Blart: Mall Cop', 'Observe and Report' treads much darker territory. Rogen is excellent as Ronnie Barnhardt, who is rude to most people, yet is still kind of likable and ia infatuated with Brandi (Anna Faris) the blonde makeup consultant, even having sex with her when she's virtually unconscious.

The thing that sticks out in this movie is the violence, which is brutal at times. Like Robert De Niro in 'Taxi Driver' (which this film has been compared to) Rogen turns into a self-made vigilante with no qualms about using force to get what he wants. Towards the end, as he trains himself for his job, Rogen provides a 'Dark Knight'-style voice-over, perhaps foreshadowing his role as the Green Hornet.

The best thing about this movie is the ending. While some comedies can falter under an overly-sentimental finish, 'Observe and Report' manages to keep its nihlistic tone while wrapping up the loose ends to everyone's satisfaction.