Beginners (2010)

Director:

Mike Mills

Writer:

Mike Mills (written by)

Release Date:

9 June 2011 (Germany)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

This is what love feels like.

Plot:

A young man is rocked by two announcements from his elderly father: that he has terminal cancer, and that he has a young male lover.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Terrier | Flashback | Cancer | Actress

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 26 wins & 12 nominations

Cast

Ewan McGregor	...	Oliver Fields
Christopher Plummer	...	Hal Fields
Mélanie Laurent	...	Anna
Goran Visnjic	...	Andy
Kai Lennox	...	Elliot
Mary Page Keller	...	Georgia
Keegan Boos	...	Young Oliver Fields
China Shavers	...	Shauna
Melissa Tang	...	Liz
Amanda Payton	...	Party Person
Luke Diliberto	...	Green Witch
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Magician
Bambadjan Bamba	...	The Sads
Hana Jane	...	The Sads (as Hana Hwang)
Samuel T. Ritter	...	The Sads
Jennifer Lauren	...	Record Company Rep
Reynaldo Pacheco	...	Juan
Jodi Long	...	Dr. Long
Bruce French	...	Dr. Wright
Leslie Shea	...	ICU Nurse #1
Michael Chieffo	...	Hal's Priest
Jennifer Hasty	...	Secretary
Rodney Saulsberry	...	1978 Museum Staff
June Sanders	...	1978 Fancy Woman
Catherine McGoohan	...	1978 Older Woman
Terry Walters	...	Terse Nurse
Lana Young	...	ICU Nurse #2
Algerita Wynn Lewis	...	Nice Nurse (as Algerita Lewis)
Regina McKee Redwing	...	Strict Nurse (as Regina Redwing)
Sunday Burke	...	Home Nurse #1
Patrick Birkett	...	Hal Look-Alike
Sabera Wise	...	Skating Rink Manager
Rafael J. Noble	...	Brian
Jose Yenque	...	Robert
T.G. Cody	...	The Primetimers
Patrick Scott	...	The Primetimers
Ton Suckhasem	...	The Primetimers
Charles Valentino	...	The Primetimers
Seth T. Walker	...	The Primetimers (as Seth Walker)
Michael Laren	...	The Primetimers (as Michael Wilhelms)
Cosmo	...	Arthur
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jessica Elder	...	Cat Dancer (uncredited)
Sean Grady	...	Dancer at Bar (uncredited)
Shelley Robertson	...	Hotel Manager (uncredited)
Joanna Theobalds	...	Nurse's Aide (uncredited)

Directed by
Mike Mills

Writing credits
Mike Mills		(written by)

Produced by
Miranda de Pencier	....	producer
Fran Giblin	....	co-producer
Lars Knudsen	....	producer
Geoff Linville	....	co-producer
Joan Scheckel	....	executive producer
Leslie Urdang	....	producer
Jay Van Hoy	....	producer
Dean Vanech	....	producer

Original Music by
Roger Neill
Dave Palmer		(as David Palmer)
Brian Reitzell

Cinematography by
Kasper Tuxen		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Olivier Bugge Coutté		(as Olivier Bugge Coutte)

Casting by
Nicole Daniels
Courtney Sheinin		(as Courtney Bright)

Production Design by
Shane Valentino

Set Decoration by
Coryander Friend

Costume Design by
Jennifer Johnson

Makeup Department
John Arsineault	....	key hair stylist: additional photography
Ginger Damon	....	additional hair stylist
Julie Anna Kehoe	....	hair stylist: New York
Veronica Lorenz	....	additional makeup artist
Frances Mathias	....	hair department head
Frances Mathias	....	key hair stylist: additional photography
Tina Roesler Kerwin	....	key makeup artist: additional photography
Tina Roesler Kerwin	....	makeup department head
Roxy D'Alonzo	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Fran Giblin	....	unit production manager
Rod Smith	....	unit production manager: additional photography
Carrie Tyson	....	production supervisor (as Carrie A. Tyson)
Erik S. Weigel	....	production supervisor: New York (as Erik Weigel)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Neil Daly	....	first assistant director: New York
Patrick Huber	....	second assistant director: New York
Joe Roddey	....	second assistant director
Joe Roddey	....	second assistant director: additional photography
Rod Smith	....	first assistant director
Rod Smith	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Marc Turchin	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Thomas A. Delillo	....	leadman: New York (as Tom Delillo)
Chris Eguia	....	property master: additional photography
Perry E. Ellis	....	leadman (as Perry Ellis)
Melissa Gelmo	....	assistant property master (as Missy Gelmo)
Robert Greenfield	....	set dresser
Daniel Karasele	....	set dresser
Carol Kiefer	....	art department coordinator
Daniel Kuzmick	....	set dresser
Allan Lane	....	set dresser
Chris Larsen	....	leadman: additional photography
Michael F. Loomer	....	on-set dresser (as Mike Loomer)
Joe Mason	....	art department assistant
Bob New	....	set dresser (as Robert New)
Cynthia Nibler	....	property master
David Potter	....	set dresser
Anthony Rice	....	set dresser
Brana Rosenfeld	....	set decorator: additional photography
Corey Swartsel	....	set dresser: additional photography
Gerald Willard	....	set dresser
Kate Zarvis	....	scenic (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bryan Arenas	....	dolby sound consultant
Paul Timothy Carden	....	adr supervisor
Ryan Collins	....	assistant sound editor
Lara Dale	....	foley artist
Brian Dunlop	....	foley editor
Ellen Heuer	....	foley artist
Christine Huynh	....	sound utility
Christine Huynh	....	sound
Tim Limer	....	mix recordist (as Timothy Limer)
Travis MacKay	....	adr mixer
Nancy MacLeod	....	sound effects editor
Teferra McKenzie	....	sound mixer: New York
Michael Mesirow	....	boom operator: additional photography (as Mike Mesirow)
Brendan Jamieson O'Brien	....	boom operator: New York (as Brendan O'Brien)
Sarah Payan	....	dialogue editor (as Sarah Rudolph Payan)
A. Josh Reinhardt	....	foley mixer (as Josh Reinhardt)
Jim Ridgley	....	sound mixer: additional photography (as James Ridgley)
Leslie Shatz	....	sound designer
Leslie Shatz	....	sound re-recording mixer
Callie Thurman	....	assistant sound editor
Susumu Tokunow	....	sound mixer
Mandell Winter	....	dialogue editor
Zach Wrobel	....	boom operator
Vincent Cosson	....	adr mixer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Eric Elias	....	pyrotechnic fireworks coordinator
Martin Rosenstock	....	pyrotechnician
Rebecca Timohovich	....	pyrotechnician

Visual Effects by
Wes Ball	....	visual effects: Oddball Animation
Justin Barber	....	visual effects: Oddball Animation
Bradley Hawkins	....	visual effects: Oddball Animation (as Brad Hawkins)
Ryland Jones	....	visual effects: Oddball Animation

Stunts
Robert Alonzo	....	utility stunts
Matt Baker	....	utility stunts
Allison Caetano	....	stunt double: Anna
Nash Edgerton	....	stunt coordinator
Nash Edgerton	....	stunt double: Ewan McGregor
Daniel Stevens	....	stunt double: Elliot

Camera and Electrical Department
Christopher Blauvelt	....	director of photography: additional photography
Bob Bradshaw	....	company grip
Aaron Burden	....	best boy grip: additional photography (as AJ Burden)
David Chameides	....	steadicam operator
Andrew Chojnacki	....	key grip (as Andy Chojnacki)
Andrew Chojnacki	....	key grip: additional photography (as Andy Chojnacki)
Pat Fitzpatrick	....	best boy electric (as Patrick Fitzpatrick)
Greg Flores	....	company grip
Trevor Fulks	....	best boy grip
Erik Guldbech	....	gaffer: New York (as Eric Guldbech)
Lauren Haber	....	second assistant camera: New York
Stephen MacDougall	....	first assistant camera: additional photography
Jen O'Leary	....	camera assistant
Joseph Paolini	....	key grip: New York (as Joe Paolini)
David Parson	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	gaffer (as Jeff Petersen)
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	gaffer: additional photography (as Jeff Petersen)
Jeffrey W. Petersen	....	supplier: lighting equipment (as Jeff Petersen)
Keith Putnam	....	red camera technician: New York
Christopher Raymond	....	first assistant camera: New York (as Chris Raymond)
Jan Ruona	....	first assistant camera
Adam Sklena	....	camera operator
Davon Slininger	....	second assistant camera: additional photography
Jennifer Stuart	....	additional second assistant camera
Bret Suding	....	red camera technician
Randy Tepper	....	still photographer (as Andrew Tepper)
Noah Thomson	....	second assistant camera
Lance Hashida	....	red camera technician (uncredited)
John Pedone	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Bill Dance	....	extras casting: Bill Dance Casting
Terence Harris	....	extras casting: Bill Dance Casting
Sheri Tucker	....	extras casting: Bill Dance Casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kristen Bothekan	....	costume assistant
Abigail Chapin	....	costume assistant
Kameron Lennox	....	costume supervisor (as Kameron 'Kammy' Lennox)
Kameron Lennox	....	costume supervisor: additional photography (as Kameron 'Kammy' Lennox)
Sandra Poland	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Aaron Beckum	....	post-production photoshop artist
Milan Boncich	....	digital intermediate colorist
Zoe Bower	....	post facility manager
Paul Brady	....	digital intermediate technician: additional photography
Anthony Brandonisio	....	additional assistant editor: additional photography
Anthony Brandonisio	....	post-production coordinator
Tana David	....	post facility coordinator
John Eremic	....	digital intermediate producer (as John 'Pliny' Eremic)
Sam Geer	....	editorial intern
Drew Kilcoin	....	first assistant editor
Rosemary H. Marez	....	editorial intern (as Rosemary Marez)
Eddie Mikasa	....	editorial intern
Benjamin Moses Smith	....	digital intermediate conformer
Gilbert Carreras	....	color timer (uncredited)

Music Department
Sanaz Lavaedian	....	music clearance coordinator
Michael Perfitt	....	score engineer
Eric Thorngren	....	score mixer (as Eric 'ET' Thorngren)
Robin Urdang	....	music supervisor
Cory Wood	....	music supervisor intern (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Jose. A. Anaya	....	driver: catering
Ron Annunziata	....	driver
Corey Askins	....	transportation captain
Bill Benedict	....	driver
Bib Ditler	....	driver
Brian D. Hall	....	driver (as Brian Hall)
Ross W. Holzer	....	driver
Joe Johnson	....	driver: New York
Todd Story	....	driver
Chad Wadsworth	....	driver
Ted Joneson	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Sean Afsahi	....	production assistant: additional photography
Jose A. Anaya	....	head chef
Amanda Beckner	....	archival research
Aaron Beckum	....	production assistant: additional photography
Katri Billard	....	script supervisor: New York
Christopher W. Bodell	....	representative: Olympus Capital Investments
Ashly Burch	....	production office intern
Rachel Cofield	....	assistant: Mr. Vanech (as Rachel Lucera-Fein)
Rita Colimon	....	assistant: Ms. Urdang
Matilda de Cagny	....	head animal trainer
André Des Rochers	....	production legal services (as Andre Des Rochers)
Christine Detizio	....	accounting manager: Olympus Power
Steve Giardina	....	production assistant: New York
James Drew Hamilton	....	production office intern (as Drew Hamilton)
Megan Hawkins	....	representative: Olympus Threatricals
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	dialect coach
Kathleen Jensen	....	production assistant: additional photography
Lucas Joaquin	....	assistant: Mr. Van Hoy and Mr. Knudsen
Anne Kelly	....	production office intern
Gray Krauss	....	production legal services
Christopher Kubek	....	set production assistant: second unit, New Mexico
Derrick Landry	....	production accountant
Sean P. Lane	....	general counsel and secretary: Olympus Power
Rafael Lima	....	location manager: New York
Gerry Maravilla	....	production office intern (as Gerardo 'Gerry' Maravilla)
Philip W. McCartin	....	tax and risk management: Olympus Power
Tammy Mikalouskas	....	manager of human resources: Olympus Power
Christopher Miller	....	location manager
Ross Miller	....	insurance agent: D.R. Reiff & Associates
Dan Milner	....	key assistant location manager
Sarah Soquel Morhaim	....	assistant: Mr. Mills
Jean Nakahara	....	production office coordinator
Geraldine Needle	....	studio teacher
Rose Ordile	....	animal colorist
Roy Ott	....	controller: Olympus Pwer
Brigitte Pauli	....	first assistant accountant
Joanne M. Piasecki	....	treasurer: Olympus Power
Michael M. Piehler	....	assistant location manager
Justin Pierret	....	production assistant: New York
Steve Pines	....	accounting services (as Steven R. Pines)
Jose Plasencia	....	assistant chef
Shima Razavi	....	assistant: Mr McGregor
Gregory Riches	....	additional legal services: O'Melveny and Myers
Michelle Roca	....	set production assistant
Riel Roch Decter	....	assistant: Ms. Urdang
Riel Roch Decter	....	office production assistant
Stephen Scharf	....	additional legal services: O'Melveny and Myers
Glenn Schneider	....	caterer: The Event Department
Dan Sharnoff	....	production assistant: New York
Leslie Shea	....	medical advisor
Natasha Shumny	....	post facilities coordinator
Sussie Sims	....	accounting services
Doree Sitterly	....	additional animal trainer
Kris Smith	....	script supervisor
Kristin Starns	....	assistant production office coordinator
Hirotatsu Taniguchi	....	key set production assistant
Liz Timperman	....	representative: Olympus Threatricals (as Elizabeth Timperman)
Nick Tolmasov	....	set medic
Suzy Vaughan	....	script clearance researcher: Clearances Unlimited
Jim Welch	....	set production assistant: second unit, New Mexico
Jonathan West	....	additional legal services: O'Melveny and Myers
Ian B. Williams	....	assistant: Ms. De Pencier (as Ian Williams)
Skyler Wilman	....	insurance agent: D.R. Reiff & Associates
Meredith Wurzbach	....	insurance agent: D.R. Reiff & Associates
Jason Ybarra	....	key craft service (as Jason 'Buckaroo' Ybarra)
Svetlana Zill	....	archival research
Monica Donati	....	press attache: France (uncredited)
Hahnah Jackson	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Harold Manning	....	french adaptation: original version with subtitles (uncredited)
Christopher Neil	....	rehearsal advisor (uncredited)
Alex Scharfman	....	archival research (uncredited)

Thanks
Sue Yeon Ahn	....	thanks (as Sue Ahn)
Kay Babcock	....	thanks
Rick Bolton	....	thanks
Roman Coppola	....	thanks
Jonathan Dayton	....	thanks
Valerie Faris	....	thanks (as Valerie Ferris)
Kim Hamilton	....	special thanks
Youree Henley	....	thanks
Spike Jonze	....	thanks
Miranda July	....	thanks
Megan Kitchen	....	thanks
Linda Lichter	....	special thanks
Katie Mills	....	thanks
Carine Pichonnat	....	special thanks
Lou Pitt	....	special thanks
Scott Rudin	....	special thanks
JoAnne Sellar	....	thanks
Jacki Sextro	....	thanks
Jon Tenney	....	very special thanks
Angus Wall	....	special thanks
Mike White	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Olympus Pictures
• Parts and Labor (in association with)
• Northwood Productions

Distributors

• Alliance Films (2011) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Focus Features International (2010) (worldwide) (theatrical)
• Focus Features (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Klock Worx Company, The (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• MK2 Diffusion (2011) (France) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2011) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Phantom Film (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Universal Italia (2011) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures International (UPI) (2011) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Wild Bunch Benelux (2011) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2012) (Argentina) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Film1 (2012) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2012) (Argentina) (all media)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2011) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Waylen Group (2011) (Taiwan) (video)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (all media)

Special Effects

• Oddball Animation (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Bill Dance Casting  extras casting
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals (as Birds and Animals Unlimited)
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services
• Cinema Security  security
• Cinéphase  adr recording facility (as Cinephase)
• City National Bank  bank
• Clearances Unlimited  script clearance research
• D.R. Reiff & Associates  production insurance services
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Event Department, The  catering
• Fred Smith Studios  adr recording facility
• Getty Images  imagery supplied by
• L.V.T. Paris  French subtitles: original version with subtitles
• MGM Media Licensing  image courtesy of
• O'Melveny & Myers  additional legal services (as O'Melvery and Myers)
• Oakland Museum of Art  special thanks
• OffHollywood Studios  color (as Offhollywood)
• Relativity Music Group  soundtrack
• Santa Barbara Museum of Art  special thanks
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Sound One  adr recording facility
• TM Motion Picture Equipment  grip equipment (as TM Motion Picture Equipment Services)
• The Directors Bureau  editorial facilities
• Three Point Capital  brokerage
• Warner Bros. Costume Department  special thanks (as Warner Brothers Costume Department)
• Wildfire Studios  adr recording facility (as Wildfire Post Production)
• Wildfire Studios  post production sound services (as Wildfire Post Production)

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexual content

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | DTS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #46522) | Malaysia:18 | Ireland:15A | UK:15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Singapore:R21 | South Korea:15 | Sweden:Btl | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Netherlands:AL | Japan:G | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Akbar - 4356 Sunset Boulevard, Silver Lake, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Olympus Pictures

Trivia:

The film is partly autobiographical because many of the events that happened to Hal and Oliver are based on Mike Mills' experiences when his own father came out as gay and began a homosexual relationship after Mike's mother died.

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): Oliver (Ewan McGregor) goes to a fancy party as Austrian psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, but his accent is more Bavarian than Austrian.

Quotes:

Oliver:I've always wanted to have a phone call with somebody who doesn't talk.

Movie Connections:

References Wielka majówka (1981)

Soundtrack:

4 Seasons 'Spring' - Allegro

Humanity is the thing

That's what I took with me and stayed with me. The humanity in Ewan MacGregor's eyes. Sadness and joy unmistakable in its deepness and its pungent recognition. Christopher Plummer is superb as the 75 year old who confesses to his son, he's been gay all his life and after the death of his wife, a sublime Mary Page Keller, he allows that side of his nature to take off and experiment, for the first time in his life, in an honest loving relationship with another man, the odd and lovely Goran Visnjic. As if this wasn't enough, a dog. An extraordinary creature who carries as much humanity as its human counterparts. Melanie Laurent adds an extra pinch of sexual sympathy. "Beginners" will play beautifully on the small screen so I predict a long life for this unexpected treat.