God Bless America (2011)

Director:

Bobcat Goldthwait

Writer (WGA):

Bobcat Goldthwait (written by)

Release Date:

31 May 2012 (Russia)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Taking out the trash, one jerk at a time.

Plot:

On a mission to rid society of its most repellent citizens, terminally ill Frank makes an unlikely accomplice in 16-year-old Roxy.

Plot Keywords:

Politics | Movie Theatre | Kindness | Television Show | Teen

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Joel Murray	...	Frank
Tara Lynne Barr	...	Roxy
Melinda Page Hamilton	...	Alison
Mackenzie Brooke Smith	...	Ava
Rich McDonald	...	Brad
Maddie Hasson	...	Chloe
Larry Miller	...	Chloe's Dad
Dorie Barton	...	Chloe's Mom
Travis Wester	...	Ed
Lauren Benz Phillips	...	Donna (as Lauren Phillips)
Guerrin Gardner	...	Tampon-Throwing Tuff Gurl
Kellie Ramdhanie	...	Melissa Tuff Gurl (as Kellie Marie Ramdhanie)
Aris Alvarado	...	Steven Clark
Romeo Brown	...	John Tyler
Sandra Vergara	...	American Superstarz Judge
Jamie Harris	...	American Superstarz Judge
Alexie Gilmore	...	Morning Show Host
James McAndrew	...	Morning Show Host
Brendalyn Richard	...	Karen
Geoff Pierson	...	Frank's Boss (as Geoff Peirson)
Tom Kenny	...	Office Staff
Eliza Coyle	...	Office Staff
Jill Talley	...	Office Staff
Joe Liss	...	Office Staff
Bryce Johnson	...	Co-Worker
Cameron Denny	...	Office Worker
Scot Zeller	...	Ronald
Danny Geter	...	Mutual of Onodaga Security Guard
Dan Spencer	...	Doctor
Leslie Noble	...	Medical Building Woman
Regan Burns	...	Michael Fuller
Bruce Nozick	...	TMI Host
Orson Oblowitz	...	TMI Flunky
Frank Conniff	...	Stan Kurtz
Tom Lenk	...	Party Planner #1
Jack Plotnick	...	Party Planner #2
Morgan Murphy	...	Fast Food Employee
Gilland Jones	...	Girl Who Gets Shot in Movie Theater
Naomi Glick	...	Kimberly Black
Jacob DeMonte-Finn	...	Boy Who Gets Shot in Movie Theater #1 (as Jacob Demonte-Finn)
Carson Aune	...	Boy Who Gets Shot in Movie Theater #2
Toby Huss	...	Man with Cell Phone Who Gets Shot
Christopher Allen Nelson	...	Trooper
Iris Almario	...	Sophia Milo
Tony V.	...	Pancake Eating Pedophile
Mo Gaffney	...	Singing Waitress
Andrea Harper	...	Roxy's Mother (as Andrea Squibb 'Harper')
David Mendenhall	...	Roxy's Father
Steve Agee	...	American Superstarz Crew Member
Christopher Doyle	...	American Superstarz Security Guard Who Gets Shot (as Chris Doyle)
Kirk Bovill	...	Police Captain
Michael Carbonaro	...	Robbie Barkley
Philip Anthony Traylor	...	American Superstarz Backdoor Security Guard
Paul Eliopoulos	...	Reverend Goran
Mike Tristano	...	Shady Gun Dealer
Lon Gowan	...	Guy Who Runs in the Audience and Gets Shot
Daniel Everson	...	Guy
Samantha Droke	...	Ashylee Chloe's BFF
James Rustin	...	Skylar Chloe's Other BFF
Nathan Kim	...	Dancer
Zuzana Lova	...	Dancer (as Zuzana Humplova)
Hunter Hamilton	...	Dancer
Suze Q	...	Dancer (as Suzanne 'Suze-Q' Pirnat)
Brad Rowe	...	Angry Tea Bagger
Nate Scholz	...	Paparazzi
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Juliana Acosta	...	Press Conference Reporter (uncredited)
Fileena Bahris	...	American Superstarz Fan (uncredited)
Joanne Bahris	...	Audience Member (uncredited)
Ellen Baker	...	PR Rep for Pop Stars (uncredited)
I. Elijah Baughman	...	Bodyguard (uncredited)
David Boat	...	(voice) (uncredited)
Claude Bragg	...	Rich High School Kid (uncredited)
Veronica Burgess	...	Office Gal (uncredited)
Aaron Burt	...	Jerky Boy #2 (uncredited)
James Darling	...	Press Conference Cameraman (uncredited)
Curt Darwin	...	Extra (uncredited)
Sarah B. Downey	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
Sara Faiella	...	American Superstarz Fan (uncredited)
Joe Ford	...	Extra (uncredited)
Alana Gospodnetich	...	Baton Twirler (uncredited)
Frederick Gourgue	...	TMI Camera man (uncredited)
Lynn Haro	...	Waitress (uncredited)
Brittany King	...	Extra (uncredited)
Janine King	...	Bloody Audience Member (uncredited)
Melissa LeEllen	...	American Superstarz Fan (uncredited)
Tommy Shayne Manfredi	...	Southern Baptist Protester (uncredited)
Montgomery Markland	...	American Superstar Crewmember (uncredited)
Tom Massmann	...	Bodyguard (uncredited)
Marsad Nikui	...	Office Employee (uncredited)
David Jason Perez	...	Rejected Boy (uncredited)
Lenny Porterfield	...	Security Guard (uncredited)
Jennifer Powers	...	Average Student (uncredited)
Mike Jerome Putnam	...	Shooter and Police Officetr (uncredited)
Eric Salazar	...	Patron (uncredited)
Claudia Serven	...	American Superstarz Celebrity (uncredited)
Keith Shawn	...	Fan (uncredited)
Patrick Stalinski	...	Restaurant Patron (uncredited)
Nevan Stewart	...	Standing Cameraman (uncredited)
Sasha Stuber	...	Female Jogger (uncredited)
Christopher Swank	...	Office Worker (uncredited)
William P. Szczech	...	Man in Hallway (uncredited)
Charles Whitman	...	Himself (archive footage) (uncredited)
Dustin York	...	Baptist Protester (uncredited)

Directed by
Bobcat Goldthwait

Writing credits (WGA)
Bobcat Goldthwait		(written by)

Produced by
Jeff Culotta	....	producer
Sarah de Sa Rego	....	co-producer
Jim Goldthwait	....	co-producer
Ted Hamm	....	executive producer (as Edward H. Hamm Jr.)
Sean McKittrick	....	producer
Angela Sostre	....	line producer
Jason Stewart	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Matt Kollar

Cinematography by
Bradley Stonesifer

Film Editing by
David Hopper
Jason Stewart

Casting by
Ruth Lambert
Robert McGee

Production Design by
Natalie Sanfilippo

Set Decoration by
Kirk Oberholtzer

Costume Design by
Sarah de Sa Rego

Makeup Department
Abigail Bradley	....	additional hair stylist
Abigail Bradley	....	additional makeup artist
Noa Brandes	....	assistant makeup artist
Kierra Cole Scheffer	....	additional hair stylist (as Kierra Scheffer)
Kierra Cole Scheffer	....	additional makeup artist (as Kierra Scheffer)
Robert Kato DeStefan	....	special makeup effects artist
Brittany M. Fontaine	....	assistant makeup artist (as Brittnie Fontaine)
Morgan Jenkins	....	assistant makeup artist
Christopher Allen Nelson	....	special makeup effects artist (as Christopher Nelson)
Jenn Rose	....	special makeup effects artist
Dawn Subhasiriwatana	....	key hair stylist
Dawn Subhasiriwatana	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Joel Henry	....	production supervisor
Mark Moran	....	unit production manager
Aaron Peak	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Michael Breines	....	first assistant director (reshoots)
Jim Goldthwait	....	first assistant director
Joe Moore	....	second assistant director
Aimee Pierson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Ben Brecher	....	leadman
Jeffrey Cavelier	....	graphic designer
Rebekah Estey	....	assistant property master
Alma Gamino	....	buyer
Lindsey Longo	....	assistant property master
Alex Manjarrez	....	set dresser
Christine Mitchell	....	assistant property master
Evan Regester	....	graphic designer
Vanesa Wilkey-Escobar	....	property master

Sound Department
Jose Barocio	....	boom operator
Omar Barraza	....	additional boom operator
Bill Donnelly	....	sound mixer (new york)
Casey Genton	....	sound effects editor
Robert Jackson	....	sound designer
Robert Jackson	....	supervising sound editor
Sang Kim	....	dialogue editor
Tim Limer	....	sound recordist
Arran Murphy	....	sound mixer
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound re-recording mixer
Brian Slack	....	sound re-recording mixer
Callie Thurman	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Stepka Li	....	armorer

Visual Effects by
Travis Baumann	....	digital compositor: Gradient Effects
Luis F. Pazos	....	visual effects editor
Aaron Peak	....	colorist
Aaron Peak	....	digital effects artist
Rebecca Ramsey	....	producer: Gradient Effects
Neil W. Smith	....	digital intermediate supervisor: Hollywood DI
Thomas Tannenberger	....	visual effects supervisor: Gradient Effects

Stunts
Alex Daniels	....	stunt advisor
Justin Gant	....	stunts
Hubie Kerns Jr.	....	stunts
Peewee Piemonte	....	stunt coordinator (as Peewee Piedmont)

Camera and Electrical Department
Douglas Bard	....	theatrical lighting best boy
Brant Beland	....	gaffer
Stephen Belovarich	....	swing intern
Kenny Bowen	....	swing intern
Ryan Breitenbach	....	grip
Mike Carano	....	still photographer
Jan-Michael Del Mundo	....	electrician
Gus Dominguez	....	lighting director
Danny Dougherty	....	grip
Patrick George	....	lighting console programmer
Ruben Gonzales	....	lighting technician
Frederick Gourgue	....	production assistant
Alex Goyette	....	swing intern
Chris Guerrero	....	lighting technician
Zachary Hunter	....	camera intern
Julien Janigo	....	key grip
Imre Juhasz	....	b-camera operator
Levi Kaminkowitz	....	grip
Patrick J. Kearns	....	lighting technician
Kim Lapplander	....	second assistant camera
Drew Lauer	....	high speed camera operator
Nicholas H. Martin	....	additional dit
John Paul Meyer	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Bo Ng	....	swing intern
Scott Probe	....	spotlight operator
John C. Reyes	....	camera operator
John C. Reyes	....	first assistant camera
Nik Sipolins	....	swing intern
Damyon Tashjian	....	lighting technician
Kenneth Thompson	....	swing intern
Jerry Watson	....	lighting designer

Animation Department
Jeff Striker	....	animator

Casting Department
Christi Webb	....	casting associate
Shayna Sherwood	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Abigail Bradley	....	wardrobe assistant
Tasha Goldthwait	....	key costumer
Brittany Trusler	....	costumer

Editorial Department
Steve Forner	....	assistant editor
Matt Kollar	....	additional editing
Aaron Peak	....	on-line editor

Music Department
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Matt Kollar	....	composer: theme music

Other crew
Nick Cane	....	production intern
Matt Carson	....	production assistant
James Chichil	....	production assistant
Mel Christian	....	production intern
Tyler Diamond	....	key set production assistant
Taylor Erickson	....	location assistant
Barbara Fleeman	....	key craft service
Frank Gieb	....	set teacher
Frederick Gourgue	....	production assistant
Jack Grimmett	....	on-set extras coordinator
Andra Hayes	....	script supervisor
Brandon Hwang	....	production assistant
Naomi Iwamoto	....	production assistant
Naomi Iwamoto	....	production intern
Caroline Kim	....	production intern
Matt Kollar	....	production intern
Kenneth Kraus	....	set medic
Uyen Le	....	production legal
Roger Luna	....	set medic
Amy McDonald	....	production office assistant
Ryan Meyers	....	production assistant
Ali Naqvi	....	production assistant
Veronica Nickel	....	production coordinator: Syracuse & New York
Elizabeth E. Quinlan	....	production coordinator
Cesar Robles	....	set medic
Sheila R. Rose	....	assistant production coordinator
Mike Rutkowski	....	production assistant
Daniel Seo	....	production intern
Josh Sessoms	....	production assistant
Josh Sessoms	....	production intern
Trish Sie	....	choreographer
Justin Sostre	....	production intern
Marissa Stone	....	production intern
Rick Surad	....	location manager
Mike Tristano	....	master armorer
Melissa Varona	....	production assistant
Viktor von Drakk	....	production intern

Production Companies

• Darko Entertainment (presents)
• Jerkschool Productions (in association with)

Distributors

• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Magnet Releasing (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2012) (USA) (theatrical)
• Night Visions Distribution (2012) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Potemkine Films (2012) (France) (theatrical)
• StudioCanal (2012) (UK) (theatrical) (limited)
• Transformer (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Cinemax (2013) (Hungary) (TV)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Dutch FilmWorks (DFW) (2012) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Eagle Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)
• EuroVideo (2013) (Germany) (DVD) (Kino Kontrovers)
• StudioCanal (2012) (UK) (DVD)
• VL-Media (2013) (Finland) (all media)

Special Effects

• Gradient Effects (visual effects)

Other Companies

• American Entertainment Insurance Services  production insurance
• Big Crowds  crowd casting
• Creative Clearance  script clearance, copyright & title search
• Hollywood-DI  ARRI Alexa workflow and color correction
• NPI Entertainment Payroll  payroll services (as NPI Production Services)
• Post Haste Sound  commentary recording engineering

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence and language including some sexual sequences

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R | UK:15 | Japan:R15+ | Australia:MA15+ | Germany:16 | France:-12 | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Darko Entertainment

Trivia:

The book that Frank lends the receptionist (briefly) is "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" by Jane Austen and Seth Grahame-Smith and cover by America's Got Talent semi-finalist Doogie Horner.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When they sit at the car watching Frank's daughter and ex-wife in the side mirror, they cannot both see the same image as they are sitting in different car seats.

Quotes:

Roxy:[referring to Frank having killed Chloe] Tell me all about it!
Frank:About what?
Roxy:Did the bitch cry?
Frank:Yeah.

Movie Connections:

References "Glee" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Hello Hooray

An Answer to Stone's Natural Born Killers

What a great movie. It's rather as if Goldthwait has made an answer to Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers by way of Mike Judge's Office Space. Through the eyes of Joel Murray's Frank, we see a variety of society's ills and thankfully, Goldthwait doesn't dwell on them. To do so would be like gawking at the stupidity when you walk into a Walmart; it's just going to make you dwell longer at the stupidity on display, and you are still in a Walmart.

Instead, we get one of those movies that you either are along with or you aren't, you get or you don't. If you get it, you wish that Frank had a few more monologues, if you don't, you'd think it was advocating random shooting sprees.

Thankfully the script and Murray's brilliant portrayal of Frank has him as a principled, moral character who has his suicide interrupted by one terrible reality TV show too many. Along the way he teams up with a psychotic schoolgirl. He's rebelling violently about what society has become, she's rebelling against what society is.

It isn't a huge film, without a large budget, but well made. I felt that it worked best compared to Oliver Stone's Natural Born Killers, which showed spree killers as celebrities. In God Bless America the characters lament that they haven't even made the news. But in the end, Stone's film glories this shallow quest for fame while Goldthwait's film answers it, showing what happens to America when everyone is unkindly reaching for it.