Arthur Newman (2012)

A story of a man who fakes his own death and assumes a new identity in order to escape his life, who then moves in with a woman who is also trying to leave her past behind.

Director:

Dante Ariola

Writer:

Becky Johnston (screenplay)

Stars:

Emily Blunt, Colin Firth, Anne Heche

Cast

Credited cast:
Emily Blunt	...	Mike
Colin Firth	...	Arthur Newman
Anne Heche	...	Mina Crawley
Kristin Lehman
Sterling Beaumon	...	Grant
David Andrews	...	Fred Willoughby
Nicole LaLiberte	...	Silverlake / Echo Park Hipster Artsy Bohemian Girl
Autumn Dial	...	Charyl
Peter Jurasik	...	Bus Driver
Sharon Conley	...	Unemployment Official (as Sharon Morris)
Lucas Hedges	...	Kevin Avery
Michael Beasley	...	Terre Haute Policeman #2
Dean Chekvala	...	Silverlake / Echo Park Hipster Artsy Bohemian Guy
Anthony Reynolds	...	Park Ranger
Steve Coulter	...	Owen Hadley

Storyline

Wallace Avery hates his job. His ex-wife and son hate him, and he's blown his one shot at living his dream. Not wanting to face all this, he stages his own death and buys himself a new identity as Arthur Newman. However, Arthur's road trip towards anew life is interrupted by the arrival of the beautiful but fragile Mike, who is also trying to leave her past behind. Drawn to one another, these two damaged souls begin to connect as they break into empty homes and take on the identities of the absent owners: elderly newlyweds, a high-roller and his Russian lady, among others. Through this process, Arthur and Mike discover that what they love most about each other are the identities they left at home, and their real journey, that of healing, begins.

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Taglines:

If you don't have a life, get someone else's.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, language and brief drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 June 2013 (Kuwait)

Also Known As:

Arthur Newman, Golf Pro

Filming Locations:

Currie, North Carolina, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Vertebra Films, Cross Creek Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #21.132 (2013)

User Reviews

"Terre Haute," the working title is better than "Arthur Nwman"

Arthur Newman is not so much a failure as a story as it is a failure as a movie. Quirky and extreme as the characters may be, they do face the human problem of opting for stasis or change. Both choices require a kind of courage. Both choices are usually entered into or denied existence without full comprehension of their actually being choices. Terre Haute, the destination/objective that fails to reinvent, wash away, the memories and humanity of the main characters in this movie might stand for anything that brings relief to the living from life. The sex games played in the movie are a drug, a temporary respite, an aside to what is important in this story of choices faced. It is also why this movie fails as the art piece it aspires to be. But the failure is only a nod, a compromise to the commercial requirements of the film industry. So what's new.

QUESTION: Can anyone tell me the ties this film has to the work of Richard Brautigan? Brautigan is mentioned deep and fleetingly in the credits.