In the Soup (1992)

New Yorker Adolpho Rollo is your classic head-movie auteur. In his mind, he's creating deathless classics of the screen. Back in the real world, he can't pay the rent on the downtown grothole he calls home.

Director:

Alexandre Rockwell

Writers:

Sollace Mitchell (as Tim Kissell), Alexandre Rockwell

Stars:

Steve Buscemi, Seymour Cassel, Jennifer Beals

5 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Steve Buscemi	...	Aldolpho Rollo
Seymour Cassel	...	Joe
Jennifer Beals	...	Angelica Pena
Pat Moya	...	Dang
Will Patton	...	Skippy
Sully Boyar	...	Old Man
Steven Randazzo	...	Louis Barfardi
Francesco Messina	...	Frank Barfardi
Jim Jarmusch	...	Monty
Carol Kane	...	Barbara
Stanley Tucci	...	Gregoire
Rockets Redglare	...	Guy
Elizabeth Bracco	...	Jackie
Debi Mazar	...	Suzie
Sam Rockwell	...	Pauli

Storyline

A neurotic nebbish lives in 2 worlds: the fantasy of winning his dream-girl via a hit movie, and the meager existence he scrapes out from very odd jobs, such as thesping in an arty no-budget flick. His beautiful object is his next-door neighbor Angelica, who's understandably preoccupied with her own life, as an illegal immigrant and single mom. Aldolpho Rollo's writing his unending masterpiece screenplay from a walk-up NYC flat, in-between peering at debtors through his peephole. AR's hopes to win her love take wing via another angel, a shady high-roller who definitely has the self-confidence, and promises the cash Aldolpho craves, to produce the auteur's vision.

---

Plot Keywords:

struggling filmmaker | shady film producer | love interest | female cashier | new york | 

---

Taglines:

A comedy about getting in over your head.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie Aldolfo shows Joe, Skippy and Dane was filmed by Steve Buscemi at Alexandre Rockwell's request. It featured his father, brother Michael and son.

---

Alternate Versions

Although intended to be shown in black and white, the film was shot in colour for economic reasons. In the UK, the colour version was released on rental video, but the sell-through version was black and white.

---

Connections

References The Incredible Mr. Limpet (1964)

---

Soundtracks

Roland Alphonso
Written by Don Cherry
Courtesy of Eternal River Publishing BMI

User Reviews

Best Soup I ever saw

Thanks for Amazon and their: people who bought this... also bought "In the Soup",

I ordered it. I am a fan of Steve Buscemi, so "hey you got no complaints".

What a delightful surprise this movie turned out to be. The lovely Jennifer Beals has aged so gracefully (she looks even better here than in Flashdance; more rounded out character too) and Seymour Cassel should have been nominated for an Oscar in this, I believe, mostly ignored movie. Can't even find a Roger Ebert review of it, and he usually has a nose for unusual, but good movies.

Speaking of noses, Cassel is a delight who delights in existing from day to day, always ready for an adventure, a surprise, or a bit of crime and a bit of a ca-noodle. Poor Buscemi, who is a dreamer with a script for the "great American movie" and hasn't had much of a life, is at first thrilled to meet the potential film financier (Cassel), then becomes a bit frightened of him and in the end realizes he grew as a person and made some friends and possibly can make a more simplified version of his movie after all.

Don't want to give much more away. The lovely black and white vignettes, following each other quickly give you a taste of life in a squalid part of New York. It is European in execution, a bit film-noir-ish, but unique, entertaining, and touching.

The singing rent collectors are a hoot-!

Don't miss it!

Details

Country:

USA France Germany Japan Italy Spain

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 August 1992 (Germany)

Also Known As:

In the Soup

Filming Locations:

New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,922, 25 October 1992

Gross USA:

$256,249

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$256,249

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Communications Corporation, Alta, Cacous Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1