Benny & Joon (1993)

A mentally ill young woman finds her love in an eccentric man who models himself after Buster Keaton.

Director:

Jeremiah S. Chechik (as Jeremiah Chechik)

Writers:

Barry Berman (story), Lesley McNeil (story) (as Leslie McNeil)

Stars:

Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson, Aidan Quinn

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Johnny Depp	...	Sam
Mary Stuart Masterson	...	Joon Pearl
Aidan Quinn	...	Benny Pearl
Julianne Moore	...	Ruthie
Oliver Platt	...	Eric
CCH Pounder	...	Dr. Garvey (as C.C.H. Pounder)
Dan Hedaya	...	Thomas
Joe Grifasi	...	Mike
William H. Macy	...	Randy Burch
Liane Curtis	...	Claudia (as Liane Alexandra Curtis)
Eileen Ryan	...	Mrs. Smail
Don Hamilton	...	UPS Man
Waldo Larson	...	Waldo
Irvin Johnson	...	Orderly
Shane Nilsson	...	Orderly

Storyline

In Spokane, Washington, Juniper Pearl - Joon to those that know her - is an artist. She is also a mentally challenged young woman who requires around the clock care, as she could cause harm to herself or others. Her brother Benny Pearl, who owns and operates a garage and who is her only living relative since their parents died twelve years ago in a car accident, has made the decision that she would live at home with him, in the process sacrificing being able to have a personal life of his own. He has hired full-time housekeepers to provide that care when he isn't around. However, he has exhausted the list of housekeepers, who keep quitting because Joon is too much to handle. As such, Benny makes the decision that perhaps it would be best for all concerned if Joon were to live in a group home, something he is hesitating telling her for fear of her reaction. Into their lives comes Sam, the eccentric cousin of Benny's friend Mike, Sam who they obtained from Mike in a losing hand of poker...

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Plot Keywords:

brother sister relationship | siblings living together | sibling | love | poker | 

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Taglines:

A romance on the brink of reality.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for theme, a scene of mild sensuality and one use of harsh language

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 April 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Corazones en conflicto

Filming Locations:

301 North Cedar Street, Spokane, Washington, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,285,063, 18 April 1993, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$23,202,734

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Roth-Arnold Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exterior of the café where Ruthie works is the Milk Bottle Café in Spokane, Washington. The interior was shot in an entirely different restaurant, Ferguson's Café. The two restaurants are next door to each other. It's not the only building in Spokane shaped like a milk bottle.

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Goofs

In the park, when Benny goes to help Sam up, his tie is not tied, but hanging loosely. In the next shot it is tied again

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Quotes

[first lines]
Randy Burch: So we're planning our next vacation, right? I want Australia, she wants Italy. I like snorkeling, she likes garlic. All of a sudden, out of nowhere, she says to me: Do I need her? Jesus, Benny. What kind of a question is that? I mean, "need?" What does it really mean to need someone?
Eric: Benny, fuel line!
[and the phone begins ringing]
Benny: Hey Waldo, could you answer that phone?
Waldo: Hello?
UPS Man: [walks in] I need a check, Benny. COD.
Benny: In a minute. Meet me in the office.
UPS Man: All right...
Benny: [...]

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Benny & Joon/The Positively True Adventures of the Alledged Texas Cheerleader Murdering Mom/Map of the Human Heart/Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography (1993)

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Soundtracks

CAN'T FIND MY WAY HOME
Written by Steve Winwood
Performed by Joe Cocker
Courtesy of Capitol Records
by arrangement with CEMA Special Markets

User Reviews

Sweet, funny, absolutely fantastic

A highly underrated movie with a shining Johnny Depp. He is simply one of the best actors of our time. It's one of my all-time favorites.

This movie deals honestly and caringly with Benny (Aidan Quinn), his mentally ill sister Joon (Mary Stuart Masterson), and Sam (Depp), who comes unexpectedly into their lives. It is at once laugh-out-loud funny, honest, and touching.

I've always appreciated that Joon's character is treated as (as Sam says) a person who is normal, "except for her mental illness." The situations are just a tad this side of wacky, but they feel very real.

Seriously, if you haven't seen this movie, watch it. The writing is spot-on, the stars shine, and even the bit players (from Dan Hedaya to CCH Pounder) make the movie all the more memorable.