Bodies, Rest & Motion (1993)

Nick is a feckless television salesman who gets fired and impulsively decides that he and his girlfriend, Beth, will move to Butte, MT, which he's read is "the city of the future." "I read ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Steinberg

Writers:

Roger Hedden (play), Roger Hedden (screenplay)

Stars:

Phoebe Cates, Bridget Fonda, Tim Roth

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Phoebe Cates	...	Carol
Bridget Fonda	...	Beth
Tim Roth	...	Nick
Eric Stoltz	...	Sid
Alicia Witt	...	Elizabeth
Sandra Ellis Lafferty	...	Yard Sale Lady (as Sandra Lafferty)
Sidney Dawson	...	TV Customer
Jon Proudstar	...	Station Attendant
Scott Johnson	...	Chip
Kezbah Weidner	...	Dine Woman
Peter Fonda	...	Motorcycle Rider
Amaryllis Borrego	...	Waitress
Rich Wheeler	...	Elizabeth's Grandfather
Scott Frederick	...	TV Store Kid
Warren Burton	...	Radio Preacher (voice)

Storyline

Nick is a feckless television salesman who gets fired and impulsively decides that he and his girlfriend, Beth, will move to Butte, MT, which he's read is "the city of the future." "I read that a while ago, so the future should be there by now," he enthuses. He waits until the last moment to tell Carol, his ex and Beth's best friend, about the move. While Nick is working his last day, Sid comes to the couple's house to paint it for the next tenants. He quickly develops an interest in Beth. He, Beth, and Carol get stoned and hang out. When Sid hears about the move, he tells Beth that he's never left Enfield, and has no interest in traveling. Meanwhile, Nick decides to take off on his own. When Beth gets word of this from Carol, she finds solace in Sid's arms. Sid proclaims his love the next morning, and implores Beth to stay. Meanwhile, Nick visits his childhood home, looking for his parents, has an epiphany, and decides to return to Carol.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | stoned | salesman | love | friend | 

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Taglines:

A romantic comedy about four people caught between loving and leaving.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and sexuality

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 April 1993 (USA)

Also Known As:

Arba Nishimot, Arba Tnuoat

Filming Locations:

Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$75,957, 11 April 1993

Gross USA:

$764,724

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$764,724

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fine Line Features, August Entertainment, Mindel-Shaw Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the end credits there is a special thanks to Harvey Keitel. He was not involved in the movie as such, but he made a very important phone call to Tim Roth. Roth had been offered a big and well paid part in a big budget film immediately before this low budget independent film was to begin shooting. Harvey Keitel made a phone call to Roth, giving him the following advice "Don't take the money. Take the film you really want to make". So Roth stayed with this project.

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Quotes

Carol: You get all the stuff that you want to sell, and I'll make some yard sale signs.
Beth: No one's gonna buy my shit. It's all junk.
Carol: That's what people buy at yard sales.

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Connections

References Powaqqatsi (1988)

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Soundtracks

Everything Is Complicated
Performed by David & David
Written by David Baerwald, David Ricketts, Roger Hedden
Courtesy of A&M Records, Inc.

User Reviews

like watching paint dry, but with Bridget Fonda as your host

If Bridget hosted a nature conservation documentary dealing with dung-beetles, I'd buy the DVD. That said, if this one dealt with that subject, surely there'd be, like, say, these two territorial dung-beetles clamoring for a better chunk of the pie, and we'd have some intriguing development, which would make for better viewing than this drawn-out navel-gazer drama? I'm kidding. But not too much...

I saw it years ago, and what with Bridget's popularity here on the ElectricLadyLand screen, especially LEATHER JACKETS, reviewed some 16 months ago, I remembered that I was much enthralled with her beauty in this movie, though I couldn't remember the flick itself at all. Watching it tonight, I realize that there is naught else to remember. Had she not been in it, I wouldn't have signed up for the damn thing. Now, just as back then, I was only after Bridget.

Don't get me wrong. If your heart is opened to Bridget, you'd also notice that this movie is more than the sum of its parts. It's actually good, but if you notice the general gist of the other reviewers here, most guys will get restless because of the slow build-up.

LEATHER JACKETS might be an atrocious movie, but give me Bridget styled as she looks in that one, not SINGLE WHITE FEMALE. The movie that elevated her for me personally was that lowly one that all film critics take a p*** on.

Once again, just as it was with LEATHER JACKETS, Bridget takes what little material she has at her disposal, and weaves it elegantly, making the absolute most of it. She possesses a natural grace and charm that shines through in all her work (though I must confess that I've only seen her earlier movies, and then also JACKIE BROWN). The lady is classic, truer words I cannot speak. That close- up tear-filled red-eyed scene is THE Bridget Fonda moment, congratulations to both her and the director. Later on there is that closeup of her lovely face as she receives cunnilingus from her real-life boyfriend, and also, that scene beloved by Quentin Tarantino (and myself!) where she joyously, gloriously, cutely replies "good" with a musical lilt to his statement that he wants to be inside her. Not forgetting that other great shot towards the end of her performance, another closeup scene, in the bathroom. That little, little exasperated sound, that slight twitch of the nose... Bridget was what celebrity appeal was about during the 90s.

Bridget fans, do rent LEATHER JACKETS and BODIES, REST & MOTION. For nothing else but for the sake of just sitting back and feasting your eyes on the Hollywood Princess, and going "Wow, man! She is like really, really pretty!" (sigh, heartfelt long, drawn-out sigh)

Special mention to Alicia Witt as Elizabeth, the wistfully pretty redhead kid who has a seminal, though short- lived part in the movie.

Okay, boys, the little joke's over now. Where did you hide the last roll of film? So, this is an indie movie, no happy ending as studio execs would have prescribed. Still, you leave it at that point? Come on, in the spirit of the title, get off your butt!

If you are watching this on a stay-at-home night on cable, you are most likely in for a boring evening. But if you are a Bridget Fonda fan, or just of pretty actresses in general, in for a treat. Deep, soulful movie? There are hundreds better. But they don't have Bridget in them.