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The Neon Bible

  • 19951995
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
912
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
26,822
11,107
The Neon Bible (1995)
Drama
While on a train, a teenage boy thinks about his life and the flamboyant aunt whose friendship acted as an emotional shield from his troubled family. This film evokes the haunting quality of... Read allWhile on a train, a teenage boy thinks about his life and the flamboyant aunt whose friendship acted as an emotional shield from his troubled family. This film evokes the haunting quality of memory while creating a heartfelt portrait of a boy's life in a rural 1940s Southern town... Read allWhile on a train, a teenage boy thinks about his life and the flamboyant aunt whose friendship acted as an emotional shield from his troubled family. This film evokes the haunting quality of memory while creating a heartfelt portrait of a boy's life in a rural 1940s Southern town.
IMDb RATING
6.2/10
912
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
26,822
11,107
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Terence Davies
    • Writers
      • Terence Davies
      • John Schulte(literary collaborator)
      • John Kennedy Toole(novel)
    • Stars
      • Jacob Tierney
      • Drake Bell
      • Gena Rowlands
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Terence Davies
    • Writers
      • Terence Davies
      • John Schulte(literary collaborator)
      • John Kennedy Toole(novel)
    • Stars
      • Jacob Tierney
      • Drake Bell
      • Gena Rowlands
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 13User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 2 nominations

    Photos69

    Denis Leary, Gena Rowlands, Drake Bell, Diana Scarwid, and Jacob Tierney in The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)
    The Neon Bible (1995)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jacob Tierney
    Jacob Tierney
    • David, aged 15
    Drake Bell
    Drake Bell
    • David, aged 10
    Gena Rowlands
    Gena Rowlands
    • Mae Morgan
    Diana Scarwid
    Diana Scarwid
    • Sarah
    Denis Leary
    Denis Leary
    • Frank
    Bob Hannah
    Bob Hannah
    • George
    Aaron Frisch
    • Bruce
    Charles Franzen
    • Tannoy Voice
    Leo Burmester
    Leo Burmester
    • Bobbie Lee Taylor
    Sherry Velvet
    • First Testifier
    Stephanie Astalos-Jones
    Stephanie Astalos-Jones
    • Second Testifier
    Ian Shearer
    • Billy Sunday Thompson
    Joan Glover
    • Flora
    Jill Jane Clements
    Jill Jane Clements
    • Woman
    Tom Turbiville
    • Clyde
    Sharon Blackwood
    Sharon Blackwood
    • Schoolmistress
    Peter McRobbie
    Peter McRobbie
    • Reverend Watkins
    Ken Fight
    • Schoolmaster
    • Director
      • Terence Davies
    • Writers
      • Terence Davies
      • John Schulte(literary collaborator)
      • John Kennedy Toole(novel)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In an interview with "Time Out Film", Terence Davies said about this film, "[It] doesn't work, and that's entirely my fault. The only thing I can say is that it's a transition work. And I couldn't have done The House of Mirth (2000) without it."
    • Quotes

      David, aged 15: If you were different from anybody else in town, you had to get out. They used to say in school, "you have to think for yourself," but you couldn't do that in town. You have to think what your father thought and that was what everybody thought.

    • Connections
      References Gone with the Wind (1939)
    • Soundtracks
      Oh Lord, How Long?
      Traditional

    User reviews13

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    It is like the book but that isn't necessarily a good thing
    The Neon Bible is the more obscure work by John Kennedy Toole (of Confederacy of Dunces fame). The book is a 1st person narrative of the main character's-David-10 or so most important memories of when he was growing up. I have read the book several times and think it is a wonderful book. I also think it wasn't particularly suited for cinema. This film more or less confirms that notion.

    The resulting film is disjointed, episodic and because of how internalized David is the plotting is hard to fully grasp. I am not sure if the plot is understandable if you *haven't* read the book. The material is about the oppressive nature of small town life for different people-especially fire and brimstone religion-builds up anger and resentment that comes out in violence. That comes across in the film if you know you are looking for it. If you not I think much of the film will be esoteric.

    I ultimately ended up liking the film on the level of the companion to the novel. It helps a lot that I rather like the book and there's not much different in the works. The cinematic qualities are fairly good-if a little TV production. The melancholy of the novel comes through loud and clear.

    Overall I am glad this film exists but it could have been better.
    helpful•0
    0
    • CubsandCulture
    • Mar 4, 2020

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • March 1, 1996 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • Spain
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Neon İncil
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA
    • Production companies
      • Channel Four Films
      • Scala Productions
      • Screen Partners Ltd.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $78,072
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $5,045
      • Mar 3, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $78,072
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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