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Affliction

  • 19971997
  • RR
  • 1h 54m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
18K
YOUR RATING
James Coburn and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer2:04
1 Video
34 Photos
DramaMysteryThriller
A deeply troubled small-town cop investigates a suspicious hunting death while other events jeopardize his sanity.A deeply troubled small-town cop investigates a suspicious hunting death while other events jeopardize his sanity.A deeply troubled small-town cop investigates a suspicious hunting death while other events jeopardize his sanity.
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
18K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Paul Schrader
  • Writers
    • Russell Banks(novel)
    • Paul Schrader(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nick Nolte
    • Sissy Spacek
    • James Coburn
  • Director
    • Paul Schrader
  • Writers
    • Russell Banks(novel)
    • Paul Schrader(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Nick Nolte
    • Sissy Spacek
    • James Coburn
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 209User reviews
    • 68Critic reviews
    • 79Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 8 wins & 19 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 2:04
    Watch Trailer

    Photos34

    1 sheet
    James Coburn and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
    Willem Dafoe and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
    James Coburn and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
    James Coburn, Willem Dafoe, and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
    James Coburn and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
    James Coburn and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
    James Coburn and Nick Nolte in Affliction (1997)
    Nick Nolte and Wayne Robson in Affliction (1997)
    Tim Post in Affliction (1997)
    Marian Seldes in Affliction (1997)
    Eugene Lipinski in Affliction (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Nick Nolte
    Nick Nolte
    • Wade Whitehouse
    Sissy Spacek
    Sissy Spacek
    • Margie Fogg
    James Coburn
    James Coburn
    • Glen Whitehouse
    Brigid Tierney
    Brigid Tierney
    • Jill Whitehouse
    Holmes Osborne
    Holmes Osborne
    • Gordon LaRiviere
    Jim True-Frost
    Jim True-Frost
    • Jack Hewitt
    • (as Jim True)
    Tim Post
    Tim Post
    • Chick Ward
    Christopher Heyerdahl
    Christopher Heyerdahl
    • Frankie Lacoy
    • (as Chris Heyerdahl)
    Marian Seldes
    Marian Seldes
    • Alma Pittman
    Janine Theriault
    Janine Theriault
    • Hettie Rogers
    Mary Beth Hurt
    Mary Beth Hurt
    • Lillian Horner
    Paul Stewart
    • Mr. Horner
    Wayne Robson
    Wayne Robson
    • Nick Wickham
    Sean McCann
    Sean McCann
    • Evan Twombley
    Sheena Larkin
    • Lugene Brooks
    Penny Mancuso
    • Woman Driver
    Danielle Desormeaux
    • Elaine
    Charles Edwin Powell
    Charles Edwin Powell
    • Jimmy Dane
    • (as Charles Powell)
    • Director
      • Paul Schrader
    • Writers
      • Russell Banks(novel)
      • Paul Schrader(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      When meeting with James Coburn to discuss the film, director Paul Schrader encouraged Coburn to make heavy preparations for his role. Coburn responded "Oh, you mean you want me to really act? I can do that. I haven't often been asked to, but I can."
    • Goofs
      Wade puts his right hand's finger in his mouth because of his toothache, but when he turns his back to Margie he appears with his left hand's finger in his mouth.
    • Quotes

      Rolfe Whitehouse: [Last lines] The historical facts are known by everyone. All of Lawford, all of New Hampshire, some of Massachusetts. Facts do not make history. Our stories, Wade's and mine, describe the lives of the boys and men for thousands of years: boys who were beaten by their fathers, whose capacity for love and trust was crippled almost at birth, men whose best hope for connection with other human beings lay in detachment, as if life were over. It's how we keep from destroying in turn our own children and terrorizing the women who have the misfortune to love us; how we absent ourselves from the tradition of male violence; how we decline the seduction of revenge. Jack's truck turned up three days later in a shopping mall in Toronto. Wade killed Jack, just as surely as Jack did not kill Evan Twombley, even accidentally. The link between Jack and Twombley, LaRiviere and Mel Gordon existed only in Wade's wild imaginings. And briefly, I admit, in mine as well. LaRiviere and Mel Gordon were indeed in business. The Parker Mountain Ski Resort is now advertised across the country. The community of Lawford, as such, no longer exists. It is an economic zone between Littleton and Catamount. The house is still in Wade's name, and I keep paying taxes on it. It remains empty. Now and then, I drive out there and sit in my car, and wonder, why not let it go? Why not let LaRiviere buy it and build the condominiums he wants there? We want to believe Wade died that same November, froze to death on a bench or a sidewalk. You cannot understand how a man, a normal man, a man like you and me, could do such a terrible thing. Unless the police happen to arrest a vagrant who turns out to be Wade Whitehouse, there will be no more mention of him. Or his friend, Jack Hewitt. Or our father. The story will be over, except that I continue.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: You've Got Mail/Down in the Delta/The Thin Red Line/A Civil Action/Affliction (1998)
    • Soundtracks
      Open the Door to Your Heart
      Written by Ned Miller

      Performed by Bonnie Guitar

      Used by permission of Dandelion Music Co.

      Courtesy of Bear Family Records

      [Plays in the bar while Wade talks to his friend and hears the people at the nearby table gossiping about him.]

    User reviews209

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    Devastatingly brilliant
    One quarter captivating mystery thriller, three quarters intense and relentless psychological drama, "Affliction" is unquestionably one of Paul Schrader's finest achievements both as a writer and as a director, and an absolutely devastating and engaging film.

    The film revolves around the character Wade Whitehouse, played brilliantly by Nick Nolte in what amounts to a masterclass in acting and a career high for Nolte, a troubled small town policeman who is investigating a hunting death while his childhood comes back to haunt him through a series of events that cause him to collapse mentally. The characterization in Schrader's screenplay (and in Banks' novel, I assume) is absolutely astonishing. One rarely sees characters with such detailed psychological profiles in movies as short as "Affliction" is. James Coburn's Oscar-winning turn as Wade's father, Glen, is also very memorable, and his part is certainly very well-written. The rest of the characters play more minor roles in the film both in thematic terms and in terms of screen time, but Schrader doesn't push them to the side and focus only on the main character. No, Sissy Spacek's character here is very detailed and important, and although her role is relatively small child actress Brigid Tierney is quite excellent as Wade's daughter.

    The original score by Michael Brook is haunting and memorable and helps keep the film's intensity and atmosphere going, as does Paul Sarossy's cinematography which is suitable to say the least given the harsh setting and subject matter. Paul Schrader absolutely nails the direction on this film. Everything just feels right, the pacing is fantastic, and I'm certain he had something to do with the stunning performances here. The locations are used to optimal effect, and feel just as harsh from the safety of your seat as they would in reality.

    "Affliction" may not be an easy film to watch repeatedly, as it is relentlessly intense, but it is also a highly involving and sophisticated dramatic thriller, something that is certainly becoming a rare event in American cinema. Ultimately, 'enjoyable' might not be the best word to describe "Affliction", but it is certainly impressive.

    9.5/10
    helpful•5
    2
    • ametaphysicalshark
    • Jul 22, 2008

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 19, 1999 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
      • Japan
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bela
    • Filming locations
      • Huntingdon, Quebec, Canada
    • Production companies
      • JVC Entertainment Networks
      • Kingsgate Films
      • Largo Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $6,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $6,330,054
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $63,979
      • Jan 3, 1999
    • Gross worldwide
      • $6,330,054
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 54 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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