Touch (1997)

At the discovery of his ability to work miracles, Juvenal becomes a media sensation, but now he's prone to those who want to exploit him.

Director:

Paul Schrader

Writers:

Elmore Leonard (novel), Paul Schrader (screenplay)

Stars:

Bridget Fonda, Christopher Walken, Skeet Ulrich

3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
LL Cool J	...	LL Cool J
Gina Gershon	...	Debra Lusanne
Conchata Ferrell	...	Virginia Worrel
John Doe	...	Elwin Worrel
Christopher Walken	...	Bill Hill
Skeet Ulrich	...	Juvenal / Charlie Lawson
María Celedonio	...	Alisha (as Maria Celedonio)
Chris Hogan	...	Scruffy Staff Worker
Anthony Zerbe	...	Father Donahue
Bridget Fonda	...	Lynn Faulkner
William Newman	...	Court Clerk
Tom Arnold	...	August Murray
Breckin Meyer	...	Greg Czarnicki
Matt O'Toole	...	Bailiff
Richard Fancy	...	Judge

Storyline

When Juvenal, a presumed miracle worker, appears on the scene Bill Hill attempts to exploit him but his plans go astray with the untimely intervention of August Murray and the developing relationship between Juvenal and Lynn Faulkner.

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Plot Keywords:

one word title | male objectification | male nudity | nudity | barefoot male | 

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Taglines:

Everyone wants a piece of the action

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality, language and a scene of violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Skeet Ulrich went right to filming Scream after completion of this film.

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Quotes

Lynn Marie Faulkner: [why Brother Juvenal left the Franciscan Order] I don't know, maybe something about it irritated him, like Audrey Hepburn in The Nun's Story.

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Connections

Referenced in Light Sleeper: Q&A with Director Paul Schrader and Cinematographer Ed Lachman (2008)

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Soundtracks

Remembering Jobim
Written by Joey Altruda (as Joey Altruda)
Performed by Joey Altruda
Courtesy of Will Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

Director Schrader gets the most out of great ensemble acting

Paul Schrader can be very erratic as a director. I think Affliction is his best film, by far, and this movie and Blue Collar are his next best. That said, you cannot be immune to the basic conceit and find it provocative, much less enjoyable. If you can accept that the Skeet Ulrich character may have St. Francis like qualities, and can really heal sick and handicapped people, Touch is a wonderful film. Christopher Walken (as always) is excellent as the ambitions and unseemly tent-show preacher, hell bent on making a fortune from the "healer-man"; and the others in the cast, Bridget Fonda, Anthony Zerbe and Tom Arnold especially, are excellent, too. Arnold, in particular, brings an amazing zeal and perfect, inadvertent humour to his portrayal of a slightly militarist, born again, religious fanatic. Certainly the movie raises more questions than it answers, and it is not quite as spiritually provocative or deep as Bigas Luna's Renacer, but it is certainly well worth watching.

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

Touch

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$195,236, 17 February 1997

Gross USA:

$387,069

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$387,069

Company Credits

Production Co:

Lumière International, Initial Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1