In the Bedroom (2001)

A New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman who has two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband.

Director:

Todd Field

Writers:

Andre Dubus (story "Killings"), Robert Festinger (screenplay) (as Rob Festinger)

Stars:

Tom Wilkinson, Sissy Spacek, Nick Stahl

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 70 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Wilkinson	...	Matt Fowler
Sissy Spacek	...	Ruth Fowler
Nick Stahl	...	Frank Fowler
Marisa Tomei	...	Natalie Strout
William Mapother	...	Richard Strout
William Wise	...	Willis Grinnel
Celia Weston	...	Katie Grinnel
Karen Allen	...	Marla Keyes
Frank T. Wells	...	Henry
W. Clapham Murray	...	Carl
Justin Ashforth	...	Tim Bryson
Terry A. Burgess	...	District Attorney
Jonathan Walsh	...	Father McCasslin
Diane E. Hamlin	...	Davis' Assistant
Camden Munson	...	Jason Strout

Storyline

In idyllic Mid-Coast Maine, the Fowler family's only son Frank comes home from his freshman year at college for summer vacation. His mother Ruth, the school choir director, is unhappy with Frank dating soon-to-be divorced mother Natalie who is several years his senior, but Frank's father Matt, the town doctor, doesn't see a problem. While Frank considers holding off his future for Natalie, her jilted husband causes them all problems until an unthinkable tragedy shakes the community to its very core.

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Plot Keywords:

vigilantism | school choir | maine | new england | ex husband ex wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

A young man. An older woman. Her ex-husband. Things are about to explode...

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some violence and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site YoVideo (French)

Country:

USA

Language:

English Serbo-Croatian

Release Date:

8 February 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

In the Bedroom

Filming Locations:

Belfast, Maine, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,700,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$93,972, 25 November 2001, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$35,930,604

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$43,368,779, 12 October 2003

Company Credits

Production Co:

Good Machine, Standard Film Company, GreeneStreet Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 138 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (CFI)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A scene cut from the final version shows Ruth (Sissy Spacek) and Matt (Tom Wilkinson) watching the film Barry Lyndon (1975) at The Strand Theater in Rockland, Maine on the night of their wedding anniversary. Ruth tells her son Frank (Nick Stahl) "It was the first film your father and I ever saw together." This was intended by director Todd Field as an homage to Stanley Kubrick, whom Field had worked with on Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

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Goofs

When Matt is eating in the diner the napkin disappears and reappears underneath the silverware.

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Quotes

Richard: Where are the boys?
Natalie: ...It's none of your business.
Richard: Oh, I see. They're my boys, but they're none of my business.

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Crazy Credits

This film is dedicated to Andre Dubus and is based on his short story "Killings".

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Connections

Referenced in Late Night with Seth Meyers: Jonah Hill/Jonathan Franzen/Gallant/Mary Timony (2016)

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Soundtracks

Baby I Love Your Way
(1975)
Written by Peter Frampton
Performed by Peter Frampton
Copyright 1975 Almo Music Corp.
On behalf of itself and Nuages Artists Music Ltd. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of A&M Records
Under license from Universal Music Enterpises

User Reviews

An acting masterclass

An exceptional film which emulates the astounding talents of Tom Wilkinson. I thought he was OK in The Full Monty, but he is exceedingly well cast in the role of father who is grieving inside the loss of his only child. Tom acts with intelligence and resounding compassion as a man driven to revenge. The film is delivered and directed with a slow build up of tension towards a shocking and absorbing climax. This film offers great performances from the ensemble of actors and is directed intelligently. It maybe a tragic and slow film but it will leave the audience empathising with the characters rather than sympathising with them. A truly remarkable and contemporary film.