Owning Mahowny (2003)

A bank manager with: (a) a gambling problem and (b) access to a multimillion dollar account gets into a messy situation. Based on the story of the largest one-man bank fraud in Canadian history.

Director:

Richard Kwietniowski

Writers:

Gary Stephen Ross (book), Maurice Chauvet (screenplay)

Stars:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Minnie Driver, John Hurt

3 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Dan Mahowny
Minnie Driver	...	Belinda
John Hurt	...	Victor Foss
Maury Chaykin	...	Frank Perlin
Ian Tracey	...	Det. Ben Lock
Sonja Smits	...	Dana Selkirk
K.C. Collins	...	Bernie (as Chris Collins)
Jason Blicker	...	Dave Quinson
Vince Corazza	...	Doug (as Vincent Corazza)
Roger Dunn	...	Bill Gooden
Eric Fink	...	Psychologist
Mike 'Nug' Nahrgang	...	Parking Attendant
Tanya Henley	...	Teller
Brona Brown	...	Teller
Philip Craig	...	Briggs

Storyline

Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman) was a rising star at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. At twenty-four, he was Assistant Manager of a major branch in the heart of Toronto's financial district. To his colleagues, he was a workaholic. To his customers, he was astute, decisive, and helpful. To his friends, he was a quiet, but humorous man who enjoyed watching sports on television. To his girlfriend, he was shy but engaging. None of them knew the other side of Dan Mahowny, the side that executed the largest single-handed bank fraud in Canadian history, grossing over ten million dollars in eighteen months to feed his gambling obsession.

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Plot Keywords:

gambling | embezzlement | atlantic city new jersey | based on true story | bank | 

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Taglines:

The true story of a mild mannered banker and his magnificent obsession.

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Genres:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

While this is not a remake, The Borrower (1984) was based on the same true story.

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Goofs

Movie takes place in 1980-1982, however Air Canada jets seen in the background at the airport are painted in a design first introduced in the mid-to-late-'90s.

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Quotes

Investigator #1: You've got a gambling problem, right?
Dan Mahowny: No...
[chuckles]
Dan Mahowny: No, sir.
Investigator #1: Come on. You didn't get a buzz out of it?
Dan Mahowny: I have a... financial problem. A shortfall.

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Crazy Credits

At the end of the closing credits you'll see the strongroom door from the start again and hear the sound of the ball in a roulette wheel. Rien ne vas plus.

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Best Films of 2003 (2004)

User Reviews

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Philip Seymour Hoffman

This is based on a real story that happened in 1980-82. Dan Mahowny (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is the youngest assistant manager of a major bank branch at the heart of Toronto's financial district. Little does anybody know, he has a gambling addiction. He uses his position to steal millions to feed his gambling habit.

This is all about Philip Seymour Hoffman. He is amazing. He isn't just a great co-star. He is the lead. He is the star. And he is compelling. He's been great as the brilliant actor's actor for many years acting beside some of the greats in some great movies. Two years after this, he will win best actor for his own great movie 'Capote'.

The style is strip down. PSH has those 80s glasses. Mostly there is his desperation and his obsession. Minnie Driver goes blonde and I don't really recognize her. Maury Chaykin is great as the bookie.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Canada UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 September 2003 (Argentina)

Also Known As:

Owning Mahowny

Filming Locations:

Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$10,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,287, 4 May 2003

Gross USA:

$1,011,871

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,271,244

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alliance Atlantis Communications, Astral Media, Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1