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IMDbPro

Blue Car

  • 2002
  • R
  • 1h 36m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
Blue Car (2002)
Trailer
Play trailer1:16
2 Videos
20 Photos
Drama

A troubled young woman is encouraged by a teacher to enter a poetry contest.A troubled young woman is encouraged by a teacher to enter a poetry contest.A troubled young woman is encouraged by a teacher to enter a poetry contest.

  • Director
    • Karen Moncrieff
  • Writer
    • Karen Moncrieff
  • Stars
    • David Strathairn
    • Agnes Bruckner
    • Margaret Colin
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    6.6/10
    3.6K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Karen Moncrieff
    • Writer
      • Karen Moncrieff
    • Stars
      • David Strathairn
      • Agnes Bruckner
      • Margaret Colin
    • 68User reviews
    • 42Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 6 nominations

    Videos2

    Blue Car
    Trailer 1:16
    Watch Blue Car
    Blue Car
    Trailer 1:16
    Watch Blue Car

    Photos20

    David Strathairn and Agnes Bruckner in Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner in Blue Car (2002)
    David Strathairn and Agnes Bruckner in Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner and Karen Moncrieff at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner and Karen Moncrieff at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Agnes Bruckner at an event for Blue Car (2002)
    Karen Moncrieff at an event for Blue Car (2002)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Strathairn
    David Strathairn
    • Auster
    Agnes Bruckner
    Agnes Bruckner
    • Megan Denning (Meg)
    Margaret Colin
    Margaret Colin
    • Diane
    Frances Fisher
    Frances Fisher
    • Delia
    A.J. Buckley
    A.J. Buckley
    • Pat
    Regan Arnold
    • Lily
    Sarah Buehler
    Sarah Buehler
    • Georgia
    Dustin Sterling
    • Rob
    Michael Joseph Thomas Ward
    Michael Joseph Thomas Ward
    • Dad
    • (as Mike Ward)
    Wayne Armstrong
    • Don
    Aftab Pureval
    • Boy in Class
    Wendy Lardin
    • Georgia's Mom
    Jenn O'nofrio
    • Blonde Girl
    Michael Raysses
    • Mr. Kastran
    Amy Benedict
    Amy Benedict
    • Diner Waitress
    Jaime Scheingross
    • Girl in the Yellow Dress
    Julie Schuster
    • Bank Teller
    Jane Mowder
    Jane Mowder
    • Nurse
    • Director
      • Karen Moncrieff
    • Writer
      • Karen Moncrieff
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was edited on an Apple Macintosh Computer with "Final Cut Pro" and "Cinema Tools" software.
    • Goofs
      The application form that Meg fills out for the poetry contest says her poem is entitled "Blue Car", although at that point she has not yet written the poem or given it a title.
    • Quotes

      [after looking over her poem]

      Auster: Okay... you tell me.

      Meg: I don't know.

      Auster: Why not? Are you afraid I'm going to tell you your work stinks?

      Meg: Does it?

      Auster: What do you think?

      Meg: Probably. I don't know.

      Auster: Come back when you do.

      [rises, starts to leave]

      Meg: It doesn't stink. There's a line that I like.

      Auster: Which one?

      Meg: "Lost leaves spin past the glass, but the trees don't go. They stay by my window."

      Auster: What about the rest of it?

      Meg: I could go deeper.

      Auster: Good for you.

    • Connections
      Featured in The 2004 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2004)
    • Soundtracks
      Fly
      Written and Performed by Lori Carson, Layng Martine Jr. and Jane Scarpantoni

      Feels Good for a Minute Music/Corporal Blossom Music (BMI)

      (c) 2001

    User reviews68

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    9/10
    An impressive debut...
    I've visited IMDb frequently in the past and have voted on over 250 films, but the previous comments regarding this film compel me to write my first review. "Blue Car" is, like most films, not without its flaws, but its strengths make it, in my opinion, one of the best American indie films I've seen for quite some time.

    "Blue Car" is a movie that lacks clear villains; its characters are imperfect people who sometimes make the wrong decisions. I read a flattering review before seeing the movie, which I later regretted... The review gave away just enough to make me anticipate the film's climax and resolution, a reason why I have decided to remain conspicuously vague here.

    The film is about Meg Denning (sp?), a troubled high school student whose poetry impresses her AP English teacher. Meg is still struggling to overcome the emotional abandonment she experienced after her father left. Her sister is likewise depressed and refuses to eat. Her mother is preoccupied with her job and night school. I realize these issues have been dealt with so thoroughly by Disney and Hollywood hacks that they have almost become cliche. Nevertheless, the fact that these situations are relatively commonplace make the story more plausible. The dialogue never degenerates into the pathetic sentimentalism one expects from Spielberg... The dialogue is robust -- the film's characters are dealt with fairly and realistically.

    At the suggestion of her English teacher, Meg enters a poetry contest... As Meg's family problems are compounded by subsequent events, she begins to rely increasingly on her AP English teacher for encouragement, emotional support, and self-affirmation...And then, being as vague as possible, complex situations emerge... :o)

    Every character in the film has sympathetic qualities. You might not agree with the decisions they make, and some of their actions might even disturb you...But in this age of simpleminded, dualistic rhetoric, when politicians talk about Good and Evil as though life were an episode of "He-Man," "Blue Car" is a refreshing film filled with characters who occupy the grey void lurking between black and white.

    The film is not perfect. Certain events occur involving Meg's sister Lily, which are pivotal to the movie. I'm not that fond of how the film deals with Lily's emotional troubles, and facts surrounding the culmination of Lily's troubles are, in my mind, highly questionable. (Sorry. I can't be more specific without ruining the movie. If you see it, you'll probably know what I'm talking about.) These minor flaws are well worth overlooking.

    Unfortunately, film as an industry is as white-male dominated as the field of theoretical physics -- perhaps even more so. It is sad indeed that the greatest living female director is probably Leni Riefenstahl, the despicable opportunist whose masterpieces include "Triumph of the Will."

    That being the case, Karen Moncrieff's debut comes as a relief. She has proven herself to be a talented, insightful, up-and-coming director whose career will be worth keeping an eye on. Overall, I give the film a 9.
    helpful•36
    5
    • dudley_do_wrong
    • Jun 13, 2003

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 2, 2003 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Miramax (United States)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Синяя машина
    • Filming locations
      • Dayton, Ohio, USA
    • Production company
      • Peer Oppenheimer Production Inc.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $1,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $465,310
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $30,087
      • May 4, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $476,551
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 36 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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