The Box (2009)

A small wooden box arrives on the doorstep of a married couple, who know that opening it will grant them a million dollars and kill someone they don't know.

Director:

Richard Kelly

Writers:

Richard Kelly (screenplay), Richard Matheson (short story "Button, Button")

Stars:

Cameron Diaz, James Marsden, Frank Langella

6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cameron Diaz	...	Norma Lewis
James Marsden	...	Arthur Lewis
Frank Langella	...	Arlington Steward
James Rebhorn	...	Norm Cahill
Holmes Osborne	...	Dick Burns
Sam Oz Stone	...	Walter Lewis
Gillian Jacobs	...	Dana
Celia Weston	...	Lana Burns
Deborah Rush	...	Clymene Steward
Lisa K. Wyatt	...	Rhonda Martin
Mark S. Cartier	...	Martin Teague (as Mark Cartier)
Kevin Robertson	...	Wendell Matheson
Michele Durrett	...	Rebecca Matheson
Ian Kahn	...	Vick Brenner
John Magaro	...	Charles

Storyline

Norma and Arthur Lewis, a suburban couple with a young child, receive a simple wooden box as a gift, which bears fatal and irrevocable consequences. A mysterious stranger delivers the message that the box promises to bestow upon its owner $1 million with the press of a button. However, pressing this button will simultaneously cause the death of another human being somewhere in the world, someone they don't know. With just 24 hours to have the box in their possession, Norma and Arthur find themselves in the cross-hairs of a startling moral dilemma and must face the true nature of their humanity.

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Plot Keywords:

moral dilemma | nosebleed | alien | library | supernatural power | 

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Taglines:

All you have to do is push the button.

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Genres:

Drama | Fantasy | Mystery | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images

Details

Official Sites:

Warner Bros. Wild Bunch Distribution [France]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Box

Filming Locations:

Boston Public Library - 700 Boylston Street, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$30,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,571,417, 8 November 2009

Gross USA:

$15,051,977

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$33,334,176

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros., Radar Pictures, Media Rights Capital (MRC)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

115 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Although the song "Fearless" from Pink Floyd's album, "Meddle," was used during the film, it was not mentioned in the credits.

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Goofs

The can Norma picks up in the library is labelled "NASA Langly JPL Viking" - presumably in reference to the Langley Research Center location in Virginia.

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Quotes

Student: It's all tragically comic and comically tragic.

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Connections

References No Exit (1962)

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Soundtracks

Bell Bottom Blues
Written by Eric Clapton
Performed by Derek & The Dominos (as Derek and the Dominos)
Courtesy of Universal Music Enterprises

User Reviews

The beginning. The end. But what in the world was that middle?

The Box begins with a fine premise. Would you accept one million dollars if it meant that someone - a person you don't know - will have to die? Of course the question begs the fact that people we don't know are always dying; millions every day. So, in fact, the question should be, One more person than would otherwise. Anyway I'm willing to go along with the premise. And, in fact there is an ending to the movie that - to me, at least - resonates with the premise. Which is to say, a clever ending. But the film, like most films, is mostly middle. Or in this case 'muddle'. Because here in the middle all sorts of stuff happens that (a) make no sense and (b) appear to belong to another film but (c) are supposedly important. There's astronaut stuff, lightning stuff, library stuff, zombie-like stuff, foot stuff, wedding reception stuff, and - get this - wedding rehearsal stuff. Also, there's Cameron Diaz. Whom I like. Or liked in Something About Mary. And other 'lighter' roles. But here, in this life-and-death of a movie she seems miscast. Unlike Frank Langella who is perfectly cast.

I'm going to end with this. I saw the film last night. It was the one and only time I ever saw it. I'm open to the possibility that to be appreciated it needs more than one viewing. And I might. And if I change my review / opinion I'll enter it here.