The Weather Man (2005)

A Chicago weather man, separated from his wife and children, debates whether professional and personal success are mutually exclusive.

Director:

Gore Verbinski

Writer:

Steve Conrad (as Steven Conrad)

Stars:

Nicolas Cage, Hope Davis, Nicholas Hoult

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nicolas Cage	...	David Spritz
Michael Caine	...	Robert Spritzel
Hope Davis	...	Noreen
Gemmenne de la Peña	...	Shelly (as Gemmenne De La Peña)
Nicholas Hoult	...	Mike
Michael Rispoli	...	Russ
Gil Bellows	...	Don
Judith McConnell	...	Lauren
Chris Marrs	...	DMV Guy
Dina Facklis	...	Andrea
J. Nicole Brooks	...	Clerk (as Deanna NJ Brooks)
Sia A. Moody	...	Nurse (as Sia Moody)
Guy Van Swearingen	...	Nipper Guy
Alexander Pine	...	Fast Food Employee (as Alejandro Pina)
Jackson Bubala	...	Fast Food Child

Storyline

Dave Spritz is a local weatherman in his home town of Chicago, where his career is going well, while his personal life, his relationship with his perfectionist writer father, his neurotic ex-wife, and his now-separated children, is spiralling downward. Despite being loathed and loved by the local masses, Dave is a guy who doesn't seem to have it all together, and in this movie, he begins to feel it. An attractive job offer presents Dave with a major question: to pursue his career in New York City, or to remain at home with his family.

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Plot Keywords:

weatherman | failure | new york city | funeral in the rain | corndog | 

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Taglines:

In life, accuracy counts.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and sexual content

Details

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monsieur Météo

Filming Locations:

WGN-TV Studios - 2501 West Bradley Place, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$22,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$4,248,465, 30 October 2005, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$12,482,775

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$19,039,770

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures, Escape Artists, Kumar Mobiliengesellschaft mbH & Co. Projekt Nr. 2 KG

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Tom Skilling: WGN and Chicago Tribune Chief Meteorologist is a Technical Advisor, and plays the television station floor Director.

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Goofs

When Dave is in New York in the interview and they say "Let's get some Blue Screen" it's not referred to as Blue Screen, it "Green Screen" in Broadcast and Film.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Dave Spritz: That was refreshing. I'm refreshed. I'm refreshing.

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Connections

Featured in Trade Winds: The Collaboration (2006)

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Soundtracks

Like a Rock
(1986)
Written & Performed by Bob Seger
Courtesy of Capitol Records
Under license from EMI Film & Television Music

User Reviews

Nick Cage at his best

The cusp of the dreaded mid-life crisis. The realization that life sucks either because you've removed the rose colored glasses or because you've been hit by one of life's ice balls. While at the point where you still believe in happy endings and hold on to the possibility that if one good thing happens everything else will fall into place.

So the story begins...Dave Spritz is a Chicago weatherman. As the events of his life get worse he begins to put all his faith in a dream job in New York as a national weatherman. He believes this job will magically restore his failing marriage, his relationship with this kids and garner him the respect from his father (Michael Caine)he so desires.

The ability to find humor in life's tragedies is an accomplishment that director, writer and cast can all be proud of. The comedy in this movie came just often enough to hold back the tears. It was a real life character study and of course Nicholas Cage and Michael Caine were absolutely superb.

What makes the movie so wonderful is that it is based on premises we all know but often forget. 1)Money doesn't buy happiness. 2)The little things mean a lot. 3)To quote the film, "The hard thing to do and the right thing to do are usually the same thing."