The King (2005)

A troubled man, recently discharged from the Navy, goes to Corpus Christi, Texas, in search of the father he's never met.

Director:

James Marsh

Writers:

Milo Addica, James Marsh

Stars:

Gael García Bernal, William Hurt, Laura Harring

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gael García Bernal	...	Elvis
Derek Alvarado	...	Scoot
E. Matthew Buckley	...	Deck Officer (as Matthew Buckley)
Monica Peña	...	Brothel Manager (as Monica Pena)
Veronica Bernal	...	Elvis's Girl
Billy Joe Martinez	...	Mexican Salesman
Mohammad Ahmed	...	Mr. Chopra
Pell James	...	Malerie
Sally Allen	...	PA
Paul Dano	...	Paul Sandow
Laura Harring	...	Twyla
William Hurt	...	David
Roger Kunshick	...	Young Man with Flower
Ike Reilly	...	Rum Jungle Singer
Milo Addica	...	Bruno

Storyline

A motiveless malignancy? Elvis leaves the Navy and heads for Texas where he contacts his father, whom he's never met, the pastor at a Christian community church. Pastor Dave tells Elvis to stay away and, without telling his family that Elvis is his son from a pre-conversion liaison, tells them to have nothing to do with him. But Elvis has already connected with Malerie, the pastor's 16-year old daughter. Elvis embarks on the seduction of Malerie, while Dave examines his conscience and comes to a new conclusion. Can anyone get right with the Lord? Does the Lord hear?

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Plot Keywords:

female nudity | incest | man orgasms inside a woman | sex outdoors | half brother half sister incest | 

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Taglines:

The devil made me do it.

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Genres:

Drama | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexuality involving a teen, some violence and language

Details

Country:

USA UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 May 2006 (UK)

Also Known As:

A király

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,927, 21 May 2006, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$281,326, 20 August 2006

Company Credits

Production Co:

ContentFilm, FilmFour, Edward R. Pressman Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Gael García Bernal is a year and a half younger than Pell James who plays a 16 year-old.

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Goofs

On his first day as a delivery driver Elvis is shown by his manager the proper way to cut a pizza and put it in the bag. After the manager shows him how to do this he tells him to go deliver the pizza. Elvis walks out the door with just the pizza box. The bag has disappeared.

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Soundtracks

There will be Peace in the Valley for Me
(1939)
Written by Thomas A. Dorsey (as Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey)
Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI)
Performed by Dolly Parton
Licensed from and used by permission of Blue Eye Records and Welk Music Group
(p) 2003 Blue Eye Records

User Reviews

Disturbing and dark morality tale

THE KING (2006) **1/2 Gael Garcia Bernal, William Hurt, Pell James, Laura Harring, Paul Dano. Disturbing and dark morality tale about a young man (Garcia Bernal continuing to be his generation's Brando) coming into the lives of a pastor (Hurt in one his best roles of his career) and his family, claiming to be his long-lost son and attempting to fulfill his birthright with deadly results. Novice filmmaker James Marsh (who co-wrote the screenplay with Milo Addica) gets the message across in a decidedly clumsy and hard-to-swallow histrionics yet the talented cast outshines the film's downward spiral of despair. James, best known as the only female who treated Bill Murray with civility in "Broken Flowers", proves to be a young talent to watch suggesting a latter day Diane Lane.