Like Minds (2006)

A forensic psychologist (Collette) is tasked with determining whether or not a minor should face murder charges for killing his schoolmate.

Director:

Gregory Read (as Gregory J. Read)

Writer:

Gregory Read (as Gregory J. Read)

Stars:

Eddie Redmayne, Tom Sturridge, Toni Collette

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Eddie Redmayne	...	Alex Forbes
Tom Sturridge	...	Nigel Colbie
Toni Collette	...	Sally Rowe
Richard Roxburgh	...	Martin McKenzie
Kate Maberly	...	Susan Mueller
Jon Overton	...	Josh Campbell (as Jonathan Overton)
Amit Shah	...	Raj Mehta
David Threlfall	...	John Colbie
Cathryn Bradshaw	...	Helen Colbie
Patrick Malahide	...	Headmaster
Hugh Sachs	...	Rev Donaldson
Liam McKenna	...	Mr Fergus
Bryan Robson	...	Mr Evans
Paul Sonkkila	...	Police Bureaucrat
Craig Crosbie	...	Coroner

Storyline

The forensic psychiatric Sally Rowe is called by Detective Martin Mackenzie to analyze the profile of the teenager Alex Forbes, who was found in a train station holding the body of his schoolmate Nigel Colby and with powder in his hand. Alex discloses his relationship with Nigel, who believes that they were descendants of the Templar Knights, and how Nigel used the power of his mind to control him. Mackenzie believes that Alex is the killer, but Susan investigates the family of Nigel under pressure of Alex's father, and finds that all of them belong to an ancient and powerful secret society.

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Plot Keywords:

frame up | barefoot male | forensic psychologist | psychologist | murder | 

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Taglines:

How do you stop a killer who is inside your head?

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Genres:

Crime | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Official Sites:

Darclight Films Dendy Films

Country:

Australia UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 November 2006 (Australia)

Also Known As:

Murderous Intent

Filming Locations:

Bradford Grammar School, Bradford, West Yorkshire, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$8,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$886,756

Company Credits

Production Co:

Australian Film Finance Corporation (AFFC), Lumina Films, Bluewater Pictures

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The division between filming this picture in England and Australia in like terms was not actually this neat in actual terms. Some scenes and sets were inevitably split between countries and the challenges for Nigel Bluck's cinematography and Steven Jones-Evans' production design departments were considerable. And this is not to even mention the weather and matching continuity of light and season between the different northern and southern hemispheres.

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Goofs

When Alex reads Nigel's book and looks at Nigel's family tree, Nigel's last name is spelled Colbie. However, when he is reading the newspaper at the end, Nigel's name is spelled Colby.

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Quotes

Alex Forbes: [cheeky] Do you have any children? Well, you're not bad looking. I think you're running out of time, you know?
Sally: [dryly] No, you're the one running out of time

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Connections

Referenced in Like Minds: Casting the Boys (2006)

User Reviews

Everyhing is good except the movie

Watched this because Eddie Redmayne seemed interesting in 'Savage Grace' but the film was perfectly dreadful. This again, actually his first feature film, isn't in a genre I'm at all crazy about, but, far-fetched and derivative from various sources though it is,it's still quite good for what it is. The directing has some merit, the cast is fine, the tech package (to use the Variety jargon) is first rate, and it's clever of them to adopt a cold, pale look instead of the usual chiaroscuro for spooky horror stories and also to avoid an excess of gore. This is a supernatural murder conspiracy mystery for people who don't like such stuff.

I am not of the opinion that Tom Sturridge is vastly inferior to Redmayne as some have said. The whole film would be a washout if that were true, since it's the unwilling symbiosis of the two youths that's the heart of the piece.

An excellent "making of" with the US DVD package shows Tom and Eddie are friends in real life and points out that the chemistry was evident from the first moments of a screen test. Good use is made of the spooky waxen perfection of Sturfridge's face. Tony Collette is a very good actress but often appears in overwrought roles; here, she is admirably toned down and also helps keep the movie from getting too genre or too pumped-up. Roxburgh and all the others do very creditable work and one can appreciate newcomer writer-director Read's alertness and enthusiasm. The "making of" introduces us to the main crew members and cast in interviews that are brief but feel natural. It also does an interesting job of explaining how remarkably the filmmakers fulfilled the requirements of shooting half in Australia and half in England in two opposite seasons and totally unlike landscapes and making them blend seamlessly together.

The final twist may seem just one more absurdity, but in the film's own terms it felt quite neat and right. The thing about Redmayne is, he has a chilly self-possession that is fascinating to watch in action. (In person he seems quite normal and pleasant.) It's quite worthwhile also to see somebody starring in a film about a public school who actually went to the preppiest English prep school of all, Eton. (Sturridge went to Winchester, which isn't far off.) I hope Redmayne's special talents and looks don't always lead him into films that are as campy or over-the-top as this and 'Savage Grace.' He seems to be "hot" now so he's going to have a chance to try different stuff. I'm curious to see how he does in two US productions,'The Yellow Handkerchief' and "Powder Blue.' Only time will tell if he gets good opportunities and makes good choices, but there's no doubt that he has something.