The Darwin Awards (2006)

To investigate bizarre insurance claims that transpired in either accidents, death or both, a former cop and an insurance investigator travel throughout the country to look at the cases up close.

Director:

Finn Taylor

Writer:

Finn Taylor

Stars:

Joseph Fiennes, Winona Ryder, David Arquette

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
David Arquette	...	Harvey
Ty Burrell	...	Emile
Josh Charles	...	Paramedic
Kevin Dunn	...	Insurance Exec
Nora Dunn	...	Mrs. Pearlman
Joseph Fiennes	...	Michael Burrows
Judah Friedlander	...	Simon
Lukas Haas	...	Farley
Tom Hollander	...	Henry
Brad Hunt	...	Stan
Juliette Lewis	...	Joleen
Julianna Margulies	...	Carla
Tim Blake Nelson	...	Perp
Alessandro Nivola	...	Ad Exec
Chris Penn	...	Tom

Storyline

To investigate bizarre insurance claims that transpired in either accidents, death or both, a former cop and an insurance investigator travel throughout the country to look at the cases up close.

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Plot Keywords:

voice over narration | shower | sex | kitchen | flashback | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language, violent images, some sexuality and drug use

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 July 2006 (United Arab Emirates)

Also Known As:

Darvina Balva

Filming Locations:

Adelanto, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

3 Ring Circus Films,Blumhouse Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

During the search in the library for the author, behind Michael is a man reading a book. The book is actually "The Darwin Awards" book of stories much like the ones in the film.

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Goofs

When the young exec runs through the alleged bullet proof glass with the seat cushion in his arms, the cushion vanishes the moment he breaks through the window and falls in slow motion from multiple angles. If it was in front of him as he hit the glass in a full run, it would likely still be in his hands, but certainly it would be falling with him.

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Quotes

Siri Taylor: For an ex-cop, you're kind of a pussy, aren't ya?

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Crazy Credits

After the credits, there's a quick scene showing the cell phone Burrows tied to a mylar balloon being found in India by a girl and her mother. Zoe the receptionist can be heard on the other end calling, "Michael? Michael?"

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Connections

References Cops (1989)

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Soundtracks

My Mathematical Mind
Written by Britt Daniel
Performed by Spoon
Courtesy of Merge Records

User Reviews

Didn't want to fast forward through ANY of this movie

Choose "The Darwin Awards" if you want a relaxing afternoon or evening watching a fun film with enough laughs to make you walk away satisfied. Looking at my IMDb ID, "fastforwardaddict," you would surmise correctly that I have no patience for lame or poorly constructed movies. I fastforward through everything that is subpar. If the writing and/or the acting are bad, the DVD goes right back into the Netflix or Blockbuster sleeve. Favorite movies of mine include those that are considered by such critics as Leonard Maltin to be four star rated. I say all this because when this came out in the theatres, I read newspaper and magazine reviews that made it seem like a dud. Seems rather fishy now, because I watched this with a male who is also very hard to please and we both liked it. At the end, he said, "You picked a winner this time." One criticism I read was that there was no chemistry between Joseph Fiennes and Winona Ryder. First of all, the movie was about Fiennes truly irritating the h... out of Ryder. Haven't you ever worked with someone who drove you nuts? Well, Fiennes couldn't have played this more perfectly. I've known characters like this and he is right on the money. I also knew a character just like the one he played in "Forever Mine" and he was right on the money there, too. His facial expressions are enough in so many instances, he doesn't even have to talk. His stiff body language was absolutely suited to the character he was playing. Ryder was excellent as his co-worker. Why do you think she survived her legal and public relations' problems? Because she is a very good actress. As for the chemistry between them, that is subjective; I sensed it.

Most of the Darwin situations, i.e., what the nutty victims did, were priceless, particularly the fellow who attached the missile to his car. The actors who played the husband and wife who were nearby made those characters very believable.

The comedic writing was good. The quips between Fiennes and Ryder were great! I hardly ever watch a movie twice, but I would watch this one again just to hear them go at each other, and to watch with even more of my friends and relatives to share the lighthearted fun. Sarcastic but cute give and take in a conversation is not easy to write, but the writers succeeded here.

Fiennes's range is wide: all the way from well-acted serious films such as "Luther" and particularly, "Leo," to this light and happy, very good-for-a-Saturday-afternoon provider of laughs.