A Lobster Tale (2006)

A fisherman with a dysfunctional family discovers some moss with magical properties.

Director:

Adam Massey

Writer:

Court Crandall

Stars:

Colm Meaney, Alberta Watson, Graham Greene

3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Colm Meaney	...	Cody Brewer
Alberta Watson	...	Martha Brewer
Graham Greene	...	Sheriff
Jack Knight	...	Jake Brewer
Cliff Saunders	...	Dale Ewing
Joe Pingue	...	Bubba Jenkins
Bruce McFee	...	Walter Hogshead
Keir Gilchrist	...	Mike Stanton
Erik Knudsen	...	Timmy Brock (as Eric Knudsen)
Deborah Grover	...	Edith Hogshead
Chris Benson	...	Rusty Kendrick
Gerry Quigley	...	Norm
Ken James	...	Mayor Fischer
Jonathan Whittaker	...	Hal Brock
Kevin Jubinville	...	Darryl Stern

Storyline

Cody Brewer, a quiet New England fisherman isn't doing too well for himself. His wife feels neglected, and his son keeps getting picked on by the school bully. While out collecting his lobster traps one day, Cody finds a strange green moss that holds magical powers. Once word gets out about the magical moss, the entire town suddenly becomes Cody's best friend, all hoping to get a piece of it. With the townspeople clamoring for some moss and the already delicate state of the Brewer family, Cody has a tough time figuring out exactly what to do.

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Plot Keywords:

moss | lobster trap | bully | fisherman | new england | 

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Taglines:

They never asked for a miracle.

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Genres:

Drama | Family | Fantasy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for some sexual material, including brief nudity

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English French

Release Date:

21 October 2006 (USA)

Also Known As:

Perseverance

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Catch One Productions LLC, Darius Films, Massey Stalmaster Films Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Did You Know?

Alternate Versions

Feature Films for Families buys copyrights to family films and edits them to remove anything that might cause young children to ask awkward questions of their parents. They made 28 cuts deleting frames from the film and 6 additional cuts to the soundtrack that didn't cut the film length, shortening the film by 0:11:47, from 1:34:56 down to 1:23:09, and released their shortened version on DVD in 2009. Most of the deletions were to delete words or sentences containing the words: bastard (1), crap (5), damn (5), hell (4), Jesus (1), making-out (1), shit (1), shut up (1); some were to delete images: severed finger, burned arm, naked buttock, short red negligée, one boy repeatedly slugging another; some were to delete concepts: drinking beer (2), a man talking to another man's wife (2), erectile dysfunction (3), disrespect of public officials (sheriff shoplifting, sheriff littering, mayor saying of Moss World - "Just think what it'd do for the town"). One cut did eviscerate the mea culpa moment in Jake Brewer's view of what to do with the miracle moss: the deletion of the last exchange in Jake's talk with his best friend Mike after Mike says "Ya know, Jake, one day you'll lose someone you care about, and then you'll feel differently" [a reference to Mike's father who died 5 months before]. Jake: [deleted] I still won't give a crap about Timmy Brock. Mike: [deleted] Ya know, Jake, sometimes you can be a real looser. This prodding swayed Jake's perspective on whether the moss should be sold for $500,000 or used to save the life of the bully Timmy Brock.

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Connections

References The Young and the Restless (1973)

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Soundtracks

Black and White Movies
Written by Jeannette Dupuis
Performed by Jeannette Dupuis

User Reviews

A 'nonsensical' Lobster Tale

Theme: Poverty stricken family that can not afford a pair of pants for their son and can not pay utility bills. Oh, how a windfall of money would 'lift' such a family in so many ways. If there was a possibility of such a life altering windfall wouldn't the family vote on it? No family votes on anything in this film. Rather, the husband/father RULES and almost always the wrong way.

Other themes: Dysfunctional marriage with husband, from scene one, ignoring his loving wife and her numerous heart wrenching efforts to save their marriage. Miracle sea weed plays no role in this whatsoever. Rather, a chance occurrence leads to resolution.

What to do with a very little bit of a substance that can cure even the worst terminal illness. Save it for your family, for relatives and/or search the community for a young mother with breast cancer or very young child with a horrid or terminal illness? Or instead use it on a very old man who has already lived a long, full life?

When it comes to such decisions, as noted, forget family votes. Why vote when two of the three family members make their own private decisions without so much as a word to the others.

When the wife suggests a safe deposit box, recognizing that some might steal a 'miracle' hubby decides, as he does with most all decisions, that placing it atop their living room TV is the best way to go.

The son's struggle with a difficult moral decision is worthy though, consistent with the film, is shrouded in dishonesty (not his sea weed) and the son's knowledge that he can not discuss such matters with his parents.

While the sea weed helps some with their physical ills it can not help this lame project.