Sleepwalking (2008)

The drama follows a twelve-year-old girl's struggle to come to terms with her mother's abandonment.

Director:

Bill Maher (as William Maher)

Writer:

Zac Stanford

Stars:

Charlize Theron, Nick Stahl, AnnaSophia Robb

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Nick Stahl	...	James
AnnaSophia Robb	...	Tara
Charlize Theron	...	Joleen
Deborra-Lee Furness	...	Danni
Mathew St. Patrick	...	Detective #1
Callum Keith Rennie	...	Will
Woody Harrelson	...	Randall
Dennis Hopper	...	Mr. Reedy
Ken Mitchell	...	Mr. Bergen
Jean Freeman	...	Mrs. Bergen
Troy Skog	...	Warren
George Grassick	...	Cop #1
Mike Ennis	...	Cop #2
Alexandra Fox	...	Darlene
Lori Ann Kennedy	...	Foster Care Worker (as Lori Kennedy)

Storyline

James "Speedy" Reedy is anything but. He's a twenty-something slacker sleepwalking through life in a Midwestern town. His older sister, Joleen calls him in the middle of the night after the police have arrested her boyfriend and tossed her and her 12-year-old daughter Tara on the street. James takes them in, then Joleen, who claims to have a plan, leaves with a trucker and a stash of drug money. James tries to cope, but soon he's lost his job, and child protective services places Tara in foster care. She's miserable. Can James wake up and find a way to be more than just a nice guy? A road trip to his childhood may hold a key, or it may be another bad dream.

---

Plot Keywords:

road trip | foster care | childhood | tween girl | son murders father | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and a scene of violence

Did You Know?

Trivia

Charlize Theron and Woody Harrelson appeared in North Country (2005).

---

Quotes

Tara: Where are we going?
James: We're going home. Home to your mom.
Tara: [brightens] My mom? Where is she?
James: She's in Westmoreland. Waiting at the police station.
Tara: What's going to happen to you?
James: Can't be any worse than it's been, you know? Before now, it's like I've been living in a dream. A bad dream, just sleepwalking. But you helped me. You woke me up.
Tara: I did?
James: Yeah.
James: [after a pause] Will you do me a favor?
Tara: Yeah, sure.
[...]

---

Connections

References Blue Velvet (1986)

---

Soundtracks

I'm the Highway Kind
Written by Moot Davis
Performed by Moot Davis
Courtesy of Little Dog Records and Fundamental Music Inc.

User Reviews

Look beyond the stereotype

If you peer honestly at this film, it depicts familial dysfunction, and the havoc it engenders in children; they are the innocent creatures that are damaged irrevocably. They say all you need is one person while you are raised who attunes to you lovingly and with empathy; thats all it takes. When you are abused at an early age, you will lack individuation and psychosocial integration. Perchance if you have children, whether you want to or not, you will pass this information on, that is stored in every cell of your body. Braking the generational abusive cycle requires more than knowledge it requires healing. Nick Stahl is a great actor, who gets better with age, using little to say so much. The child actor is decent too.

Details

Country:

Canada USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 February 2008 (Canada)

Also Known As:

Ferris Wheel

Filming Locations:

Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$47,762, 16 March 2008

Gross USA:

$170,392

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$208,995

Company Credits

Production Co:

Denver and Delilah Productions, FilmEngine, Infinity Features Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1