$5 a Day (2008)

The son of a thrifty conman begrudgingly joins his father on the road.

Director:

Nigel Cole

Writers:

Neal H. Dobrofsky, Tippi Dobrofsky

Stars:

Christopher Walken, Alessandro Nivola, Sharon Stone

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christopher Walken	...	Nat Parker
Alessandro Nivola	...	Ritchie Flynn Parker
Sharon Stone	...	Dolores Jones
Dean Cain	...	Rick Carlson
Peter Coyote	...	Burt Kruger
Amanda Peet	...	Maggie
Luis Avalos	...	Martinez
Beth Bailey	...	Real Estate Lady
Marya Beauvais	...	Realtor
Frank Bond	...	Bar Manager
Vic Browder	...	Salesman
Gregory Chase	...	Reporter (as Greg Chase)
Christopher Dempsey	...	Tim Webber
Judith Greentree	...	IHOP Waitress
Christopher Hagen	...	Marty

Storyline

In L.A., Flynn Parker loses his job as a health inspector when his time in prison comes to light, his girlfriend Maggie moves out because of his prevarications, and his ne'er-do-well father, Nat, summons him to Atlantic City with a tale of a malignant cancer. Flynn doesn't like Nat, a small-time hustler and the cause of Flynn's jail time, but Nat cajoles his son into a cross-country trip through family memories toward New Mexico where an experimental treatment awaits. The trip is not just about the past, but whether either can tell the truth - and then what to do with those truths. From time to time, Flynn calls Maggie to leave messages. And what about Flynn's mother?

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Plot Keywords:

undressing | unconsciousness | getting undressed | father and son talk | phone conversation | 

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Taglines:

A Good Conman Doesn't Need Money

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, brief nudity and language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Five Dollars More

Filming Locations:

Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Capitol Films,Aramid Entertainment Fund,Carol Baum Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Nigel Cole mentioned one scene with Nivola inspecting a taco stand and the owner (played by one of the production guys) shouting obscenities at him that was filmed as an opening, but it set the wrong tone for the opening of the film, so it got cut.

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Goofs

When Nat and Ritchie start out on their trip Nat makes Ritchie pull over quickly to get a hair cut. In the background you can see a toll booth. Later in the film you can see them swerve off the freeway with the same toll booth in the background.

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Quotes

Nat Parker: Yeah, shake your head. These are memories. You'll see what it's like when things stop happening on command. Half mast, and I'm not even dead yet.
Ritchie Flynn Parker: What are you saying, you're impotent?
Nat Parker: I'm saying I can't get it up most of the time.
Ritchie Flynn Parker: Since when?
Nat Parker: Since - it's hard to say. A couple of years, maybe five.
Ritchie Flynn Parker: Well, have you tried taking those pills?
Nat Parker: They're junk. They don't work.
Ritchie Flynn Parker: Where did you buy them off, a fruit truck?
Nat Parker: What difference does it make? They don't work. I don't work. The clock is ticking. ...

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Connections

References The Great Escape (1963)

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Soundtracks

I Don't Mind
Written and Performed by Marcus Foster

User Reviews

Father&Son grifters hit the road ............

Christopher Walken and Alessandro Nivola are Father and Son scheming and scamming their way from New Jersey to New Mexico. Much like "House of Games" and "The Grifters", this road odyssey plays like a house of mirrors. In other words, very little is exactly as it seems. Walken is estranged from his son because his irresponsibility landed Nivola in jail. Together they mend fences, while still working the angles along the road. Rarely have two characters been so unsympathetic, and yet somewhat sympathetic at the same time. If you enjoy road movies about rebuilding relationships, "$5 a Day" just might work for you. I know I enjoyed the ride. - MERK