Amelia (2009)

A look at the life of legendary American pilot Amelia Earhart, who disappeared while flying over the Pacific Ocean in 1937 in an attempt to make a flight around the world.

Director:

Mira Nair

Writers:

Ronald Bass (as Ron Bass), Anna Hamilton Phelan

Stars:

Hilary Swank, Richard Gere, Ewan McGregor

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Hilary Swank	...	Amelia Earhart
Richard Gere	...	George Putnam
Ewan McGregor	...	Gene Vidal
Christopher Eccleston	...	Fred Noonan
Joe Anderson	...	Bill Stultz
Cherry Jones	...	Eleanor Roosevelt
Mia Wasikowska	...	Elinor Smith
Aaron Abrams	...	Slim Gordon
Dylan Roberts	...	Leo Bellarts
Scott Yaphe	...	William Dalten
Tom Fairfoot	...	Balfour
Ryann Shane	...	Young Amelia
William Cuddy	...	Gore Vidal
Elizabeth Shepherd	...	Frances Putnam
Richard Donat	...	Gallagher

Storyline

Amelia Earhart, a Kansas girl, discovers the thrill of aviation at age 23, and within 12 years has progressed to winning the Distinguished Flying Cross for being the first woman to pilot a plane solo across the Atlantic Ocean. At age 39, she sets out on an attempt to circumnavigate the globe, an adventure that catapults her into aviation myth.

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Plot Keywords:

trousers | looking at oneself in a mirror | flying | woman | amelia earhart | 

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Taglines:

Defying The Impossible. Living The Dream.

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Genres:

Adventure | Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for some sensuality, language, thematic elements and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Fox Searchlight [United States] Official site [France]

Country:

USA Canada

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 October 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Амелия

Filming Locations:

Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$40,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,904,047, 25 October 2009, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$14,241,034, 10 January 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Searchlight Pictures,Avalon Pictures,AE Electra Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

111 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A Lockheed 12 Electra Junior was used to represent the modified 10E Electra that Ms. Earhart flew in her final flight. The 12 is smaller than the 10.

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Goofs

When Amelia Earhart is riding in the car with Gene Vidal, Amelia switches from looking out the window to at Gene and at one point, she is facing him in one shot then looking forwards in the next.

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Quotes

Gore Vidal: Why don't you marry my father? Then I won't be afraid of anything anymore.
Amelia Earhart: I'm already married, to Mr. Putnam.
Gore Vidal: Why can't you be married to Mr. Putnam and my father at the same time?

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Connections

Referenced in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: The Rotten Tomatoes Show Year Endies (2009)

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Soundtracks

Clarinet Bandleader
Written by Stephen Edwards
Courtesy of 5 Alarm Music

User Reviews

A Pleasant Movie

I found this to be exactly as a few had described: "a fair movie, not great but not bad, either." I'm not surprised it didn't do well at the box office even though I cannot pan the film. I enjoyed it.

Even though I liked it, something was missing: maybe an edge and a few things to get us more involved with the characters. It was hard to warm up to either Earhart (Hilary Swank) or her husband George Putnam (Richard Gere.). Swank and Gere usually play interesting roles so to see them so bland here is a bit of a surprise.

Kudos to Stuart Dryburgh, director of photography, for a very pretty picture. He's done some nice work in the past, such as "The Painted Veil." The airplanes and the overall look of the 1930s is wonderful in here, often capturing my attention more than the dialog.

Overall, it's a pleasant film, a romance more than an adventure. Don't let naysayers discourage you from seeing it, yet on the other hand, don't spend big bucks on it, either.