Charlie Countryman (2013)

While travelling abroad, a guy falls for a Romanian beauty whose unreachable heart has its origins in her violent, charismatic ex.

Director:

Fredrik Bond

Writer:

Matt Drake

Stars:

Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Shia LaBeouf	...	Charlie Countryman
Evan Rachel Wood	...	Gabi Ibanescu
Mads Mikkelsen	...	Nigel
Til Schweiger	...	Darko
Rupert Grint	...	Karl
James Buckley	...	Luc
Ion Caramitru	...	Victor Ibanescu
Vincent D'Onofrio	...	Bill
Melissa Leo	...	Kate
Andrei Finti	...	Bela
Aubrey Plaza	...	Ashley
Lachlan Nieboer	...	Ted
Vanessa Kirby	...	Felicity
Gabriel Spahiu	...	Taxi Driver
Bogdan Farkas	...	Hostel Clerk (as Bodgan Farcas)

Storyline

When his late mother appears in a vision and tells him to go to Bucharest, Charlie immediately boards a plane across the Atlantic. But when he meets a fellow passenger, Charlie finds himself with another promise to fulfil. Charlie does so - and falls head over heels in love with Gabi, a beautiful musician. However, a vicious gangster has already laid claim to Gabi, and has no intention of letting her go. Determined to protect her, Charlie enters into the hallucinatory, Romanian underworld filled with violence and, strangely enough, love. Features an all-star cast including Shia LaBeouf, Evan Rachel Wood, Mads Mikkelsen, and Rupert Grint.

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Plot Keywords:

sitting next to a dead body on an airplane | erection | male name in title | male objectification | pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

The only way to save the one you love, is to die

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some brutal violence, language throughout, sexuality/nudity, and drug use.

Did You Know?

Trivia

The cab driver calls Charlie Countryman (Shia LeBeouf) "Robert Redford". LeBeouf and Redford appeared in The Company You Keep (2012).

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Goofs

As Gabi is explaining how she met Nigel, Charlie is wearing a dark sport coat. By the time she is done, Charlie is no longer wearing the coat.

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Quotes

Darko: [Angry at Karl for misspelling his name] My name is Darko. Darko.
[Brings out a pen]
Darko: And maybe if I put this pen right into your asshole, then write my name inside, you will remember?
[Luc chuckles nervously]
Darko: Something is funny?
Karl: [Looks at everyone, very nervously] Yeah. What you just said with the pen-in-the-asshole thing. I mean you can't actually write inside someone's asshole.
Luc: It wouldn't actually help me remember.
Karl: How can you read inside your own asshole?
Luc: You wouldn't be able to read it.

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Connections

References Casino Royale (2006)

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Soundtracks

Intro
Written by Anthony Gonzalez, Yann Gonzalez, Morgan Kibby, Justin Meldal-
Johnsen
Performed by M83
Courtesy of Mute Records Ltd.
By arrangement with Bank Robber Music

User Reviews

Unlikely love story with good twist

Protagonists Shia LeBeouf - the stuttering Transformers boy - supported by Evan Rachel Wood, and antagonists Mads Mikkelsen and Til Schweiger, also with Rupert Grint (Harry Potter's Ron Weasley).

Poster, cast, trailer, and IMDb good rating were what made me watch this indie movie which I usually don't give an interest. Interesting poster art with 90-degree orientation, sharp stare, beautiful colors, and Evan Rachel Wood's face lurking back behind LeBeouf's face. The poster reminds me of Limitless, which tells us a story about a kind of drug that maximizes your brain capacity.

But the story is different than Limitless. The only same thing is the pupil on the poster. If in Limitless the pupil portrays a brilliant mind after consuming NZT, here it depicts hallucinations. The love story is unlikely, a blind act of love with courage to take unknown risks.

The movie has several draggy parts, a little bit of action during the last 15 minutes, a bit of funny/corny scenes, and a particular twist at the end which successfully upped my personal rating about this movie.

The cinematography was good, showing a little view of Bucharest painted with interesting colors, and accompanied by good soundtracks. The acting is good too, I like Evan Rachel Wood's Russioan accent even though I don't know whether people in Romania use that accent. LeBeouf also seems to gave his all despite his stuttering. Not forgetting the antagonists that gives a scary impression.

It felt like watching a movie based on a graphic novel. Those who loves indie movies should see this.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA Romania

Language:

English Romanian

Release Date:

13 September 2013 (Norway)

Also Known As:

Charlie Countryman

Filming Locations:

Bucharest, Romania

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$7,973, 17 November 2013

Gross USA:

$11,650

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$443,990

Company Credits

Production Co:

Media Pro Pictures, Media Pro, Bona Fide Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1