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The Beaver

  • 20112011
  • PG-13PG-13
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
6.6/10
49K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Mel Gibson in The Beaver (2011)
A troubled husband and executive adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communicating.
Play trailer2:26
2 Videos
39 Photos
  • Drama

A troubled husband and executive adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communication.A troubled husband and executive adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communication.A troubled husband and executive adopts a beaver hand-puppet as his sole means of communication.

IMDb RATING
6.6/10
49K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jodie Foster
  • Writer
    • Kyle Killen
  • Stars
    • Mel Gibson
    • Jodie Foster
    • Anton Yelchin
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jodie Foster
  • Writer
    • Kyle Killen
  • Stars
    • Mel Gibson
    • Jodie Foster
    • Anton Yelchin
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 169User reviews
    • 283Critic reviews
    • 60Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 12 nominations

    Videos2

    The Beaver: Trailer #1
    Trailer 2:26
    The Beaver: Trailer #1
    Jodie Foster: The IMDb Original Interview
    Interview 4:15
    Jodie Foster: The IMDb Original Interview

    Photos39

    Jodie Foster in The Beaver (2011)
    Mel Gibson in The Beaver (2011)
    Anton Yelchin and Jennifer Lawrence in The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson in The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster, Anton Yelchin, and Riley Thomas Stewart in The Beaver (2011)
    Mel Gibson and Riley Thomas Stewart in The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster and Mel Gibson in The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster in The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster and Hagen Bogdanski in The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson, Hagen Bogdanski, and Dianne Dreyer in The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster and Anton Yelchin at an event for The Beaver (2011)
    Jodie Foster, Mel Gibson, Anton Yelchin, Jennifer Lawrence, and Riley Thomas Stewart in The Beaver (2011)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mel Gibson
    Mel Gibson
    • Walter Blackas Walter Black
    Jodie Foster
    Jodie Foster
    • Meredith Blackas Meredith Black
    Anton Yelchin
    Anton Yelchin
    • Porter Blackas Porter Black
    Cherry Jones
    Cherry Jones
    • Vice Presidentas Vice President
    Riley Thomas Stewart
    Riley Thomas Stewart
    • Henry Blackas Henry Black
    Zachary Booth
    Zachary Booth
    • Jaredas Jared
    Jennifer Lawrence
    Jennifer Lawrence
    • Norahas Norah
    Jeff Corbett
    Jeff Corbett
    • Volunteer Dadas Volunteer Dad
    Baylen Thomas
    Baylen Thomas
    • Skeptical Manas Skeptical Man
    Sam Breslin Wright
    Sam Breslin Wright
    • Manas Man
    Kelly Coffield Park
    Kelly Coffield Park
    • Norah's Momas Norah's Mom
    Michael Rivera
    Michael Rivera
    • Hectoras Hector
    Kris Arnold
    Kris Arnold
    • Waiteras Waiter
    Elizabeth Kaledin
    • Reporteras Reporter
    Matt Lauer
    Matt Lauer
    • Matt Laueras Matt Lauer
    Jon Stewart
    Jon Stewart
    • Jon Stewartas Jon Stewart
    Terry Gross
    • Terry Grossas Terry Gross
    Folake Olowofoyeku
    Folake Olowofoyeku
    • Nurseas Nurse
    • Director
      • Jodie Foster
    • Writer
      • Kyle Killen
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Walter Black ('Mel Gibson') is depressed and sleeps most of the day. It's driving his family crazy, and his wife Meredith (Jodie Foster) kicks him out. Walter starts carrying a beaver puppet and tries to commit suicide (unsuccessfully). He uses the puppet to talk to himself, trying to bolster his spirits, and is trying to rebuild his life. Through the beaver, the family begins to learn about Walter's history and problems, and as he continues rebuilding, the beaver shows us all a way to cope. —Anonymous
    • depression
    • suicide attempt
    • suicidal
    • hospital
    • marriage problems
    • 126 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • He's here to save Walter's life.
    • Genre
      • Drama
    • Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)
      • Rated PG-13 for mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Before Summit Entertainment settled for a release date in Spring 2011, this film had been shelved, due to Mel Gibson allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Oksana Grigorieva.
    • Goofs
      When Anton Yelchin's character bangs his head into the wall and it goes through the side of the house, that's impossible as shown. The cedar shake siding is not shown as held to the side of the house with anything, whereas in reality is has to be nailed down. The house would have some cladding such as plywood to nail the shakes to, and then a barrier such as asphalt or homewrap, at the very least. It is not possible to make a small hole in the interior wall and push one shake off the outside of the house in the same location.
    • Quotes

      Walter Black: We reach a point where, in order to go on, we have to wipe the slate clean. We start to see ourselves as a box that we're trapped inside and no matter how we try and escape, self help, therapy, drugs, we just sink further and further down. The only way to truly break out of the box is to get rid of it all together... I mean, you built it in the first place. If the people around you are breaking your spirit, who needs them? Your wife who pretends to love you, your son who can't even stand you. I mean, put them out of their misery. Starting over isn't crazy. Crazy is being miserable and walking around half asleep, numb, day after day after day. Crazy is pretending to be happy. Pretending that the way things are is the way they have to be for the rest of your bleeding life. All the potential, hope, all that joy, feeling, all that passion that life has sucked out of you. Reach out, grab a hold of it and snatch it back from that bloodsucking rabble.

    • Crazy credits
      A letter or two from each cast/crew member remains and forms part of the next credit.
    • Connections
      Featured in Trailer Failure: Bieber Meets Beaver (2010)
    • Soundtracks
      Kung Fu Underscore
      Composed by Jim Helms

    User reviews169

    Review
    Top review
    8/10
    A very emotional and enjoyable movie
    People seem to forget that humans make mistakes, and that Mel Gibson has his shares of mistakes that I'm sure he is feeling bad about and trying to fix, but people are just so judgmental and non forgiving. the problem is, I'm sure that most of them had made similar mistakes in their lives, but are still going on about Gibson, sheesh !!

    back to the movie, I was looking forward to it, because i think Mel Gibson is a really talented actor, and I gotta say, the movie did not disappoint me. the story as most of you might know from the trailers, is that Gibson's character suffers from depression, which has negative impact on him as well as on his family surrounding him. and just as things seem to be looking hopeless, he finds the Beaver, and with it, he finds his voice and his self. A simple yet effective story, executed in a very professional manner, it is a journey into healing and trying to beat that nasty depression. the characters are played to perfection, as Mel Gibson and Jodie Foster, who also directs the film, deliver memorable performances.

    It also tackles the family relations and how it is affected by the father's sickness and turmoil, about family supporting each other and an emotional father - son story.

    Digging deep into Mel Gibson's character Psyche, and how he escapes his inner depression through the puppet, the beaver, is just so interesting. and they actually made the Beaver, the puppet itself so real, it appeared as a completely independent character, who was funny and at times even freighting. In summary, a highly recommended movie, great acting and a wonderful story. If you are one of those who are still obsessing about Gibson's mistakes, then just go watch Jumping the Broom.
    helpful•85
    33
    • med77_99
    • May 10, 2011

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • May 19, 2011 (Germany)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • United Arab Emirates
    • Official site
      • Vidio (Indonesia)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • La doble vida de Walter
    • Filming locations
      • 1125 Grand Concourse, Bronx, New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Summit Entertainment
      • Participant
      • Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $21,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $970,816
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $107,577
      • May 8, 2011
    • Gross worldwide
      • $7,294,800
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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