A pair of working-class brothers flee their Reno Motel after getting involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident.
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Title: The Motel Life (2012)
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3 wins & 3 nominations.
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Emile Hirsch | ... | Frank | |
| Stephen Dorff | ... | Jerry Lee | |
| Doc Divecchio | ... | Boss Man | |
| Nancy Youngblut | ... | Mom | |
| Jenica Bergere | ... | Polly Flynn | |
| Dakota Fanning | ... | Annie James | |
| Joshua Leonard | ... | Tommy | |
| Garrett Backstrom | ... | Young Jerry Lee | |
| Kris Kristofferson | ... | Earl Hurley | |
| Noah Harpster | ... | Al Casey | |
 |
Andrew Lee | ... | Young Frank |
| Oren Skoog | ... | Barry Hurley | |
| Hayes MacArthur | ... | Officer Cook | |
| Scott MacArthur | ... | Officer Mori | |
|
|
Jim Gray | ... | Boxing Sportscaster |
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Plot Summary
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Plot Synopsis
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Storyline
Two brothers who are forced to leave Reno after being involved in a hit-and-run accident. Based on the novel by Willy Vlautin, this moody thriller is a searing and profound examination of brotherhood set in the timeless Sierra Nevadan frontier. Written by Polsky Films
Plot Keywords:
bare chested male | hairy chest | gay | sexual fantasy | reference to marijuana |Taglines:
They will do anything to find the truthMotion Picture Rating (MPAA)
Rated R for sexual content, language, some nudity, brief violent images, and drug references | See all certifications »Parents Guide:
View content advisory »
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Jerry Lee 16 years: Can you tell me a story, Frankie? Tell me something good. Make me the hero. Maybe I can get the girl.
Frank - 14: I got one. A long time ago, you and me were fighter pilots in the war. The Flannigan brothers. We were famous. One morning we were heading over to Germany when we got ambushed. You and me versus 20 German fighters. It was a mess. Real dog fight. It was touch-and-go, but we were winning until a Nazi came out of the fog and started firing away at you. Luckily I came down and blew the ...
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Written by Parker Griggs
Performed by Radio Moscow
Courtesy of Alive Naturalsound Records
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Did You Know?
Trivia
The cast and crew of The Motel Life lived in a casino during the shoot. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Jerry Lee 16 years: Can you tell me a story, Frankie? Tell me something good. Make me the hero. Maybe I can get the girl.
Frank - 14: I got one. A long time ago, you and me were fighter pilots in the war. The Flannigan brothers. We were famous. One morning we were heading over to Germany when we got ambushed. You and me versus 20 German fighters. It was a mess. Real dog fight. It was touch-and-go, but we were winning until a Nazi came out of the fog and started firing away at you. Luckily I came down and blew the ...
See more »
Soundtracks
250 MilesWritten by Parker Griggs
Performed by Radio Moscow
Courtesy of Alive Naturalsound Records
See more »
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Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
8 November 2013 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Vida em Motéis See more »Company Credits
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Technical Specs
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Color:
ColorAspect Ratio:
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Movies like this only come around every half century or so. The last time, the name of the movie was "Midnight Cowboy." This time, it's "The Motel Life," which is based on a cult debut novel by Willy Vlautin published in 2006. It's the story of two close-knit brothers, bonded together by the untimely death of their mother when they're in their early teens. Since then, these brothers have been inseparable, living rough on society's fringes due to no fault of their own. When the movie opens, the brothers are living in their hometown of Reno, Nevada in the cheap-motel miasma on the "other" side of town. Although one's a gifted artist and the other is an accomplished storyteller, they live at the bottom of the economic pile with nothing but odd jobs for support.
The two brothers, Frank and Jerry Lee Flannigan, are played by Emile Hirsch and Stephen Dorff respectively with about as much emotional depth and raw credibility as you're likely to ever see portrayed on screen. The supporting cast includes Kris Kristofferson—in a truly moving performance—and Dakota Fanning who also gives a terrific accounting of her character. The inspired animation of Mike Smith adds substantially to the movie as well, cleanly delineating the "real" world from Frank's fantasies.
Like "Midnight Cowboy," this film deals with many dark, adult themes. "Midnight Cowboy" was made in 1969. It was highly controversial back then but it's now listed as #36 on the American Film Institute's Top 100 Greatest Movies of all time. If you're squeamish or prudish about what you see on screen, this might not be your film, but if you can stand to look at a portion of society that you likely don't see often or ever, you will be rewarded by the tremendous performances in this film.
You're going to have to work a bit harder than usual to find this movie when it opens on November 8. It will open in only 20 markets. But it will be worth the quest. We saw it early as part of the ongoing efforts of Tim Sika and the San Jose Camera Cinema Club. After the showing, the audience talked with Stephen Dorff via Skype for 45 minutes. Dorff shared a lot of background that greatly enhanced the experience. Thanks Tim.