The Music Never Stopped (2011)

Tale of a father who struggles to bond with his estranged son Gabriel, after Gabriel suffers from a brain tumor that prevents him from forming new memories. With Gabriel unable to shed the ... See full summary »

Director:

Jim Kohlberg

Writers:

Gwyn Lurie (screenplay), Gary Marks (screenplay)

Stars:

Lou Taylor Pucci, J.K. Simmons, Julia Ormond

2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
J.K. Simmons	...	Henry Sawyer
Cara Seymour	...	Helen Sawyer
Lou Taylor Pucci	...	Gabriel Sawyer
Scott Adsit	...	Dr. Biscow
James Urbaniak	...	Mike Tappin
Max Antisell	...	Young Gabriel
Ryan Karels	...	Bernie
Peggy Gormley	...	Florence
Tammy Blanchard	...	Tamara
Josh Segarra	...	Mark Ferris
Xander Johnson	...	Weed
Jesse Roche	...	Steve
Julia Ormond	...	Dianne Daley
Erica Fae	...	College Representative (as Erica Berg)
Mía Maestro	...	Celia

Storyline

Tale of a father who struggles to bond with his estranged son Gabriel, after Gabriel suffers from a brain tumor that prevents him from forming new memories. With Gabriel unable to shed the beliefs and interests that caused their physical and emotional distance, Henry must learn to embrace his son's choices and try to connect with him through music.

---

Genres:

Drama | Music

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, some mild drug references, language and smoking

Details

Official Sites:

Essential Pictures [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 October 2011 (South Korea)

Also Known As:

Mr. Tamburine Man

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$76,543, 20 March 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$258,077, 11 September 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Essential Pictures,Mr. Tamborine Man

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the essay "The Last Hippie" from Dr. Oliver Sacks's book, "An Anthropologist on Mars."

---

Goofs

Takes place in 1986, but in the hospital at the nurses desk there are flat screen computer monitors running modern software.

---

Quotes

Helen Sawyer: Are we ready? I've got the medication.
Dianne Daley: I've got the bag.
Gabriel Sawyer: I've got the brain tumor.

---

Connections

References The Partridge Family (1970)

---

Soundtracks

It's All Over Now
Written by Bobby Womack & Shirley Womack
Performed by The Rolling Stones
Published by ABKCO Music Inc.
Courtesy of ABKCO Records

User Reviews

Grateful Dead on a shoestring budget wonderful

It's 1987, and when a long-absent son turns up with a brain tumor that robs him of immediate memory, his father (JK Simmons) struggles to deal with the past through the eyes of a son who is frozen in memories.

OK, Dead fans know the title; if you're of a generation that listened to vinyl, here's your homage to the power of records and the 60s.

Small budget written all over this, that is all heart and talented talent that has talent. Did I mention talent? Having seen it at Sundance Chicago, the director explained that he'd been studying neurological science material and THAT is reflected in how uncommonly well the young actor, Gabe, nails his role as a person whose brain injury sometimes clicks on... and off. Director spoke about the editing down of the tale, and I think we'd really like to see it expanded back to a longer film; there's a few lessons here worthy of more screen time.

There's a jaw-dropping "how'd they do that?" in here worthy of cheers and worth the ticket price. Hope they "expand" that for the DVD!!!

This is a great little film without special effects but packed with the true mastery of a small story told very, emotionally, well. Familiar faces deliver for all they're worth and well-done filmmakers techniques bless MUSIC with obvious "extra efforts" that put all of the money up on the screen.