Dark Horse - Diários de Um Falhado (2011)

Romance blooms between two tricenarians in arrested development: an avid toy collector who is the dark horse of his family and a depressed woman on the rebound.

Director:

Todd Solondz

Writers:

Todd Solondz, Harold Manning (french adaptation)

Stars:

Jordan Gelber, Selma Blair, Christopher Walken

4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Melisa Young	...	Wedding Singer
Jordan Gelber	...	Abe
Selma Blair	...	Miranda (formerly 'Vi')
Mia Farrow	...	Phyllis
Christopher Walken	...	Jackie
Zachary Booth	...	Justin
Donna Murphy	...	Marie
Tyler Maynard	...	Jiminy
Mary Joy	...	Lori
Peter McRobbie	...	Arnie
Justin Bartha	...	Richard
Aasif Mandvi	...	Mahmoud
Di Quon	...	Waitress
Lee Wilkof	...	Phil
Tera Lee Pollin	...	Dancing Bride (as Tara-Lee Pollin)

Storyline

Abe Wertheimer - an odious, purposeless, self-centered 35-year-old living parasitically with his parents (by choice) and working in his dismayed father's business office (avoiding work while scoping eBay for collectible toys) - meets Miranda, an equally pathetic but self-loathing social dropout who, having given up on life, masochistically accepts Abe's sudden proposal of marriage for a knowingly grim future she won't fight against. Along with projecting his own faults onto his father, his own jealousy for lack of success and accomplishment onto his younger brother, and wallowing in the blind support of his mother, it's just another aspect of Abe's unsatisfying life that he just can't see to improve. A long-overdue decision finally spins his insignificant life out of control.

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Plot Keywords:

hepatitis b | man wrapped in a towel | collectible | theater poster | poster | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Certificate:

M/12

Did You Know?

Trivia

Selma Blair was 5 months pregnant during the filming of the movie.

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Goofs

On the sofa, Marie drinks form her left hand, but when she gets up, her drink is in her right hand, but then it's back in her left hand when she gets to the bar.

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Quotes

Abe: My mother said that she thinks you're... pregnant. Is it true?
Miranda: You know your mom.
Abe: I know. That's why I'm asking, because, if it's true, if you're carrying my baby, it's gonna be okay.
Miranda: Don't worry. I'm not.

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Connections

References TRON: O Legado (2010)

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Soundtracks

A Night Like This
Performed by The Jon D'Agostino Band
Written by Jonathan D'Agostino and Warren Boutros
Courtesy of Crucial Music Corporation

User Reviews

I was hoping for quirky but likable....and only got quirky.

"Don't think about it...do it or shut up about it"...the words of Abe's co-worker when he talks about killing himself.

Back in 1995, Todd Solondz made "Welcome to the Dollhouse". It certainly was not a feel-good film but was incredibly insightful and Solondz showed a deft hand at directing and writing a story about a troubled teen. Because it was so well made, I decided to watch another one of his films, "Dark Horse"...but was really disappointed. Like his previous film, it was incredibly depressing but also presented characters I really didn't care for in the least.

Abe is a 30-something loser. He's a fat slob who lives with his parents and he is essentially very much like Comic Book Man from "The Simpsons". At first, your heart hurts for the lonely guy...but through the course of the film you realize he's not worth caring about because he's so self-absorbed and has a sense of entitlement. What ultimately happens to him is really a downer...but not as sad as it could have been because I didn't care...I just wanted it to end.

Overall, a disappointing film and I wish I could have that 90 minutes or so of my life back.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 September 2013 (Portugal)

Also Known As:

Dark Horse - Diários de Um Falhado

Filming Locations:

Edgewater, New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,551, 10 June 2012

Gross USA:

$166,228

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$337,150

Company Credits

Production Co:

Double Hope Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1