This Is Martin Bonner (2013)

Martin Bonner has just moved to Nevada from the East Coast, leaving behind his two adult children and a life he spent more than two decades building.

Director:

Chad Hartigan

Writers:

Tara Everhart (additional dialogue written by), Chad Hartigan

Stars:

Paul Eenhoorn, Demetrius Grosse, Tom Plunkett

8 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Paul Eenhoorn	...	Martin Bonner
Demetrius Grosse	...	Locy
Tom Plunkett	...	Supervisor
Christy Lighthouse	...	Optometrist
Jef Derderian	...	Optometrist Assistant
Kristin Slaysman	...	April
Andrew Scott Duncan	...	Ryan
Jeff Pilliod	...	Auctioneer
Connie Pilliod	...	Floor Auctioneer
Richmond Arquette	...	Travis Holloway
Melanie Payne	...	Breakfast Waitress
Robert Longstreet	...	Steve Helms
Tom Baughman	...	Presbyterian Pastor (as Rev. Tom Baughman)
Jan Haley	...	Angela Helms
Moira Price	...	Cheryl

Storyline

Martin Bonner has just moved to Nevada from the East Coast, leaving behind his two adult children and a life he spent more than two decades building. He's there working a new job as the volunteer coordinator for a non-profit organization that helps prisoners make the transition from incarceration to freedom. It's Martin's first job in two years and he's recently declared bankruptcy. At the same time, Travis Holloway, a prisoner in the program, is being released after serving twelve years. Sent back into the world with nothing, Travis also finds life in Reno difficult to adjust to, despite the help from his program sponsor, Steve Helms. The stories of Martin and Travis slowly converge, as the two men meet and find that they have much in common, not the least of which is an unspoken need for encouragement and support. Their unlikely friendship blossoms but is put to the test when Travis betrays Martin's trust in order to reunite with his estranged daughter.

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Plot Keywords:

watching tv | nevada | prisoner | estranged daughter | unlikely friendship | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language and brief sexuality

Did You Know?

Connections

Featured in The 2014 Film Independent Spirit Awards (2014)

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Soundtracks

Thoughts for a Newly Old Lover
Written and Performed by Roman Candle
Courtesy of Bill and Mary Music

User Reviews

lovely characters, simple story

I decided to write this review in order to counterbalance the negative one posted by Farron34.

I liked this movie very much, because it showed real people and their simple lives. Because for Travis just out of prison, even a squalid motel room is a gift, and you perceive it without one word said in that regard. The way he walks out in the chilly air with a hot cup of coffee to look at the "outside" with a fantastic 360° pan around him showing real America: freeway, cars, asphalt, anonymous buildings, bright advertisement - nothing exceptional but the beautiful sunset light of the Nevada desert.

I liked the way it criticizes the Church of Christians, of the zealots, of those who live off the church and its charity but the observation is done gently and respectfully. There is more but you have to see it for yourself, the joy is in the details.

If you want spectacle and glitz this movie is not for you but if you want to observe a few human beings dealing with their banal, only life, filled with the little things that make it worth living, well, this is an excellent movie.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 January 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

This Is Martin Bonner

Filming Locations:

Carson City, Nevada, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$42,000 (estimated)

Gross USA:

$13,888

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$13,888

Company Credits

Production Co:

600 West Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

6-Track Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

16:9 HD