God's Pocket (2014)

A blue collar worker tries to cover things up when his stepson is killed in a suspicious accident, but a local reporter senses that something's amiss.

Director:

John Slattery

Writers:

Peter Dexter (novel), Alex Metcalf (screenplay)

Stars:

Philip Seymour Hoffman, Christina Hendricks, Richard Jenkins

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Christina Hendricks	...	Jeanie Scarpato
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Mickey Scarpato
Eddie Marsan	...	Smilin' Jack Moran
Caleb Landry Jones	...	Leon Hubbard
Jack O'Connell	...	Mole Ferrell
Bill Buell	...	Ray
Rebecca Kling	...	Fat Pat
David Apicella	...	Priest
Bridget Barkan	...	Joyce
Michael Drayer	...	Danny
Prudence Wright Holmes	...	Eleanor
Eddie McGee	...	Petey Kearns
Molly Price	...	Joanie
John Turturro	...	Arthur 'Bird' Capezio
Domenick Lombardozzi	...	Sal Cappi

Storyline

When Mickey's crazy step-son Leon is killed in a construction 'accident', nobody in the working class neighborhood of God's Pocket is sorry he's gone. Mickey tries to bury the bad news with the body, but when the boy's mother demands the truth, Mickey finds himself stuck in a life-and-death struggle between a body he can't bury, a wife he can't please and a debt he can't pay.

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Plot Keywords:

sex scene | impotence | drunkenness | handjob | death | 

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Taglines:

The only thing they can't forgive is not being from ... God's Pocket

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Genres:

Crime | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violence, language throughout and sexual content

Did You Know?

Trivia

This is the last completed movie of Philip Seymour Hoffman.

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Goofs

Throughout the movie, modern vehicles can be seen parked and driving in the background.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Richard Shellburn: [narrating] The working men of God's Pocket are simple men. They work. They follow their teams. They marry and have children who rarely leave the Pocket. Everyone here has stolen something from somebody else... Or when they were kids, they set someone's house on fire... Or they ran away when they should have stayed and fought. They know who cheats at cards and who slaps their kids around. And no matter what anybody does, they're still here. And whatever they are is what they are. ...

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Connections

References Taxi Driver (1976)

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Soundtracks

Lookin' for a Girl Like You
Written by Lynn Ready and Sandy Szigeti
Performed by Lynn Ready
Courtesy of Fervor Records Vintage Masters

User Reviews

Offbeat and atmospheric.

John Slattery's feature film debut is a competent if small-scale effort. Faithfully adapted from the 1983 novel of the same name, it is an enjoyable snapshot into a dark lower Philadelphia Neighbourhood.

What is obvious is the affection for the source material. The film differs little from Pete Dexter's book, and is better for it. The sometimes lethargic pace is livened by some genuine surprises, and there is always that all important sense of atmosphere.

If there was ever an actor who knew not how to overact, it was Philip Seymour Hoffman. In his penultimate appearance, he and Christina Hendricks both deliver an underplayed performance as the central couple, allowing the rest of the ensemble the more colourful scenes.

It is not without it's faults. The story is told over a period of three days, and it is perhaps for that reason that it sometimes feels episodic. The whole film plays like one of Slattery's self- directed episodes of Mad Men. The ending does not escape the clichés typical of its genre. Nevertheless, it is an entertaining watch, a promising debut, and another sad reminder of why Philip Seymour Hoffman will be missed.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 August 2014 (UK)

Also Known As:

God's Pocket

Filming Locations:

Yonkers, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,482, 11 May 2014

Gross USA:

$169,976

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$413,567

Company Credits

Production Co:

Park Pictures, Cooper's Town Productions, Shoestring Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

88 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1