Listening (2014)

A team of genius-but-broke grad students invent mind-reading technology that destroys their lives and threatens the future of free will itself.

Director:

Khalil Sullins

Writer:

Khalil Sullins

Stars:

Thomas Stroppel, Artie Ahr, Amber Marie Bollinger

2 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Thomas Stroppel	...	David Thorogood
Artie Ahr	...	Ryan Cates
Amber Marie Bollinger	...	Jordan
Christine Haeberman	...	Melanie
Steve Hanks	...	Matthews
Arn Chorn-Pond	...	Head Monk
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
John Alexenko	...	Detective
Araceli Almaguer	...	Scientist
Dave Bean	...	Listener
Sarah Beguiristain	...	Waitress
Pamela Cedar	...	Sharon
Kalim Chandler	...	Young Scientist
Timothy Lee Conley	...	Frank
Jonathan Cousens	...	Listener (as Jonathan Adam Cousens)
J.R. Craig	...	Police Officer

Storyline

A team of genius-but-broke grad students invent mind-reading technology that destroys their lives and threatens the future of free will itself.

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Plot Keywords:

technology | fainting | divorce papers | playground | mind control | 

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Taglines:

Hide your thoughts

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Genres:

Drama | Sci-Fi | Thriller

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Parts of the Buddhist monk scenes were shot on location at Ankor Watt Temple in Cambodia.

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Goofs

While sitting on the porch, Jordan's legs go from crossed to uncrossed and then back again.

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Soundtracks

This Magic Moment
Written by Doc Pomus (uncredited) and Mort Shuman (uncredited)
Performed by The Drifters
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

Almost great

The movie is written and directed by the same guy. That usually means that if it's going to be bad, it's going to be really bad. Good news: it's not bad. But it's not that great either.

The story follows two students researching brain communication. Of course the bad guys are interested in this and they are already in trouble as they have been using stolen lab equipment from their university. More than that, there are marital problems as well. This could have been a good idea if not for the paint-by-numbers story, which is obviously written by somebody who went to writing class, but didn't have the time to develop their own style.

The good part about the film is that the actors play well, the direction is reasonable - although I don't know why every damn frame has to have lens flares (another reason to hate J.J., probably) and the story is captivating. The only major problem is the lackluster script. Everything gets revealed way too soon and in the moments where tension was needed, story gets resolved by impossible means.

Bottom line: nothing in this film is great, but it had something, a potential that somehow failed to get realized. Good start, interesting second act, confusing third and a really really bad ending.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA Cambodia

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 September 2015 (USA)

Also Known As:

Listening

Filming Locations:

Cambodia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Listen Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1