Christine (2016)

The story of Christine Chubbuck, a 1970s TV reporter struggling with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career.

Director:

Antonio Campos

Writer:

Craig Shilowich

Stars:

Rebecca Hall, Michael C. Hall, Tracy Letts

5 wins & 21 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Rebecca Hall	...	Christine
Michael C. Hall	...	George
Tracy Letts	...	Michael
Maria Dizzia	...	Jean
J. Smith-Cameron	...	Peg
Timothy Simons	...	Steve (as Tim Simons)
Kim Shaw	...	Andrea
John Cullum	...	Bob Andersen
Morgan Spector	...	Doctor Parsons
Jayson Warner Smith	...	Mitch
Kimberley Drummond	...	Gail
Lindsay Ayliffe	...	Capt. Frank Basil
Susan Pourfar	...	Miranda
Rachel Hendrix	...	Crystal
David Foster	...	Bandaged Man

Storyline

The story of Christine Chubbuck, a 1970s TV reporter struggling with depression and professional frustrations as she tries to advance her career.

---

Plot Keywords:

1970s | female reporter | television reporter | television journalist | female journalist | 

---

Taglines:

In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in 'blood and guts', and in living color, you are going to see another first... Christine.

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for a scene of disturbing violence and for language including some sexual references

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site [UK]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 October 2016 (USA)

Also Known As:

Κριστίν

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$13,418, 16 October 2016, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$298,484, 6 January 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

BorderLine Films, Fresh Jade

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The film's warm 'yellow' tinge and muted coloration was a trend in the 1970's. Because Christine takes place in the early Seventies this effect was chosen on purpose to make the film appear more authentic. This effect used to be naturally caused by lighting and the type of film stock used (often Ektachrome, a popular Kodak 16mm stock), but in the digital age the effect is usually added in after filming by using computer filters and overlays to create a nostalgic "vintage" look.

---

Goofs

The Sony television in Christine and her mom's living room is a model clearly from no earlier than the late 1970s.

---

Quotes

Christine: Maybe you should film the chickens having SEX so we can see how the eggs are REALLY made!
[laughs nervously]
Christine: uh, I'm just joking, just joking...
Chicken Lady: [giggling] Ooh, I've seen it, and it ain't pretty!

---

Crazy Credits

End credits end in a white screen with a beep tone.

---

Connections

References All in the Family (1971)

---

Soundtracks

I'm Leaving It All Up To You
Written by Don Harris, Dewey Terry Jr.
Performed by Sonny & Cher
Published by Sony/ATV Songs LLC / Venice Music
Courtesy of Rhino Entertainment Company/Atco Records
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV licensing

User Reviews

Enter a world of ordinary mediocrity and disappointment--hard to pull off

Christine (2016)

A small market local television station in Western Florida in the 1970s might be the epitome of tawdry, pathetic America. Or so it appears here, where a rag-tag crew of struggling journalists and talking heads patch together a low budget news show every day. And ratings are going down.

Christine (played by Rebecca Hall) is a second string reporter in this wishful situation. Her life is full of compromises, and her efforts to excel at her work are awkward and sometimes sad. But she has determination, and works hard. When two of her colleagues are chosen over her for promotion, it's just another reminder that life sucks.

First point to make here: don't read anything about the big point of this movie ahead of time. I was lucky to not have a clue what this was all leading up to, and it was a final terrific punch to a slow, empathetic lead up.

By empathetic I mean that the movie makers (writer Craig Shilowich and director Antonia Campos) have shown the situation for what it was. It took a lot of restraint to keep this from turning to parody, or to become critical, or even to be highly dramatic in a kind of glitzy way. There is a steady, almost disappointing feeling to it all. Not a single character seems admirable, and yet every one is perfectly ordinary and nice. Even the incompetence throughout is a normal kind of mediocrity, mixed with sprinkles of hope and humor.

And people are generally good to each other even as they strive to move up (and out of Sarasota). It's a realistic construction of a mise-en-scene that will not sparkle or create intrigue or move you in particular. Until the end.

And that's pretty amazing. The dullness and the acting might strike you as just bad— as if this movie just plain sucks. But it's not the movie, but the subject, that is so uninspiring. Stick it out, if you like it at all. Admire Hall's acting, which is remarkably nuanced.