Plot
A divorced father discovers that his 12-year-old son's new stepfather is not what he made himself out to be.
Release Year: 2001
Rating: 5.4/10 (12,966 voted)
Critic's Score: 29/100
Director:
Harold Becker
Stars: John Travolta, Nick Loren, James Lashly
Storyline Susan Morrison is getting married to wealthy industrialist Rick Barnes. Danny, her teenage son with ex-husband Frank, isn't happy about this; he stows away in Rick's car one night, planning to go to Frank's house. But while there, he witnesses Rick murdering mysterious stranger Ray Coleman. Problem is, Rick's managed to dispose of most of the evidence, and he's considered a pillar of the community, while Danny has a history of lying. Frank believes him, though, and does some investigating of his own, as Rick's shady past slowly catches up to him and his new family.
Writers: Lewis Colick, William S. Comanor
Cast: John Travolta
-
Frank Morrison
James Lashly
-
Jason
Rebecca Tilney
-
Laurie
Debra Mooney
-
Theresa
Vince Vaughn
-
Rick Barnes
Teri Polo
-
Susan
Leland L. Jones
-
Coach Mark
Matt O'Leary
-
Danny Morrison
(as Matthew O'Leary)
Ruben Santiago-Hudson
-
Sgt. Edgar Stevens
Susan Floyd
-
Diane
William Parry
-
Don Patterson
Suzanne Nystrom
-
Wedding Coordinator
George Christy
-
Wedding Photographer
Steve Buscemi
-
Ray Coleman
David Bridgewater
-
Priest
Taglines:
He will do anything to protect his family.
Release Date: 2 November 2001
Filming Locations: Hampstead, North Carolina, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $53,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $14,033,112
(USA)
(4 November 2001)
(2910 Screens)
Gross: $59,249,294
(Worldwide)
(2002)
Technical Specs
Runtime:|
Argentina:
|
Netherlands:
|
Spain:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
This film was edited 3 times for strong language and violence to receive a PG-13 rating by the MPAA. The film contains numerous scenes where dubbing for strong language can be obviously seen and heard. In total 23 minutes of the film were edited by the time the final cut was completed.
Goofs:
Continuity:
After Rick Kills Ray, he pulls up to the Brick Works Company, gets out of his truck and slides open the wooden door to enter the Brick Works building. He drives the truck through the open door and parks inside the building. After sliding Rays body into the furnace he opens the sliding door again, the door that he never closed.
Quotes: Ray Coleman:
I kid you not.
User Review
Exceptionally mediocre
Rating: 5/10
What is it with John Travolta? He can command just about any script he
desires, and he signs on for the lead in this pedestrian rubbish? The man
has talent, but he needs some serious career counseling. This script is not
even TV grade. A kid has cried wolf a couple of times so the police don't
bother to follow up when he claims he saw his step father murder someone;
yes, that's very realistic. The screenplay would make any Wisconsin dairy
farmer proud. It has so many holes that it is better classified as
fantasy/comedy than drama.
I'm surprised that this product comes from director Harold Becker (`The
Onion Field', "Malice') who has given us a couple of fine thrillers.
Besides the flimsy script, the cinematography is annoyingly underexposed.
If Becker was trying for a dark look, he achieved it, because the film is so
dark that much of the time you can only tell who's speaking by voice
recognition, and that's outdoors during the day!
If there is anything that saves this film from the abyss, it is the acting.
Travolta is sometimes fantastic and sometimes awful. In this film he is
very good, especially considering the material with which he has to work.
Matthew O'Leary is particularly good as the troubled son. He gives a
convincing performance, capturing the motivations of his character
effectively with all the conflict one would expect from a kid in his
situation. Vince Vaughn gives a decent performance, though he is a bit
tentative when trying to be duplicitous. He is much more convincing as a
villain than a good guy. Steve Buscemi is one of my favorite bad guys,
extremely underrated and unappreciated for his consistently sleazy
characters. Again, he gives us a terrifically slimy portrayal of Rick's
former underworld buddy.
To enjoy this film you have to look beyond the tired plot, the unbelievable
departures from reality and the poor cinematography. These are just too
many liabilities to overcome. I rated it a 5/10.
0