When a man is diagnosed with terminal cancer, he takes custody of his misanthropic teenage son, for whom quality time means getting high, engaging in small-time prostitution, and avoiding his father.
Director:
Writer:
Awards:
- 2 wins & 9 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Kevin Kline | ... |
George Monroe
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| Kristin Scott Thomas | ... |
Robin Kimball
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| Hayden Christensen | ... |
Sam Monroe
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| Jena Malone | ... |
Alyssa Beck
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| Mary Steenburgen | ... |
Colleen Beck
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| Mike Weinberg | ... |
Adam Kimball
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| Scotty Leavenworth | ... |
Ryan Kimball
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| Ian Somerhalder | ... |
Josh
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| Jamey Sheridan | ... |
Peter Kimball
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| Scott Bakula | ... |
Officer Kurt Walker
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| Sandra Nelson | ... |
Nurse #1
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| Sam Robards | ... |
David Dokos
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| John Pankow | ... |
Bryan Burke
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| Kim Delgado | ... |
Bob Larson
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| Barry Primus | ... |
Tom
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| Margo Winkler | ... |
Barbara
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Brandon Kessel | ... |
Marek
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| Jon Foster | ... |
Corey
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| Art Chudabala | ... |
Steven Gardner
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| Claire Yarlett | ... |
Receptionist
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Michael O'Guinne | ... |
Dale
(as Mike O'Guinne)
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| Tannis Benedict | ... |
Secretary
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| Anne Betancourt | ... |
Lois
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| Jeff LeBeau | ... |
Officer
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| Gwen McGee | ... |
Nurse #2
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Lisa Lovett-Mann | ... |
Young Woman
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| Hillary Tuck | ... |
Alyssa's Friend
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Steven Artenian | ... |
Contractor
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Charles Winkler | ... |
Trailer Park Man
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Dan Andreiu | ... |
Construction worker (uncredited)
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| Richard Cummings Jr. | ... |
Housing Inspector (uncredited)
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Nicholas Dorr | ... |
Model Maker (uncredited)
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Michael Hertlein | ... |
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
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| Owen Kline | ... |
Young Sam on Videotape (uncredited)
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| Antonio Rufino | ... |
Construction Guy (uncredited) (archiveFootage)
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| William Russ | ... |
(uncredited)
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| Eddie Vincent | ... |
Office worker (uncredited)
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Mario Winkler | ... |
(uncredited)
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Directed by
| Irwin Winkler | ||
Written by
| Mark Andrus | ... | (written by) |
Produced by
| Rob Cowan | ... | producer |
| Michael De Luca | ... | executive producer |
| Brian E. Frankish | ... | executive producer (as Brian Frankish) |
| Lynn Harris | ... | executive producer |
| Irwin Winkler | ... | producer |
Music by
| Mark Isham | ||
Cinematography by
| Vilmos Zsigmond | ... | director of photography |
Editing by
| Julie Monroe | ||
Editorial Department
| F. Paul Benz | ... | associate editor |
| Rob Boyd | ... | apprentice editor |
| Gary Burritt | ... | negative cutter |
| Terry Haggar | ... | color timer |
| Jennifer Hatton | ... | assistant editor |
| Jody Levin | ... | executive in charge of post-production |
| David Waco | ... | post-production coordinator (uncredited) |
Casting By
| Sarah Finn | ... | (as Sarah Halley Finn) |
| Randi Hiller | ||
Production Design by
| J. Dennis Washington | ... | (as Dennis Washington) |
Art Direction by
| Thomas T. Taylor | ... | (as Tom Taylor) |
Set Decoration by
| Denise Pizzini | ||
Costume Design by
| Molly Maginnis | ||
Makeup Department
| Tammy Ashmore | ... | makeup artist |
| Bonita DeHaven | ... | key makeup artist |
| Virginia G. Hadfield | ... | key hair stylist |
| Barbara Lorenz | ... | hair stylist: Kevin Kline |
| Michele Payne | ... | hair stylist (as Michelle Payne) |
| Christina Smith | ... | makeup artist: Kevin Kline |
| Jo-Anne Smith-Ojeil | ... | makeup artist: Ms. Scott Thomas (as Jo-Anne Smith) |
| Sean Kenney | ... | lens technician (uncredited) |
Production Management
| Brian E. Frankish | ... | unit production manager (as Brian Frankish) |
| Carla Fry | ... | executive in charge of production |
| Don Tardino | ... | production supervisor |
| Jay Vinitsky | ... | post-production supervisor |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Phil Dupont | ... | second assistant director (as Philippe Dupont) / second unit director |
| Vincent Lascoumes | ... | first assistant director |
| Christophe Le Chanu | ... | second second assistant director |
Art Department
| John W. Aldys | ... | greensman |
| Alan Baptiste | ... | set dresser (as Alan Baptiste Hoisington) |
| Bryan Belair | ... | construction coordinator |
| David B. Brenner | ... | foreman (as David Brenner) |
| Mark W. Brown | ... | set dresser (as Mark Brown) |
| Gary DeBortoli | ... | painter |
| Martin Gantman | ... | construction engineer |
| Scott Garrett | ... | drapery foreman |
| Rick Glenn | ... | set dresser |
| Ann Harris | ... | set designer |
| Tim Jackson | ... | general foreman (as Timothy Jackson) |
| Ritchie Kremer | ... | property master |
| David Ross Lawrence | ... | foreman |
| John Leimanis | ... | set designer |
| Louis M. Mann | ... | set designer (as Louis Mann) |
| April Martens | ... | greens lead (as April K. Martens) |
| Canyon Martens | ... | greensman |
| Randy Martens | ... | key greens supervisor |
| Augustine Mendez Jr. | ... | foreman |
| J. Craig Morrison | ... | foreman (as Craig Morrison) |
| Joseph Musso | ... | illustrator (as Joe Musso) |
| Monica Perez | ... | assistant property master |
| Kenneth Robertson | ... | lead painter (as Kenneth H. Robertson) |
| Nicholas Rymond | ... | leadman (as Nick Rymond) |
| Greg Sanger | ... | leadman |
| Brian Seccombe | ... | assistant property master |
| Alex Sessing | ... | greensman |
| Sino Tour | ... | art department coordinator |
| Scott Vollmer | ... | foreman |
| Joshua Warner | ... | on-set dresser (as Josh Warner) |
| Gary Worthington | ... | greensman |
| Kelly Berry | ... | assistant set decorator (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Joe Barnett | ... | additional sound re-recording mixer |
| Javier Bennassar | ... | sound effects editor |
| Susan Cahill | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Gabriel Cubos | ... | boom operator |
| Jed M. Dodge | ... | dialogue editor |
| Matt Dubin | ... | digital transfer engineer |
| George Flores | ... | sound utility |
| Alan Freedman | ... | adr mixer |
| Robert Getty | ... | dialogue editor |
| David Grant | ... | dialogue editor |
| Tony Gray | ... | sound utility |
| Michael Hertlein | ... | dialogue editor |
| Chato Hill | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Robert Jackson | ... | dialogue editor (as Robert C. Jackson) |
| Thomas Jones | ... | adr supervisor |
| Craig Jurkiewicz | ... | foley editor |
| Michael Kamper | ... | sound effects editor |
| Richard Lightstone | ... | production sound mixer |
| Carrie Lisonbee | ... | sound effects editor (as Carrie Tippets) |
| Derek Marcil | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Diane Marshall | ... | foley artist (as S. Diane Marshall) |
| Michael Mullane | ... | sound effects editor |
| Vince Perry | ... | digital transfer engineer (as Vincent Perry) |
| John Ross | ... | re-recording mixer |
| Alec St. John | ... | assistant sound editor |
| Lucy Sustar | ... | foley mixer |
| Florian Tessloff | ... | mixing assistant |
| Jerry Trent | ... | foley artist |
| Mathew Waters | ... | re-recording mixer / sound supervisor |
| David Abrahamsen | ... | sound (uncredited) |
| Johanna Turner | ... | transfer engineer (uncredited) |
Special Effects by
| Robbie Knott | ... | special effects coordinator |
| Christy Sumner | ... | special effects |
| Jaroslava Fernandez | ... | special effects contact lens technician (uncredited) |
Visual Effects by
| Johnathan R. Banta | ... | digital artist: Sassoon Film Design |
| R. Christopher Biggs | ... | digital artist (as Chris Biggs) |
| Chris Brown | ... | visual effects supervisor (as Chris 'C.B.' Brown) |
| Catherine Ferrez | ... | digital artist |
| Anthony Longman | ... | digital artist |
| Lauren Ritchie | ... | executive in charge of visual effects |
| Tim Sassoon | ... | digital effects supervisor |
Stunts
| Danny Downey | ... | stunt double: Josh |
| Gary J. Wayton | ... | stunt coordinator (as Gary Wayton) |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Brad Boyer | ... | grip (as Bradley Boyer) |
| Chuck Brown | ... | grip |
| Colin J. Campbell | ... | chief lighting technician (as Colin Campbell) |
| Steven D. Castaneda | ... | electrician |
| Dick Deats | ... | key grip (as Dicky Deats) |
| Jerry C. Deats | ... | best boy grip |
| Sean Devine | ... | dolly grip |
| Robert Dudley | ... | grip |
| Don Duffield III | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Don Duffield) |
| Brad Edmiston | ... | first assistant camera: "a" camera, additional photography |
| John Emory | ... | grip |
| Ray Garcia | ... | grip |
| Antonio V. Garrido | ... | dolly grip |
| Harold Groshon | ... | electrician (as Hal Groshon) |
| Tom Hutchinson | ... | camera loader |
| Alex Jaworski | ... | electrician (as Alex M. Jaworski) |
| Jason Jensen | ... | second assistant camera: "a" camera, additional photography (as Jason E. Jensen) |
| Jimmy E. Jensen | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Jimmy Jensen) |
| Johnny E. Jensen | ... | director of photography: additional photography |
| Roger C. Johnson | ... | video assist operator (as Roger Johnson) |
| Key Kolb | ... | grip (as Key Kolb III) |
| Michael Listorti | ... | grip (as Michael E. Listorti) |
| Dwayne McClintock | ... | camera operator: SpaceCam |
| Kelsey Shaw McNeal | ... | second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Kelsey McNeal) |
| Doug Mercer | ... | grip |
| Tony Nagy | ... | first assistant camera: "a" camera |
| Brian W. Nordheim | ... | first assistant camera: "b" camera (as Brian Nordheim) |
| John Reeves | ... | electrician |
| Jonathan Sela | ... | camera intern |
| Nick Shuster | ... | second assistant camera: "b" camera |
| Chris Squires | ... | camera operator: "b" camera / steadicam operator |
| John Taylor | ... | electrician (as John 'JT' Taylor) |
| Joseph D. Urbanczyk | ... | camera operator: "a" camera (as Joseph Urbanczyk) |
| Christopher Warren | ... | best boy electric (as Chris Warren) |
| Merie Weismiller Wallace | ... | still photographer |
| Mark Wojciechowski | ... | grip |
| Greg Lopez | ... | lamp operator (uncredited) |
| Dylan Verrechia | ... | casting videographer (uncredited) |
Casting Department
| David Jaffe | ... | casting assistant |
| Rebecca Mangieri | ... | casting associate |
| Lesa Shapiro | ... | extras casting |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Tammy Hynes | ... | set costumer (as Tammy S. Hynes) |
| Angelique Keenan | ... | costume production assistant (as Angelique Curtis) |
| Josephine Monmaney | ... | set costumer |
| Mary Elizabeth Still | ... | key set costumer (as Mary Still) |
| Emma Trenchard | ... | costume supervisor |
Location Management
| Robbie Goldstein | ... | location manager |
| Michael Wesley | ... | assistant location manager |
Music Department
| Paul Broucek | ... | music executive |
| Thomas A. Carlson | ... | music editor (as Tom Carlson) |
| Sandy De Crescent | ... | music contractor (as Sandy DeCrescent) |
| Doop | ... | music consultant |
| Steve Genewick | ... | assistant score recording engineer |
| Jimmy Hoyson | ... | assistant score recording engineer |
| Mark Isham | ... | music programmer |
| Mark Kaufman | ... | music clearance executive |
| Stephen Krause | ... | score mixer / score recordist |
| Ken Kugler | ... | conductor / orchestrator |
| Jason La Rocca | ... | assistant score mixing engineer (as Jason LaRocca) / music programmer (as Jason LaRocca) |
| John Rodd | ... | assistant music recording engineer |
| Erin Scully | ... | music executive |
| Lori Silfen | ... | music business affairs |
| Tom Steel | ... | assistant music recording engineer |
| Bill Talbott | ... | assistant music recording engineer |
| Damon Tedesco | ... | assistant music recording engineer |
| Richard Ziegler | ... | additional music editor |
| Nico Abondolo | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Eun-Mee Ahn | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Richard Altenbach | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Philip Ayling | ... | musician: oboe (uncredited) |
| Emily Bernstein | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Charlie Bisharat | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Tom Boyd | ... | musician: oboe soloist (uncredited) |
| Robert Brosseau | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Darius Campo | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Paul Cohen | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Tony Cooke | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Rose Corrigan | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Wade Culbreath | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Franklyn d'Antonio | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Brian Dembow | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Drew Dembowski | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Chuck Domanico | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Arni Egilsson | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Steve Erdody | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Christine Ermacoff | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Alan Estes | ... | musician: percussion (uncredited) |
| Richard Feves | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Ron Folsom | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Armen Garabedian | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Berj Garabedian | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Rick Gerding | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Julie Gigante | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Steven Gordon | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Endre Granat | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Keith Greene | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Alan Grunfeld | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Trevor Handy | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Jennie Hansen | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Clayton Haslop | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Tamara Hatwan | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Amy Hershberger | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Patricia Johnson | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Jim Kanter | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Dennis Karmazyn | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Roland Kato | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Katie Kirkpatrick | ... | musician: harp (uncredited) |
| Miran Kojian | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Aimie Kreston | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Armen Ksajikian | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Roger Lebow | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Natalie Leggett | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Dimitrie Leivici | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Phillip Levy | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| David Low | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Rene Mandel | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Darrin McCann | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Victoria Miskolczy | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Bruce Morgenthaler | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Dan Neufeld | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Brian O'Connor | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Cindy O'Connor | ... | music assistant: additional arrangements (uncredited) |
| Michael O'Donovan | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| Robin Olson | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Simon Oswell | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Sid Page | ... | concertmaster (uncredited) |
| Katia Popov | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Mark Robertson | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Jay Rosen | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Anatoly Rosinsky | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Geraldine Rotella | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| Rich Ruttenberg | ... | musician: keyboard (uncredited) |
| Haim Shtrum | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| James Thatcher | ... | musician: French horn (uncredited) |
| Richard Todd | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Michael Valerio | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Josefina Vergara | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| James Walker | ... | musician: flute (uncredited) |
| David Walther | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| John Walz | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Roger Wilkie | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Phillip Yao | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Kenneth Yerke | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Mihail Zinovyev | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
Script and Continuity Department
| Judi Townsend | ... | script supervisor |
Transportation Department
| Dave Amberik | ... | driver |
| Danny Brooks | ... | driver (as Dan Brooks) |
| James R. Brown | ... | transportation co-captain (as James Brown) |
| Michael Cain | ... | driver |
| Howard Chapman | ... | driver |
| John J. Hess | ... | driver |
| Anthony Lovullo | ... | driver |
| William F. Luehm | ... | driver (as William Luehm) |
| Dan Morgan | ... | driver (as Daniel E. Morgan) |
| James A. Murphy | ... | driver (as Jim Murphy) |
| James Nordberg | ... | driver |
| Paul Ripple | ... | transportation dispatcher |
| Bob Rosen | ... | driver |
| Timothy P. Ryan Jr. | ... | driver |
| Timothy P. Ryan | ... | transportation captain (as Tim Ryan) |
| Sean Shepherd | ... | driver |
| Don Tardino | ... | transportation coordinator |
| Jon A. Tardino | ... | driver |
| Jon M. Tardino | ... | driver |
| Andrew Wooten | ... | driver |
| Daniel Davis | ... | driver (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Martin Alvarez | ... | caterer |
| Lynell Bangs | ... | production accountant |
| Lisa Behlendorf | ... | post-production accountant |
| Carolyn Blackwood | ... | production attorney |
| Amy Bradley | ... | first assistant: Mr. Kline |
| Francie Brown | ... | dialect coach: Ms. Scott Thomas |
| Angelina Burnett | ... | production secretary |
| Robert Burns | ... | set medic |
| Jules Carideo | ... | assistant production coordinator |
| Scott Carino | ... | stand-in |
| Laurie Cartwright | ... | risk management |
| Al Casal | ... | dive safety officer: additional photography |
| Rick Coffee | ... | first assistant accountant |
| June Czerwinski | ... | associate: Winkler Films |
| Ron Davis | ... | second assistant accountant |
| Jenny DeArmitt | ... | production office assistant |
| Jeff Egan | ... | production safety |
| Devon Evans | ... | head animal trainer |
| Cliff Fleming | ... | helicopter pilot (as Cliff Flemming) |
| Erin Gaynor | ... | assistant: Ms. Scott Thomas |
| Karen Ruth Getchell | ... | production coordinator |
| Eric Glasser | ... | production assistant |
| Emily Glatter | ... | supervising production coordinator |
| Oscar Gonzalez | ... | caterer |
| David M. Goodman | ... | assistant: Ms. Malone and Mr. Christensen (as David Goodman) |
| Bill Gucwa | ... | second assistant: Mr. Kline (as William Gucwa) |
| Vic Heutschy | ... | unit publicist |
| Erik Holmberg | ... | production executive |
| Marc Jacobs | ... | production resources |
| Tony Jacobs | ... | assistant: Mr. Winkler |
| Bonnie Kolber | ... | production assistant |
| Martee La Comette | ... | stand in: Kristin Scott Thomas (as Marty LaComette) |
| Ginny Martino | ... | contract administrator |
| Andrew Matthews | ... | financial consultant |
| Paul McCauley | ... | nutritionist |
| Julie Milstead | ... | assistant: Mr. Cowan |
| Jennifer Mount | ... | risk management |
| Michael O'Guinne | ... | stand-in (as Mike O'Guinne) |
| Lisa Barkin Oxley | ... | production attorney |
| Scott Pitman | ... | office production assistant |
| Denise Anderson Poore | ... | key set production assistant |
| Paul Prokop | ... | production controller |
| Stephen Ross | ... | production office assistant |
| Albert G. Ruben | ... | insurance |
| Amy Russell | ... | clearance |
| Ahmed Saker | ... | key set medic |
| Mel Ray Sandvik | ... | accounting assistant |
| Rhonda Sherman | ... | studio teacher |
| Christopher Starr | ... | craft service assistant |
| John Starr | ... | craft service |
| Sara E. Tower | ... | payroll accountant (as Sara Tower) |
| Jaime Trujillo | ... | caterer |
| Lee Tucker | ... | preview technical supervisor |
| Ronald C. Briggs Jr. | ... | inventory services (uncredited) |
| Jack E. Herman | ... | extras set coordinator (uncredited) |
| June Jordan | ... | stand-in (uncredited) |
| Christie Moreau | ... | adr loop group (uncredited) |
Thanks
| Ramona Evelyn Andrus | ... | dedicatee: in memory of |
Production Companies
Distributors
- New Line Cinema (2001) (United States) (theatrical)
- Entertainment Film Distributors (2002) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Svensk Filmindustri (SF) (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
- 01 Distribution (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Fox-Warner (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
- RCV Film Distribution (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
- Warner Bros. (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Warner Roadshow Film Distributors (Greece) (theatrical)
- 01 Distribution
- Alliance Atlantis Communications (Canada)
- Distribution Company (Argentina)
- Metropolitan Filmexport
- RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
- RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
- RCV Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- RCV Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- Reel Corporation (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
- Reel DVD (2003) (Australia) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)
- Warner Home Video (2003) (Switzerland) (DVD)
- Warner Sogefilms A.I.E. (Spain)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- AON (insurance)
- American Humane Association (animal action monitoring: AHA 00122)
- Bill Dance Casting (extras casting)
- Boone's Animals for Hollywood (animal supplier)
- Capitol Studios (additional score recording)
- Cast & Crew Payroll Services (payroll)
- Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment (cranes and dollies)
- Digital Sound and Picture (sound post-production re-recording)
- Direct Tools & Fasteners (expendables)
- Executive Assurance (security)
- Hayen Music Services (music preparation)
- Howard Anderson Digital Effects (titles and opticals)
- International Film Guarantors (completion guaranty)
- Playback Technologies (video playback)
- Rockbottom Rentals (cell phone rentals)
- Sabron Payroll Services (payroll: orchestra)
- Sony Pictures Studios (telecine services)
- Spacecam Systems (SPACECAM aerial camera system)
- The Clear Choice (clearances)
- The Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios (score recording)
- Wet Dog Studios (score mixing)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
George Monroe (Kevin Kline) is a lonely and sad man. Divorced for ten years, he lives alone on the southern California coast with his pet dog in the same run down shack in which he has lived for twenty-five years, the shack which his father passed down to him. In the intervening years, ostentatious houses have sprung up around him. He's been at the same architectural firm for twenty years in a job he hates, which primarily consists of building scale models. On the day that he is fired from his job, he is diagnosed with an advanced case of terminal cancer, which he chooses not to disclose to his family. In many ways, this day is the happiest of his recent life in that he decides to spend what little time he has left doing what he really wants to do, namely build a house he can call his own to replace the shack. He also wants his rebellious sixteen-year-old son, Sam Monroe (Hayden Christensen), to live with him for the summer, hopefully not only to help in the house construction, but for the two to reconnect as a family. Getting Sam to do any of it will not be an easy task as Sam, who has embarked on some self-destructive behavior, would rather do anything than spend time with his family, which also includes his mother Robin Kimball (Dame Kristin Scott Thomas), her wealthy but emotionally unaffectionate husband Peter Kimball (Jamey Sheridan), and their adolescent children. In Sam, George sees an unhappy person in every aspect of his life, much like George was before that fateful day. What Sam decides to do for the summer may consider Alyssa Beck (Jena Malone), his pretty classmate and George's next door neighbor. Through the process, George also reconnects with Robin, who admits that she's made some pretty bad decisions in her life. He may not want that reconnection to go too far considering his health. Ultimately, George has much to do to complete all he wants before he dies. Written by Huggo |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Seen from a distance, it's perfect. See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $27,000,000 (estimated) |
| Opening Weekend United States | $294,056, 28 Oct 2001 |
| Cumulative Worldwide Gross | $5,920,746, 08 Nov 2003 |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | The video of George and young Sam playing in the surf was shot by Kevin Kline's wife, Phoebe Cates. She videotaped Kevin and their son Owen on the beach in Bermuda. See more » |
| Goofs | The sun appears to rise in the same place in the sky as it sets. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into The Making of 'Life as a House' (2001). See more » |
| Soundtracks | What You Wish For See more » |
| Quotes |
George:
You know the great thing, though, is that change can be so constant you don't even feel the difference until there is one. It can be so slow that you don't even notice that your life is better or worse, until it is. Or it can just blow you away, make you something different in an instant. It happened to me. See more » |