Empire Falls (2005) (TV)

Regisseur:

Fred Schepisi

Drehbuchautoren (WGA):

Richard Russo (novel)
Richard Russo (teleplay)

Premierendatum:

28. Mai 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Werbezeile:

Every small town has a big story

Plot:

A decaying New England town is the backdrop for its unique citizens, lead by unassuming restaurant manager Miles Roby.

Plot Keywords:

School Shooting | High School | Flashback Sequence | Ferry | Church

Auszeichnungen:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 5 wins & 20 nominations

Nutzerkommentare:

The ghost of the past

Besetzung

Ed Harris	...	Miles Roby
Monique Jeanine Lycette	...	Photo Double for Robin Wright Penn
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Charlie Mayne
Helen Hunt	...	Janine Roby
Paul Newman	...	Max Roby
Robin Wright Penn	...	Grace Roby
Aidan Quinn	...	David Roby
Joanne Woodward	...	Francine Whiting
Dennis Farina	...	Walt Comeau
William Fichtner	...	Jimmy Minty
Estelle Parsons	...	Bea
Theresa Russell	...	Charlene
Kate Burton	...	Cindy Whiting
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Horace
Trevor Morgan	...	Zack Minty

Alternativ:

Empire Falls - Schicksal einer Stadt (Deutschland) [de]

Länge:

Argentina:197 Min | USA:240 Min (2 episodes)

Produktionsland:

USA

Sprache:

Englisch

Farbe:

Farbe

Altersfreigabe:

Argentina:13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Australia:M

Drehorte:

Augusta, Maine, USA

Firma:

HBO Films

Dies und das:

The football game in the movie was actually a scrimmage match between the local high school football teams, Skowhegan High School and Waterville High School. Most of the extras in the stands were residents of both towns.

Pannen:

Abfolgefehler: During the wedding scene, Horace goes from having his left hand in his lap to holding a cup between shots.

Dialogzitate:

Charlene: [about Walt] Somebody, shoot him.

Querbezüge:

Ausschnittsweise enthalten in 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards (2006) (TV)

The ghost of the past

Richard Russo's brilliant novel gets a full movie treatment from HBO Films under the direction of Fred Schepisi. This multi layered saga of people in a small and forgotten town in Maine follows Mr. Russo's novel and makes its people come alive, as portrayed by some of America's best actors working as an ensemble under Mr. Schepisi's unobtrusive direction.

Empire Falls serves as a metaphor for all that has happened in most New England towns when industry abandoned them and unscrupulous liquidators came to pick at the bones of whatever was left behind in order to make an easy buck.

At the center of the story we find Miles Roby, a decent man who has to deal with the present day realities and try to keep his family together. As played by Ed Harris, Miles offers the actor one of the best roles he has given us in years. Helen Hunt, on the other hand, seems to be miscast in the role of Janine; her fake accent doesn't seem to help her.

Paul Newman, as the eccentric patriarch of the Roby family, loses himself in his role and we forget we are watching anyone by that crazy Max Roby. Philip Seymour Hoffman makes a great contribution with a small appearance. Robin Wright Penn is seen briefly also as Grace, Miles mother who is a key figure in the story.

The rest of the cast is excellent.

The best thing that can come out of this adaptation is that people will flock to read Richard Russo's novels because he is an important voice in American literature.