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| language = English
| language = English
| country = United States
| country = United States
| budget = $10 million<ref name="numbers">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gift-The-(2000) |title=The Gift (2000) - Financial Information |access-date=April 27, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Fleming |first= Michael |title= Reeves wraps up villain in Raimi's 'Gift' ensemble |url= https://variety.com/2000/film/news/reeves-wraps-up-villain-in-raimi-s-gift-ensemble-1117760393/ |website= Variety |date= 3 January 2000 |quote= an exceptionally strong cast given its budget of less than $10 million }}</ref>
| budget = $10 million<ref name="numbers">{{cite web |url=http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Gift-The-(2000) |title=The Gift (2000) - Financial Information |access-date=April 27, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last= Fleming |first= Michael |title= Reeves wraps up villain in Raimi's 'Gift' ensemble |url= https://variety.com/2000/film/news/reeves-wraps-up-villain-in-raimi-s-gift-ensemble-1117760393/ |website= [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date= January 3, 2000 |quote= an exceptionally strong cast given its budget of less than $10 million }}</ref>
| gross = $44.6 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web | title=The Gift (2000)| url= https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=giftthe.htm | website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=2010-09-29 }}</ref>
| gross = $44.6 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web | title=The Gift (2000)| url= https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=giftthe.htm | website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=December 12, 2024 }}</ref>
}}
}}
'''''The Gift''''' is a 2000 American [[supernatural]] [[Horror film|horror]] [[thriller (genre)|thriller]] film directed by [[Sam Raimi]], with a screenplay written by [[Billy Bob Thornton]] and [[Tom Epperson]] based on the alleged [[psychic]] experiences of Thornton's mother.<ref>{{cite web | author1=Amélie | author2=Sage | title=THE GIFT (2001) | url=http://www.billybobthornton.net/film%20gift.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303205338/http://www.billybobthornton.net/film%20gift.htm | archive-date= March 3, 2008 | publisher=BillyBobThornton.com | access-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref>
'''''The Gift''''' is a 2000 American [[supernatural thriller]] film directed by [[Sam Raimi]], and starring [[Cate Blanchett]], [[Keanu Reeves]], [[Giovanni Ribisi]], [[Hilary Swank]], [[Katie Holmes]], and [[Greg Kinnear]]. It centers on a single mother in rural [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]] who becomes involved in a local [[missing person]] case after she experiences a psychic vision. The screenplay was written by [[Billy Bob Thornton]] and [[Tom Epperson]] based on the alleged psychic experiences of Thornton's mother.<ref>{{cite web | author1=Amélie | author2=Sage | title=THE GIFT (2001) | url=http://www.billybobthornton.net/film%20gift.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303205338/http://www.billybobthornton.net/film%20gift.htm | archive-date= March 3, 2008 | publisher=BillyBobThornton.com | access-date=April 27, 2018}}</ref>

The film centers on Annie ([[Cate Blanchett]]), who is involved in a murder case when she acquires knowledge of it through her [[extrasensory perception]] and [[List of psychic abilities|psychic abilities]]. The cast also includes [[Keanu Reeves]], [[Giovanni Ribisi]], [[Hilary Swank]], [[Katie Holmes]], and [[Greg Kinnear]].

==Plot==
==Plot==
In the town of Brixton, [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], widow Annie Wilson is a [[clairvoyant]] fortune-teller who has visions of her late grandmother. After Jessica King, the promiscuous fiancée of the local school's principal, Wayne Collins, disappears, Annie receives a vision revealing that Jessica has been killed and her body thrown into a pond.
In Brixton, [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], widow Annie Wilson is a [[clairvoyant]] who has visions of her late grandmother. Annie offers psychic readings to locals to support herself and her three sons. She frequently helps locals including Buddy Cole, an emotionally unstable young man who works at an auto repair shop, and Valerie Barksdale, a woman who is currently in an abusive marriage. Valerie's husband Donnie has repeatedly threatened Annie and her three children because Annie advised Valerie to leave him due to his abuse.


She informs local sheriff Pearl Johnson of her vision, and despite his skepticism, Johnson searches a pond at the home of Donnie Barksdale, the abusive husband of one of Annie's clients, Valerie. Donnie has repeatedly threatened Annie and her three children after Annie advised Valerie to leave him, accusing Annie of being a [[witch]] and telling her and her children that she will burn in [[hell]]. Valerie permits the search while Donnie is absent, but he returns while the search is proceeding. The police find Jessica's body in the pond and Donnie is arrested for her murder.
Jessica King, the fiancée of the school principal, Wayne Collins, disappears. When Annie receives a vision that Jessica has been killed and her body thrown into a pond, she informs local sheriff Pearl Johnson. Despite his skepticism, Johnson searches the pond at the home of Donnie and Valerie Barksdale. The police find Jessica's body in the pond and Donnie is arrested for her murder.


Buddy Cole, a mentally ill acquaintance of Annie's, harbors a hatred for his father, and tries to explain to Annie why, but Annie is preoccupied and refuses to listen. That evening, Buddy's mother calls Annie to come to their house, as Buddy has snapped and has his father bound to a chair. Buddy sets his father on fire, and it is revealed that Buddy's father [[child sexual abuse|sexually abused]] him as a child. Buddy is arrested and taken to a [[Psychiatric hospital|mental hospital]].
While giving Annie a lift home, Buddy bursts into tears. She gives him a washcloth that belonged to her husband. Buddy wipes his face and does not give it back. Buddy hates his father and later tries to explain to Annie why, but Annie is preoccupied with the finding of Jessica's body and does not listen. That evening, Buddy's mother calls Annie for help, as Buddy has tied his father to a chair. Buddy sets his father on fire, and it is revealed that Buddy's father [[child sexual abuse|sexually abused]] him as a child. Buddy is arrested and taken to a [[Psychiatric hospital|mental hospital]].


During Donnie's trial for Jessica's murder, it is revealed that they had an affair. Donnie is convicted and sent to prison. Later, Annie receives more visions revealing that Donnie is innocent and that someone else wants to kill her. She asks prosecutor David Duncan to reopen the case. After Duncan declines, Annie counters that if he does not do so, she will reveal David and Jessica's affair, which she witnessed. Duncan attempts to bribe Annie in exchange for her silence, but Annie refuses.
At Donnie's trial, it is revealed that he had an affair with Jessica. He is convicted of Jessica's murder and sent to prison. Later, Annie receives more visions revealing that Donnie is innocent and that someone else wants to kill her. She asks prosecutor David Duncan to reopen the case. After Duncan declines, Annie threatens to reveal that he had an affair with Jessica, which she witnessed. Duncan attempts to bribe Annie in exchange for her silence, but Annie refuses.


Annie tells Wayne that Donnie is not responsible for Jessica's death and that Duncan will not reopen the investigation. At Wayne's suggestion, he and Annie drive out to the pond at night, where Annie learns from a vision that Wayne is actually the murderer. Wayne confesses to Annie that he was angry after he discovered that Jessica was cheating on him with Donnie. Wayne attempts to kill Annie by striking her in the head with a flashlight, but Buddy appears and knocks him out. Annie and Buddy lock the unconscious Wayne in the trunk of Annie's car.
Annie tells Wayne that Donnie is not the murderer, but that Duncan will not reopen the investigation. At Wayne's suggestion, he and Annie drive out to the pond at night, where Annie has a vision showing Wayne is actually the murderer. Wayne confesses that he was angry after discovering Jessica was cheating on him with multiple other men including Donnie. Wayne attempts to kill Annie by striking her in the head with a flashlight, but Buddy appears and knocks him out. Annie and Buddy lock the unconscious Wayne in the trunk of Annie's car. Buddy tells Annie that he escaped from the mental hospital and hands her the washcloth she had previously given him to wipe her tears.


Buddy tells Annie that he escaped from the mental hospital, and hands her a wash cloth to wipe her bloody head with. The two drive to the police station. Annie tells Buddy that he will have to return to the hospital, and he waits in the car while she enters the station. When she returns to the car with police, Buddy has disappeared. Annie explains to Johnson what happened at the pond, but he informs her that Buddy could not have aided her as he had died by suicide at the mental hospital earlier that day. Annie reaches in her pocket and pulls out the wash cloth Buddy gave her to wipe her head. Annie returns home and looks at photographs of her late husband Ben. The next morning, she and her sons are at his grave, mourning his premature death.
The two drive to the police station. Buddy waits in the car while she enters the station. When she returns with the police, Buddy has disappeared. When Annie explains what happened at the pond, Johnson informs her that Buddy died by suicide earlier that day. Annie reaches into her pocket and pulls out the washcloth Buddy returned for her. Annie returns home and looks at photographs of her late husband Ben that her oldest son holds as he falls asleep each night. The next morning, she and her sons are at his graveside.


==Cast==
==Cast==
Line 57: Line 55:
* [[Gary Cole]] as David Duncan
* [[Gary Cole]] as David Duncan
* [[Rosemary Harris]] as Annie's grandmother
* [[Rosemary Harris]] as Annie's grandmother
* [[J.K. Simmons]] as Sheriff Pearl Johnson
* [[J. K. Simmons]] as Sheriff Pearl Johnson
* [[Chelcie Ross]] as Kenneth King
* [[Chelcie Ross]] as Kenneth King
* [[John Beasley (actor)|John Beasley]] as Albert Hawkins
* Lynnsee Provence as Mike Wilson
* Hunter McGilvray as Miller Wilson
* [[Stuart Greer]] as Officer Huggins
* Jeff Bragg as Jed Barksdale
* [[Danny Elfman]] as Tommy Lee Ballard
}}
}}


==Production==
==Production==
The film was written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson before the success of ''[[Sling Blade (film)|Sling Blade]]''.<ref name="Travers" />
The film was written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson before the success of ''[[Sling Blade (film)|Sling Blade]]''.<ref name="Travers" />

==Release==
''The Gift'' was released theatrically in the United States on December 22, 2000, by [[Paramount Classics]].

===Home media===
[[Paramount Home Entertainment]] released ''The Gift'' on VHS and DVD in July 2001.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dvdtalk.com/reviews/2303/gift-the/|work=[[DVD Talk]]|title=Gift, The|last=Beierle|first=Aaron|url-status=live|date=July 13, 2001|archive-date=December 13, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.is/wip/cRtQS}}</ref> On December 3, 2024, [[Shout! Factory|Scream Factory]] released a collector's edition [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K UHD Blu-ray]] edition of the film.<ref>{{cite web|work=Blu-ray.com|url=https://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=35540|title=The Gift Collector's Edition 4K Blu-ray|date=November 19, 2024|archive-date=December 13, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.is/wip/uAI2F|url-status=live}}</ref> A 4K UHD Blu-ray is scheduled for release in the United Kingdom by [[Arrow Films]] on January 27, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arrowfilms.com/4k/the-gift-limited-edition-4k-ultra-hd/15743064.html|work=[[Arrow Films]]|title=The Gift Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.is/wip/xpY0o|archive-date=December 13, 2024}}</ref>


==Reception==
==Reception==
===Critical response===
===Critical response===
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 57% based on 122 reviews, with an average score of 5.90/10. The site's consensus reads, "With a reported budget of around 10 million, The Gift is obviously a labor of love for those involved. Unfortunately, the A-list cast can't prevent the movie from becoming a by-the-numbers whodunit with an ending that's all but unsatisfactory."<ref>{{Rotten-tomatoes|id=1103231-gift|title=The Gift}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] it has a score of 62% based on reviews from 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title= The Gift |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-gift |website= [[Metacritic]] }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade B on scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= GIFT, THE (2015) B |work= [[CinemaScore]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073531/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= February 6, 2018 }}</ref>
On [[Rotten Tomatoes]] the film has an approval rating of 58% based on 123 reviews, with an average score of 5.90/10. The site's consensus reads, "With a reported budget of around 10 million, The Gift is obviously a labor of love for those involved. Unfortunately, the A-list cast can't prevent the movie from becoming a by-the-numbers whodunit with an ending that's all but unsatisfactory."<ref>{{Rotten-tomatoes|id=1103231-gift|title=The Gift}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] it has a score of 62% based on reviews from 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title= The Gift |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/the-gift |website= [[Metacritic]] }}</ref> Audiences surveyed by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film a grade B on a scale of A to F.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |title= GIFT, THE (2015) B |work= [[CinemaScore]] |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180206073531/https://www.cinemascore.com/publicsearch/index/title/ |archive-date= February 6, 2018 }}</ref>


[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film 3 out of 4, and called it "Ingenious in its plotting, colorful in its characters, taut in its direction and fortunate in possessing Cate Blanchett."<ref name="Ebert">{{cite news |date= January 19, 2001 | last= Ebert | first= Roger | author-link= Roger Ebert|title=The Gift | url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-gift-2001 | work= [[Chicago Sun-Times]]| publisher= [[Sun-Times Media Group]] | location= Chicago, Illinois |via=RogerEbert.com | access-date= April 1, 2020 }}</ref>
[[Roger Ebert]] gave the film 3 out of 4, and called it "Ingenious in its plotting, colorful in its characters, taut in its direction and fortunate in possessing Cate Blanchett."<ref name="Ebert">{{cite news |date= January 19, 2001 | last= Ebert | first= Roger | author-link= Roger Ebert|title=The Gift | url= https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-gift-2001 | work= [[Chicago Sun-Times]]| publisher= [[Sun-Times Media Group]] | location= Chicago, Illinois |via=RogerEbert.com | access-date= April 1, 2020 }}</ref>
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Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote: "Raimi eschews trendy, over-emphatic effects in favor of a straightforward approach that makes for a solid tale well told."<ref>{{cite web |date=14 December 2000 |first=Todd |last=McCarthy |author-link=Todd McCarthy |title=The Gift |url= https://variety.com/review/VE1117796968 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] }}</ref>
Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' wrote: "Raimi eschews trendy, over-emphatic effects in favor of a straightforward approach that makes for a solid tale well told."<ref>{{cite web |date=14 December 2000 |first=Todd |last=McCarthy |author-link=Todd McCarthy |title=The Gift |url= https://variety.com/review/VE1117796968 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] }}</ref>


Kenneth Turan of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' gave it a mixed review and was critical that the "Characters lean too heavily toward the Southern grotesque, and the direction the plot is heading is more predictable than it should be." Despite praising the cast, Turan wrote: "Overly familiar material, even well done, cannot be made more intrinsically interesting than it is. Not even by Cate Blanchett and Keanu Reeves."<ref name="Turan">{{cite news |date=20 December 2000 |author=Kenneth Turan |author-link= Kenneth Turan |title=Southern Gothic 'Gift' Bears a Mixed Blessing |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-20-ca-2144-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] }}</ref> A. O. Scott of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote: "The picture is saved from mediocrity by Mr. Raimi's smooth competence, and by the unusually high quality of the acting."<ref name= "Scott">{{cite news |date=19 January 2001 |last=Scott |first=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |title=FILM REVIEW; With Visits From the Dead, a Very Lively Home |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/19/movies/film-review-with-visits-from-the-dead-a-very-lively-home.html |newspaper =[[The New York Times]] }}</ref>
Kenneth Turan of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' gave it a mixed review and was critical that the "Characters lean too heavily toward the Southern grotesque, and the direction the plot is heading is more predictable than it should be." Despite praising the cast, Turan wrote: "Overly familiar material, even well done, cannot be made more intrinsically interesting than it is. Not even by Cate Blanchett and Keanu Reeves."<ref name="Turan">{{cite news |date=December 20, 2000 |author=Turan, Kennth |author-link= Kenneth Turan |title=Southern Gothic 'Gift' Bears a Mixed Blessing |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-20-ca-2144-story.html |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |archive-url=https://archive.is/wip/0T5Q9|archive-date=December 14, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> A. O. Scott of ''[[The New York Times]]'' wrote: "The picture is saved from mediocrity by Mr. Raimi's smooth competence, and by the unusually high quality of the acting."<ref name= "Scott">{{cite news |date=January 19, 2001 |last=Scott |first=A. O. |author-link=A. O. Scott |title=FILM REVIEW; With Visits From the Dead, a Very Lively Home |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/19/movies/film-review-with-visits-from-the-dead-a-very-lively-home.html |newspaper =[[The New York Times]]|archive-date=December 14, 2024|archive-url=https://archive.is/wip/uH4jh|url-status=live}}</ref>
Curt Fields of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called it "So chock-full of stereotypes as to be a filmic Southern Country Safari" and advised "Don't Bother Opening This 'Gift'".<ref name= "washpost">{{cite news |author=Curt Fields |title=Don't Bother Opening This 'Gift' |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/giftfields.htm |newspaper=[[Washington Post]] |date=January 19, 2001}}</ref>
Curt Fields of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' called it "So chock-full of stereotypes as to be a filmic Southern Country Safari" and advised "Don't Bother Opening This 'Gift'".<ref name= "washpost">{{cite news |author=Curt Fields |title=Don't Bother Opening This 'Gift' |url= http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/giftfields.htm |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 19, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820112147/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/entertainment/movies/reviews/giftfields.htm|archive-date=August 20, 2008|url-status=live}}</ref>


===Box office===
===Box office===
The film grossed $12,008,642 at the US box office against a production budget of $10 million.<ref name= "mojo" /><ref name="numbers" />
The film grossed $12,008,642 at the U.S. box office against a production budget of $10 million.<ref name= "mojo" /><ref name="numbers" />


===Accolades===
===Accolades===
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| [[Giovanni Ribisi]]
| [[Giovanni Ribisi]]
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web| url= https://s3.amazonaws.com/SA_SubForm_etc/2021_SA_ALLNomineesWinners_063021.pdf |title=36 Years of Nominees and Winners |website= amazonaws.com | publisher = [[Independent Spirit Awards]] |access-date=August 13, 2021}}</ref>
| align="center"| <ref>{{cite web| url= https://s3.amazonaws.com/SA_SubForm_etc/2021_SA_ALLNomineesWinners_063021.pdf |title=36 Years of Nominees and Winners | website = [[Independent Spirit Awards]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208223302/https://s3.amazonaws.com/SA_SubForm_etc/2021_SA_ALLNomineesWinners_063021.pdf|archive-date=December 8, 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
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| colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Horror Film|Best Horror Film]]
| colspan="2"| [[Saturn Award for Best Horror Film|Best Horror Film]]
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| rowspan="5" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=104214 |title=X-Men Sweeps Saturn Awards |publisher=[[ABC News]] |date=June 13, 2001 |access-date=June 5, 2022}}</ref>
| rowspan="5" align="center"| <ref>{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=104214 |title=X-Men Sweeps Saturn Awards |website=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]] |date=June 13, 2001 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220605052503/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=104214|archive-date=June 5, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
|-
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
| [[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]]
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| Erik Cord
| Erik Cord
| {{nom}}
| {{nom}}
| align="center"| <ref name="taurus2001">{{cite web |title=2001 Winners & Nominees |url=https://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/awards/2001-winners-nominees/ |website=Taurus World Stunt Awards}}</ref>
| align="center"| <ref name="taurus2001">{{cite web |title=2001 Winners & Nominees |url=https://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/awards/2001-winners-nominees/ |website=Taurus World Stunt Awards|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330094534/https://www.taurusworldstuntawards.com/awards/2001-winners-nominees/|archive-date=March 30, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|-
|}
|}
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[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 films]]
[[Category:2000 horror films]]
[[Category:2000 horror films]]
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[[Category:2000 drama films]]
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[[Category:2000s mystery thriller films]]
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[[Category:American supernatural thriller films]]
[[Category:American supernatural thriller films]]
[[Category:Films about domestic violence]]
[[Category:Films about domestic violence]]
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[[Category:Films about incest]]
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[[Category:Films about missing people]]
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[[Category:Films about precognition]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sam Raimi]]
[[Category:Films directed by Sam Raimi]]
[[Category:Films produced by James Jacks]]
[[Category:Films produced by James Jacks]]
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[[Category:Films produced by Tom Rosenberg]]
[[Category:Films produced by Gary Lucchesi]]
[[Category:Films scored by Christopher Young]]
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[[Category:Films set in 2000]]
[[Category:Films set in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Films set in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Films shot in Savannah, Georgia]]
[[Category:Films shot in Savannah, Georgia]]
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[[Category:Incest in film]]
[[Category:Lakeshore Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Lakeshore Entertainment films]]
[[Category:Paramount Vantage films]]
[[Category:Paramount Vantage films]]
[[Category:Southern Gothic films]]
[[Category:Southern Gothic films]]
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[[Category:Films scored by Christopher Young]]
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[[Category:Films produced by Tom Rosenberg]]
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[[Category:Films produced by Gary Lucchesi]]
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[[Category:Films about precognition]]
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[[Category:2000 drama films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:2000s American films]]
[[Category:English-language horror films]]
[[Category:English-language mystery thriller films]]

Latest revision as of 01:09, 19 December 2024

The Gift
Theatrical film poster
Directed bySam Raimi
Written by
Produced byJames Jacks
Gary Lucchesi
Tom Rosenberg
Grant Curtis
Starring
CinematographyJamie Anderson
Edited byBob Murawski
Music byChristopher Young
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Classics
Release date
  • December 22, 2000 (2000-12-22)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$10 million[1][2]
Box office$44.6 million[3]

The Gift is a 2000 American supernatural thriller film directed by Sam Raimi, and starring Cate Blanchett, Keanu Reeves, Giovanni Ribisi, Hilary Swank, Katie Holmes, and Greg Kinnear. It centers on a single mother in rural Georgia who becomes involved in a local missing person case after she experiences a psychic vision. The screenplay was written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson based on the alleged psychic experiences of Thornton's mother.[4]

Plot

[edit]

In Brixton, Georgia, widow Annie Wilson is a clairvoyant who has visions of her late grandmother. Annie offers psychic readings to locals to support herself and her three sons. She frequently helps locals including Buddy Cole, an emotionally unstable young man who works at an auto repair shop, and Valerie Barksdale, a woman who is currently in an abusive marriage. Valerie's husband Donnie has repeatedly threatened Annie and her three children because Annie advised Valerie to leave him due to his abuse.

Jessica King, the fiancée of the school principal, Wayne Collins, disappears. When Annie receives a vision that Jessica has been killed and her body thrown into a pond, she informs local sheriff Pearl Johnson. Despite his skepticism, Johnson searches the pond at the home of Donnie and Valerie Barksdale. The police find Jessica's body in the pond and Donnie is arrested for her murder.

While giving Annie a lift home, Buddy bursts into tears. She gives him a washcloth that belonged to her husband. Buddy wipes his face and does not give it back. Buddy hates his father and later tries to explain to Annie why, but Annie is preoccupied with the finding of Jessica's body and does not listen. That evening, Buddy's mother calls Annie for help, as Buddy has tied his father to a chair. Buddy sets his father on fire, and it is revealed that Buddy's father sexually abused him as a child. Buddy is arrested and taken to a mental hospital.

At Donnie's trial, it is revealed that he had an affair with Jessica. He is convicted of Jessica's murder and sent to prison. Later, Annie receives more visions revealing that Donnie is innocent and that someone else wants to kill her. She asks prosecutor David Duncan to reopen the case. After Duncan declines, Annie threatens to reveal that he had an affair with Jessica, which she witnessed. Duncan attempts to bribe Annie in exchange for her silence, but Annie refuses.

Annie tells Wayne that Donnie is not the murderer, but that Duncan will not reopen the investigation. At Wayne's suggestion, he and Annie drive out to the pond at night, where Annie has a vision showing Wayne is actually the murderer. Wayne confesses that he was angry after discovering Jessica was cheating on him with multiple other men including Donnie. Wayne attempts to kill Annie by striking her in the head with a flashlight, but Buddy appears and knocks him out. Annie and Buddy lock the unconscious Wayne in the trunk of Annie's car. Buddy tells Annie that he escaped from the mental hospital and hands her the washcloth she had previously given him to wipe her tears.

The two drive to the police station. Buddy waits in the car while she enters the station. When she returns with the police, Buddy has disappeared. When Annie explains what happened at the pond, Johnson informs her that Buddy died by suicide earlier that day. Annie reaches into her pocket and pulls out the washcloth Buddy returned for her. Annie returns home and looks at photographs of her late husband Ben that her oldest son holds as he falls asleep each night. The next morning, she and her sons are at his graveside.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

The film was written by Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson before the success of Sling Blade.[5]

Release

[edit]

The Gift was released theatrically in the United States on December 22, 2000, by Paramount Classics.

Home media

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Paramount Home Entertainment released The Gift on VHS and DVD in July 2001.[6] On December 3, 2024, Scream Factory released a collector's edition 4K UHD Blu-ray edition of the film.[7] A 4K UHD Blu-ray is scheduled for release in the United Kingdom by Arrow Films on January 27, 2025.[8]

Reception

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Critical response

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On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 58% based on 123 reviews, with an average score of 5.90/10. The site's consensus reads, "With a reported budget of around 10 million, The Gift is obviously a labor of love for those involved. Unfortunately, the A-list cast can't prevent the movie from becoming a by-the-numbers whodunit with an ending that's all but unsatisfactory."[9] On Metacritic it has a score of 62% based on reviews from 29 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[10] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade B on a scale of A to F.[11]

Roger Ebert gave the film 3 out of 4, and called it "Ingenious in its plotting, colorful in its characters, taut in its direction and fortunate in possessing Cate Blanchett."[12] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone wrote: "Raimi's flair for rich atmospherics — expertly abetted by cinematographer Jamie Anderson (Grosse Pointe Blank) and composer Christopher Young (Wonder Boys) — and a cast that goes full throttle hold you in thrall. "[5] Todd McCarthy of Variety wrote: "Raimi eschews trendy, over-emphatic effects in favor of a straightforward approach that makes for a solid tale well told."[13]

Kenneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times gave it a mixed review and was critical that the "Characters lean too heavily toward the Southern grotesque, and the direction the plot is heading is more predictable than it should be." Despite praising the cast, Turan wrote: "Overly familiar material, even well done, cannot be made more intrinsically interesting than it is. Not even by Cate Blanchett and Keanu Reeves."[14] A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "The picture is saved from mediocrity by Mr. Raimi's smooth competence, and by the unusually high quality of the acting."[15] Curt Fields of The Washington Post called it "So chock-full of stereotypes as to be a filmic Southern Country Safari" and advised "Don't Bother Opening This 'Gift'".[16]

Box office

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The film grossed $12,008,642 at the U.S. box office against a production budget of $10 million.[3][1]

Accolades

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Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Actress Cate Blanchett Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Keanu Reeves Nominated
Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Male Giovanni Ribisi Nominated [17]
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Actress Cate Blanchett Nominated [18]
Saturn Awards Best Horror Film Nominated [19]
Best Actress Cate Blanchett Nominated
Best Supporting Actor Giovanni Ribisi Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Hilary Swank Nominated
Best Writing Billy Bob Thornton and Tom Epperson Nominated
Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie – Horror/Thriller Nominated [20]
World Stunt Awards Best Fire Stunt Erik Cord Nominated [21]

References

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  1. ^ a b "The Gift (2000) - Financial Information". Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  2. ^ Fleming, Michael (January 3, 2000). "Reeves wraps up villain in Raimi's 'Gift' ensemble". Variety. an exceptionally strong cast given its budget of less than $10 million
  3. ^ a b "The Gift (2000)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  4. ^ Amélie; Sage. "THE GIFT (2001)". BillyBobThornton.com. Archived from the original on March 3, 2008. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  5. ^ a b Travers, Peter (January 19, 2001). "The Gift". Rolling Stone.
  6. ^ Beierle, Aaron (July 13, 2001). "Gift, The". DVD Talk. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024.
  7. ^ "The Gift Collector's Edition 4K Blu-ray". Blu-ray.com. November 19, 2024. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Gift Limited Edition 4K Ultra HD". Arrow Films. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024.
  9. ^ The Gift at Rotten Tomatoes
  10. ^ "The Gift". Metacritic.
  11. ^ "GIFT, THE (2015) B". CinemaScore. Archived from the original on February 6, 2018.
  12. ^ Ebert, Roger (January 19, 2001). "The Gift". Chicago Sun-Times. Chicago, Illinois: Sun-Times Media Group. Retrieved April 1, 2020 – via RogerEbert.com.
  13. ^ McCarthy, Todd (14 December 2000). "The Gift". Variety.
  14. ^ Turan, Kennth (December 20, 2000). "Southern Gothic 'Gift' Bears a Mixed Blessing". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024.
  15. ^ Scott, A. O. (January 19, 2001). "FILM REVIEW; With Visits From the Dead, a Very Lively Home". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Curt Fields (January 19, 2001). "Don't Bother Opening This 'Gift'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 20, 2008.
  17. ^ "36 Years of Nominees and Winners" (PDF). Independent Spirit Awards. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 8, 2024.
  18. ^ "PFCS Awards – 2001". IMDb. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  19. ^ "X-Men Sweeps Saturn Awards". ABC News. June 13, 2001. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022.
  20. ^ "'Teen Choice 2001". IMDb. Retrieved November 19, 2014.
  21. ^ "2001 Winners & Nominees". Taurus World Stunt Awards. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018.
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