Elizabethtown (film): Difference between revisions
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In the original cut of the film, an epilogue reveals that the shoe designed by Drew turns out to be a hit, as it whistles with every step. This was cut from the release version of the film to prevent the ending seeming overly-drawn out.<ref>http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051013/REVIEWS/51004001/1023</ref> |
In the original cut of the film, an epilogue reveals that the shoe designed by Drew turns out to be a hit, as it whistles with every step. This was cut from the release version of the film to prevent the ending seeming overly-drawn out.<ref>http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20051013/REVIEWS/51004001/1023</ref> |
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==Awards== |
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'''Nominated:''' 2005 Best Song - Broadcast Film Critics Association |
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'''Nominated:''' 2005 Best Soundtrack - Broadcast Film Critics Association <ref>http://www.fandango.com/elizabethtown_v288530/awards</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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Revision as of 03:32, 26 January 2008
| Elizabethtown | |
|---|---|
 Promotional poster for Elizabethtown | |
| Directed by | Cameron Crowe |
| Written by | Cameron Crowe |
| Produced by | Cameron Crowe, Tom Cruise, Paula Wagner |
| Starring | Orlando Bloom Kirsten Dunst Susan Sarandon Alec Baldwin Jessica Biel |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
Release dates | October 14, 2005 |
Running time | 123 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | ~ US$45,000,000 |
Elizabethtown is a 2005 American film written and directed by Cameron Crowe starring Orlando Bloom and Kirsten Dunst. Orlando Bloom plays a shoe designer visiting his father's hometown in Kentucky in the days following the father's death, and Kirsten Dunst plays a flight attendant. Alec Baldwin has a small role as a CEO of an athletic shoe company, and Susan Sarandon appears as a grieving widow.
Plot
The film begins with industrial designer Drew Baylor[1](Orlando Bloom) as he walks towards the company he works in, an important international shoe company. As he enters the building, his boss (Alec Baldwin) starts discussing the failure of his project and its effects on the company overall, costing the company $972 million dollars. After being fired, his girlfriend breaks up with him. Drew goes to his apartment, and defeated, attempts to commit sucide. However, his sister calls and tells him that his father has just died and he has to go to Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to bury the body.
While in the airport, Drew's sister and mother (Susan Sarandon) tell him that they wish to cremate his father's body. While on the nearly empty plane, a quick-witted flight attendant, Claire (Kirsten Dunst), begins talking to him. On the way out from the plane, Claire jokingly tell him that he is the airline's one millionth customer and gives him a hotel discount card. They go separate ways; however Claire had written her phone number on the back of the card.
Despite a map and directions from Claire, Drew gets hopelessly lost in the highway, but finally arrives. As he enters the town, he notices the traditions of the place and how his dad's memory is respected everywhere. Drew is guided by a boy on a bike that leads him to the funeral home, where his cousin is waiting for him.
During the wake, Drew sees various members of his family, who all greet him as the "California boy", although his father had only lived in California for eighteen months before moving to Oregon to raise his family. After viewing his father's body, he meets with some of his relatives near the burial plot they would like the body buried in. However, Drew insists on honoring his mother's wishes for a cremation.
Drew checks into a hotel and attempts to call home, but receives no answer. He remembers the card Claire gave him and decides to call her, but again receives no answer. He falls asleep, but is awoken by a call from Claire. The pair talks for most of the night and meet in the early morning. After a few days, he sees in Claire in his hotel, and they spend the rest of the day together, including visiting the mortuary where Drew's father is to be cremated.
After making the final decision to cremate his father, Drew visits his relatives in Elizabethtown to announce it. While in the kitchen, he sees a photo of his father and a flame from the stove. Feeling guilty and regretful, he runs to the mortuary to stop the cremation, but arrives to late and is given an urn containing his father's ashes. Drew returns to the hotel carrying his father's ashes and sees Claire talking with the guests of a wedding at the hotel. Claire and Drew go the room were wedding rehearsal dinner had taken place and where his father's memorial service would take place. They talk about their feelings for one another and agree they are not right for each other. However, they kiss and end up sleeping together. Claire leaves the hotel in the morning while Drew is still asleep.
Drew's mother and sister arrives in Kentucky for the memorial service. After various people speak in memory of Drew's father, his mother talks about life after the death of her husband and tap dances to his favorite song. Later Drew's cousin, along with his band, begin to play the song Freebird. Claire arrives to give support to Drew. A stage prop, a large paper dove, catches on fire, setting off fire alarms and causing emergency water sprayers to go off, while everyone flees the room.
Claire gives Drew a map, with instructions and CDs, guiding him "home", with notes along the way to visit certain places. At each place he visits, he spreads some of his father's ashes. However, the directions come to a point where he is given two choices - to continue home or to finish the journey Claire laid out for him. Drew chooses to continue the journey. He is instructed to go to a large flea market and locates a note telling him to "look for the girl with a red hat". After looking desperately for a few minutes, he finds Claire and kisses her.
Credits
Production
- Director, Writer, Producer - Cameron Crowe
- Producers - Tom Cruise and Paula Wagner (Cruise/Wagner Productions)
- Editor - David Moritz
- Original Music - Nancy Wilson
Cast
- Orlando Bloom as Drew Baylor
- Kirsten Dunst as Claire Colburn
- Susan Sarandon as Hollie Baylor
- Jessica Biel as Ellen Kishmore
- Judy Greer as Heather Baylor
- Alec Baldwin as Phil
- Emily Rutherfurd as Cindy Hasboro
- Jed Rees as Chuck Hasboro
- Paul Schneider as Jessie Baylor
- Bruce McGill as Bill Banyon
- Allison Munn as Desk Girl Charlotte
- Dan Biggers as Uncle Roy
- Loudon Wainwright III as Uncle Dale
- Alice Marie Crowe as Aunt Lena
- Paula Deen as Aunt Dora
- Patty Griffin as Laurie
- Billy Tencza as Brett
- Tim Devitt as Mitch Baylor
Production Notes
The film features dozens of contemporary rock songs, and Kentucky natives My Morning Jacket portray a reunited fictional rock group named Ruckus.
Jane Fonda was cast in Susan Sarandon's role, but had to bow out. Ashton Kutcher, Seann William Scott, Colin Hanks, Chris Evans, and James Franco all auditioned for Orlando Bloom's part. Kutcher was actually hired to play Drew, but director Cameron Crowe decided during filming that the chemistry between him and Dunst wasn't right and Kutcher left the project. Jessica Biel auditioned for the female lead, but was given a smaller role as Drew's girlfriend.
There is a character named Ben who is mentioned as a love interest of Claire. In the original cut of the film, Ben is revealed to be Claire's brother.
Recognizable settings for scenes shot in Louisville, Kentucky include the Brown Hotel and Cave Hill Cemetery. Although the exterior, lobby, and corridors of the Brown Hotel are seen, a passable replica of the Brown Hotel's Crystal Ball Room was re-created on a soundstage (doubtless because of the fire and water effects used.)
Although the title of the movie is Elizabethtown, most of the small town scenes were actually filmed in Versailles, Kentucky. A few scenes portraying distinctive landmarks were filmed in Elizabethtown itself.
In the original cut of the film, an epilogue reveals that the shoe designed by Drew turns out to be a hit, as it whistles with every step. This was cut from the release version of the film to prevent the ending seeming overly-drawn out.[2]
Awards
Nominated: 2005 Best Song - Broadcast Film Critics Association Nominated: 2005 Best Soundtrack - Broadcast Film Critics Association [3]
See also
Notes
External links
