Everybody's Fine 2009

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If Hollywood has taught us anything over the decades, it's that resentment, regret and anguish simmer beneath the surface of almost every seemingly perfect family.

The smiles and warm handshakes invariably conceal sibling rivalry and torment that has festered for years.

When someone says, "I love you," you'll probably find their fingers are crossed behind their back.

And, yes, the title of Kirk Jones's gently paced journey of self-discovery is ironic.

Anchored by a warm and engaging lead performance from Robert De Niro as a lonely widower who hopes to reconnect his fractured family, Everybody's Fine hits every emotional note we expect as it proves that the people we lie to the most are the ones we hold most dear.

Frank Goode (De Niro) has spent his life manufacturing the coating on millions of miles of telephone wires, which now separate him from his four children.

Alone in a house he once shared with his wife, Frank merrily organises a get together, only for all four offspring to cancel at the last minute.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unperturbed, Frank decides to pay surprises visits to his two sons and two daughters, despite a harsh warning from his doctor: "Fibrosis of the lungs requires you to take things easy. You know that."

First, he heads to New York to visit talented artist David (Lysy) but the young man isn't home.

Next, it's a short journey to Chicago to advertising agency executive Amy (Beckinsale), her husband Jeff (Young) and son Jack (Maisel), who can't wait to get rid of the old man.

Denver is the next stop on Frank's odyssey to surprise classical musician Robert (Rockwell), who is content with his role in the percussion section.

"Are you happy?" asks Frank

"I get paid to bang a big, loud drum all day. Of course I'm happy," smiles Robert.

Then it's off to Las Vegas for a rendezvous with dancer Rosie (Barrymore), who is the first of the brood to seem genuinely glad to see Frank.

Like her siblings, the talented dancer is keeping secrets from her father, not least the actual whereabouts of David.

Everybody's Fine is an unusual choice for De Niro, who slouches into his role as a man dependent on medication that we are sure will run out well before the final leg of his trek.

His warmth and quiet charm are in stark contrast to the spikiness of Beckinsale and Rockwell, while Barrymore smiles her way through a similarly undernourished supporting role.

As expected, there are tears and reconciliation to heal old wounds in the nick of time.

Frank's snapshots from his travels appear over the end credits along with Polaroids of the children, leaving us with a warm if cheap, sentimental glow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Production Status:	Released
Genres:	Comedy, Drama and Remake
Running Time:	1 hr. 40 min.
Release Date:	December 4th, 2009 (wide)
MPAA Rating:	PG-13 for thematic elements and brief strong language.
Distributors:	Miramax Films
Production Co.:	Radar Pictures, Cecchi Gori Pictures, Hollywood Gang Productions
U.S. Box Office:	$8,855,646
Filming Locations:	Connecticut Connecticut, USA New York, New York, USA New York City, New York, USA
Produced in:	United States

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Directors
Kirk Jones	Director

 

Writers
Bob Comfort	screenplay (previous draft)
Kirk Jones	Screenplay
Jules Feiffer	Screenplay (previous draft)
Giuseppe Tornatore	Source Material (from original screenplay: "Stanno Tutti Bene")

 

 

Actors
Robert De Niro	Frank Goode
Drew Barrymore	Rosie
Melissa Leo	Colleen
James Frain	Tom
Kate Beckinsale	Amy
Sam Rockwell	Robert
Lucian Maisel	Jack
Ken Sladyk	Max
Damian Young	Jeff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

http://www.miramax.com/everybodysfine/

http://whatsonsouthwest.co.uk/article.php?id=28781

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810025798/details