Chattahoochee (1989)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Mick Jackson

Writer:

James Hicks (written by)

Release Date:

20 April 1990 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama

Tagline:

At the edge of insanity lies hope.

Plot:

In 1955 Florida, a Korean vet has a breakdown and is incarcerated in a "maximum security" mental health prison, where patients are abused.

Plot Keywords:

Maximum Security | Florida | 1955 | Mental Hospital | Bureaucracy

Cast

Gary Oldman	...	Emmett Foley
Dennis Hopper	...	Walker Benson
Frances McDormand	...	Mae Foley
Pamela Reed	...	Earlene
Ned Beatty	...	Dr. Harwood
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Morris
William De Acutis	...	Missy
Lee Wilkof	...	Vernon
Matt Craven	...	Lonny
Gary Howard Klar	...	Clarence (as Gary Klar)
Timothy Scott	...	Harley
Richard Portnow	...	Dr. Debner
William Newman	...	Jonathan
Whitey Hughes	...	Mr. Johnson
Wilbur Fitzgerald	...	Duane

Runtime:

UK:97 min | Germany:94 min (TV)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (TVC)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Germany:18 | Australia:M | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #29867)

Filming Locations:

Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Company:

Hemdale Film

Quotes:

Dr. Debner: Why did you do it, Mr. Foley? Why did you want to be dead?
Emmett Foley: [from the off] What could I say? I couldn't bring myself to tell him the real reason. Couldn't even tell you, my own sister.
Emmett Foley: [almost asking] The neighbors.
[smiles a bit]
Emmett Foley: They're real pushy. Always asking Mae to take them everyplace. All the time. Which is all right. They began to do it regular. I mean, almost every day. Two or three times, "Take me here, take me there." Got to where she had no time at all, like being some kind of taxi. Finally, I put my foot down. I told her, if she wanted to do it... she'd have to charge them gas. It got to be over a tank a week. So, she did.
Dr. Debner: And?
Emmett Foley: And they stopped talking to her.
Dr. Debner: Stopped asking for rides?
Emmett Foley: Then their kids... put tacks in the driveway, you know. Ruined a whole set of tires.
Emmett Foley: [Beat - looks at the doctor, who looks like that's all? that's not enoug, so he adds pointing with his hand] And let the dog out.
[...]

Great film, two thumbs up to Gary Oldman

Chattahoochee is a fine film that explores heroism as well as the trials of personal relationships in times of hardship. The acting is superb, especially Oldman's performance of Emmet Folley as the unstable Korean war Veteran who ends up in an abusive and unsanitary mental hospital. Dennis Hopper also does a fine job and special recognition to Frances McDormand who plays Emmet's wife. She isn't the most likeable character but she proves herself again to be a fine character actor. I appreciated the movies realism and there was no doubt about the horror and darkness associated with the institution which Oldman's character was fighting against. Watching the entire movie is worth it just to see the scene where Emmet barricades himself behind the bunk beds and begins rallying against the guards. I wasn't completely satisfied with the sound track but the music was used in the all the right places. A great film both for it's historical significance and for it's study of relationships--and also of course for it's well built up exciting moments.