Prozac Nation (2001)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Erik Skjoldbjærg

Writers (WGA):

Elizabeth Wurtzel (book)
Galt Niederhoffer (adaptation)
(more)

Release Date:

22 August 2003 (Norway)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

young and depressed in america

Plot:

A young woman struggles with depression during her first year at Harvard. Based on Elizabeth Wurtzel's novel.

Plot Keywords:

Depression | Roommate | University | Suicide Attempt | Reference To Ernest Hemingway

Cast

Christina Ricci	...	Elizabeth Wurtzel
Jason Biggs	...	Rafe
Anne Heche	...	Dr. Sterling
Michelle Williams	...	Ruby
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Noah
Jessica Lange	...	Mrs. Wurtzel
Jesse Moss	...	Sam
Nicholas Campbell	...	Donald (as Nick Campbell)
Zoe Miller	...	Elizabeth at age 12
Sheila Paterson	...	Grandmother
Rob Freeman	...	Mister Cool
Nicole Parker	...	Waitress (as Nicole Parker Smith)
Frida Betrani	...	Julia
Klodyne Rodney	...	Nurse
Ian Tracey	...	Rolling Stone Editor
Wendy Noel	...	Mrs. Edelman
Bill Marchant	...	Lecturer
Tom Kent	...	Lecturer
Christine Anton	...	Mrs. Stevenson
Cindy Lentol	...	Sheryl (as Cyndy Lentol)
Paula Plum	...	Geeky Mom
Paul Hoover	...	Geeky Dad
Tammy Bentz	...	Announcer
Emily Perkins	...	Ellen
Maddy Capozzi	...	Amy
Claude De Martino	...	Grandfather
Charles Andre	...	Mugger
Mike Mitchell	...	Purse Snatcher
Brad Swaile	...	Student
Charles Siegel	...	Dr. Isaacs
Lou Reed	...	Lou Reed
Raahul Singh	...	Khalil
Chiara Zanni	...	Ruby's Roommate
Stephen Basilone	...	Warren
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ronald Reagan	...	Himself (archive footage)
Jack Fleischer	...	Harvard Student (uncredited)
Colby Johannson	...	Frat Guy (uncredited)
Josh Mead	...	Frat Guy (uncredited)
Todd Poudrier	...	Law Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Erik Skjoldbjærg

Writing credits (WGA)
Elizabeth Wurtzel		(book)
Galt Niederhoffer		(adaptation)
Frank Deasy		(screenplay) and
Larry Gross		(screenplay)

Produced by
Willi Bär	....	executive producer
Rainer Bienger	....	associate producer
Danny Dimbort	....	executive producer
Jason E. Frankel	....	co-executive producer (as Jason Frankel)
Lati Grobman	....	associate producer (as Deni Lati Grobman)
Brad Kemeny	....	line producer: UK
Avi Lerner	....	executive producer
R. Paul Miller	....	producer
Galt Niederhoffer	....	producer
Scott Putman	....	line producer: additional photography
Christina Ricci	....	co-producer
Trevor Short	....	executive producer
Andrea Sperling	....	co-producer
Andrew Sugerman	....	line producer
John Thompson	....	executive producer
Brad Weston	....	producer

Original Music by
Nathan Larson

Cinematography by
Erling Thurmann-Andersen

Film Editing by
James Lyons

Casting by
Susan Taylor Brouse
Lynne Carrow
Nancy Doyle
Felicia Fasano
Anne McCarthy
Maura Tighe
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
Eli Bø
Clay A. Griffith
Will Jackson

Art Direction by
Don Macaulay

Set Decoration by
Bobbie Frankel
Shirley Inget
Betty Vaughan-Richards

Costume Design by
Terry Dresbach

Makeup Department
Jayne Dancose	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lange
Tamsin Dorling	....	hair stylist: Ms. Ricci, UK
Tamsin Dorling	....	makeup artist: Ms. Ricci, UK
Frances Hannon	....	makeup artist: Ms. Lange, UK
Paul Huntley	....	wig maker: additional photography, New York
Renate Leuschner	....	wig maker: additional photography, Los Angeles (as Renata Leuscher)
Richard Mawbey	....	hairdresser: Ms. Lange, UK
Brenda McNally	....	assistant hair stylist: Boston
Vittorio Palmisani	....	assistant hair stylist
Connie Parker	....	key makeup artist
Connie Parker	....	key makeup artist: Boston
Tina Roesler Kerwin	....	makeup artist: additional photography (as Tina Roesler-Kerwin)
Joe Rossi	....	assistant makeup artist: Boston
Sanna Seppanen	....	key hair stylist: Boston
Roy Sidick	....	hair stylist: Ms. Lange
Rupert Simon	....	hairdresser: Ms. Ricci, UK
Kelvin R. Trahan	....	hair stylist: additional photography (as Kelvin Trahan)
Angela Wood	....	first assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Stewart Bethune	....	production manager
Dave Duce	....	assistant unit manager
Joseph E. Foley	....	production manager: Boston (as Joe Foley)
Todd Gilbert	....	post-production supervisor
Lisa Parker	....	production manager: UK

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Ashley Bell	....	assistant director
Timothy R. Boyce Jr.	....	second second assistant director: Boston (as T.R. Boyce)
Tristan Calvo	....	trainee assistant director
Carlos Fidel	....	second assistant director: UK
Caroline Fine	....	second assistant director: Los Angeles
Dave 'Foots' Footman	....	second assistant director (as David Footman)
Bill Greenfield	....	second second assistant director: additional photography
Debra Herst	....	third assistant director (as Deb Herst)
Marco Londoner	....	first assistant director
Christopher Miller	....	first assistant director: additional photography
Aida Rodgers	....	second assistant director: Boston

Art Department
Bobby Anderson	....	picture car coordinator
Lisa Chugg	....	property master: UK
Colin Comeau	....	lead painter
Bruno Coupe	....	set dresser
Derek Del Puppo	....	construction coordinator
Ivar Dirikis	....	construction buyer (as Ivar Dirikas)
Dawn Marie Dowling	....	lead set decorator
Ken Doyle	....	third set decorator: Boston (as Kenny Doyle)
Emma Faroh	....	art department coordinator
Jane Gottschlag	....	lead painter
Jurgen Gottschlag	....	paint coordinator
Kevin Griffin-Park	....	on-set dresser
Leah Hong	....	computer graphics
Della Johnston	....	buyer (as Della Mae Johnston)
Willis Karsgaard	....	construction foreman
Jason B. Landels	....	assistant property master (as Jason Landels)
Hayley Mills-Lot	....	props buyer (as Hayley Mills-Lott)
Maggie Russell	....	paint laborer
Tonya Soules	....	assistant decorator
Aileen Sovronsky	....	props assistant: Boston
Kevin Stephens	....	lead carpenter
Tony Tarquini	....	art department assistant: UK
Mike Tavanni	....	lead man: Boston
Betty Vaughan-Richards	....	assistant art director: UK
Kevin E. Vermeersch	....	property master: Boston
Trinita Waller	....	property master
Mat Winterton	....	sign fabricator

Sound Department
Josh Bower	....	boom operator: additional photography
Fred Burnham	....	sound mixer: Boston
Hugo Ekornes	....	sound effects editor
Steve Fish	....	boom operator: UK
Petter Fladeby	....	sound re-recording mixer
Baard H. Ingebretsen	....	dialogue editor
Martin Lacroix	....	boom operator
Randall Meyers	....	sound designer
Steven Morrow	....	sound mixer: reshoots
Christopher O'Donnell	....	boom operator: Boston (as Chris O'Donnell)
Tormod Ringnes	....	dialogue editor
John Taylor	....	sound mixer: UK
Gisle Tveito	....	sound supervisor
William Unrau	....	cable person (as Will Unrau)
Tor Anders Voldsund	....	dialogue editor
Erik S. Watland	....	foley artist
Erik S. Watland	....	sound effects editor
Michael T. Williamson	....	production sound mixer
Mark Kenna	....	consultant: Dolby film sound (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Gord Davis	....	special effects coordinator
William 'Billy Jack' Jakielaszek	....	special effects supervisor
Brian Ricci	....	special effects: Boston

Stunts
Lauro Chartrand	....	stunts
Marny Eng	....	stunt double: Christina Ricci
Corry Glass	....	stunt double: Ms. Lange (as Corey Glass)
Jacob Rupp	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Douglas Curran	....	still photographer (as Doug Curran)
Phil Darrell	....	gaffer: Boston
Sean Davis	....	best boy
Herb DeWaal	....	key rigging grip
Thomas Doran	....	key grip: Boston
Steven J. Eliopoulos	....	first assistant camera: Boston (as Steven Eliopoulos)
Colin Field	....	gaffer: UK
Jamie Fitzpatrick	....	second assistant camera: Boston
Keith Flanagan	....	grip
William L. Flanagan	....	best boy grip: Boston (as Bill Flanagan)
John Fletcher	....	focus puller: UK
Michael Ginsburg	....	still photographer: USA
Carlos Omar Guerra	....	director of photography: second unit (as Carlos Guerra)
Robin Hall	....	lamp operator
Grant Hamakawa	....	best boy grip
Gretchen Hatz	....	camera loader: additional photography
Christian J. Hollyer	....	camera loader: Boston
Susan Jacobson	....	clapper loader: UK
Kurt Jones	....	Steadicam operator: additional photography
Tom Kaczmarski	....	key grip
William Kassis	....	gaffer
Carol Macdonald	....	second assistant camera
Álex Martínez	....	second assistant camera
Adrian McCarthy	....	key grip: UK
W. James Meagher	....	camera trainee
Symon Mink	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Peter Mohr	....	lamp operator
Jonathan Nixon	....	additional photographer
Charlie Panayi	....	electrician: UK
Larry Portmann	....	focus puller
Paul Postal	....	gaffer: additional photography
Dave Riopel	....	dolly grip
Ian Roscorla	....	lead grip
Patrick Ruth	....	electrician: Boston
Phil Stevens	....	electrician: UK
Jase Tanner	....	generator operator
Robert Tompkins	....	dolly grip: Boston (as Bobby Tompkins)
Jim Van Dijk	....	Steadicam operator
Jim Van Dijk	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Joe Waistell	....	first assistant camera
Randy A. Jablonka	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stephanie Boeke	....	extras casting
Cheri Gaynor	....	casting assistant: Vancouver
Jason Scott Kavner	....	casting associate
Freddy Luis	....	casting associate
Alex Newman	....	casting associate

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Frank Avanzo	....	set costumer: Cambridge Ma.
Shane Deschamps	....	costume set supervisor
Anne Lavender-Jones	....	costume assistant: UK
Maria Livingstone	....	assistant costume designer
Clare McLaren	....	truck costumer
Bega Metzner	....	assistant costume designer
Vanessa Munro	....	costume supervisor: UK
Bill Murphy	....	wardrobe: additional photography
Joanna Murphy	....	wardrobe supervisor: additional photography
Deborah Newhall	....	key costumer: Boston

Editorial Department
Marie Hélène Desbiens	....	negative cutter (as Marie-Helene Desbiens)
Saul Escobedo	....	film timer
Jordan Kessler	....	post-production coordinator
Brian Kibbie	....	negative cutter
Vicki McIsaac	....	post-production assistant: second unit
Sigrund Norderval	....	associate editor: second unit (as Sigrun Norderval)
Yoon Sin Park	....	negative cutter
Joe Plenys	....	assistant editor
Tom Scully	....	assistant editor: second unit
Jim Towne	....	assistant editor
Yon Van Kline	....	associate editor

Music Department
Hugo Ekornes	....	music editor
Ashley Miller	....	music consultant
Joe Rangel	....	music coordinator
Randy Spendlove	....	executive in charge of music

Transportation Department
Corey Askins	....	transportation coordinator: additional photography
Bill Janssen	....	transportation coordinator
Ron Lacroix	....	transportation co-captain
Robert Martini	....	transportation coordinator: Boston
M. Walter Moroz	....	transportation captain (as Walter Moroz)

Other crew
Tsila Adler	....	post-production accountant
Keith Allan	....	title designer
Mark Allan	....	title designer
Jill Antal	....	assistant accountant
Steven Bakewell	....	runner: UK
Andrew Barron	....	craft service
Brunella Battista	....	stand-in: Ms. Ricci
Ridge Blackwell	....	title designer
Timothy R. Boyce Jr.	....	key set production assistant: Boston
Donald Bruce	....	production controller
Adria Budd	....	assistant to producers
Blake Busby	....	graphic artist: titles
Karen M. Cockrell	....	post-production accounting manager
Keith E. Cooper	....	legal
Dixie Cutler	....	publicist
Diana Dill	....	script supervisor: UK
Anna Dobkin	....	assistant location manager
Mary Donovan	....	production secretary: Boston
Susie Dunne	....	runner: UK
Brian Enright	....	production assistant: second unit
Elton Farla	....	unit nurse: UK
Sarah Felder	....	dialect coach
Linda Gregory	....	accountant: UK
Debra Grossman	....	assistant to director
Thomas Hanna	....	location manager: second unit
Andrew Hardwick	....	production assistant: UK
Kimberly P. Harmon	....	post-production accountant
Bonnie Hay	....	stand-in: Michelle Williams
Steve Hoare	....	set production assistant: Boston
Lori Hornung	....	production coordinator: Boston
Josh Jacobs	....	production assistant: second unit
Dylan Jenkinson	....	production assistant
Julie Landholt	....	typesetter
Nadia Leonelli	....	line producer: second unit
Matthew Macdonald	....	production assistant: second unit
Jeff N. Maclean	....	location manager: Boston (as Jeff MacLean)
Sheenah Main	....	production coordinator
Scott Masterson	....	set production assistant: Boston
Nico Millican	....	production assistant: additional photography
Travis Mitchell	....	accountant
Keli Moore	....	assistant location trainee
Sheri Neimor	....	accounting clerk
Ann Pankonin	....	craft service: Boston
Anil Patadé	....	first assistant accountant
Julia Reid	....	extras wrangler
Ritch Renaud	....	location manager
Matthew Rimmer	....	production assistant: additional photography (as Matt Rimmer)
Brian Robel	....	assistant locations: Boston
Rodney Rodriguez	....	production assistant: second unit
Liz Schaeffer	....	assistant: Ms. Ricci
Paul Simson	....	first assistant coordinator
David Sitzman	....	contracts administrator
Luis A. Soria	....	corporate controller
Dinean Stayk	....	assistant location manager
Susan Stefanyshyn	....	production accountant
Frederick Sundevall	....	line producer: second unit
Helga Ungurait	....	script supervisor
Brad Weiss	....	accountant
W. Scott Weston	....	production assistant
Judith Windsor	....	dialect coach: UK
Jennifer Worrell	....	typesetter

Production Companies

• Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG
• Giv'en Films
• Millennium Films

Distributors

• Art Port
• CP Classics (Russia)
• Miramax Films (Italy)
• Miramax Films (UK)
• Miramax Films (USA)
• Prozac Nation Productions Inc.

Special Effects

• Title House Digital (opticals)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Norsk Filmstudio  audio-post production
• Title House Digital  titles and opticals

MPAA:

Rated R for language, drug content, sexuality/nudity and some disturbing images.

Runtime:

95 min | Canada:99 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Australia:MA (DVD rating) | Finland:K-15 | New Zealand:R16 | Norway:11 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Cinerenta Medienbeteiligungs KG

Trivia:

When Elizabeth Wurtzel is writing the piece on Bruce Springsteen, a pack of Morleys, the fictional cigarette brand from the "The X Files" (1993) can be seen on her desk.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Elizabeth has sex, when she is talking to Ruby she goes to sit on the bed. In the next shot, she is standing up.

Quotes:

Elizabeth: Sometimes it feels like we're all living in a Prozac nation. The United States of Depression.

Movie Connections:

References It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Jane

The book is always better.

Last night I got to see an early preview screener of Prozac Nation. Because I love everything that Christina Ricci does I was very excited at first, but as the movie continued I started to wonder where it was going. Based on a true story, it is simply about Christina Ricci's character and her struggle with depression, drugs, friends and family as you can probably tell from the title. In my opinion this movie moved too fast, and it was way too dramatic. I would say there was a dramatic moment every five minutes, and the movie moved through her life extremely fast, and this left no room for us to connect with Christina Ricci's character. Christina Ricci's performance was fantastic as always but Jessica Lange stood out throughout the whole movie, and I believe this movie's success will be all because of her and Christina Ricci. I would rate this 4 out of 10 and I would suggest you rent this one or read the books by Elizabeth Wurtzel they are good and definitely worth checking out.