In the Bedroom (2001)

Director:

Todd Field

Writers:

Andre Dubus (story)
Robert Festinger (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

11 January 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

A young man. An older woman. Her ex-husband. Things are about to explode...

Plot:

A New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman with two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband. Then something terrible occurs in this wrenching, emotional drama.

Plot Keywords:

Maine | Doctor | New England | Murder | Small Town

Awards:

Nominated for 5 Oscars. Another 27 wins & 41 nominations

Cast

Tom Wilkinson	...	Matt Fowler
Sissy Spacek	...	Ruth Fowler
Nick Stahl	...	Frank Fowler
Marisa Tomei	...	Natalie Strout
William Mapother	...	Richard Strout
William Wise	...	Willis Grinnel
Celia Weston	...	Katie Grinnel
Karen Allen	...	Marla Keyes
Frank T. Wells	...	Henry
W. Clapham Murray	...	Carl
Justin Ashforth	...	Tim Bryson
Terry A. Burgess	...	District Attorney
Jonathan Walsh	...	Father McCasslin
Diane E. Hamlin	...	Davis' Assistant
Camden Munson	...	Jason Strout
Christopher Adams	...	Duncan Strout
Henry Field	...	Young Frank / Rockland T-Ball
Deborah Derecktor	...	Janelle
Harriet Dawkins	...	Alma Adamson
Bill Dawkins	...	Elwyn Adamson
Kevin Chapman	...	Tim's Friend
Joseph Field	...	Judge (as The Honorable Joseph Field)
Harold Withee	...	Grocery Clerk
David Blair	...	Marlboro Man
Elisabeth McClure	...	Elderly Woman
Alida P. Field	...	Young Gymnast
Andrea Walker	...	Waitress
John Campanello	...	Reporter
Robert Demkowicz	...	Reporter
Veronica Cartwright	...	Minister on Television
Daran Norris	...	Red Sox Replay
Don Lewis	...	Bridge Operator
Doug Rich	...	Fork Lift Operator
Sara Armstrong	...	Chorus
Elly Barksdale	...	Chorus
Erin Barksdale	...	Chorus
Adah Holman	...	Chorus
Gwendolyn Gilchrist	...	Chorus
Shauneen Grout	...	Chorus
Jessie Lanoue	...	Chorus
Alicia Laplant	...	Chorus
Iris Leslie	...	Chorus
Erica Towle-Powers	...	Chorus
Nichole Wimbiscus	...	Chorus
Anna Winsor	...	Chorus
Evanne Weirich	...	The Newark, Vermont Balkan Girls Chorus Director
Robin Wimbiscus	...	Performance Coordinator
Lisa Carlton	...	Rockland T-Ball
Rebecca Benner	...	Rockland T-Ball
Francis Mazzeo	...	Rockland T-Ball
Tyler Shane Smith-Campbell	...	Rockland T-Ball
Brian Hagley	...	Rockland T-Ball
Sam Cousins	...	Rockland T-Ball
Jackie Hagley	...	Rockland T-Ball
Comenic Cuccinello III	...	Rockland T-Ball
Ronald Russell	...	Rockland T-Ball
Rachel Freeman	...	Rockland T-Ball
Dale Johnson	...	Rockland T-Ball
Daniel Hendricks	...	Rockland T-Ball
Parker Spear	...	Rockland T-Ball
Sam Johnson	...	Rockland T-Ball
Matthew Maxwell	...	Rockland T-Ball
Shyann Gauthier	...	Rockland T-Ball
Joshua Mills	...	Rockland T-Ball
Bethany Berry	...	Rockland T-Ball
Eric Rahkonen	...	Rockland T-Ball
Hope Berry	...	Rockland T-Ball
Natalie Russell	...	Rockland T-Ball
Chelsea Peasley	...	Rockland T-Ball
Misty Seekins	...	Rockland T-Ball
Daniel Baxter-Leahy	...	Rockland T-Ball
Philip Spearing	...	Rockland T-Ball
Brandon Carleton	...	Rockland T-Ball
Mackenzie Tucker	...	Rockland T-Ball
Owen Thompson	...	Rockland T-Ball
Ben Staples	...	Rockland T-Ball
Ryan Ecker	...	Rockland T-Ball
Jared Mekin	...	Rockland T-Ball
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jennifer Struk	...	Young Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
Todd Field

Writing credits
Andre Dubus		(story "Killings")
Robert Festinger		(screenplay) (as Rob Festinger) and
Todd Field		(screenplay)

Produced by
Stephen Dembitzer	....	co-executive producer
Todd Field	....	producer
Ted Hope	....	executive producer
Ross Katz	....	producer
Graham Leader	....	producer
John Penotti	....	executive producer
Penn Sicre	....	co-executive producer (as PennSicre)
Tim Williams	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Thomas Newman

Cinematography by
Antonio Calvache

Film Editing by
Frank Reynolds

Casting by
Randi Hiller
Belinda Monte

Art Direction by
Shannon Hart		(uncredited)

Set Decoration by
Josh Outerbridge		(as Joshua Outerbridge)

Costume Design by
Melissa Economy

Makeup Department
Bob Harper	....	additional makeup artist
Sally J. Harper	....	hair stylist (as Sally Harper)
Terri Harper	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Mary Feuer	....	production supervisor
Per Melita	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Victoria Lang	....	assistant director
Aida Rodgers	....	assistant director
Amanda Slater	....	assistant director
Daniel M. Stillman	....	first assistant director (as Dan Stillman)
Eric Yellin	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Laurie Anne Gardner	....	property assistant
Kirsten Gilg	....	set dresser
Terry Goodhue	....	construction
Shannon Hart	....	sets
Cameron Matheson	....	set dresser
Martin Merritt	....	scenic
Matthew Nagle	....	set dresser
Meghan Nichols	....	art department assistant
Wilder Oaks	....	scenic
Tim Payson	....	property master
Tyris Smith	....	lead man
Kenneth Weinberg	....	set dresser
Harmony Gosbee	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Bruce Greenspan	....	additional dialogue editor
Chris Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Frank A. Montaño	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Frank Montano)
Mark Narramore	....	sound recordist
Will Riley	....	supervising sound editor
John Roesch	....	foley artist: Warner Hollywood
Caleb Snyder	....	boom operator
Edward Tise	....	sound recordist
Lisa Varetakis	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Brian Ricci	....	special effects

Visual Effects by
Ben Apley	....	digital effects coordinator
Rod Basham	....	digital effects composite artist
Clyde Beamer	....	digital effects supervisor
Jonathan Bradstreet	....	rendering artist
Keith Bryant	....	digital effects producer
Kyle Cooper	....	supporting digital effects artist
Peter Frankfurt	....	supporting digital effects artist
Ray Harvie	....	rendering artist (as Raymond Harvie)
Chip Houghton	....	supporting digital effects artist
Jonathan Morse	....	rendering artist

Camera and Electrical Department
John Althoff	....	dolly grip (as John S. Althoff III)
Woody Bell	....	key grip
Jason Bowen	....	camera grip
Evans Brown	....	gaffer
Dave Cambria	....	best boy
Rick Cardillo	....	electrician (as Richard Cardillo)
Robert Clark	....	electrician
John Clifford	....	still photographer
Erica Colegrove	....	camera assistant
Robert Colman	....	camera grip
Brant S. Fagan	....	Steadicam operator (as Brant Fagan)
Rachelle Fankhauser	....	electrician (as Rachelle Frankhauser)
Bill Floyd	....	focus puller
Michael Genne	....	camera operator (as Michael A. Genne)
Michael Genne	....	cinematographer: second unit (as Michael A. Genne)
Michael Hadley	....	camera grip
Sean Hadley	....	camera grip
Amanda Hannan	....	camera grip
Scott Hering	....	camera grip (as Scott Herring)
Deborah Lipman	....	camera assistant
Jenn Mears	....	electrician (as Jennifer Mears)
Tim Metivier	....	camera assistant
Chris Nickerson	....	electrician
Anthony Norton	....	electrician (as Anthony D. Norton)
Brian A. Pitts	....	rigging gaffer (as Brian Pitts)
Shane Reilly	....	camera grip
Michael Rudolph	....	camera grip (as Mike Rudolph)
Janice Stone	....	still photographer: Katie's snapshots
Greg Wimer	....	camera assistant (as Greg Wilmer)
Todd Field	....	camera operator (uncredited)
Paul Lambiase	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Rachel Carey	....	casting assistant
Dee Cooke	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shana Schoepke	....	wardrobe mistress

Editorial Department
Mia Goldman	....	editorial consultant
Chris Regan	....	color timer (as Christopher Regan)
Betsy James Wyeth	....	editor: "The Wyeths"
Heidi Zellner	....	negative cutter: West Coast Editorial

Music Department
Bill Bernstein	....	music editor
Julian Bratolyubov	....	music preparation
Jordan Corngold	....	assistant music editor (as Jordon Corngold)
Joe Gaswirt	....	music mastering
Marcy Gesnic	....	music contractor (as Marcy Gensic)
Joel Iwataki	....	music scoring mixer
Ohkee Kim	....	assistant music scoring mixer (as Okhee Kim)
Leslie Morris	....	music contractor
Thomas Pasatieri	....	orchestrator: strings
Sharon Smith	....	music editor: temp music (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Bob Carnes	....	transportation captain
Allan Macdonald	....	driver
George Smith	....	driver

Other crew
Roy Allen	....	consultant: lobster
Jane Bartelme	....	crew: GreeneStreet Films
Mark L. Beigelman	....	production counsel (as Mark Beigelman P.C.)
Casey Block	....	post-production accounting assistant
Paul Bremer	....	film runner
Francie Brown	....	dialect coach
Adam Carroll	....	production assistant
Brian Collins	....	crew: GreeneStreet Films
Gwendolyn Cooper	....	production assistant
Keith Crofford	....	location consultant
Cathi Dicocco	....	caterer
Shannon Dilloway	....	production assistant (as Shanon Dilloway)
Jeb Dubus	....	defender of the faith
Suzanne Dubus	....	defender of the faith (as Suzanne Andre III)
Maureen Duffy	....	completion bond: Film Finances
Caitlin Feeley	....	production assistant
John B. Finn	....	post-production accountant (as John Finn)
Jake Fleming	....	production assistant
Greg Gadbury	....	film commissioner: Maine
Lea Girardin	....	film commissioner: Maine
Jamie Gordon	....	crew: GreeneStreet Films
Shawn Hamilton	....	post-production accounting assistant
Bill Hansard	....	process effects (as William Hansard)
Bill Hansard Jr.	....	process effects (as William Hansard Jr.)
Bobby Kerr	....	consultant: lobster
Dr. Walter Kerr	....	consultant: lobster
Sig Libowitz	....	production executive
Annie Lynch	....	production assistant
Rodney Lynch	....	Willis' war memorabilia
Andrew B. Marcus	....	assistant: Mr. Penotti (as Andrew Marcus)
Glen Mathias	....	assistant to director (as Glenn Mathias)
Peter McDonald	....	production assistant
Elaine McFarland	....	production assistant
Zachary Miner	....	production assistant
Mike Misner	....	craft service
Gregg Molander	....	production assistant
Nathaniel Mundel	....	film runner
Anne Nevin	....	production coordinator
Tanoa Parks	....	production accountant
Susan T. Parsons	....	assistant production coordinator (as Susan Parsons)
Courtney Potts	....	crew: GreeneStreet Films
Ned Price	....	technical consultant
Serena Rathbun	....	special consultant
Virginia Saenz McCarthy	....	script supervisor
Sebastian Salomo	....	production assistant
Paula Schmit	....	completion bond: Film Finances
Mark Schoen	....	assistant: Ms. Spacek
Sandy Shapiro	....	location manager
Kathryn E. Smith	....	location manager (as Kathryn Smith)
Fisher Stevens	....	crew: GreeneStreet Films
Ivan Stone	....	ATV
Charles Stone Jr.	....	consultant: lobster
William Suhr	....	process effects
Tiffany Thomas	....	accounting assistant
Melinka Thompson-Godoy	....	assistant: Mr. Hope
Leon Vitali	....	technical consultant
Eleda Wacker	....	production assistant
Soso R. Whaley	....	deer trainer
T. Michael Wickersham	....	production counsel
Betsy James Wyeth	....	courtesy of: "The Wyeths" by N.C. Wyeth
Bradley Yonover	....	crew: GreeneStreet Films
Julia Ziegler-Haynes	....	assistant: Mr. Wilkinson
Julia Ziegler-Haynes	....	production assistant
Dylan Verrechia	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Tom Yeager	....	location manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Ann Marie Almeida	....	acknowledgment: Camden Amphitheatre
Louis Bacon	....	grateful acknowledgment: GreeneStreet Films
Hannah Baldwin	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Joel Baldwin	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Jonathan Brand	....	acknowledgment: Ship Street House
Monica Brand	....	acknowledgment: Ship Street House
Julie Bryer	....	acknowledgment: Trevette Country Store
George Carrol	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Clifford Christensen	....	acknowledgment: Mace's
Marcella Christensen	....	acknowledgment: Mace's
Lester Dembitzer	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Greg Dorr	....	acknowledgment: City of Rockland city attorney
Andre Dubus	....	dedicatee
Michael Garfinkle	....	grateful acknowledgment: GreeneStreet Films
Robert Gasper	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Gordon Goldstein	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Tom Hall	....	acknowledgment: City of Rockland town manager
James Harmon	....	acknowledgment: Old Orchard Beach
Richard Harrison	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Chip Highfield	....	acknowledgment: Crockett's Beach
Frances Holdgate	....	acknowledgment: Market on Main
Patricia Hubbard	....	acknowledgment: Lincoln Street Center for the Arts
Jimmy Kalloch	....	acknowledgment: The Woods
David Ladik	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Jeff Lewis	....	acknowledgment: Trevette Country Store
Carolyn May	....	acknowledgment: The GrassHopper Shop
Kimberly McLain	....	acknowledgment: Trevette Country Store
Roger Moody	....	acknowledgment: City of Camden town manager
Ellen Myers	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Frank O'Hara	....	acknowledgment: Boat House
Joanne Parsons	....	acknowledgment: Stinson Seafood/Cannery
Friederike Penberg	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Mitchell Penberg	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Simon Pentecost	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Christopher Pia	....	grateful acknowledgment: GreeneStreet Films (as Chris Pia)
Mary Spitzer	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Philip Spitzer	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Johanna Strassberg	....	acknowledgment: The GrassHopper Shop
Janette Sulides	....	acknowledgment: Ginn's Point
John Sutin	....	grateful acknowledgments: Graham Leader
Kevin Taylor	....	acknowledgment: The Landings

Production Companies

• Good Machine
• Standard Film Company (made by) (as Eastern Standard Film Company)

Distributors

• Good Machine International (2001) (worldwide) (all media)
• Miramax Films (2001-2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• New Films International (2001) (non-USA) (all media)
• Alfa Films (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Bac Films (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Laurenfilm (2002) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2002) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Sagittaire Films (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2002) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Triangelfilm (2002) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) (2005) (UK) (TV) (BBC2)
• Buena Vista Television (200?) (USA) (TV)
• Imagem Filmes (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2002) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL7) (first national airing)
• Walt Disney Home Video (2002) (USA) (VHS)

Other Companies

• ABCD Books  furnishings and paintings by
• ARRI  cameras by
• Bay View Street Cinema  film projection
• Bruce Gamage Jr. Antiques  furnishings and paintings by
• Camden Accommodations  cast and crew accomodations
• Camden Country Inn  cast and crew accomodations
• Camden-Rockport Police Department  police assistance
• D.R. Reiff & Associates  insurance
• Dolby Laboratories  sound post-production (uncredited)
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Film Services  lighting equipment
• High Output  lighting equipment
• Imaginary Forces  title design and composite
• J. Barbour & Sons of North America (I)  clothing provided by
• Knox County Sheriff's Department  police assistance
• Lincoln County Sherrif's Department  police assistance
• Mab Ashforth  clothing provided by
• Maine Highway Patrol  police assistance
• Major League Baseball Properties  courtesy: Boston Redsox Radio Simulcast on WEEI Boston & WQSS Camden
• Manhattan Transfer  dailies
• Mark Berghash  furnishings and paintings by
• Oceanview Mastering  music mastered at (as Ocean View)
• Pratesi of Boston  clothing provided by
• Red Herring Motion Picture Lighting Inc.  lighting equipment (as Red Herring)
• Robert Allen Fabrics  clothing provided by
• Rockland Ford  production vehicles
• Rockland Maine Antique Market  furnishings and paintings by (as Rockland Antique Market)
• Rockland Police Department  police assistance
• T.H.E. Tools  editing equipment (as The Tools)
• The Boston Connection Inc.  editing equipment (as Boston Connection)
• The Newark Vermont Balkan Girls Chorus  chorus
• Thomaston Police Department  police assistance
• Title House Digital  title opticals
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  music recorded at
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  sound recorded at (as Todd-AO)
• Tradewinds Motor Inn  cast and crew accomodations
• Village Recorder, The  music recorded and mixed at
• Vintage Books - Randomhouse  publisher: "Selected Stories" by Andre Dubus (as Vintage Books New York)
• West Coast Editorial  negative cutting
• Wiscasset Police Department  police assistance
• Worldwide Pants  courtesy: "The Late Show with Craig Kilborn" (as World Wide Pants)
• Zeiss & Angenieux  lenses

MPAA:

Rated R for some violence and language.

Runtime:

130 min | USA:138 min (Sundance Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:14 | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) | Malaysia:U (cut version) | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) | Singapore:PG (cut) | Netherlands:16 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | France:U | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIA | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R | Philippines:R-18

Filming Locations:

Belfast, Maine, USA

Company:

Good Machine

Trivia:

A scene cut from the final version shows Ruth (Sissy Spacek) and Matt (Tom Wilkinson) watching the film Barry Lyndon (1975) at The Strand Theater in Rockland, Maine on the night of their wedding anniversary. Ruth tells her son Frank (Nick Stahl) "It was the first film your father and I ever saw together." This was intended by director Todd Field as an homage to Stanley Kubrick, whom Field had worked with on Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Goofs:

Continuity: When Matt is eating in the diner the napkin disappears and reappears underneath the silverware.

Quotes:

Willis Grinnel: Ever notice that even the worst bastards have friends?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2002) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Dobro-Dosle

A Subtly Brilliant And Restrained Film About Human Nature, Instinct, And Emotion...

Everything about this film is wonderfully done, from the restrained direction and acting, to the inexorable progression to tragic conclusion following preceding events. All the actors and acting are excellent, with a particularly subtle and brilliant portrayal by Tom Wilkinson as Dr. Fowler. Always great, he is, in my estimation, one of the unsung and underrated actors in film today. Sissy Spacek is also wonderful, and the inevitable emotional fall-out in their relationship after their shared experience is beautifully done. Very human - and very real.

Though difficult to watch, it is a great film, great story, with great performances all around by gifted actors. Not to be unsung are the excellent performances by Marisa Tomei, and all the other supporting actors. A film that would benefit one to watch more than once, there is that much substance there. Worth paying particular notice to is the opening metaphor in the scene on the lobster boat where Tom Wilkinson (Dr. Fowler) explains the nature of how a lobster-trap works - and the name the lobster-men (and tradition) have given to the inner part of the trap. This is the metaphor for the human story that will, tragically, unfold.

A great film, with great work all around. Todd Field is a director to remember.