Thirteen Conversations About One Thing (2001)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Jill Sprecher

Writers:

Karen Sprecher (written by) &
Jill Sprecher (written by)

Release Date:

29 March 2002 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

The lives of a lawyer, an actuary, a housecleaner, a professor, and the people around them intersect as they ponder order and happiness in the face of life's cold unpredictability.

Plot Keywords:

Happiness | Professor | Attorney | House Cleaner | Lawyer

Awards:

7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Matthew McConaughey	...	Troy
David Connolly	...	Owen
Joseph Siravo	...	Bureau Chief
A.D. Miles	...	Co-Worker
Sig Libowitz	...	Assistant Attorney
James Yaegashi	...	Legal Assistant
Dion Graham	...	Defense Attorney
Fernando López	...	Defendant (as Fernando Lopez)
Brian Smiar	...	Judge
Paul Austin	...	Bartender
Allie Woods Jr.	...	Cab Driver (as Allie Woods)
John Turturro	...	Walker
Amy Irving	...	Patricia
Barbara Sukowa	...	Helen
Rob McElhenney	...	Chris Hammond, Aspiring Medical Student

Also Known As:

13 Conversations (USA) (short title)
13 Conversations About One Thing (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and brief drug use.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | German | Italian

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | Hong Kong:IIA | USA:R (certificate #38139) | Singapore:PG | UK:15 | Finland:K-11

Filming Locations:

Columbia University - Broadway & 116th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Stonelock Pictures

Trivia:

The films story is inspired by two different head injuries that director Jill Sprecher endured.

Goofs:

Factual errors: There is another goof in the scene where Walker talks to his students about acceleration/deceleration. As he writes his (erroneous) expression on the blackboard, a student says: "Don't you have to assume that the velocity is constant during the deceleration period?", and Walker partly agrees. Deceleration means that the velocity (or rather the speed) diminishes -- constant velocity means there is no deceleration or acceleration.

Quotes:

Troy: Luck is the lazy man's excuse.
Gene: Ah, spoken like a man who's had nothing but luck.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Wohl denen die da Wandeln

Profound examination of the meaning of happiness

Imagine! A movie with no car chase, no special effects, no big stars, simple piano music, and no special sets. Just ordinary people struggling with daily life and trying to find the secret of happiness. Four basic stories interweave with each other, all examining the same human issues. Alan Arkin practically walks away with all the acting honors, but there are no weak roles or acting. What a joy to watch a profound movie, simply made.