Owning Mahowny (2003)

Director:

Richard Kwietniowski

Writers (WGA):

Gary Stephen Ross (book)
Maurice Chauvet (screenplay)

Release Date:

25 September 2003 (Argentina)

Genre:

Crime | Thriller | Drama

Tagline:

To some it's a game. To others it's a habit. But to Dan Mahowny -- beating the odds is everything

Plot:

A bank manager (Hoffman) with: (a) a gambling problem and (b) access to a multi-million dollar account gets into a messy situation. Based on the story of the largest one-man bank fraud in Canadian history.

Plot Keywords:

Compulsive Gambler | Canada | Casino | Embezzlement | Embezzler

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Dan Mahowny
Minnie Driver	...	Belinda
John Hurt	...	Victor Foss
Maury Chaykin	...	Frank Perlin
Ian Tracey	...	Det. Ben Lock
Sonja Smits	...	Dana Selkirk
K.C. Collins	...	Bernie (as Chris Collins)
Jason Blicker	...	Dave Quinson
Vince Corazza	...	Doug (as Vincent Corazza)
Roger Dunn	...	Bill Gooden
Eric Fink	...	Psychologist
Mike 'Nug' Nahrgang	...	Parking Attendant
Tanya Henley	...	Teller
Brona Brown	...	Teller
Philip Craig	...	Briggs
Michael Caruana	...	Alex Retsnor
Gary Brennan	...	Man in Ice Rink
Matthew Ferguson	...	Martin
Tannis Burnett	...	Mary the Teller
Steve Cumyn	...	Observer #1
Tony Munch	...	Observer #2
Lorn Eisen	...	Blackjack Dealer
M.J. Kang	...	Secretary
Janine Theriault	...	Maggie
Lina Giornofelice	...	Hot Date Teller (as Lina Felice)
Jim Aldridge	...	Customs Officer
Karen Robinson	...	Cage Woman
Conrad Dunn	...	Edgar
Lani Billard	...	Tori the Teller
Judah Katz	...	Broker
Carol Anderson	...	Securities Clerk
Sherry Hilliard	...	Prostitute
Nicco Lorenzo Garcia	...	New Observer Recruit
Carmela Albero	...	Quinson's Mother
Keith Knight	...	Surveillance Operator
Matthew MacFadzean	...	Office Cop
Paul Hubbard	...	Vegas Casino Manager
Dennis Mirkovic	...	Vegas Floorman
David Collins	...	Private Investigator
Tony Stellisano	...	Vegas Stickman
Ted Ludzik	...	Vegas Security Guard
James McGrath	...	Old Man on the Piano
Darren McGuire	...	Guy Pulled by Zamboni
Russell Yuen	...	Auditor
Linda Goranson	...	Belinda's Mother
Stan Coles	...	Belinda's Father
Daniel Schneiderman	...	Security Official
Demetrius Joyette	...	Boy
Carson Durven	...	Shifty Driver (as R. Carson Durven)
Michael Tait	...	Mr. Selkirk
Marvin Karon	...	Atlantic City Accountant
Frank Moore	...	Atlantic City CFO
Bob Zidel	...	Atlantic City Chief Executive
Joe Pingue	...	Plain Clothes Cop
Makyla Smith	...	Car Rental Girl
Claudio Masciulli	...	Detective #1
Robbie Rox	...	Detective #2
Angelo Pedari	...	Craps Table Man
Troy Skog	...	Atlantic City Floorman
Scott Wickware	...	Uniformed Cop
Alex Poch-Goldin	...	Investigator #1
Joseph Scoren	...	Investigator #2
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Judi Embden	...	Atlantic City Waitress (uncredited)
Sandra Oh	...	Craps Player (uncredited)

Directed by
Richard Kwietniowski

Writing credits (WGA)
Gary Stephen Ross		(book "No Limit")
Maurice Chauvet		(screenplay)

Produced by
Bradley Adams	....	co-producer
Damon Bryant	....	co-producer
Alessandro Camon	....	producer
Sean Furst	....	executive producer
Andras Hamori	....	producer
Victoria Hirst	....	co-producer
Seaton McLean	....	producer
Edward R. Pressman	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Richard Grassby-Lewis
The Insects

Cinematography by
Oliver Curtis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Mike Munn

Casting by
Deirdre Bowen

Production Design by
Taavo Soodor

Art Direction by
Diana Magnus

Set Decoration by
Erica Milo

Costume Design by
Gersha Phillips

Makeup Department
Suzanne Benoit	....	key makeup artist
Diane Mazur	....	makeup artist
Madeleine Russell	....	assistant hair stylist
Moira Verwijk	....	key hair stylist
Tijen Osman	....	hair consultant: character image (uncredited)
Yesim 'Shimmy' Osman	....	hair consultant: character image (uncredited)

Production Management
Ted Miller	....	production manager
Lori A. Waters	....	post-production supervisor (as Lori Waters)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jennifer Archer	....	dgc trainee
Sarah Campbell	....	second assistant director
Joanna Moore	....	third assistant director
Andrew Shea	....	first assistant director
Adam Bocknek	....	trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jon Bankson	....	construction coordinator
Tracy Bock	....	art department coordinator
Hamish Buchanan	....	graphic artist
Andrew Chapman	....	set dresser
Joe Doto	....	property master
Damien DuPuis	....	set dresser
Erich Entner	....	set dresser
Corrina Holunga	....	assistant props
Victoria Klein	....	property master
Rick Little	....	set dresser
Jennifer MacDonald	....	draughtsperson
Robert Markle	....	muralist
Andrew McKendy	....	lead dresser
Steve Meil	....	key scenic (as Stephen Meil)
John Nichols	....	on-set carpenter
William Poulter	....	set dresser
Jack Waga	....	art department apprentice
Susan Worts	....	set dresser (as Susan Wallace Worts)
Matthew G. Wright	....	set buyer (as Matthew Wright)
Mitsu Yano	....	head carpenter
Jason Herriott	....	scenic artist (uncredited)

Sound Department
Fred Brennan	....	supervising sound editor
Steph Carrier	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kathy Choi	....	assistant sound effects editor
Roderick Deogrades	....	sound effects editor
Paul Gosse	....	sound trainee
Ronayne Higginson	....	dialogue editor
Graham Jones	....	dialogue editor
Martin Gwynn Jones	....	assistant sound effects editor (as Martin Gwynn-Jones)
Garrett Kerr	....	sound designer
Garrett Kerr	....	sound effects editor
Thomas Kodros	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Goro Koyama	....	foley artist
Brent MacClean	....	first assistant dialogue editor (as Brent Maclean)
Andy Malcolm	....	foley artist
Ron Malligers	....	foley mixer (as Ron Mellegers)
Craig Mann	....	control room operator
David McCallum	....	sound effects editor
Bill McMillan	....	sound recordist
Lou Solakofski	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew Stark	....	boom operator
Jane Tattersall	....	sound effects editor
Phong Tran	....	sound trainee
Brandon Walker	....	dialogue editor
Don White	....	foley mixer
Rebecca Wright	....	foley assistant
David Yonson	....	adr recordist
Fred Brennan	....	dialogue editor (uncredited)
Cornelia Mariana Gavrilescu	....	foley recording assistant (uncredited)
Matthew Hussey	....	first assistant sound editor (uncredited)
Brandon Walker	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Brock Jolliffe	....	special effects supervisor
Jon Davis	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Gerry Legros	....	on-set visual effects coordinator
Peter Denomme	....	visual effects producer: Calibre Digital Pictures (uncredited)
Jamie Hallett	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Stanley Monahan	....	optical effects (uncredited)
Dave Salter	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Rick Forsayeth	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Tom Bate	....	key rigging grip (as Thomas Bate)
Jonathan Brown	....	electrician
Randy Brown	....	generator operator
Deanna Cadette	....	second assistant camera
Rod Crombie	....	steadicam operator
Bob Davidson	....	gaffer (as D.R.[Bob] Davidson)
Harper Forbes	....	key grip
Ava Gerlitz	....	still photographer
Jason Greenslade	....	dolly grip
Reni Hoz	....	first assistant camera
Ken Huff	....	grip (as Ken L. Huff)
Neda Khayat-Sarbakhsh	....	camera trainee
Mark Lewandowski	....	camera operator: video
Mark Lewandowski	....	video playback supervisor
Mike Macauley	....	best boy (as Mike MacAulay)
Bruce Morton	....	electrician
Gerald Packer	....	director of photography: additional photography
Josh Pelham	....	grip
Yuri Sandler	....	grip
Mark Christopher Sebert	....	video playback operator
Scott Shropshire	....	grip (as Scott F. Shropshire)
Jeff Smallcombe	....	best boy grip (as Jeff Smallacombe)
Mark Willis	....	camera operator
Richard Wilmot	....	steadicam operator
David J. Woods	....	supplier: video cameras and playback equipment
Ramesh Yogendran	....	electrician
Rocky Brown	....	crane grip (uncredited)
Kelly Richardson	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Luisa Cabbidu	....	extras casting assistant
Zameret Kleiman	....	extras casting
Julia Tait	....	casting associate
Millie Tom	....	casting associate
Christopher Richards	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sheila Fitzpatrick	....	assistant costume designer
Trina Gismondi	....	costume truck assistant
Wayne Godfrey	....	on-set wardrobe supervisor
Liz Walter	....	extras wardrobe coordinator (as Elizabeth Walter)
Joanna Syrokomla	....	dresser: extras (uncredited)

Editorial Department
David Grout	....	post-production assistant
Chris Hinton	....	color timer
Gareth Jones	....	post-production assistant
Catherine Rankin	....	negative cutter
Paul Rubenstein	....	first assistant editor
Deanna Strong	....	post-production coordinator
Ron Wisman Jr.	....	first assistant editor
Valerie Laurie	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Alan Anton	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Tony Bifano	....	transportation coordinator
Ralph Graham	....	driver
Ernie Lessard	....	operator: honeywagon
James May	....	driver
Danny Menecola	....	head driver
Frank Menniti	....	transportation captain
Dave Murray	....	driver
Steve Ranalli	....	driver
Jack Sicluna	....	driver
Dusan Stepanovic	....	driver
Lisa Zozzolotto	....	driver

Other crew
Nazli Afar	....	production accountant: H2O Motion Pictures Inc.
Cynthia Amsden	....	unit publicist
Donald Ayres	....	master continuity and spotting list: Hi-Text Media Services
Imre Balla	....	travel services: Columbus Travel
Lisa Batke	....	executive producer: Spin Productions
Beth Boigon	....	location scout
Early Boyd	....	executive assistant: Mr.Hamori, H2O Motio nPictures Inc.
Nan Brown	....	post-production accountant: Alliance Atlantis
Diana Cafazzo	....	legal services: McMillan Binch
Michael Caruana	....	voice coach: adr
Ralph Chapman	....	stand-in
Donna Croce	....	continuity
Alyson Dewar	....	director of publicity: Alliance Atlantis
Teryn Douglas	....	production secretary
Annabel Griffiths	....	on-set yoga
Michael Harland	....	location production assistant
Richard Hughes	....	location manager
Craig Jackson	....	assistant location manager
Nancy Jackson	....	production coordinator
Tim Johnson	....	legal services: SJ Berwin
Gareth Jones	....	office production assistant
James Kay	....	legal services: SJ Berwin
Lacia Kornylo	....	head of production: Alliance Atlantis
Arlene Lum Lock	....	payroll accountant
Sandra Lum Lock	....	key production accountant
Sam Malkin	....	adr loop group
Andrea Mann	....	executive assistant: Mr. Mclean, Alliance Atlantis
John Mendes	....	assistant location manager (as John C. Mendes)
Megan O'Neail	....	director of business and legal affairs: Alliance Atlantis
Tim Owen	....	location scout
Dominika Pyk	....	craft service
Sarah Rawlins	....	craft service
Andrew Rosen	....	production executive: Alliance Atlantis
Jesse Rupert	....	assistant accountant
Sephira Salazar	....	assistant: Damon Bryant, Natural Nylon Entertainment
Charlene Schembri	....	on-set medic
Marissa Shumel	....	stand-in
Mitch Smelkinson	....	legal services: Stone, Meyer & Genow
Ann Marie Stagl	....	apprentice accountant
Ron Steiner	....	consultant: casino
Tony Stellisano	....	consultant: casino
Boyan Stergulc	....	title designer
Douglas R. Stone	....	legal services: Stone, Meyer & Genow
Jody Tansley	....	on-set medic (as Jody-Marie Tansley)
Travis Tritten	....	office production assistant
Rob Westhafer	....	office production assistant
Andrea Wood	....	executive vice president business & legal affairs: Alliance Atlantis
Dan Gosse	....	security officer (uncredited)
Chelsea Madrigal	....	assistant: Mr. Hoffman (uncredited)
Bob Presner	....	completion bond (uncredited)
Kyle Rath	....	security officer (uncredited)

Thanks
Julia Rosenberg	....	thanks

Production Companies

• Alliance Atlantis Communications
• Astral Media (with the participation of)
• Canadian Film or Video Production Tax Credit (CPTC) (with the participation of)
• Government of Ontario: Ontario Film and Television Tax Credit Program (with the participation of)
• Natural Nylon Entertainment (with the participation of)
• Téléfilm Canada (with the participation of) (as Telefilm Canada)

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Classics (2003) (USA) (theatrical)
• 1More Film (200?) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Arkles Entertainment (2005) (New Zealand) (theatrical)
• Finnkino (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• Madman Entertainment (2004) (Australia) (DVD)
• Nu Visión de Argentina (Argentina)
• Surreal Films (2005) (France) (theatrical)
• Total Film Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Yleisradio (YLE) (2007) (Finland) (TV) (TV2)

Special Effects

• Calibre Digital Pictures (uncredited)
• Film Effects (opticals)

Other Companies

• Absolutely Famished  catering
• Babylon  loop group
• Bulloch Entertainment Services  payroll services
• By David's  catering
• Cameo Film Library  footage provided by
• Capers on Location  catering
• Christchurch Studios  music recorded and mixed at
• Columbus Travel, Toronto  travel services (as Columbus Travel)
• De La Rue Cash Systems  money counters provided by
• DeLuxe Toronto  film processing
• Dennis Davidson & Associates Public Releations (DDA)  international marketing and publicity (as Dennis Davidson and Associates)
• Film Effects  credits
• Film Finances Canada  completion bond (as Film Finances Inc.)
• Footsteps Post-Production Sound  foley recorded at
• Healie Film Support  security
• Hi Text Media  master continuity and spotting list
• Jones Brown Insurance  insurance (as Jones Brown Inc.)
• Kodak Canada  film provided by
• McMillan Binch  legal services
• P.S. Production Services  camera: lighting and grip equipment (as P.S. Production Services Inc., Toronto)
• Pleasure Productions  footage provided by
• Rights Company, The  clearances
• SEKANI  footage provided by (as Sekani Inc.)
• SJ Berwin  legal services (as SJ Berwin)
• Spin Productions  title design
• Starcraft Services  craft service
• Stone, Meyer & Genow  legal services
• Studio Catering  catering
• Tattersall Casablanca  adr recording
• Tattersall Casablanca  sound editing
• Tattersall Casablanca  sound re-recorded at
• Toronto Film Studios  movie studio

Also Known As:

Double vie de Mahowny, La (Canada: French title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Canada | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | USA:R | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA

Company:

Alliance Atlantis Communications

Trivia:

The real person Dan Mahowny is based on is now a consultant for a company that investigates fraud.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In the scenes where several yellow Metro Toronto Police cars appear together, at least three different shades of yellow paint are visible. (The police changed to white and blue cars a few years after the period of the movie because the yellow paint they'd been using was withdrawn; presumably the filmmakers could not find enough cars of the right shade.)

Quotes:

Investigator #1: You've got a gambling problem, right?
Dan Mahowny: No...
[chuckles]
Dan Mahowny: No, sir.
Investigator #1: Come on. You didn't get a buzz out of it?
Dan Mahowny: I have a... financial problem. A shortfall.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Daily Show: (2003-01-09)" (2003)

The Gambler

"Owning Mahowny" shown recently on cable came as a total surprise. This is a film to watch because of the amazing performance of Phillip Seymour Hoffman. Under the direction of Richard Kwietniowski, and based on a real incident that occurred in Toronto in the 80s, this film speaks clearly about an addiction and what it does to a man who is in complete denial about his problem.

Dan Mahowny is not exactly what one would expect from a bank executive. He appears unkempt and to a certain degree dirty, so that alone, would have made any bank manager pass him over, in favor of a pretty boy who would have looked the part. Obviously, the real Dan was a man that knew his banking business and it was on that basis that he was appointed to the executive post.

It appears clearly that Dan is in trouble. The reptilian Frank Perlin comes to him at the beginning of the film to demand what Dan owes him. The only problem is that Dan doesn't have the money. Dan's solution is to "borrow" funds from the bank to cover his debts. This is the beginning of Dan's descent into hell. His gambling addiction will make him steal more and more. As a gambler, Dan plays without any plan. It appears, like with other gamblers, Mahowny is superstitious, as we see when his friend goes to his table to put a curse, in this sick man's mind, and he will lose everything. The next occasion is when he breaks the bank in Atlantic City. Instead of listening to his friend, who tells him to walk away, he gambles it all and ends up with nothing.

Dan, like other gamblers, is only concerned with gambling in any shape, or form. Mahowny couldn't care less for the mousy Belinda, the woman who loves him and who confronts him about his gambling addiction. Belinda even offers to give him all her savings to repay his debts, which at the time, have reached astronomic proportions. Belinda's love makes her stand by her man, no matter how bad things are. There's a ray of hope at the end as one sees Dan and Belinda standing next to the fall in Niagara.

This is a film that offers a magnificent nuanced performance from Mr. Hoffman. This actor has the ability to get into the skin of all his characters. Aside from being an accomplished actor, he always projects the angst and the turmoil that is going inside Dan. There is not a false moment in Mr. Hoffman's portrayal of Dan. Having seen him on stage, one can only wonder what can't this man do.

Minnie Driver, as Belinda is perfect as the girl who thinks Dan is the only man for her. Instead of abandoning him once she realizes his problem, she stays until the end. One hopes things did work out for them, because this is a woman who clearly deserve some happiness.

The other great performance is by John Hurt. He plays the Atlantic City casino manager that knows what makes Dan tick. Victor Fox realizes what goes on in the gambler's psyche. Ultimately, he knows Dan will lose everything because he plays without any plan at all. Maury Chaykin has some good moments playing Frank Perlin.

The scenes of the casino, which probably were filmed in either a studio, or one of the smaller places, have a seedy look. We don't get wowed by all the opulence one encounters in the big places of Las Vegas, or Atlantic City.

Director Kwietniowski, concentrates in keeping his camera on Dan's face as we watch the gambler in action. Ultimately the film belongs to Phillip Seymour Hoffman for his honest and accomplished take on a man who gambled his future away.