Stolen Summer (2002)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Pete Jones

Writer:

Pete Jones (written by)

Release Date:

25 July 2003 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

You saw the back-stabbing. Now see the final cut.

Plot:

Pete, an eight-year-old Catholic boy growing up in the suburbs of Chicago in the mid-1970s, attends Catholic school...

Plot Keywords:

Catholic | Catholicism | Boy | Chicago Illinois | 1970s

Cast

Aidan Quinn	...	Joe O'Malley
Bonnie Hunt	...	Margaret O'Malley
Kevin Pollak	...	Rabbi Jacobsen
Eddie Kaye Thomas	...	Patrick O'Malley
Lisa Dodson	...	Mrs. Jacobsen
Mike Weinberg	...	Danny Jacobsen
Adiel Stein	...	Pete O'Malley (as Adi Stein)
Brian Dennehy	...	Father Kelly
Peggy Roeder	...	Sister Leonora Mary
Martin Hughes	...	Jimmy
Ryan Kelley	...	Seamus O'Malley
Lindsay Light	...	Katie O'Malley
Will Malnati	...	Eddie O'Malley
Kristie Kelley	...	Marie O'Malley
Etel Billig	...	Esther

MPAA:

Rated PG for thematic elements and language.

Runtime:

91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Iceland:L | UK:PG | USA:TV-PG (cable rating) | Germany:6 | Hong Kong:I | Malaysia:(Banned) | New Zealand:PG | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

All Nighter Inc.

Trivia:

This film was the result of "Project Greenlight," the first-time-director competition launched by Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, and Miramax, and was the subject of the HBO documentary of the same name, which aired in Winter 2002. The documentary revealed many behind-the-scenes snafus, which led to the mid-production firing of co-producer Jeff Balis.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Although set in 1976, modern cars and trucks can be seen parked on the street in the background when Margaret is driving the car with her children at the beginning of the film.

Quotes:

Joe O'Malley: Baseball should be the only thing on an eight year old boy's mind.

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Project Greenlight" (2001)

Soundtrack:

FRIEND

Childhood innocence on the South Side of Chicago

I thought Stolen Summer was competently done. The director, Pete Jones, was blessed with great performances from well known performers like Bonnie Hunt, Aidan Quinn, Kevin Pollak, and Brian Dennehy. The film explores the differences between Catholicism and Judaism seen through the eyes of a child. The child protagonist takes on the challenge of making sure a Jewish child goes to heaven. The story is set on the South Side of Chicago in the mid-70's and since I grew up in roughly that time I enjoyed the talk about the White Sox of that era. The authenticity overall is accurate, but the film lacks a spark. Watching an 8-year-old try to figure out some of the intricacies of life is a great idea for a story. I just think that the plot lacked any real surprises.