25th Hour (2002)

Director:

Spike Lee

Writers (WGA):

David Benioff (novel)
David Benioff (screenplay)

Release Date:

10 January 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama

Tagline:

This life was so close to never happening

Plot:

Cornered by the DEA, convicted New York drug dealer Montgomery Brogan (Norton) reevaluates his life in the 24 remaining hours before facing a seven-year jail term.

Plot Keywords:

Drugs | Drug Dealing | Bar | Teacher | Flashback Sequence

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Edward Norton	...	Monty Brogan
Philip Seymour Hoffman	...	Jacob Elinsky
Barry Pepper	...	Frank Slaughtery
Rosario Dawson	...	Naturelle Riviera
Anna Paquin	...	Mary D'Annunzio
Brian Cox	...	James Brogan
Tony Siragusa	...	Kostya Novotny
Levan Uchaneishvili	...	Uncle Nikolai (as Levani)
Tony Devon	...	Agent Allen
Misha Kuznetsov	...	Senka Valghobek
Isiah Whitlock Jr.	...	Agent Flood
Michael Genet	...	Agent Cunningham
Patrice O'Neal	...	Khari
Al Palagonia	...	Salvatore Dominick
Aaron Stanford	...	Marcuse
Marc H. Simon	...	Schultz
Armando Riesco	...	Phelan
Brad Williams	...	Trader #1
Rodney 'Bear' Jackson	...	Trader #2 (as Bear Jackson)
Keith Nobbs	...	Luke
Felicia Finley	...	Jody
Radu Spinghel	...	Zakharov
Dania Ramirez	...	Daphne (as Dania)
Oleg Aleksandrovich Prudius	...	Russian Hood #1
Igor Zhivotovsky	...	Russian Hood #2
Paul Diomede	...	Simon
Cynthia Darlow	...	Ruth
Michole White	...	Coventry Administrator (as Michole Briana White)
Vanessa Ferlito	...	Lindsay Jamison
Coati Mundi	...	Louis Volandes
Larissa Drekonja	...	Dasha
Christine Pepe	...	Female Jogger
Lawrence Bullock	...	Chelsea Man #1
Patrick Illig	...	Chelsea Man #2
Maja Niles	...	Woman on Park Avenue
Daniel Reton	...	Wall Street Guy #1 (as Daniel R. Reton)
Ed Rubeo	...	Hasidic Jeweler
Peter James Kelsch	...	Panhandler
A.J. McCoy	...	Squeegee Man
R.L. Brazil	...	Bouncer
Howard Crowns	...	Tattoo Parlor Worker
DJ Cipha Sounds	...	DJ Dusk
Jamil Mullen	...	Lady with Baby
Louis Modafferi	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Alan Taraseiwicz	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Nicholas Rossomodo	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Jeffrey Palazzo	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Douglas Miller	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Mike Fiore	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Andre Fletcher	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Carl Bini	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
Joseph Mascall	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
John Bergen	...	Brogan's Bar Patron
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Keith Bright	...	Bar Patron / Truck Driver (uncredited)
Doy Gabriel Castillo	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Sal Cecere	...	Trader #3 (uncredited)
Tonya Cornelisse	...	Prep student (uncredited)
Vinny DeGennaro	...	Fireman (uncredited)
Korey Duke	...	Club Person (uncredited)
Alexander Emmert	...	Russian Gangster (uncredited)
Guy A. Fortt	...	Bouncer (uncredited)
Frank Matthews	...	Bar Customer (uncredited)
Karen Nazarov	...	Prep student (uncredited)
Greg Orvis	...	Stock Broker (uncredited)
Jason Pierce	...	Head Stockbroker (uncredited)
Rumaisa Rahman	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Arloa Reston	...	Prep student (uncredited)
Stacy Lynn Spierer	...	Club Dancer (uncredited)
Mark Wallace	...	Bartender (uncredited)

Directed by
Spike Lee

Writing credits (WGA)
David Benioff		(novel)
David Benioff		(screenplay)

Produced by
Julia Chasman	....	producer
Jon Kilik	....	producer
Spike Lee	....	producer
Tobey Maguire	....	producer
Edward Norton	....	co-producer
Jeff Sommerville	....	associate producer
Nick Wechsler	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Terence Blanchard

Cinematography by
Rodrigo Prieto

Film Editing by
Barry Alexander Brown

Casting by
Aisha Coley

Production Design by
James Chinlund

Art Direction by
Nicholas Lundy

Set Decoration by
Ondine Karady

Costume Design by
Sandra Hernandez

Makeup Department
Fríða Aradóttir	....	hair stylist: Edward Norton (as Frida Aradóttir)
Mary Cooke	....	key hair stylist (as Mary Cook)
Matthew W. Mungle	....	makeup artist: special old age makeup
Julie Pearce	....	makeup artist: Edward Norton
Ellie Winslow	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Colin Cumberbatch	....	post-production supervisor
Jon Kilik	....	unit production manager
Paul Leonardo Jr.	....	post-production supervisor
David Pomier	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Ellis	....	first assistant director
Tracey Hinds	....	second assistant director
Paul Hogan	....	second second assistant director
Jeanine Hunter	....	assistant director intern
Michael A. Pinckney	....	second second assistant director (as Michael 'Boogie' Pinckney)

Art Department
Amy Bell	....	assistant property master: Texas
Roland Brooks	....	charge scenic artist
Ben Conable	....	graphic designer
April Crump	....	set dresser
James Donahue	....	scenic artist
John Frick	....	art director: Texas
Alison Froling	....	assistant set decorator
Gerard J. Furey	....	shop craftsman
Emily Gaunt	....	scenic
Barbara Haberecht	....	set decorator: Texas
Chris M. Jackson	....	art department coordinator: Texas
Dan Kuchar	....	assistant art director
Henry B. Lee	....	art department assistant (as Henry Lee)
Victor Littlejohn	....	on-set dresser
Jean-Paul Morselli	....	art department assistant
Tim Oravetz	....	property master
John Parker	....	on-set dresser
Jeffrey Rollins	....	on-set dresser
Carly Sorscher	....	art department assistant
Sylvia Trapanese	....	scenic artist
Mark Wallace	....	property master
Alexander Wei	....	art department coordinator
Robert K. Weinberger	....	construction coordinator
Michael Wilks	....	lead man
Jeffery D. Woodrel	....	set dresser
Jeri Woodward	....	scenic foreman
Randal Woodward	....	lead scenic
Cher Young	....	painter
Peter Regnier	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer
Stuart Deutsch	....	boom operator
Chris Fielder	....	assistant sound editor
Sean Garnhart	....	sound effects editor
Sean Garnhart	....	sound re-recording mixer
Larry Hoff	....	playback operator
Frank Kern	....	supervising foley editor
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist
Lawrence Loewinger	....	playback operator
Cate Montana	....	assistant sound editor
Igor Nikolic	....	first assistant sound editor
Rolf Pardula	....	sound mixer
Alex Raspa	....	adr recordist
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
David Warzynski	....	foley artist
Karl Wasserman	....	sound utility
Matthew Haasch	....	foley predub (uncredited)
Larry Wineland	....	assistant sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jesse Moorefield	....	special effects assistant: Texas
Steve Wolf	....	special effects coordinator: Texas
Louie Zakarian	....	tattoo designer

Visual Effects by
J. John Corbett	....	visual effects
Daniel Rubin	....	digital compositor: Big Film Design
Hilda Saffari	....	digital intermediate assistant producer
John R. Ellis	....	digital cleanup artist (uncredited)
Manuel Rey Gonzalez	....	digital effects compositor (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	digital cleanup artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Jeff Ward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Ilya Akiyoshi	....	camera production assistant
Godofredo Astudillo	....	camera intern
Alison Barton	....	rigging grip
Robert Baumgartner	....	gaffer
Bob Becchio	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Braden Belmonte	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, second unit
Kelly Britt	....	lighting console operator
Lamont Crawford	....	key grip
Chris Drechsler	....	electrician
Kris Enos	....	key second assistant camera
Samuel G. Friedman	....	rigging electrician
Willow Jenkins	....	video assist operator
Ellen Kuras	....	director of photography: second unit
Rafael Latorre	....	electrician
David Lee	....	still photographer
Eric Lin	....	camera intern
James Marks	....	remote camera technician
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip
Mark McDevitt	....	clapper loader
Heather Norton	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
John Panuccio	....	key rigging grip
Lowell Schulman	....	rigging electric best boy
Tom Shinn	....	electrician
Peter Simonite	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, El Paso/Austin
John Trapman	....	camera operator: Wescam camera
Lee Vickery	....	additional assistant camera
Peter Walts	....	rigging gaffer
Joe 'Jody' Williams	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Alfonso Zarate	....	camera intern

Casting Department
Wayne Marc Godfrey	....	extras casting
Matthew Lessall	....	casting assistant: Los Angeles
Alison Marek	....	casting assistant
Ali Merhi	....	extras casting assistant
Tuffy Questell	....	extras casting
Winsome Sinclair	....	extras casting
Ra-Ra Taylor	....	extras casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Joanna Brett	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sandi Figueroa	....	costumer: Edward Norton
Rhonney Greene	....	costume intern
Carmia Marshall	....	additional set costumer
Michelle Martini	....	assistant costume designer
Sukari McGill	....	co-costume supervisor
Yleana Nunez	....	costume intern

Editorial Department
Terra Bliss-Alvarez	....	digital intermediate producer
Steve Bowen	....	digital colorist
Janelle Connor	....	post-production assistant
Rafael Del Toro	....	intern assistant editor
David Dresher	....	post-production executive
Ben Estrada	....	digital colorist assistant
Ulysses Guidotti	....	apprentice editor
K.A. Miille	....	first assistant editor (as K.A. Chisholm)
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative cutter
Samuel D. Pollard	....	additional editor
Jeff Smithwick	....	film timer
Greg Speed	....	assistant film editor
Amy Tompkins	....	digital intermediate editor
Alexandra Torterotot	....	editorial intern

Music Department
Todd Bozung	....	music editor
Howard Drossin	....	orchestrator
Geoff Foster	....	score recordist
Robert Garcia	....	music consultant
Isobel Griffiths	....	orchestra contractor
Steve Juliani	....	music preparation
Alison LaCourse	....	additional music editor

Transportation Department
David Beard	....	driver
Sam Craytor	....	driver: set dressing truck: TX Unit
George Grenier	....	driver
Willow Jenkins	....	driver: Spike Lee
Eugene O'Neill	....	transportation captain
Steven Willhoite	....	driver: actor

Other crew
Thomas Ahlers	....	office assistant
Alexis Arnold	....	production coordinator: Texas
Randall Balsmeyer	....	title designer
William Barclay	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
Brian Cantaldi	....	second assistant accountant
Shari L. Carpenter	....	script supervisor
Kathryn Castellanos	....	production assistant
Diana Mia Cevallos	....	liaison: Chapman
Betty Chin	....	production coordinator
Logan Cooper	....	assistant locations manager: Texas
Jan Cosby	....	first assistant accountant
Tainesa Davis	....	production assistant
Ana de Souza Dantas	....	office production assistant
Joan Devilla	....	payroll accountant
Drew Dillard	....	location manager: Texas unit
Rebecca Edelson	....	script clearance administrator
Marshall Hopkins	....	production assistant
Charlynne J. Hopson	....	location scout
Willow Jenkins	....	assistant: Spike Lee
Cathy Kanavy	....	assistant location manager
Laura King	....	key set medic
Robyn L. Kreger	....	assistant: Edward Norton
Cinqué Lee	....	video archivist
Danny Lee	....	adr artist
Dan Mackler	....	consultant: Russia
LeRoy McCarthy	....	location assistant
Jonna McLaughlin	....	office intern
David McLinn	....	assistant: Nick Wechsler
George Norfleet	....	location manager
Rafael Osorio	....	background production assistant
Stephanie Pecuch	....	assistant production coordinator: Texas
Jason Perez	....	production assistant
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location assistant
Angela Quiles	....	production coordinator
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote head technician
Michael K. Reynolds	....	chef
Emily Rosdeitcher	....	production office intern
Evelyn Santana	....	publicist
Christopher Scull	....	production assistant: Texas
Jodi Shapera	....	post-production accountant
Gary Vander Meer	....	location coordinator
Karen Wacker	....	production secretary: Texas
Elizabeth Wade	....	production secretary
Betty Weaver	....	craft service
Andy Wheeler	....	production accountant
Joseph White	....	assistant location manager
Nils Widboom	....	location scout
Jaime Wilson	....	assistant production coordinator
Annie Young Frisbie	....	product placement coordinator (as Annie Young)
Renetta G. Amador	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Vondecarlo Brown	....	additional voice talent (uncredited)
Joanna Lu	....	adr artist: Mandarin (uncredited)
K. Todd Lytle	....	stand-in: Monty (uncredited)
Coati Mundi	....	adr voice (uncredited)
Emily Ziff	....	assistant: Philip Seymour Hoffman (uncredited)

Thanks
Bandar Albuliwi	....	special thanks
Bruce Springsteen	....	special thanks (as Bruce 'Da Boss' Springsteen)

Production Companies

• 25th Hour Productions
• 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks
• Gamut Films
• Industry Entertainment
• Touchstone Pictures

Distributors

• Buena Vista Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International Italia (2003) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2003) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Falcon (2003) (Czech Republic) (theatrical)
• Gaumont Buena Vista International (GBVI) (2003) (France) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (BVHE) (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Asmik Ace Entertainment (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Bandur Film (2003) (Federal Republic of Yugoslavia) (theatrical)
• Studios (2003) (Republic of Macedonia) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Buena Vista Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2003) (Netherlands) (VHS) (rental)
• Buena Vista Home Video (2004) (Netherlands) (VHS) (retail)
• Gativideo (200?) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (200?) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Touchstone Pictures

Special Effects

• Wolf Stuntworks
• Big Film Design
• Temptu (tattoos)

Other Companies

• Air Lyndhurst Studios  music recording studio
• C5  post-production sound services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Film Effects  optical effects
• Global Music Service  music copyist
• London Session Orchestra, The  orchestra (uncredited)
• Studios  media production (Yugoslavia) (Macedonia)
• White Sands Production Services  catering: Texas

Also Known As:

The 25th Hour (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some violence.

Runtime:

135 min | Turkey:108 min (TV version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Malaysia:18SG | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:15 | Philippines:R-18 | Spain:18 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | Canada:14A | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:12 (bw) | Iceland:12 | Netherlands:16 | New Zealand:R13 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Zurich) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Austin, Texas, USA

Company:

25th Hour Productions

Trivia:

On-screen father and son Brian Cox and Edward Norton have both appeared in films with the Hannibal Lecter character: Cox played Lecter in Manhunter (1986), while Norton played Will Graham in that movie's remake, Red Dragon (2002). Philip Seymour Hoffman also appeared in Red Dragon (2002) as reporter Freddy Lounds.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the scene with Uncle Nikolai he cocks the handgun on his table, which pulls back the hammer. Monty is then given the gun, and when he puts it to Kostya's head he pulls back the hammer again.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Monty Brogan: Look at this. He's alive.
Kostya Novotny: This dog, how you call it? Bull Pit?
Monty Brogan: No, Pit-Bull. But that's not a Pit-Bull. I don't know, I don't know what he is. I bet he lost somebody some money though. Give me your gun.
Kostya Novotny: Shooting him?
Monty Brogan: Yeah.

Movie Connections:

References American History X (1998)

Soundtrack:

Flava in Ya Ear

If you do something wrong in life,you've only got yourself to blame.Right?

STAR RATING:*****Unmissable****Very Good***Okay**You Could Go Out For A Meal Instead*Avoid At All Costs

Spike Lee is a truly revolutionary director in terms of the presentation of his films and the motivations behind his stories.Though the genre and content of their stories differ fairly enormously,he is in fact a lot like a latter day Alfred Hitchcock in terms of how he presents his films,like the characters involved and the inspiration behind the premise.

The premise here is a deeply original,inspiring and intriguing one,concerning Marty (Edward Norton) a drug dealer who is about to go to prison for seven years.The film follows him around on his last day of freedom,and,rather than waste too much time on a hindering,unnecessary sub-plot concerning his attempts to find the person who ratted him out,wisely opts to be an engaging character study of a man who,though able to acknowledge he knew full well what he was doing and the criminal life he was getting himself involved in,is still able to question the possible circumstances and immoralities that may have helped his descent into crime.

The two main people who help organise his last free night are his childhood buddies Frank (Barry Pepper) a sleazy stockbroker who plays with people's investments and Jakob (Phillip Seymour Hoffman) a repressed drama teacher,who,throughout the course of the film,gives in to a lustful temptation toward a feisty student of his named Mary (Anna Paquin).Though Marty is the one facing the lengthy jail sentence,the moral dilemma the film constantly raises is whether he is actually any more of a criminal than his two best mates,who are really as equally manipulative and sly as he is.The film brilliantly contrieves to present these characters to the audience,and have them develop their own opinion on what their fates should be.

The driving point of the film however,is condemnation.At the beginning,we see Marty reveal his sensitive side to the audience by rescuing a stray dog who appears to have been discarded by it's owner who,though vicious and nasty toward him,he still finds it in his heart to adopt and love,despite the protestations of his large friend.But then the opening credits ensue,and it's a dark,droning opening theme and that prsents the tone of the movie.Then,straight afterwards,we're shown Marty's not-so-sensitive side,as he trys to brush off a man he turned into a drug addict.Lee intelligently and absorbingly weighs out Marty's good points and bad points,and shows that,despite dealing in a criminal profession,he's not all bad and can be quite nice at times.Yet we're also shown a man who wasted all his potential.If he'd tried a little harder,he could've been a doctor or a chef,his father (Brian Cox) points out to him.We also see that he was once a very gifted basketball player,and could possibly have pursued that further,but alas,didn't.He also tries to blame everyone and everything else for his current predicament,until finally accepting that he was in control of his own destiny and must now pay the price.At the end,he is given the choice:accept he did wrong,pay his debt and go and serve his time in jail,or turn and run.The decision he makes will determine the audience's final impression of him.

It does drag a little towards the end,but generally speaking,Spike Lee is a master of his craft and this is a strong contender for the first great film of 2003.****