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IMDb > Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
Raising Victor Vargas
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Raising Victor Vargas (2002) More at IMDbPro »

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Raising Victor Vargas (2002) -- A Lower East Side teen-ager struggles to find some sanity while surrounded by an eccentric grandmother, a crazy new girlfriend, and a longing younger brother.
Raising Victor Vargas (2002) -- A Lower East Side teen-ager struggles to find some sanity while surrounded by an eccentric grandmother, a crazy new girlfriend, and a longing younger brother.
Raising Victor Vargas (2002) -- Sinematurk - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
7.2/10   3,543 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 32% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers:
Peter Sollett (story)
Peter Sollett (written by)
(more)
Contact:
View company contact information for Raising Victor Vargas on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
30 May 2003 (Turkey) more
Genre:
Plot:
A Lower East Side teen-ager struggles to find some sanity while surrounded by an eccentric grandmother, a crazy new girlfriend, and a longing younger brother. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
3 wins & 8 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(15 articles)
12 Projects Chosen For January 2010 Sundance Screenwriters Labs
 (From Slash Film. 14 December 2009, 3:00 PM, PST)

Decade in Review: 2003 Top Ten
 (From FilmExperience. 8 December 2009, 6:30 AM, PST)

User Reviews:
Neither well made nor realistic more (129 total)

Cast

  (in credits order)
Victor Rasuk ... Victor Vargas

Judy Marte ... 'Juicy' Judy Gonzalez

Melonie Diaz ... Melonie
Altagracia Guzman ... Grandma

Silvestre Rasuk ... Nino Vargas
Krystal Rodriguez ... Vicki de la Cruz
Kevin Rivera ... Harold
Wilfree Vasquez ... Carlos
Donna Maldonado ... Fat Donna
Alexander Garcia ... Al
John Ramos ... Macho
Theresa Martinez ... Judy's Mom
Randy Luna ... Pool Boy #3
Jeff Knite ... Pool Boy #4 (as Jeff Asencio)
Juan I. Lebron ... Israel

Joe Rosario ... Security Guard
Gladys Austin ... Social Worker
Jacqueline Rosario ... Singer
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Peter Sollett 
 
Writing credits
(in alphabetical order)
Peter Sollett  story
Peter Sollett  written by
Eva Vives  story

Produced by
Jean-Michel Dissard .... associate producer
Alain de la Mata .... producer
Scott Macaulay .... producer
Vincent Maraval .... executive producer
Robin O'Hara .... producer
Peter Sollett .... producer
Cate Wilson .... line producer
 
Original Music by
Roy Nathanson 
 
Cinematography by
Tim Orr 
 
Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein 
 
Casting by
Ulysses Terrero 
 
Production Design by
Judy Becker 
 
Costume Design by
Jill Newell 
 
Makeup Department
Angela Gallagher .... key makeup artist
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mariela Comitini .... second second assistant director
Carrie Fix .... first assistant director
Michael A. Moffa .... second assistant director (as Michael Moffa)
 
Art Department
Jill Alexander .... property master
Jesse Kaufmann .... intern
Tyler Q. Rosen .... property master
 
Sound Department
Steve Borne .... sound designer
David Briggs .... foley editor
Ryan Collison .... foley engineer
Anguibe Guindo .... boom operator
Nadine Finzi Maybruck .... sound editor
Branka Mrkic .... dialogue editor
Alex Raspa .... adr mixer
Reilly Steele .... sound re-recording mixer
Noah Timan .... production sound mixer
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Burke .... camera loader
David Elwell .... best boy electric
Justin Scott Gravatt .... electrician
Melissa Guimaraes .... best boy grip
Matthew Hale .... key grip
Susan Heller .... electrician
Jude Kiernan .... camera loader
Scott Miller .... gaffer
Scott Miller .... still photographer
Matthew A. Petrosky .... first assistant camera
Linda Slater .... second assistant camera
Craig Striano .... grip
John Woods .... electrician
Laurie Chakel .... grip/electric intern (uncredited)
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Amy R. Burt .... wardrobe supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Katy Skjerping .... assistant editor (as Katherine Fisher)
 
Music Department
Tracy McKnight .... music consultant
Alysia Oakley .... assistant to music supervisor
 
Other crew
Scott Burik .... set medic
Kristen Dubberstein .... assistant production coordinator
Jeremy Gould .... location assistant
Eryka Seimona Henderson .... location manager (as Eryka Seimona)
Matthew Hysell .... key unit production assistant (as Matt Hysell)
Jesika Khadivi .... production office intern
Raynelle Irene Mensah .... set production assistant: re-shoots
Tony Osso .... production coordinator
Jennifer Quesenbery .... location scout
Josiah Silverstein .... production assistant
Collin Smith .... location scout
Sally Steele .... publicist
Bergen Swanson .... post-production office supervisor
Hope Walter .... production assistant
Hughroy Williams .... key location manager
 

Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Also Known As:
Long Way Home (France)
Raising Victor Vargas (Canada: English title) (festival title)
more
MPAA:
Rated R for strong language.
Runtime:
88 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The film's working title was "Long Way Home". more
Quotes:
Judy: You're so easy to see through, it's embarrassing. more
Movie Connections:
Soundtrack:
Casado y Cansado (No Puedo Mas) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
149 out of 232 people found the following review useful.
Neither well made nor realistic, 26 October 2003
2/10
Author: Caroline Mitchell from Long Beach

Someone will have to explain to me why every film that features poor people and adopts a pseudo-gritty look is somehow seen as "realistic" by some people.

I didn't see anything realistic about the characters (although the actors did their best with really bad parts) or the situations. Instead, I saw a forced, self-conscious effort at being "edgy", "gritty" and "down and dirty".

Sadly, it takes a lot more than hand-holding the camera without rhyme or reason and failing to light the film to achieve any of the above qualities in any significant way.

It's a sad commentary on the state of independent film distribution that the only films that see the inside of a movie theater are nowadays all carbon copies, with bad cinematography, non-existent camera direction and a lot of swearing striving to pass themselves as "Art".

It's little wonder that films like "In the Bedroom" or "About Schmidt" get such raves. I found them to be meandering and very average, but compared to the current slew of independent clones like "Raising victor Vargas" they are outright brilliant and inspired.

A few years ago seeing an "independent" film meant that you would likely be treated to some originality and a lot of energy and care, and maybe a few technical glitches caused by the low budgets, nowadays, it means that chances are you'll get yet another by-the-numbers, let's-shake-the-camera-around-for-two-hours attempt at placating the lack of taste of independent distributors. And of course all that to serve characters and situations that are completely unreal and contrived.

Is it any surprise that the independent marketplace has fewer and fewer surviving companies? Not at all when you see films like Raising Victor Vargas that do nothing but copy the worst of the films that preceded them.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Raising Victor Vargas (2002)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
GREATCASTING / THE BROTHERS HAD TO BE BROTHERS THEY LOOKED SO MUCH ALIKE RMario9
Victor Obama marythefairy09
the grandma i_love_nikki_reed
don't understand XxMissDaniexX
encore :another one please!!!!!!!!!Thank You! leo1586
was not impressed nchantal_smiles
more

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