The Door in the Floor (2004)

Director:

Tod Williams

Writers (WGA):

John Irving (novel)
Tod Williams (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 September 2004 (Norway)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery

Tagline:

The most dangerous secrets are the ones we're afraid to tell ourselves.

Plot:

A writer's young assistant becomes both pawn and catalyst in his boss's disintegrating household.

Plot Keywords:

Summer | Assistant | Author | Writer | Infidelity

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Elle Fanning	...	Ruth Cole
Jeff Bridges	...	Ted Cole
Kim Basinger	...	Marion Cole
Jon Foster	...	Eddie O'Hare
Larry Pine	...	Interviewer
John Rothman	...	Minty O'Hare
Harvey Loomis	...	Dr. Loomis
Bijou Phillips	...	Alice
Mimi Rogers	...	Evelyn Vaughn
Mike S. Ryan	...	Reception Fan
Libby Langdon	...	Woman at Reception
Louis Arcella	...	Eduardo Gomez
Robert LuPone	...	Mendelssohn
Rachel Style	...	Bookstore Assistant
Amanda Posner	...	Frame Shop Clerk

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexuality and graphic images, and language.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Japan:R-15 | Iceland:14 (theatrical rating) | Iceland:16 (video rating) | Canada:R | South Korea:18 | Australia:MA | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:18A (Alberta/British Columbia/Ontario) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Ireland:16 | Netherlands:MG6 | Singapore:M18 | Spain:18 | UK:15 | USA:R (certificate #40314) | Argentina:16 | Portugal:M/16 | Brazil:16

Filming Locations:

Bridgehampton, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Focus Features

Trivia:

The photograph of Marion (Kim Basinger) and the boys' feet was taken the first day of the shoot; the feet belong producer Anne Carey's sons.

Goofs:

Continuity: The flashback scene in the car with the boys is supposed to take place during a heavy snow fall, and the back window and tail lights of the car are supposed to be covered with snow, but the window is completely clear.

Quotes:

Ruth Cole: Your penis looks funny.
Ted Cole: My penis *is* funny.

Movie Connections:

Features The Big Bend (2003) (V)

Soundtrack:

Waltz of the Voices of Spring

Mail the little gold statue to Bridges right now for my money

Jeff Bridges has always seemed to me to be on the edge of doing some really good things and not quite getting there. He was pretty good in Seabiscuit and back a ways he was good as "Dude" in The Big Lebowski, but in The Door in the Floor he is stretched and put to the test in a complicated role and he is WONDERFUL in it!

The story is at times intricate and somewhat tedious, but it holds and makes its case because of Bridges. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences feels obliged each year to give out a best actor award. Many years I think they should just say...."none of the works meet minimum standard"...but this year we won't have to worry about that, at least one role so far is head and shoulders above the rest and that is Jeff Bridges as Ted Cole in The Door in the Floor.

Kim Basinger, still a beauty at "50 something", plays his troubled wife Marion with great style and feeling.

The story is not all that original. Tragedy and dealing with it are Hollywood fare of many decades. However, this one is a bit different and entwines a boy becomes a man twist and a whole lot more. Just go see it! It is not a typical summer movie...I wonder why it came out so early ????...but it is great.