IMDb > Stay (2005/I)
Stay
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Photos (see all 16 | slideshow) Videos (see all 14)
Stay (2005) -- This movie focuses on the attempts of a psychiatrist to prevent one of his patients from committing suicide while trying to maintain his own grip on reality.
Stay (2005) -- Clip: Talk to me, Beth
Stay (2005) -- This movie focuses on the attempts of a psychiatrist to prevent one of his patients from committing suicide while trying to maintain his own grip on reality.
Stay (2005) -- MyMovieScripts.com - Trailer (Flash)
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Overview

User Rating:
6.8/10   22,577 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Marc Forster
Writer (WGA):
David Benioff (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Stay on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
21 October 2005 (USA) more
Genre:
Drama | Mystery | Thriller more
Tagline:
You Can't Stay Between the Living and the Dead. more
Plot:
This movie focuses on the attempts of a psychiatrist to prevent one of his patients from committing suicide while trying to maintain his own grip on reality. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
more
NewsDesk:
(31 articles)
Blu-ray Review: Fight Club
 (From Rope Of Silicon. 23 November 2009, 12:40 AM, PST)
Director Marc Forster on the Importance of Failure in Filmmaking
 (From FirstShowing.net. 12 November 2009, 1:09 PM, PST)
User Comments:
A top notch Lynch-y psychological thriller more (320 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Ewan McGregor ... Dr. Sam Foster

Ryan Gosling ... Henry Letham
Kate Burton ... Mrs. Letham

Naomi Watts ... Lila Culpepper

Elizabeth Reaser ... Athena

Bob Hoskins ... Dr. Leon Patterson

Janeane Garofalo ... Dr. Beth Levy
B.D. Wong ... Dr. Ren

John Tormey ... Custodian / Piano Mover #1
José Ramón Rosario ... Cabbie / Piano Mover #2 (as José Ramon Rosario)
Becky Ann Baker ... Paramedic #1 / Butch Cook
Lisa Kron ... Paramedic #2
Gregory Mitchell ... Dance Instructor
John Dominici ... Boy / Young Henry
Jessica Hecht ... Boy's Mother
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for language and some disturbing images.
Parents Guide:
View content advisory for parents
Runtime:
99 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
DTS | Dolby Digital
Certification:
Australia:M | Mexico:B15 | Czech Republic:15 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Norway:15 | Germany:12 | Singapore:PG | Finland:K-15 | Hungary:16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Canada:14+ (Ontario) | Iceland:16 | South Korea:15 | Spain:18 | Malaysia:U (DVD) | Brazil:14 | UK:15 (original rating) (cut) | UK:18 (video rating) (uncut) | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | USA:R
Filming Locations:
Columbia University - Broadway & 116th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA more
Company:
New Regency Pictures more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Letham is an anagram of the word "Hamlet" which is referred to numerous times throughout the film. more
Goofs:
Errors in geography: Many times throughout the film when an emergency siren is heard, the siren is not the shrill US siren, but an obvious European style siren. more
Quotes:
Lila Culpepper: Henry, forgetting something?
[Sam turns around towards Lila looking confused]
Lila Culpepper: What's the matter?
Sam Foster: You just called me Henry.
Lila Culpepper: Baby, I think I know your name by now
Sam Foster: Yeah, but you called me Henry.
Lila Culpepper: Sam, I know who you are. I promise.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in Writing the Music for 'Stay' (2006) (V) more
Soundtrack:
Who Am I (Animatrix Edit) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
213 out of 288 people found the following comment useful.
A top notch Lynch-y psychological thriller, 22 October 2005
9/10
Author: evilmatt-3 from Woodland Hills, CA

This is really a spectacular film. I know I'm going to have to see it at least once more, because there's so much stuff going on that it's impossible to give Stay the attention in deserves in one viewing.

First and foremost, although I won't give away the plot here, I'll say that the movie (thankfully) does not rely on a surprise ending for the totality of its impact. In fact, if you're paying attention, you can pretty much figure out (mostly) what the situation is before you get too far into the movie. Unlike some of the worst examples of this genre (i.e. The Sixth Sense), Stay is not a film that "hides the ball," but instead presents you with characters and a storyline, and asks you to draw your own conclusions.

That said, there isn't an obvious solution to the movie. While you may be able to explain the film after viewing it (which is trickier that it will seem at first), you may realize that the real brilliance of this film is in the levels of its narrative. At its core, it is a basic psychological thriller. Simultaneously, and perhaps subconsciously, it also meditates on weighty issues of reality and identity- consider what the imperative "Stay" means to different characters at different points in the film, and it's almost like you're watching an entirely different movie than you originally thought.

Finally, the visuals in this movie provide their own context and narrative regarding the fragile nature of human memory and perception. This is the best looking movie I've seen in a long time, and the fact that it's combined with such a great story and cast makes this a rare treat.

If there is a weak link here, it's probably Gosling, who I think missed some opportunities to really dig in with his character and creep us out. Still his acting is better than that of most of Hollywood's garbage these days.

Final verdict: if you want a smart and unsettling film that will spur a serious discussion, watch this. You won't be disappointed.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (320 total)

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