Silver City (2004)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

John Sayles

Writer (WGA):

John Sayles (written by)

Release Date:

17 September 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Vote early. Vote often.

Plot:

The discovery of a corpse threatens to unravel a bumbling local politician's campaign for governor of Colorado.

Plot Keywords:

Campaign | Corpse | Colorado | Investigation | Politician

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Chris Cooper	...	Dickie Pilager
Richard Dreyfuss	...	Chuck Raven
Cajardo Lindsey	...	Lloyd
John C. Ashton	...	Director
Elizabeth Rainer	...	Leslie
Donevon Martinez	...	Lazaro Huerta
James Gammon	...	Sheriff Joe Skaggs
Benjamin Kroger	...	Deputy Davis
Charles Mitchell	...	Henry
Danny Huston	...	Danny O'Brien
Alma Delfina	...	Lupe Montoya
Roslyn Washington	...	Hilary
David Clennon	...	Mort Seymour
Mary Kay Place	...	Grace Seymour
Tim Roth	...	Mitch Paine
Thora Birch	...	Karen Cross
Maria Bello	...	Nora Allardyce
Jan Van Sickle	...	Reporter #1
Miguel Ferrer	...	Cliff Castleton
Denis Berkfeldt	...	Reverend Tubbs
Billy Zane	...	Chandler Tyson
Patty Calhoun	...	Reporter #2
Maggie Roswell	...	Ellie Hastings
Paul Rohrer	...	Phil Ross
Rich Beall	...	Freddy Mondragon (as Richard Beall)
Mare Trevathan Phillpott	...	Rebecca Zeller (as Mare Trevathan Philpott)
David Russell	...	Foreman
Luis Saguar	...	Vince Esparza
Sal Lopez	...	Tony Guerra
Gary Sirchia	...	Preacher
Michael Murphy	...	Senator Judson Pilager
Ralph Waite	...	Casey Lyle
Kris Kristofferson	...	Wes Benteen
Rodney Lizcano	...	Yanez
Stephen Brackett	...	Dewey Jr.
Daryl Hannah	...	Maddy Pilager
Aaron Vieyra	...	Fito
Hugo E. Carbajal	...	Rafi
Michael Shalhoub	...	Leo
Amie MacKenzie	...	Marcy
Larry Gallegos	...	Contreras
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
James Aidan	...	Newscaster (voice) (uncredited)

Directed by
John Sayles

Writing credits (WGA)
John Sayles		(written by)

Produced by
Suzanne Ceresko	....	associate producer
Robert Lansing Parker	....	co-producer (as Lansing Parker)
Maggie Renzi	....	producer
Sam Tedesco	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Mason Daring

Cinematography by
Haskell Wexler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
John Sayles

Casting by
John Hubbard
Ros Hubbard

Production Design by
Toby Corbett

Set Decoration by
Alice Baker

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Lynn Barber	....	makeup artist
Melinda Dunn	....	assistant hair stylist
Matt Griffin	....	special effects makeup
Colleen Provost	....	assistant makeup artist
Dee Sandella	....	hair stylist
Melissa A. Yonkey	....	hair stylist (as Melissa Yonkey)

Production Management
Kendall McCarthy	....	post-production supervisor
Robert Lansing Parker	....	unit production manager (as Lansing Parker)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sandy McLeod	....	second unit director
Brian Moon	....	second assistant director
John Powditch	....	first assistant director
Denise Strong	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Ann Marie Auricchio	....	lead painter
Kordon Baker	....	set dresser
Robin Bartlett-Asnicar	....	set dresser (as Robin Bartlett Asnicar)
Chad Branham	....	assistant prop master
Cassandra W. Cole	....	additional scenic
Jamie A. Curl	....	draper (as Jamie Curl)
Jared Darlington	....	propmaker
Kyle Davio	....	art department coordinator
Jerry Duke	....	set dresser
James Fowler	....	set dresser
Hank P. Garcia	....	propmaker
LeRoy Gilbert	....	propmaker
Briggs Gillen	....	scenic artist
Briggs Gillen	....	sculptor
Thomas Sam Hall	....	construction foreman
Chris Jones	....	assistant art director
Dylan Kiszlowski	....	leadman
Alan Klemm	....	scenic artist
Michael B. Muery	....	propmaker
Ryan Plucknett	....	construction coordinator
Angelique Powers	....	additional scenic
Grant Sawyer	....	on-set dresser
Steven Schalk	....	prop master (as Steve Schalk)
Brady Clayton Scott	....	labor
Brady Clayton Scott	....	utility
Paul Sjoberg	....	set dresser (as Paul F. Sjoberg)
Jennifer Snoeyink	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Laura Civiello	....	dialogue editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Chris Fielder	....	first assistant sound editor
Judy Karp	....	sound mixer
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
George A. Lara	....	foley engineer
Terrance Laudermilch	....	re-recording engineer (as Terry Laudermilch)
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Glenfield Payne	....	sound designer
Jaime Reyes	....	boom operator
Nani Schumann	....	sound apprentice
Steve F.B. Smith	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
Robert Troeller	....	technical services (as Bob Troeller)
Steven Visscher	....	foley supervisor
Jacob Ribicoff	....	foley editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
William Boggs	....	special effects coordinator (as Bill Boggs)
Kti Eaton	....	special effects model maker (as KT! Eaton)
John Perry	....	special effects foreman
Timothy Hampton	....	special effects assistant (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Joshua Frankel	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brook Aitken	....	additional grip
Dennis Baker	....	grip
Keith Banks	....	additional lighting technician (as Keith H. Banks)
John F. Cassidy	....	best boy grip (as John Cassidy)
Kenny Davis	....	dolly grip (as Kenneth Davis)
Edward Done	....	director of photography: second unit
Michael Duran	....	additional grip
Megan Forste	....	second assistant camera
Christopher Gerding	....	grip (as Chris 'Gerdo' Gerding)
Christopher Glasgow	....	grip
Nelson Goforth	....	swing
James R. Goldsworthy	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Justin Griesinger	....	swing
James Hatridge	....	lighting technician (as James L. Hatridge)
Tom Lembcke	....	key grip
Rusty Loudermilk	....	additional lighting technician (as Rusty Lowdermilk)
Bob Marshak	....	still photographer
Terry Moses	....	additional grip (as Terry L. Moses)
Robert Muratore	....	additional lighting technician
Doug O'Kane	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Doug O'Kane	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Reinhart 'Rayteam' Peschke	....	chief lighting technician (as Ray Peschke)
David Quint	....	crane technician
Tony Rivetti	....	first assistant camera
Dave Schaaf	....	video assist
Ingrid Semler	....	camera loader
Arte Shelton	....	grip: second unit
Chris Squires	....	Steadicam operator
Chris Squires	....	camera operator
Matt Stelling	....	additional grip
Larry Towell	....	art photographer: Magnum Photos
Steve Van Ness	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Laszlo E. Varga	....	additional lighting technician
Michael Wieben	....	grip (as Mike 'Big Dog' Wieben)
Jon Wignall	....	lighting technician
David Youngs	....	additional grip (as Dave 'Monkey' Youngs)
Scott Zuchowski	....	lighting technician
Camilo Jarquin	....	assistant camera (uncredited)
Lowell Pierce	....	assistant camera (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kathleen Broyles	....	casting: Denver
Ali Durlin	....	casting intern: Denver
Noah Geisel	....	casting assistant: Denver
Brendan McNamara	....	casting assistant
Tamara Notcutt	....	principal casting associate (as Tamara-Lee Notcutt)
Rob Sackett	....	casting assistant: Denver
Jessica Clark	....	casting assistant: USA (uncredited)
MaryLynn Malone	....	extras casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Kelli Hobson	....	wardrobe assistant
Annette Holt	....	on-set costumer
Mimi Kaupe	....	on-set costumer
Lorie L. LaBrant	....	wardrobe assistant
Katie Saunders	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Steve Bowen	....	digital color timer
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Mario Ontal	....	associate editor
Chris Regan	....	color timer
Plummy Tucker	....	associate editor
Steve Barnett	....	post-production consultant (uncredited)
Ben Estrada	....	digital colorist assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Jeanine Cowen	....	music editor
Bill Elliott	....	conductor
Bill Elliott	....	orchestration
Sato Knudsen	....	contractor
Duke Levine	....	musician: guitars
Dave Mattacks	....	musician: percussion
Mike Peipman	....	musician: trumpet
Gus Sebring	....	musician: French horn
Dave Shacter	....	music recordist and mixer: Daring Studios, Marblehead
Frank Wolf	....	music recordist and mixer: Mix One Studios, Boston (as Frank Wolfe)

Transportation Department
Frank Braham	....	driver: set dressing
Steve Davenport	....	driver: makeup/hair
C. David Earle	....	driver: production van (as David Earle)
Suzette Earle	....	driver: camera truck
Rhonda Hansen	....	driver: van
Phil Helman	....	driver: props
Jerry Jencks	....	driver: grip
Darryl Maggs	....	driver: stakebed
Anna Maxwell	....	driver: van
Eddie McGarraugh	....	driver: van
Pat Moser	....	driver: van
Terry R. Owens	....	transportation captain
Dennis Steele	....	driver: set dressing
Gene Ward	....	transportation coordinator
Jeff Woodward	....	driver: honeywagon

Other crew
Carol Alexander	....	accounting clerk
Julia Anderson	....	intern
Matt Anderson	....	additional set production assistant
Tara Anderson	....	office intern: New York
Jeff Archuleta	....	additional set production assistant
Len Aslanian	....	office intern: New York
Marcus Barben	....	first assistant chef (as Markus Barben)
Meredith Blake	....	office manager: New York
Susan H. Bodine	....	legal services: Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein (as Sue Bodine)
Karen Bosma	....	production coordinator
Todd Callan	....	additional set production assistant
Andrea F. Cannistraci	....	legal services: Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein (as Andrea Cannistraci)
Ricardo Casillas	....	office production assistant
Franklin Crosby	....	intern
Mary Cybulski	....	script supervisor
Payton Dunham	....	set production assistant
Sinan Germirli	....	intern
Alec Giardino	....	stand-in
Lisa Goldsworthy	....	additional set production assistant
Hannah Hancock Rubinsky	....	office intern: New York
Sheri Kaz	....	additional set production assistant
Todd Kruger	....	intern
Sandy Madden	....	intern
Angela C. Maez	....	production secretary
MaryLynn Malone	....	intern (as Marylynn Malone)
Ilana McAllister	....	first assistant accountant
Gary Miller	....	chef
Julie Anne Moore	....	assistant location manager
Matt Mosley	....	office intern: New York
Dylan Mulick	....	office intern: New York
Henry Oshell	....	second assistant chef (as Henry R. Ochel Jr.)
James Pagel	....	medic (as Jim Pagel)
Monica Perez Gelbman	....	post-production accountant
Sabrina Rehnke	....	intern
Jessica Renzi-Bailey	....	location assistant
Lynne Robertson	....	craft service
Aaron Rosenbloom	....	set production assistant
Bryan Saunders	....	set production assistant (as Bryan 'Boo' Saunders)
Nicole Sherwin	....	intern
A. Rochell Smith	....	additional set production assistant (as Rochell Smith)
Justine Spicer	....	additional set production assistant (as Justin Spicer)
Spooky Stevens	....	unit publicist
Daniell Taff	....	location assistant
Sharon Vise	....	production accountant
Angelica Vogt	....	intern
Rachel Young	....	office production assistant (as M. Rachel Young)
MaryLynn Malone	....	set medic (uncredited)
Kirk Tedeski	....	video effects supervisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Anarchist's Convention Films (presents) (as Anarchist's Convention)

Distributors

• Bir Film (2005) (Turkey) (all media)
• America Video Film (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• America Video (2008) (Argentina) (all media)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Califórnia Home Vídeo (2005) (Brazil) (VHS) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2005) (USA) (video)
• Epix Media (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Filmax S.A. (Spain)
• Newmarket Films (USA)
• Sandrew Metronome Distribution (2006) (Finland) (DVD)

Special Effects

• RhinoFX (visual effects) (as Rhinofx, New York City)

Other Companies

• Affinity Artists Agency  talent agency
• Axium  payroll services
• Birns & Sawyer  camera equipment
• C5  post production sound
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies (uncredited)
• Daring Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Daring Studios, Marblehead)
• Denver Public Library, Western History Collection  artwork provided by
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• Eastman Film  printed on (as Eastman Kodak Film)
• England Insurance Brokerage  insurance provided by
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  legal services
• Imaginary Forces  main titles
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Kodak  motion picture film
• Lighting Services  camera dollies: Chapman
• Magnum Photos  artwork provided by
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research (uncredited)
• Mix One Studios  music recorded and mixed at (as Mix One Studios, Boston)
• No Credits Productions  electronic press kit (as No Credit Productions)
• Orbit Digital  editorial equipment: Avid
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Screen Actors Guild (SAG)  thanks (as Screen Actors Guild)
• Sound One Corporation  sound mixed at
• TM Equipment Rentals  lighting and electrical equipment
• Thomas Gallagher Design  website animation
• Trevanna Post  post-production accountant

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-15 | Canada:14A (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Australia:M | Canada:PG | USA:R (No. 40829) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | UK:15 | Ireland:15A

Filming Locations:

Argo Gold Mine - 2350 Riverside Drive, Idaho Springs, Colorado, USA

Company:

Anarchist's Convention Films

Goofs:

Continuity: When Danny is splashing in the mine, the type of flashlight he is holding changes several times.

Quotes:

Dickie Pilager: [conducting a press conference] In the case of capital offenses I am absolutely in favor of the death penalty. You hear stories about frontier justice - you can bet that the wrongdoers, the folks who couldn't play by the rules, had some respect for that. And there was no -
[starts floundering]
Dickie Pilager: it didn't cost the taxpayer - if they had had taxpayers back then... those were the good old days, I suppose -
[gathers steam again]
Dickie Pilager: and all you needed was a good strong rope and a tree to hang it from!
Reporter #1: So you'll be proposing tougher criminal legis -
Dickie Pilager: My message to criminals is this: straighten up or get out. There's no place for you in our state. You do the crime, and by God, you're gonna have to face your lumps.
Nora Allardyce: But the majority of those serving time for drug possession are -
Dickie Pilager: You want to change the behavior? Stiffen the consequences!
Nora Allardyce: There have been reports, Mr. Pilager, that before you became involved in politics you had considerable experience with -
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Tell Them Who You Are (2004)

Soundtrack:

Amerika v. 6.0

Worth Seeing for Individual Performances

Yes, Sayles is over-ambitious in this movie and lectures us about too many things. But Silver City is worth seeing just for the wonderful individual performances of its actors. Chris Cooper is dead-on in his imitation of Dubya. He conveys privileged arrogance, impatience, mangled English and downright cluelessness. Alongside Cooper's work stand the performances of Kris Kristoffersen (how does he manage to be so soft-spoken and so threatening at the same time?)and the wonderful Ralph Waite (the quintessential American actor.) Also great performances from Tim Roth as the radical blogger, James Gammon as the Sheriff and Sal Lopez as a Mexican cook. But do other people think Danny Huston was miscast as the main character, Danny O'Brien? He seemed so "aw-shucks" goofy and dumb much of the time. Plus, was he made up to look like Mike Connors in Mannix or what? That 50's hairstyle was WEIRD. Now Tim Roth, HE looked and acted like a burnt-out radical reporter. The problem goes right back to the writing - Sayles is just trying to say way too much in this movie, and we get long lectures (instead of good storytelling) about land-developers, dirty politicians, immigrant abuse, pollution, journalistic ethics, corporate America, dysfunctional dynastic families, recreational substance abuse, casual sex, broken hearts - the list goes on and on. Lone Star was much more focused, and the relationship in that movie between Sheriff Sam Deeds and his Hispanic lover, Pilar, became a metaphor for the strange & symbiotic & incestuous relationship between Mexico and the U.S. Lone Star had the same great individual performances Silver City has, but it trusted its audience to be more intelligent and "get it" without hammering us over the head with the message. If you have the chance to see Silver City, definitely see it - the acting is wonderful. But expect a flawed movie.