Mozart and the Whale (2005)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Petter Næss

Writer (WGA):

Ronald Bass (written by)

Release Date:

2 February 2006 (Thailand)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

They don't fit in. Except together.

Plot:

A love story between two savants with Asperger's syndrome, a kind of autism, whose conditions sabotage their budding relationship.

Plot Keywords:

Autism | Aspergers | Asperger's Syndrome | Taxi Driver | Sensory Overload

Cast

Josh Hartnett	...	Donald Morton
Radha Mitchell	...	Isabelle Sorenson
Gary Cole	...	Wallace
Sheila Kelley	...	Janice
Erica Leerhsen	...	Bronwin
John Carroll Lynch	...	Gregory
Nate Mooney	...	Roger
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Gracie
Robert Wisdom	...	Blume
Allen Evangelista	...	Skeets
Kelly B. Eviston	...	Dr. Trask (as Kelly Eviston)
Jhon Goodwin	...	Rodney
Christa Campbell	...	Therapist
Jeffrey Brandle	...	Ten-year-old Kid
Hollis Higgins	...	Homeless Man

Also Known As:

Crazy in Love (USA) (working title)
Mozart & the Whale (USA) (alternative spelling)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, language and some thematic material.

Runtime:

Netherlands:92 min | Argentina:94 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:14 | Portugal:M/12 | Finland:K-11 | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Gonzaga University - 502 E. Boone Avenue, Spokane, Washington, USA

Company:

Big City Pictures

Trivia:

The film is based on the story of Jerry and Mary Newport. They were profiled in 1995 in an LA Times article.

Goofs:

Continuity: After coming into his newly cleaned apartment, Donald opens the refrigerator door; he then turns around looking for Isabella. When it comes back to him, the fridge door is suddenly closed.

Quotes:

Isabelle Sorenson: All this time, and you didn't call.
Donald Morton: I was gonna call.
Isabelle Sorenson: You were?
Donald Morton: Well just to tell you that I wasn't gonna call so that you wouldn't be aggravated, sitting around waiting and wondering when I was
Isabelle Sorenson: gonna call?
Donald Morton: Yeah. But in the end I figured that forcing myself into your life was probably not right. I would always do that. So the only nice thing I had left to give was just not to call.
Isabelle Sorenson: I hated you for not calling. Because you were always gonna be there, and when you weren't, it was as if you didn't love me anymore.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Soundtrack:

Hold Me Now

A great movie on Asperger Syndrome

This movie is one of my favorite movies. Why? I simply love the theme of this story. I know what Asperger is like, and this story came so very close to the truth. The situations are very realistic. Also, the responds from the characters are also very realistic.

I'm sure everyone recognizes a little of themselves in at least one of the characters. Even though these characteristics may not be as strong, they are still there. Everyone is a little autistic you know. Some just have it a little more than others.

The acting is very good, and even though I'm not a really big fan of Josh Hartnett (blame Pearl Harbor), I found myself really liking him in this movie. Radha Mitchell is simply magnificent.

I recommend this movie to everyone!