IMDb on iPhone and iPod touch Learn more Learn more Download from the App Store
IMDb > Nobel Son (2007)
Nobel Son
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotes
Overview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv schedule
Awards & Reviews
user reviewsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage board
Plot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotes
Fun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQ
Other Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDesk
Promotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo gallery
External Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips

Nobel Son (2007) More at IMDbPro »

Photos (see all 10 | slideshow) Videos (see all 18)
Nobel Son (2007) -- A young chemistry student (Hatosy) throws a wrench into the existence of Nobel Prize-winning scientist Eli Michaelson (Rickman) by first kidnapping his son (Greenberg).
Nobel Son (2007) -- Clip: Bill interrogates Danny
Nobel Son (2007) -- Barkley Michaelson is in a deep life rut. He's struggling to finish his PhD thesis when his father, the learned Eli Michaelson...
Nobel Son (2007) -- MattTrailer.com - Trailer (Flash)

Overview

User Rating:
6.7/10   2,408 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 6% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writers (WGA):
Jody Savin (written by) &
Randall Miller (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Nobel Son on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
5 December 2008 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Keep your eyes on the prize.
Plot:
Barkley Michaelson is in a deep life rut. He's struggling to finish his PhD thesis when his father, the learned Eli Michaelson... more | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
NewsDesk:
(60 articles)
DVD Review: Nobel Son
 (From BuzzFocus.com. 2 July 2009, 10:24 AM, PDT)

Wtf: Yes, They Would Make the Movie Today
 (From FilmSchoolRejects. 10 June 2009, 5:22 PM, PDT)

User Reviews:
Darkly comedic psychological thriller which delights more (30 total)

Cast

  (in credits order)

Alan Rickman ... Eli Michaelson
Bryan Greenberg ... Barkley Michaelson

Shawn Hatosy ... Thaddeus James

Mary Steenburgen ... Sarah Michaelson

Bill Pullman ... Det. Max Mariner

Eliza Dushku ... City Hall

Danny DeVito ... George Gastner

Lindy Booth ... Beth Chapman

Tracey Walter ... Simon Ahrens

Ted Danson ... Harvey Parrish

Ernie Hudson ... Sgt. Bill Canega
Hal B. Klein ... Tully's Guy

Kevin West ... Jaundice
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Kirk Baily ... Wil Cavalere
Dawn Balkin ... Stewardess

Greg Collins ... Foreman

Reid Collums ... Delivery Guy

Lucy DeVito

Tiffany Downey ... Model
Bennett Dunn ... Bartender

Mark Famiglietti ... Officer Relyea

Mary Pat Gleason ... Ruby
Brendon Graham ... Soldier
Joyce Guy ... Eileen Moses

Larry Hankin ... Dr. Polaczek

Juliette Jeffers ... Claire

Matthew Kimbrough ... Deacon

Joe Koons ... Poet
Valerie Long ... Excrement Woman

Wayne Lopez ... Cabbie

Danika Quinn ... Opera Singer (as Danika Osterman)
Dean Rader-Duval ... Ernie

Johanna Torell ... Analea

Matt Winston ... Clifford

Avis Wrentmore ... Model

Michael Battle ... College Student (uncredited)

Joseph Falasca ... Detective (uncredited)
Create a character page for: ?

Directed by
Randall Miller 
 
Writing credits
(WGA)
Jody Savin (written by) &
Randall Miller (written by)

Produced by
Merv Davis .... executive producer
Bridget Fonger .... associate producer
Jeffery Goddard .... executive producer
Art Klein .... executive producer
Randall Miller .... producer
Michael Ravine .... executive producer
Jody Savin .... producer
Ron Savin .... co-producer
Tom Soulanille .... executive producer
Terry Spazek .... line producer
Henry Suarez .... co-producer
 
Original Music by
Mark Adler 
Paul Oakenfold 
 
Cinematography by
Mike Ozier 
 
Film Editing by
Randall Miller 
 
Casting by
Richard Pagano 
 
Production Design by
Craig Stearns 
 
Set Decoration by
Laura Evans 
 
Costume Design by
Kathryn Morrison 
 
Makeup Department
Alexi .... key hair stylist
Lynn Barber .... department head makeup
Marie Larkin .... department head hair
Annalisa V. Levin .... key makeup artist (as Annalisa Levin)
 
Production Management
Terry Spazek .... unit production manager
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mike Crotty .... second second assistant director (as Michael Walter Crotty)
John Pontrelli .... second assistant director (as John 'Ponch' Pontrelli)
Brian Relyea .... first assistant director (as Brian F. Relyea)
 
Art Department
Phil Brandes .... painter
Susan Cho .... buyer
Michael Cudlitz .... propmaker
David Dickinson .... painter
James Diggs .... lead painter (as James N. Diggs)
Matthew D. Egan .... propmaker foreman (as Matthew Egan)
George Galicia .... laborer
Mitchell Hammer .... painter
David E. Harshbarger .... property master (as David Harshbarger)
Brandon Le Doux .... propmaker
Staci Mallett .... set dresser (as Stacy Mallet)
James Mize .... propmaker
Scott Ramey .... co-lead painter
Willy Roberts .... on-set dresser
Rebekah Schultz .... assistant property master
F. Andrew Scott .... signwriter
John L. Sullivan .... propmaker (as John Sullivan)
Nandor Szilagy .... set dresser (as Nandor Szilagyi)
Anatonio Vasquez .... laborer
Steven C. Voll .... construction coordinator
Lynny Warner .... leadman
Chris Withrow .... set dresser
 
Sound Department
Christopher Assells .... sound effects editor
James Bailey .... foley artist
Kevin Patrick Burns .... sound re-recording mixer
Dennis Carlin .... sound utility
Verna Mandel .... sound recordist
Michael Miller .... adr mixer
Kelly Oxford .... supervising sound editor
Damien Smith .... foley artist
Dean Thomas .... boom operator
Steve Weiss .... sound mixer
 
Special Effects by
Nikki Amoriasino .... special effects foreman (as Nikki Amorosino)
Josh Hakian .... special effects coordinator
 
Visual Effects by
Brian Beard .... digital intermediate editor
Christopher Dusendschon .... digital imaging supervisor: iO FILM
 
Stunts
Jeffrey J. Dashnaw .... stunt coordinator (as Jeff Dashnaw)
J.J. Dashnaw .... stunts
 
Camera and Electrical Department
James Atkins .... grip
Richard Avalon .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
John Betancourt .... loader
Ira Boyd .... chief lighting technician
Tina Casey .... additional still photographer
Michael Druez .... grip (as Michael Patrick Druez)
Tim Dunbar .... grip
Ann Elliot Cutting .... additional still photographer (as Ann Cutting)
Camilo Figueroa .... electrician
Lawrence Gund .... still photographer
Timothy S. Hale .... dolly grip: "b"
Chris Hamala .... grip
Johnny Madison .... electrician
Niran Martin .... first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Niranjan Martin)
David Fred Masselink .... digital imaging technician
Shawn Meyer .... dolly grip: "a"
Phil Miller .... key grip
Thom Owens .... Steadicam operator
Thom Owens .... camera operator: "a" camera
Michael Perry .... electrician
Joey Brighton Reynolds .... camera trainee
Mario Signore .... first assistant camera: "b" camera
Grant Smith .... grip
James 'Biff' Thomsen .... best boy electric (as Biff Thomsen)
Martin Torner .... grip (as Martin K. Torner)
Nicholas Tredway .... grip (as Nick Tredway)
Matthew Tucker Korte .... second assistant camera: "b" camera
Mira Velasco .... best boy grip
Nirant Vora .... second assistant camera: "a" camera
Mario Signore .... camera operator: "b" camera (uncredited)
 
Casting Department
Michele Berumen .... casting assistant
Leanna Sheldon .... casting associate
Pete Sutton .... extras casting
 
Costume and Wardrobe Department
Olga Ishkhanova .... fitter
Olga Ishkhanova .... tailor
Haley Palla .... set costumer (as Hailey Pahoa)
Julie Thompson .... key costumer
Laura Wolford .... costume supervisor
 
Editorial Department
Michael Mintz .... digital film colorist
Dan O'Brien .... assistant editor
 
Music Department
Jonathan McHugh .... music supervisor
 
Transportation Department
Fred Bishop .... driver (as Fred Bishop)
Al Boone .... driver
Steve Butler .... driver
Glenn A. Carter .... transportation coordinator
Johnny Davis .... driver (as Johnny T.J. Davis)
John Dixon .... driver
James M. Downs .... driver (as Jimmy Downs)
Dan Drews .... driver
Chris Gallegos .... driver
David 'Cajun' Guilbeau .... driver
Scott Howard .... driver
Jim Martell .... driver
Kenneth Newland .... driver (as Kenny Newland)
John Suttles .... driver (as John R. Suttles)
Scott Tibbetts .... driver
Chuck Visconte .... transportation captain
 
Other crew
Mitchell Almarez .... assistant craft service (as Mitch Almarez)
Russell Chadwick .... set production assistant
Rhonda DeVictor .... production coordinator
Claire Doré .... cat trainer
Aaron Ezolt .... assistant accountant
Lauren M. Higgs .... production assistant
Annie U. Jacobsen .... assistant master chef (as Annie Jacobsen)
Nadine Jolson .... publicist
Christine LaFountaine .... key set production assistant (as Christine LaFontaine)
Michelle Marzahn .... production legal
Scott Mosher .... location scout
John Ortbals .... cat trainer
Michael Percival .... location manager
Kirsten Pope .... script supervisor
Christina Romney .... assistant production coordinator
Christiana Rubin .... additional production assistant
Takao Shibuya .... master chef
Siri Sirishambhand .... craft service (as Siri Sirisambhand)
Tony J. Solorzano .... first aid
Phil Spazek .... production assistant
Robert W. Sterrett III .... assistant location manager (as Robert Sterrett)
Elisabeth Stone .... production assistant
Carrie Tyson .... production coordinator (as Carrie A. Tyson)
Laura Warner .... production accountant
Helen Alexis Yonov .... set production assistant
Lauren M. Higgs .... production secretary (uncredited)
 

Production CompaniesDistributorsOther Companies
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated R for some violent gruesome images, language and sexuality.
Runtime:
110 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Mary Steenburgen and Ted Danson are married in real life, but their characters never interact. Danson's role is little more than a cameo. more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: Near the end of the Mini in the Mall sequence, a stunt driver can be seen in the driver's seat of the car. He first appears when the vehicle is stationary, about 20 seconds before the end of the scene, then immediately after, when the car is headed for one of the walls. more
Quotes:
City Hall: Crazy's just a choice, Barkley. more
Movie Connections:
References Scarface (1932) more

FAQ

A Note Regarding Spoilers
Why has the release date been pushed back so many times?
Is there an official website?
more
42 out of 63 people found the following review useful.
Darkly comedic psychological thriller which delights, 11 May 2007
9/10
Author: larry-411 from United States

I attended the World Premiere of Nobel Son at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival. That's Nobel as in Nobel Prize, and it takes the festival prize in my book. This winning film, from writer/director/producer/editor Randall Miller (did he make lunch too?), is on my list of Top 10 Picks from among the 30 I saw at this year's festival.

Professor Eli Michaelson (Alan Rickman) is about to win the Nobel Prize. His son Barkley (Bryan Greenberg) is a promising Ph.D. candidate wanting little to do with his father's pomposity. A scheme is hatched which is sure to pit father against son in a way to maximize their inherent rivalry. Let the madness and mayhem begin. In addition to Greenberg and Rickman, Nobel Son stars a troupe of talented veterans including Bill Pullman, Shawn Hatosy, Danny DeVito, Mary Steenburgen, Ted Danson, Ernie Hudson, and Eliza Dushku.

It's always hard to single anyone out in such an amazing ensemble cast. Greenberg, the titular son, is a worthy protagonist. The roller coaster ride on which he is taken is chilling, yet his upper crust background and bravado veneer cannot hide his childlike innocence. It is that vulnerability which sucks us in and compels us to look even when we would rather look away.

Shawn Hatosy is one of the most prolific and versatile young actors in the business, and he is frighteningly brilliant here. The intensity he brings to this role never lets up from start to finish. Nobody is better at psycho-scary. Many will be blown away by his performance. If he wasn't on your radar before he will be after you see Nobel Son.

Alan Rickman provides most of the comic relief in a film that is much more dark than comedic. A lesser actor could have turned in an over-the-top performance which might have tipped the scales in favor of the lighter side of this film. That would have spoiled the intensity of the violent escapades these young men partake in. But he manages to play the buffoon as only a legend can.

I was quite surprised by the look and feel of this film. It's much more stylized than one might expect. Digital effects and clever camera work help take what could have been a standard caper movie (a la Oceans 11) and turn it into a psychological thriller, emphasis on the thrills. It is such a fascinating story and an amazing script, and kudos to Randall Miller for being able to create a work which defies categorization. Gasps and laughs are traded back and forth, yet it manages to toe the line between comedy and tragedy without losing its focus.

If Kubrick inhaled nitrous oxide while making A Clockwork Orange, it might look something like Nobel Son. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, literally. Nobel Son is a breathtaking, refreshing escape from convention.

Was the above review useful to you?
more (30 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Nobel Son (2007)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
This movie sucked (Spoilers) mjlangenbru
An impossibility in this movie (SPOILER) daddyball6
Only One Person Could Be Responsible Signet
City Hall tfrazier
Early title? fivedimensionalmanifold
spoiler thad ending? jhgeorge
more

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
The Fugitive Kiss Kiss Bang Bang The Salton Sea Freeway Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
News articles IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section
Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.