Man in the Chair (2007)

Director:

Michael Schroeder

Writer:

Michael Schroeder (writer)

Release Date:

25 January 2008 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

It's never too late to rewrite your life's story.

Plot:

The superb Christopher Plummer plays Flash, a curmudgeon with a hankering for classic movies and booze...

Plot Keywords:

Movie Theater | Teen | Mentor | German Shepherd | Los Angeles California

Awards:

8 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Christopher Plummer	...	Flash Madden
Michael Angarano	...	Cameron Kincaid
M. Emmet Walsh	...	Mickey Hopkins
Robert Wagner	...	Taylor Moss
Joshua Boyd	...	Murphy White
George Murdock	...	Richard
Mimi Kennedy	...	Mom
Taber Schroeder	...	Brett Raven
Allan Rich	...	Speed
Rob Reinis	...	Teacher
Carlene Moore	...	Woman
Ed Marques	...	Man
Mitch Pileggi	...	Floyd
John Rezig	...	Young Flash
Jodi Ashworth	...	Orson Welles

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

Germany:107 min (Berlin International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | UK:12A

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Elbow Grease Pictures

Trivia:

The legendary Production Manager/Assistant Director Abby Singer portrays one of the senior residents in the retirement home and plays the First AD on Cameron's student film. (The "Abby Singer" shot is the second to the last shot of the day; it proceeds "the martini", which is the last shot of the day.)

Quotes:

Flash Madden: Oh boy. Does he have the best crew in town?
Mrs. Erskine: Well, the oldest crew anyway.
Speed: what?
Mrs. Erskine: And the only one with a deaf sound mixer.
Speed: I heard that.

Movie Connections:

Features His Girl Friday (1940)

Soundtrack:

No Miracles Today

Truly Moving Picture

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2007. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit organization that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."

This is a story of two unusual and non-conformist people. The first is a curmudgeon or surly old man, played by Christopher Plummer, and the second is a troubled high school junior. What they have in common is that they live in the same neighborhood in L.A. and they love movies, especially old classics.

The old man used to be a gaffer or electrician and made many movies at Hollywood studios, but now he is alone in the Motion Picture Residence of the Elderly. He is scruffy, a drunk, cynical, sarcastic and loudly and proudly acts badly. After he gets into an argument with patrons at a movie theater proclaiming, "I made more movies than you've been to", the junior follows him to his old age home.

The junior wants to submit a short film to a contest that hopefully can get him a college scholarship. So he begins his quest to get help from the old man. The junior has serious adjustment problems. He challenges a high school gang leader and continually gets in trouble with the law for fighting and stealing. At home, he has a terrible relationship with his stepfather.

However, there is a goodness and decency in these two people and they slowly and painfully bring out the best in each other. For them, the journey is more important than a successful outcome. They simply both need a purpose to their lives.

The acting is remarkable and not just from Christopher Plummer, who dominates the movie. M. Emmet Walsh and Robert Wagner are particularly convincing. There are unusual, funky visuals and a hip sound track throughout the movie. They really work to hold your attention because they are such a contrast to the many elderly characters. This is a very different and very good movie.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.