Funny Games U.S. (2007)

Director:

Michael Haneke

Writer:

Michael Haneke (written by)

Release Date:

27 March 2008 (Greece)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Thriller

Tagline:

Shall we begin?

Plot:

Two psychotic young men take a family hostage in their cabin.

Plot Keywords:

Violence | Serial Killer | Hostage | Death | Remake

Awards:

3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Naomi Watts	...	Ann Farber
Tim Roth	...	George Farber
Michael Pitt	...	Paul
Brady Corbet	...	Peter
Devon Gearhart	...	Georgie Farber
Boyd Gaines	...	Fred Thompson
Siobhan Fallon	...	Betsy Thompson (as Siobhan Fallon Hogan)
Robert LuPone	...	Robert
Susanne C. Hanke	...	Betsy's Sister-in-Law (as Susanne Hanke)
Linda Moran	...	Eve

Directed by
Michael Haneke

Writing credits
Michael Haneke		(written by)

Produced by
Rene Bastian	....	co-producer
Christian Baute	....	producer
Adam Brightman	....	co-producer
Chris Coen	....	producer
Skady Lis	....	associate producer
Hamish McAlpine	....	producer
Pascal Metge	....	line producer
Linda Moran	....	co-producer
Hengameh Panahi	....	executive producer
Valerie Romer	....	line producer
Jonathan Schwartz	....	co-producer
Andro Steinborn	....	producer
Douglas C. Steiner	....	executive producer
Naomi Watts	....	executive producer

Cinematography by
Darius Khondji

Film Editing by
Monika Willi

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Elaine Grainger
Billy Hopkins
Johanna Ray
Paul Schnee
Suzanne Smith

Production Design by
Kevin Thompson

Art Direction by
Hinju Kim

Set Decoration by
Rebecca Meis DeMarco

Costume Design by
David C. Robinson

Makeup Department
Thom Gonzales	....	key hair stylist
Taurance F. Williams	....	hair stylist

Production Management
Nicola Westermann	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jason Graham	....	second assistant director
Urs Hirschbiegel	....	first assistant director
Patrick Huber	....	second second assistant director
Justin Ritson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Pastor Alvarado III	....	assistant property master
Neil Driscoll Jr.	....	lead man
Samantha Feltus	....	construction office production assistant
Carl Ferrara	....	set dresser
Gerard J. Furey	....	set construction foreman
Alex Gorodetsky	....	charge scenic artist
Michael D. Harrell	....	props
Kevin Hayden	....	set dresser
Beth Kuhn	....	assistant art director
Leann Murphy	....	art department coordinator
Ken Nelson	....	construction coordinator
Monika Nguyen	....	art department intern
Quang Nguyen	....	scenic foreperson
Susan Perlman	....	set dressing shopper
Daniel Rosenfeld	....	scenic shopman
Duke Scoppa	....	property master
Mark Paul Selemon	....	greens person
Theo Sena	....	on-set dresser
Christopher Weiser	....	scenic artist

Sound Department
Edouard d'Heucqueville	....	sound mix technician
Dominique Eyraud	....	boom operator
Jean-Pierre Laforce	....	sound mixer
Fred Mays	....	post-synchronization
Teferra McKenzie	....	second boom operator
Nadine Muse	....	sound editor
Thomas Varga	....	sound mixer

Stunts
Chris Barnes	....	marine coordinator
Chris Barnes	....	water stunts
Roy Farfel	....	stunt coordinator
Jeff Galpin	....	safety diver
Kevin Rogers	....	stunts
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Olga Abramson	....	camera production assistant
Braden Belmonte	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Braden Belmonte	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
James Boniece	....	key rigging grip
Vincent Camuto	....	video playback technician
Paul Candrilli	....	best boy grip
Andrew Cheung	....	grip
Peter Colavito	....	rigging electrician
Gene Engels	....	gaffer
Michael Gallart	....	lighting console operator
Dylan Goss	....	aerial director of photography
Chris Henry	....	rigging electric
Philip Kathrens	....	lamp operator
Mitchell Andrew Lillian	....	key grip
Jeff Lomaglio	....	grip
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip
Lance Mayer	....	libra head operator
Frances 'Buddy' McBride	....	rigging gaffer
Michael A. McFadden	....	best boy rigging grip
John Milcetic	....	best boy electric
Felipe Reinheimer	....	assistant camera
Felipe Reinheimer	....	camera operator
Nicole Rivelli	....	still photographer
Lewis Sadler	....	electrician
Marshall Stief	....	assistant camera: aerial unit
Brian Stocklin	....	electrician

Casting Department
Jenny Jue	....	casting associate
Jessica Kelly	....	casting assistant
Kristen Paladino	....	extras casting
Paul Schnee	....	casting: New York

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sandi Figueroa	....	costume supervisor
Lee Harper	....	assistant costume designer
Deirdre Wegner	....	wardrobe shopper

Editorial Department
Justin Krohn	....	assistant editor
Willi Willinger	....	colorist

Other crew
Lauren Barnhart	....	assistant: Naomi Watts
Mauro Bossi	....	stand-in: Michael Pitt
Jean Sebastien Brettes	....	assistant to director
Gero Brugmann	....	legal counsel
Brian Cantaldi	....	production accountant
Andrew Cesana	....	additional production assistant
Beth Charlesworth	....	set intern
Leslie Collins	....	set nurse
Emma Cooper	....	unit publicist
Jeremy Crane	....	production coordinator
Blake Davis	....	production office assistant
Jason Dean	....	assistant coordinator
Joan Devilla	....	payroll accountant
Katie Dixon	....	production assistant
Kelly Meyer Douglas	....	housing coordinator
Nell Drake	....	accounting assistant
Justin Geisenberger	....	photo double: Georgie
Audra Gorman	....	location scout
Wayne Han	....	production assistant
Scott Matthew Harris	....	stand-in: Tim Roth (as Scott Harris)
Jules Hartley	....	photo double: Ann
Elizabeth Himelstein	....	on set dialect coach
Diane Hounsell	....	script supervisor
Liz Huizinga	....	assistant accountant
Scotty Katzmann	....	stand-in
Lodge Kerrigan	....	script consultant
Benjamin-Lew Klon	....	set intern
Bronson Lamb	....	production assistant
Kristina Lee	....	assistant production coordinator
Skady Lis	....	production executive
Randy Manion	....	location manager
Rik Nagel	....	location scout
Elizabeth Newman	....	assistant: Tim Roth
Watari Nishida	....	talent wrangler
Mike O'Neill	....	location assistant
Cicely Osborne	....	stand-in: Naomi Watts (as Cicely Osbourne)
Matteo Peirone	....	production assistant
Robert Peters	....	stand-in
Christina Adkinson Potter	....	animal trainer
Greg Staley	....	key production assistant
Lucas Steele	....	stand-in: Michael Pitt
Lygia Day Szelwach	....	on-set teacher
Jan Uczkowski	....	stand-in: Devon Gearhart
Brett Vanderbrook	....	stand-in: Brady Corbet
Antoine Wagner	....	assistant to director
Danielle Wilson	....	craft service
Craig T. Wood	....	production secretary
Stephanie Wu	....	office production intern
Tasha Zamsky	....	animal trainer
Al Cerullo	....	helicopter pilot (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Celluloid Dreams (presents)
• Halcyon Pictures
• Tartan Films
• X-Filme (as X-Filme International)
• Lucky Red
• Kinematograf
• Celluloid Nightmares (uncredited)

Distributors

• CP Classics (2008) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Cinéart (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Festive Films (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Filmcoopi Zürich (2008) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• First Distributors (2008) (Hong Kong) (theatrical)
• Halcyon Releasing (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Lucky Red (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Nordisk Film (2008) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Rosebud (2008) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2008) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Tartan Films (2008) (UK) (theatrical)
• Tokyo Theaters Company (2008) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (2007) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (2007) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Warner Independent Pictures (WIP) (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• X Verleih AG (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Amuse Soft Entertainment (2008) (Japan) (DVD)
• Bir Film (2008) (Turkey) (all media)
• California Filmes (2008) (Brazil) (all media)
• Gativideo (2009) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Nordisk Film Theatrical Distribution (2008) (Finland) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2008) (Romania) (all media)
• Twin Pics (2008) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2008) (USA) (DVD)

Special Effects

• LISTO Videofilm (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Checkmark  funding
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• LISTO Videofilm  post-production
• Paws for Effect  animals provided by
• PostWorks, The Lab  processing

Also Known As:

Funny Games (USA)
Funny Games U.S. (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for terror, violence and some language.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA | France | UK | Austria | Germany | Italy

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:16 | UK:18 | Canada:14A (British Columbia/Manitoba) | Canada:18+ (Quebec) | Canada:18A (Ontario) | USA:R (certificate #43792) | Norway:15 | Denmark:15 | Singapore:NC-16 | Switzerland:16 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:16 (canton of Vaud) | Finland:K-15 | Sweden:15 | France:-16 (with warning) | Germany:18 | Netherlands:16 | Italy:VM14 | Ireland:15 (video rating) | Hong Kong:IIB | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA | Austria:16 | Japan:PG-12 | Brazil:16 | Portugal:M/18 | Argentina:16 | Iceland:18 | South Korea:18

Filming Locations:

Broadway Stages, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Celluloid Dreams

Trivia:

The film is a shot-by-shot remake of the original.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Paul "rewinds" the film he presses the Volume Down (-) button on the remote control rather than the Rewind button.

Quotes:

Paul: Okay, we bet- what time is it?
Peter: 8:40.
Paul: That in, let's say, 12 hours all three of you are gonna be kaput. Okay?
Anna: What?
Paul: You bet that you'll be alive tomorrow at 9 o'clock and we bet that you'll be dead. Okay?
Peter: They don't want to bet.
Paul: Well it's not an option. There has to be a bet.
[turns toward camera, breaks fourth wall, addressing the audience]
Paul: I mean, what do you think? You think they stand a chance? Well, you're on their side, aren't you? Who are you betting on, hmm?
Peter: But, wait, what kind of bet is this? If they're dead, they can't live up to their side. If they win, they can't live either.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert & the Movies: (2008-03-15)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

HELLRAISER

Self-awareness and a minor flaw in the message do not detract from powerhouse performances and excellent direction

First things first, I have not seen the Michael Haneke's original 1997 Funny Games, however, according to every reviewer, I do not need to (I'm still going to, though). Apparently this American version of Funny Games is a shot-for-shot remake of the original, but with different actors and in English. Also, before seeing this (a year late, as us Australians get most films later) I had read plenty of articles and reviews detailing how dark, powerful and disturbing Haneke's film was. Well, they were damn right. This is a brutal and abrupt film, with no happy endings in sight throughout the majority of the film.

Beginning with a wealthy family: George (Tim Roth), wife Ann (Naomi Watts) and Georgie (Devon Gearhart), driving to their holiday home by a lake. Upon arrival a young boy, Peter (Brady Corbet), knocks on their door asking for eggs. A simple task turns into something a bit more complicated, which frustrates Ann and causes her to ask him to leave. However, Paul (Michael Pitt) also enters the scene. Soon the situation loses control as the family as held hostage by the two sociopaths and subjected to cruel and sadistic games.

This seemingly overdone home-invasion scenario is the set-up for Haneke's hard-hitting social commentary (and the reason he remade the film for American audiences). Violence is present everywhere in society, through books, games, films, television and music. Although I do enjoy violent films and games, it is not hard to see the public are slowly becoming desensitized to violence. Sometimes we may not even notice what we are watching or reading is violent (the news, the papers and even cartoon shows aimed at children). This is the film's target, and this is why Haneke remade it for the U.S., as he believes that this is mostly an American culture. Unfortunately, there is a flaw present in this way of thinking. I believe most people know that when they are watching something like "Hostel" or "Die Hard 4.0" it is all fake, all special effects and it is only there as a form of escapism from one's life. It is interesting to note that this film is not that bloody, with almost all of the violence occurring off-screen, the camera focusing on the witnesses reactions instead. Funnily enough, this annoyed a few reviewers on this site, which kind of proves the director's point. We are hungry for violence in our films, we want to see it all.

"You shouldn't forget the importance of entertainment." States Peter when Ann asks them to kill them so the pain can end. The director turns film conventions on their head, as Paul breaks the fourth wall and addresses us, asking us questions. (In this way the film is somewhat pretentious and self-aware, Haneke kind of knows he is making an arty film and it is slightly annoying). Paul knows almost everyone is rooting for the family to survive, for some miraculous way out for them. However, Haneke knows that more often than not, the cavalry never come and the bad guys usually do win.

Upon pointing out Haneke's fault, the man can direct with incredible style. The egg scene is an interesting one, as almost nothing happens, yet he constantly increases the tension every second. And that is just the beginning. There are numerous tracking shots, which add to the atmosphere and frustration. In an eight minute scene, we witness Ann trying to escape her bonds and through this silent scene we feel her anguish and it works very well. However, the direction is supported by some of the strongest performances by an entire cast I have seen all year. Naomi Watts is an incredible actress and her performance as the polite housewife turned heroine is riveting. She goes through a heap of crap throughout the movie and she is convincing 100% of the time. Tim Roth is excellent support, his father (who is crippled at the start of the games) is a tragic character. Usually the father character is the macho hero, but here he is a broken man and Roth portrays this with perfection. Michael Pitt is eerie, charming and sadistic as well-spoken Paul, he is the 21st century Alex (from Stanely Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange"). I am confident he will be a big star in the future. Brady Corbet is more timid, but equally menacing as Peter, the seemingly simpler, but more erratic and violent one. He puts forward an interesting and breakthrough turn and as mentioned before, should be a star to look out for.

Although I will probably not revisit this again, it is definitely well-made and challenging film. It is not a pleasing or uplifting film, and although not gratuitous in its violence, is quite stressing nonetheless. It raises some socially relevant issues and as far as remakes go, it is heads and shoulders above the rest.

4/5