Plot
Set in 1951, a blacklisted Hollywood writer gets into a car accident, loses his memory and settles down in a small town where he is mistaken for a long-lost son.
Release Year: 2001
Rating: 6.8/10 (29,841 voted)
Critic's Score: 27/100
Director:
Frank Darabont
Stars: Jim Carrey, Martin Landau, Bob Balaban
Storyline Peter Appleton is an ambitious young screenwriter working for HHS Studios during Hollywood's Golden Age, 1951 in particular. "Ashes to Ashes" is about to be released, and he's dating the attractive movie star, Sandra Sinclair. Just when everything seems to be going his way, it is discovered he (unwittingly) attended a Communist meeting during college when pulled there by his girlfriend at the time, and thus heavy suspicion settles over him and he'll have to stand before Congress. Afraid of what might happen if they don't, HHS cancels Appleton's contract and aborts the release date of the film. Appleton promptly begins to wallow in self-pity and spends nearly an entire night at a bar, then drives intoxicated through the streets of the California course until plummeting into a stormy river and getting knocked unconscious. Washing up on the beaches of a small town called Lawson...
Cast: Jim Carrey
-
Peter Appleton
Bob Balaban
-
Elvin Clyde
Jeffrey DeMunn
-
Ernie Cole
Hal Holbrook
-
Congressman Doyle
Laurie Holden
-
Adele Stanton
Martin Landau
-
Harry Trimble
Brent Briscoe
-
Sheriff Cecil Coleman
Ron Rifkin
-
Kevin Bannerman
Gerry Black
-
Emmett Smith
David Ogden Stiers
-
Doc Stanton
James Whitmore
-
Stan Keller
Susan Willis
-
Irene Terwilliger
Catherine Dent
-
Mabel
Brian Howe
-
Carl Leffert
/
Head of the Studio
Karl Bury
-
Bob Leffert
Taglines:
Sometimes your life comes into focus one frame at a time.
Filming Locations: Falls Lake, Backlot, Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $72,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $7,366,207
(USA)
(23 December 2001)
(2361 Screens)
Gross: $37,317,558
(Worldwide)
(2002)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia:
WILHELM SCREAM: When part of the theater's neon sign explodes.
Goofs:
Continuity:
Before Pete's car goes off the bridge, the front end is hanging off the edge of the bridge angled downwards towards the water. But a brief reverse angle shot shows the car's rear end hanging off the edge of the bridge, with the headlights angled up towards the sky.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Studio Executive:
What about the kid? Studio Executive:
What kid? Studio Executive:
You know, the kid who rings the bell. Studio Executive:
What kid? What bell? What are you talking about? Studio Executive:
The kid. After the mine caves in. The kid. He runs up the hill. He rings the bell to alert the town. Studio Executive:
Is that in the script? What page are we on? Studio Executive:
What if we gave the kid - a disease. Studio Executive:
A disease? Studio Executive:
A *disease*. Braces on the legs, that sort of thing.
[...]
User Review
6.6/10? What absolute bull. Don't believe the low rating.
Rating: 10/10
I heard bad things about this movie. I heard it wasn't well written and
that Jim Carrey was a bad actor in it etc. DON'T YOU BELIEVE IT! It's
not true. This movie is absolutely amazing. Jim Carrey did an excellent
job at acting serious. He was 100% serious in this movie. He didn't try
any facial expressions or noises he was 100% serious. He did an
unforgettable role. He's even more serious than The Truman Show. The
story is well put together and well written. Carrey losing his memory
after a car crash in the river. The town people think he's someone that
went to war and who has come back. Carrey must try to remember who he
is. The people they know who he is are looking for him and will cause a
lot of trouble if he doesn't find out quick. Fantastic, sweet and
dramatic story. I recommend it to anyone. It is to be enjoyed by
anyone. 10/10
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