The Maker (1997)

User Rating:

5.6/10   

Director:

Tim Hunter

Writer:

Rand Ravich (writer)

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Josh is a high school guy who lives with adoptive parents and is involved in little crimes with his friends (including young lesbian Bella)...

Plot Keywords:

Lesbian | Brother | Moving Van | Heart Transplant | Car Chase

Cast

Matthew Modine	...	Walter Schmeiss
Mary-Louise Parker	...	Officer Emily Peck
Jonathan Rhys Meyers	...	Josh Minnell
Fairuza Balk	...	Bella Sotto
Michael Madsen	...	Skarney
Jesse Borrego	...	Felice A. Beato
Kate McGregor-Stewart	...	Mother Minnell
Lawrence Pressman	...	Father Minnell
Jeff Kober	...	Rubicon Beziqui
Matthew David James	...	Ike
Marc Worden	...	Simon
Joel McKinnon Miller	...	Customs Officer
Robert Gossett	...	Partner
Kimberly Wallis	...	Saleswoman
Kate Murtagh	...	Large Matron

MPAA:

Rated R for strong violence, drug use, language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:16 | Australia:MA | Portugal:M/16 | USA:R | Finland:K-16

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Demitri Samaha Productions

Quotes:

Walter: You know, Josh, one of these days freon's gonna be against the law.

Movie Connections:

References The Day of the Dolphin (1973)

Soundtrack:

SOMETHING IN IT

A Worthwhile Little Caper With Good Performances

I saw this movie solely because Jonathan Rhys-Meyers and Fairuza Balk are in it, but it turned out to be worthwhile on its own merit. Of course, the performances by Rhys-Meyers and Balk do help. The crime story angle of it isn't terribly interesting. Whooo, lotsa shooting and squealing tires. (Yawn) The story of a teenager idling in life and waiting for it to happen to him rings true, though. Modine makes a sufficiently oily criminal trying to extend the "family business." The sequence where Josh finds out what happened to their parents is unnecessarily overblown, but it was bearable. Balk is, as usual, a hidden gem. Mary Louise Parker I didn't even recognize for a while, and her character seemed to be a plot device, but she did fairly well. I was floored watching Rhys-Meyers, thinking all the while "THIS is Brian Slade from 'Velvet Goldmine'??? Without the makeup and with his natural hair he looks at least five years younger, and it strikes you "heh, he's just a kid." One that can act, I've decided. His American accent is perfect, tinny and hollow and more authentic-sounding than those of some of the real Americans in the movie. I've rarely if ever heard a foreigner evoke so perfect an imitation of American speech. Anyway, this is a worthwhile movie. A little generic sometimes, but overall it's very decent. Ignore the misleading video box, but watch for the humorous parts, like when Rhys-Meyers gets pulled over by his dream girl in blue for running a stop sign.