IMDb > Pleasantville (1998)
Pleasantville
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Overview

User Rating:
7.5/10   46,570 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 2% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Writer (WGA):
Gary Ross (written by)
Contact:
View company contact information for Pleasantville on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
23 October 1998 (USA) more
Genre:
Tagline:
Nothing Is As Simple As Black And White. more
Plot:
Two 1990's teenagers find themselves in a 1950's sitcom where their influence begins to profoundly change that complacent world. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. Another 15 wins & 23 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(81 articles)
User Reviews:
Good tale on values and change that loses it's way occasionally and is quite slow more (647 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Additional Details

MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements emphasizing sexuality, and for language.
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
Language:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The author of the book that Reese Witherspoon's character is reading, D.H. Lawrence, was an early 20th century author, poet, playwright, essayist, and literary critic. His works were considered highly controversial when they were written, and confronted issues such as emotional health and vitality, spontaneity, human sexuality, and instinct. more
Goofs:
Incorrectly regarded as goofs: When the TV repairman talks to David and Jennifer from the television after they've just been transported to Pleasantville, behind him, the test pattern's position on the screen is slightly different in the close-ups. This was done deliberately "to indicate Knott's changing attitudes towards Bud and Mary Sue". more
Quotes:
[first lines]
[David is gazing admiringly at a pretty blonde girl]
David: *Hi*
[chuckles]
David: I mean, Hi. Uh, look, you probably don't think I should be asking you this. I mean, not knowing you well and all? I mean, you know, I, I, I know you, 'cause everybody knows you. I just don't know you technically. Uh, anyhow. Uh, I don't know what you're doing this weekend, but my mom's leaving town, and she's letting me borrow the car.
[the camera pulls back to show that the girl is standing several dozen feet away and, in fact, is smiling and looking at another boy]
[...]
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in True Blue Beauty (2003) more
Soundtrack:
The Waste Land more

FAQ

Won't Jennifers real mother wonder where her daughter is when she is gone for a long time?
more
33 out of 50 people found the following review useful.
Good tale on values and change that loses it's way occasionally and is quite slow, 14 January 2002
Author: bob the moo from Birmingham, UK

When a mysterious TV repairman gives David a new remote control both he and his sister gets sucked into an old 50's show called Pleasantville. A first all seems perfect in a cheesy 1950's way - all language is wholesome, everything is black and white, none of the sports team ever miss and nothing is unwholesome. However when David and Jenifer begin to influence those around them they not only change attitudes and behaviour but start to bring colour to the town. The town splits in it's attitude to this change.

This is a very gentle comedy but with a hint of a moral about it. It starts out with `once upon a time' and that's quite apt in that it is a fable with a moral in the way many fairy tales are. At the start it's all quite small and the film almost shows the changes as bad and something that has comedy value, however later the changes are shown as something that should be embraced rather than feared. Then those who fear change and expression are shown to be wrong. It's all quite clever - the only problem to me was that the message felt a bit muddled and could have been a bit clearer - but then maybe that's the point, we learn our own lessons from it.

The effects are excellent throughout - colour creeps in in some objects and people to great effect. It's very well done and never seems unnatural. As a metaphor for change or lost innocence it gets a bit tired but for most it's very effective as a way of seeing people's true feelings come out.

The cast are great - Maguire and Witherspoon are both good (yes, even Witherspoon!), but the real strength comes from the adult support cast. Daniels gives a great understated role, it's not his best as he plays it a little too much like a wounded deer at times but he's still very good. Allen is the strongest as she has to carry much of the story with Macy who it goes without saying is superb - they share some very emotionally charged scenes together. It's always a pleasure to see the late J.T. Walsh in anything and here he is good in a comparatively minor role.

Overall this is a very enjoyable film that is very thoughtful and easily overcomes it's slow pace and slight lack of total clarity.

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pleasantville (1998)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Mary Sue and Bud alexisofallon
Real intention of the TV repairman? federicocristina
Colored People angelchic55
why didn't skip change ?? go_greek
She's trapped now!! perlke00
Is Kristy Swanson in this movie? timeslord
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