Gardener of Eden (2007)

User Rating:

6.4/10   

Director:

Kevin Connolly

Writer (WGA):

Adam 'Tex' Davis (written by)

Release Date:

2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

"When bad things happen to good people!"

Plot:

Young man on the wrong track, suddenly finds purpose and love when he captures a serial rapist. |

Cast

Danny A. Abeckaser	...	Ami
Jon Abrahams
John Arocho	...	TJ buck
Khan Baykal
Gregg Bello	...	Luke Scott
Lauren Bittner	...	Laura
David Bortolucci	...	Richard "Hands" Pope
Franco Bulaon	...	Frat Boy
Erika Christensen	...	Mona
Anthony Fazio	...	High School Stoner
Andrew Fiscella	...	Officer Bob
Lukas Haas	...	Adam
Tim Hopper	...	Bill Huxley
Tyler Johnson	...	Chuck
Joli Julianna	...	Cheerleader
Amelia Kallman	...	Angela
David Patrick Kelly	...	Pa Harris
Chris LaPanta	...	Richard Pope's Attorney
Vincent Laresca	...	Pavon
Jim Parsons	...	Spim
Ori Pfeffer	...	Uri
Danielle Rees	...	Cheerleader
Giovanni Ribisi	...	Vic
R.J. Romano	...	Tough Guy
Yolonda Ross	...	Jasmine
Vincent James Russo	...	Bar Customer
Jim Tooey	...	Loudmouth
Caitlin Van Zandt	...	Sara
Emily Wickersham	...	Kate

MPAA:

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

Runtime:

USA:88 min (R Rated NTSC Version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:R

Filming Locations:

Glen Ridge, New Jersey, USA

Company:

7th Floor, The

In the Weeds

It's all John Steinbeck's fault. He's to blame. Well, Steinbeck and the educational system that validates his works. News flash. Mice and Men is crap. There's nothing poetic about stupid people doing stupid things. Not 65 years ago, not ever. If you're writing a movie and the only substantiation you can find for a particular character making a particular choice is that he's a nitwit, it's time to choose another profession. Dumb characters making idiotic choices do not good cinema make.

One would think that with 5 years of reading some of the best scripts television has to offer, Kevin Connolly would be able to tell the difference between a good and a bad script.

With this film, it's quite obvious that he cannot. Take Clerks, subtract the humorous dialog, and to that add Unbreakable, but without M. Night Shyamalan's brilliant cinematography and engrossing story. To all this, add a suffocating dose of dreariness and... voilà, you've got Gardener of Eden.

On the bright side, the acting was very strong by everyone involved. They did the best that they could with what they had to work with. And although it lacked the artistry of Unbreakable, it wasn't aesthetically challenged. Connolly executed a vision. You could definitely see that both cast and crew were very earnest in their attempt. I give it an A+ for effort.

Unfortunately, though, a good script is the foundation from which everything is built. Without it, the whole structure crumbles.