Edmond (2005)

User Rating:

6.3/10   

Director:

Stuart Gordon

Writers (WGA):

David Mamet (screenplay)
David Mamet (play)

Release Date:

24 November 2006 (Italy)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

If anything can go wrong, it will - and at the worst possible time

Plot:

A fortune-tellers teasing rumination sends Edmond Burke lurching into New York City's hellish underworld.

Plot Keywords:

Fortune Teller | Violence | New York City | Pawnshop | Marriage

Awards:

3 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

William H. Macy	...	Edmond
Frances Bay	...	Fortune Teller
Rebecca Pidgeon	...	Wife
Joe Mantegna	...	Man in Bar
Denise Richards	...	B-Girl
Wendy Thompson	...	Cocktail Waitress
Vincent Guastaferro	...	Club Manager
Ling Bai	...	Peep Show Girl
Matt Landers	...	Bystander
Dulé Hill	...	Sharper
Russell Hornsby	...	Shill
Aldis Hodge	...	Leafletter
Debi Mazar	...	Matron
Mena Suvari	...	Whore
Jeffrey Combs	...	Desk Clerk

MPAA:

Rated R for violence, strong language, and sexual content including nudity and dialogue.

Runtime:

USA:82 min | Brazil:76 min | Argentina:82 min (Mar del Plata Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18 | Finland:K-15 | Argentina:16 | New Zealand:R18 | Australia:MA | Hungary:18 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

120dB Films

Trivia:

Lionel Mark Smith, who plays the pimp in this movie, played a pimp (as well as a shill) in production of the original play back in 1982.

Goofs:

Continuity: The shots of the basketball game in the bar keep showing the same segment even after many minutes pass during the conversation. You see the same scramble for the ball and the same drive to the basket at least twice.

Quotes:

Glenna: You know who I hate?
Edmond: No, who is that?
Glenna: Faggots.
Edmond: Yes, I hate them too. Do you know why?
Glenna: Why?
Edmond: They suck cock. And that's the truest thing you will ever hear.

Movie Connections:

References Men in Black (1997)

Provocotive though at times detached

Interesting, if not altogether captivating slice o' night and consequences of one Edmond Burke; a man who is driven to the edge, and all areas after, following his decision to essentially walk away from everything due to feeling unfulfilled in life. Working from this always relate-able premise, Mamet crafts a more intelligent, more realistic version of last decade's controversial but safe Falling Down, and in turn offers some of the year's best societal release. Problems arise however when the actions slow down and the talking speeds up, where monologues and even back and forth dialogs seem to be coming from the writer's mouth instead of the characters. This all goes south in the second half, where Macy's sermonizing kills some of the script's authenticity and integrity, due to the long-winded, self righteous, and ultimately distracting and uninvolved nature of his lines. For a film that approaches a gritty New York night with style and ease, with a scriptwriter as esteemed and knowledgeable as David Mamet, it was a shame to see some of the later scenes become a pulpit for Mr. Mamet to talk through instead of more subtle suggestion, but it is still far from making this movie avoidable. With some of William H Macy's most powerful work, Edmond is still a triumph of a character based thriller, leaving me satisfied with it's profound conclusion.