IMDb >
Pleasantville (1998)
Quicklinks
Top Links
trailers and videosfull cast and crewtriviaofficial sitesmemorable quotesOverview
main detailscombined detailsfull cast and crewcompany creditstv scheduleAwards & Reviews
user commentsexternal reviewsnewsgroup reviewsawardsuser ratingsparents guiderecommendationsmessage boardPlot & Quotes
plot summarysynopsisplot keywordsAmazon.com summarymemorable quotesFun Stuff
triviagoofssoundtrack listingcrazy creditsalternate versionsmovie connectionsFAQOther Info
merchandising linksbox office/businessrelease datesfilming locationstechnical specslaserdisc detailsDVD detailsliterature listingsNewsDeskPromotional
taglines trailers and videos posters photo galleryExternal Links
showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsPleasantville (1998) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 49 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 6) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Release Date:
23 October 1998 (USA)
more
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
Plot Keywords:
1950s
|
Television
|
Innocence
|
Sitcom
|
Television Set
more
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars.
Another 15 wins
&
23 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(81 articles)
Carl Rinsch Hired to Direct Universal's Black Lagoon Remake
(From FirstShowing.net. 15 December 2009, 7:43 AM, PST)
Birthday Suit: Dolph 'the biggest one' Lundgren
(From FilmExperience. 3 November 2009, 7:06 PM, PST)
(From FirstShowing.net. 15 December 2009, 7:43 AM, PST)
Birthday Suit: Dolph 'the biggest one' Lundgren
(From FilmExperience. 3 November 2009, 7:06 PM, PST)
User Comments:
floored
more (647 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only) more
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated PG-13 for some thematic elements emphasizing sexuality, and for language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
124 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:L |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
Netherlands:AL (DVD rating) |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:M |
Chile:14 |
Finland:S |
France:U |
Germany:6 (bw) |
Hong Kong:IIA |
Italy:T |
Norway:7 |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:PG |
South Korea:12 |
Spain:T |
Sweden:7 |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:12 |
USA:PG-13
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The Native American in the test pattern behind Don Knotts changes to angry and then sad as the movie progresses.
more
Goofs:
Continuity: When David looks through the window down at his mother loading her car there is one shutter half down. Seen from outside all shutters are up.
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
[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:
Featured in My Sister's Keeper (2009)
more
Soundtrack:
Destiny
more
FAQ
Won't Jennifers real mother wonder where her daughter is when she is gone for a long time?more
more (647 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Pleasantville (1998) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Across the Universe | La science des rêves | A History of Violence | The Last Picture Show | The Basketball Diaries |
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
IMDb User Rating:
|
Related Links
| Full cast and crew | Company credits | External reviews |
| News articles | IMDb Fantasy section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |













Some critics here are saying the movie takes itself too seriously - but I believe some people are taking it too literally. ... Saying that the topics that are addressed have no impact on society anymore, clearly misses the point. ... The 50s -- or more specifically, 50s TV -- is used as a metaphor, because of the way 50s TV portrayed life in America. ... Thematically, this movie is about "Living Life" to the fullest, whatever that means. More specifically, to live life to the fullest -- to truly feel "alive" -- you need to take the good with the bad. Sweeping things under the rug and just acting "pleasant" all the time, is no way to live. That's what Tobey McGuire's speech at the end to his "real" mother is all about. Bad things happen, it's part of life. Having passion brings with it positives and negatives -- but suppressing true feelings for the sake of "pleasantness" is an empty life. THAT is the key ... and that "issue" is everlasting to the human condition.
Another point: People fear change. This is universal from the start of time until the end of time. The film suggests that changing and growing as a society and as people -- even if scary -- is good. Just because the 50s were used as a metaphor for that, don't believe for a minute this isn't a universal issue that exists today and forever.
Another issue common for people critical of this film is the sexual issue. They say that Gary Ross is promoting sexual promiscuity, sex out of wedlock, etc... Again, I believe it misses the point. Is Ross suggesting that premarital sex is OK? Yes, and I'd agree - and I'm sure there's plenty of people who don't agree with that, and that's OK too. But, again, the sex is just part of the theme - used as a high-profile example to making the overall point about "openness" - and not suppressing one's feelings. Note that the Reese Witherspoon character was already promiscuous, and her transformation was actually something completely different.
I can't make everyone like this film - I'll just say that, on a personal note, I was so floored by this film, I had to see it again the next day. That had never happened to me before, or since. Ross' commentary goes on to speak of everything I felt about the film when I first saw it. It was great to hear that his reasons for what he did, meshed exactly with how I took it. I had to write him a letter to tell him so - another thing I'd never done before or since.
This is not a perfect film. I liked its subtlety, but then the racism correlation, and the censorship stuff, got a bit more overt. The courtroom scene at the end is a bit cliche ... and I also agree with one poster who said that, to make the point about taking the good with the bad, we should've seen a bit more about the consequences of their actions.
Those are merely nitpicks in the grand scheme of things. This is a 10 out of 10.