IMDb >
In the Bedroom (2001)
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 clipsIn the Bedroom (2001) More at IMDbPro »
| Photos (see all 29 | slideshow) | Videos (see all 8) |
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Release Date:
11 January 2002 (USA)
more
Tagline:
A young man. An older woman. Her ex-husband. Things are about to explode...
Plot:
A New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman with two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband. Then something terrible occurs in this wrenching, emotional drama. full summary | add synopsis
Plot Keywords:
Maine
|
Doctor
|
New England
|
Murder
|
Small Town
more
Awards:
Nominated for 5 Oscars.
Another 27 wins
&
41 nominations
more
NewsDesk:
(44 articles)
'Road, Movie' selected for Berlin International Film Festival
(From Bollyspice. 21 December 2009, 4:11 AM, PST)
16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations
(From Manny the Movie Guy. 17 December 2009, 7:11 AM, PST)
(From Bollyspice. 21 December 2009, 4:11 AM, PST)
16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards Nominations
(From Manny the Movie Guy. 17 December 2009, 7:11 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A dark drama that will have you glued to the screen
more (500 total)
Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Tom Wilkinson | ... | Matt Fowler | |
| Sissy Spacek | ... | Ruth Fowler | |
| Nick Stahl | ... | Frank Fowler | |
| Marisa Tomei | ... | Natalie Strout | |
| William Mapother | ... | Richard Strout | |
| William Wise | ... | Willis Grinnel | |
| Celia Weston | ... | Katie Grinnel | |
| Karen Allen | ... | Marla Keyes | |
| Frank T. Wells | ... | Henry | |
| W. Clapham Murray | ... | Carl | |
| Justin Ashforth | ... | Tim Bryson | |
| Terry A. Burgess | ... | District Attorney | |
| Jonathan Walsh | ... | Father McCasslin | |
| Diane E. Hamlin | ... | Davis' Assistant | |
| Camden Munson | ... | Jason Strout |
Additional Details
MPAA:
Rated R for some violence and language.
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
130 min | USA:138 min (Sundance Film Festival)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.35 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Iceland:14 |
Iceland:16 (video rating) |
Malaysia:18PL (uncut version) |
Malaysia:U (cut version) |
USA:TV-MA (TV rating) |
Singapore:NC-16 (re-rating) |
Singapore:PG (cut) |
Netherlands:16 |
Argentina:13 |
Australia:MA |
Brazil:14 |
Canada:14A |
Finland:K-11 |
France:U |
Germany:12 |
Hong Kong:IIA |
Norway:15 |
Peru:14 |
Spain:13 |
Sweden:11 |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) |
Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) |
UK:15 |
USA:R |
Philippines:R-18
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
The Red Sox games heard on the radio are from 8 July 2000 and 9 July 2000.
more
Goofs:
Crew or equipment visible: The camera lens is plainly visible in the shot of Matt Fowler driving in his car.
more
Quotes:
Ruth:
[sees Franks has been punched in the eye] So what are you going to do about it?
Frank Fowler: I don't know... take karate.
more
Frank Fowler: I don't know... take karate.
more
Movie Connections:
Featured in The 2002 IFP/West Independent Spirit Awards (2002) (TV)
more
Soundtrack:
Baby I Love Your Way
more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (500 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for In the Bedroom (2001) moreRecommendations
If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
Show more recommendations
|
|
|
|
|
| Into the Black | Mean Creek | A History of Violence | Thirteen Conversations About One Thing | Mystic River |
|
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 Crime section | IMDb USA section |
| Add this title to MyMovies |













Sometimes, it's fun to go see a movie without having any expectations, or even having knowledge of the basic plot or premise. It's also nice to see a movie that would usually get ignored in a crowded market get a large amount of attention without having the plot be too obvious from trailers or commercials. Although In the Bedroom has been in theatres for a number of months, it's only recently started getting attention and positive word of mouth after Sissy Spacek's Golden Globe nomination.
Tom Wilkinson plays Dr. Matt Fowler and Sissy Spacek plays his music teacher wife, an older couple living in a small Maine fishing town, who become worried when their only son becomes involved with an older woman with two kids, played by Marisa Tomei. Their worries soon prove to be warranted, as the woman and her estranged husband proceed to destroy the teenager's life. Ultimately, it has a devastating effect on the couple's everyday life and their relationship.
This movie is a fascinating and powerful character study of people in a small town and how conflict and tragedy affect them. It is a story that takes place in three clear-cut acts separated by two twists, both of which take the viewer by surprise although they're both foreshadowed and somewhat expected.
It's hard not to compare this movie to the recently released Monster's Ball, one of my least favorite movies of last year, but it's a fair comparison, since it also showed a series of tragic and sudden events and how they affect the people in a small town. Unlike Monster's Ball, I found the actions and emotions of the characters in this movie to be a lot more plausible, and you can't help feeling the despair of the couple as they deal with their son's problems.
In the Bedroom also compares to last year's The Deep End, and Sam Raimi's underrated A Simple Plan, two other slow movies that dealt with how small town folk deal with problems and how those problems sometimes lead to more drastic actions. It's never clear whether the Fowlers disapprove of their son's relationship is because the woman is older and has two kids or because of the problems that her estranged husband brings to the relationship. At times, it seems like the Fowlers' only worry is that their son may not go to college in order to stick around and take care of his older lover and her kids.
Either way, the parents starts to drift apart due to their overpowering sense of grief and inability to change things, and it's not long before they're playing the blame game on who is responsible for their son's situation. When they finally explode, it's one of the most powerful film moments in recent memory. The shorter third act shows how they learn to cope and deal with their problems.
Despite the slow pace and the excessive length, the performances and the beautiful yet subdued camerawork and choice of setting keeps the viewer riveted to the screen.
It's been far too long since we've seen Sissy Spacek in a movie, and like this year's other comeback kid, Robert Redford, her age is showing. But her age also makes her perfect for the role of Ruth Lawler, as her world -weary eyes seem suitably representative of Ruth's own frustrations.
Like last year's The Deep End and The Others, this movie shows how an over-protective mother can alienate her children while trying to help them. Spacek gives another groundbreaking performance that shows talented yet less experienced actresses Tilda Swinton. Nicole Kidman and especially Halle Berry how to create realistic emotions on screen. Late in the movie, there is a particularly tense yet short confrontation between Spacek and Marisa Tomei that shows how much better these two actresses are.
Tom Wilkinson has played comedic parts in The Full Monty and has appeared in a number of period pieces including Sense and Sensibility and The Patriot. In the Bedroom proves him to be quite a talented dramatic lead actor, as his performance allows him the full range of emotions, and he creates a character as believable and real as Spacek's.
First-time director Todd Field is probably best known as playing Nick Nightingale, the pianist who gets Tom Cruise in a bit of trouble in Stanley Kubrick's Eyes Wide Shut. Field uses the Maine setting beautifully to create a portrait of the couple's life, and he uses the pacing to create insurmountable tension before driving a wedge between the couple. The script by Field and Robert Festinger is one of the better ones of the year with dialogue that is far too real, yet perfectly suited for talents such as Spacek and Wilkinson.
Obviously, this movie will be getting a good deal of Oscar attention due to the performances by Spacek, Wilkinson, Tomei, and the terrific script. If you want to see action, go see Blackhawk Down; if you want to see the fine form of filmmaking as perfected by two master thespians and a talented new director, than In the Bedroom will have you riveted to the screen. Rating: 9 out of 10