The Night Listener (2006)

Director:

Patrick Stettner

Writers (WGA):

Armistead Maupin (screenplay) &
Terry Anderson (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

4 August 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

Listen for the truth.

Plot:

In the midst of his crumbling relationship, a radio show host begins speaking to his biggest fan, a young boy, via the telephone. But when questions about the boy's identity come up, the host's life is thrown into chaos.

Plot Keywords:

Wisconsin | Radio | Airplane | New York | Blind Woman

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Robin Williams	...	Gabriel Noone
Toni Collette	...	Donna D. Logand
Joe Morton	...	Ashe
Bobby Cannavale	...	Jess
Rory Culkin	...	Pete D. Logand
Sandra Oh	...	Anna
Rodrigo Lopresti	...	Young Man at Party
John Cullum	...	Pap Noone
Lisa Emery	...	Darlie Noone
Guenia Lemos	...	Female Neighbor
Marcia Haufrecht	...	Pant Suited Woman (as Marcia Halfrecht)
Nick Gregory	...	Flight Attendant
Ed Jewett	...	Mail Clerk
Becky Ann Baker	...	Waitress
Billy Vann	...	Taxi Driver
E.J. Carroll	...	Hospital Security Guard
James Stankunas	...	Boy in Hospital
Marceline Hugot	...	Nurse
Joel Garland	...	Officer (as Joel Marsh Garland)
Hal Robinson	...	Male Friend #1
Keith Reddin	...	Male Friend #2
Meg Gibson	...	Female Friend
Maryann Plunkett	...	Alice - Female Realtor
Mark Jacoby	...	Male Realtor (credit only)
Kelly	...	German Shepherd Dog
Riley	...	Hugo

Directed by
Patrick Stettner

Writing credits (WGA)
Armistead Maupin		(screenplay) &
Terry Anderson		(screenplay) and
Patrick Stettner		(screenplay)
Armistead Maupin		(novel)

Produced by
Terry Anderson	....	executive producer
Wouter Barendrecht	....	co-producer
Daniel Feiner	....	co-executive producer
Jill Footlick	....	producer
John Hart	....	producer (as John N. Hart Jr.)
Michael Hogan	....	executive producer
Caroline Kaplan	....	executive producer
Robert Kessel	....	producer
Armistead Maupin	....	executive producer
Jonathan Sehring	....	executive producer
Jeff Sharp	....	producer (as Jeffrey Sharp)
Michael J. Werner	....	co-producer
Brett Williams	....	associate producer
Nina Wolarsky	....	associate producer
Jamie H. Zelermyer	....	line producer

Original Music by
Peter Nashel

Cinematography by
Lisa Rinzler		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Andy Keir

Casting by
Kerry Barden
Billy Hopkins
Suzanne Smith		(as Suzanne Crowley)

Production Design by
Michael Shaw

Art Direction by
Eva Radke

Set Decoration by
Rich Devine		(as Richard Devine)

Costume Design by
Marina Draghici

Makeup Department
Cheri Minns	....	hair stylist: Mr. Williams
Cheri Minns	....	makeup artist: Mr. Williams
Evelyne Noraz	....	key makeup artist
Jeffrey Rebelo	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
David Bausch	....	unit production manager
Christopher Kenneally	....	post-production supervisor (as Chris Kenneally)
Seth I. Shire	....	additional post-production supervisor (as Seth Shire)
Sean Cooney	....	post-production executive (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Carrie Fix	....	first assistant director
Lauren Guilmartin	....	second assistant director (as Lauren Kells Guilmartin)
Justin Ritson	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Rise Abramson	....	scenic artist
Jill Alexander	....	prop master
Jeremy L. Balon	....	on-set dresser
Krzysztof J. Bratun	....	scenic artist (as Krzysztof Bratun)
Peter Bundrick	....	head carpenter
Anna Butwell	....	additional props
Steve Cascarelli	....	dresser
Dominick Cocuzzo	....	key construction grip (as Dominick Coluzzo)
William Depaolo	....	scenic artist (as Bill DePaolo)
Katy Dilkes	....	scenic artist
Isaac Gabaeff	....	additional props
Emily Gaunt	....	charge scenic
Willie Groom	....	shop man
Richard Hebrank	....	construction coordinator
T.W. John House	....	construction grip
Robert Keller	....	carpenter (as Bob Keller)
Katie Kemsley	....	camera scenic
Erin Manigault	....	dresser
Elizabeth Minot	....	additional on-set dresser (as Elizabeth D. Minot)
Julio Palma	....	dresser (as Julio D. Palma)
Paul Pitalo	....	dresser
Joseph Proscia	....	leadman
Kevin L. Raper	....	graphic designer (as Kevin Raper)
Kyle Salvatore	....	dresser (as Kyle J. Salvatore)
Malinda Savio	....	intern
Jill Stern	....	scenic artist
Sylvia Trapanese	....	foreman
Jonathan Unger	....	assistant prop master
Brianne Zulauf	....	product placement
James Bednark	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)
Gabu Camilo	....	additional props (uncredited)
Terrell Long	....	art production assistant (uncredited)
Justin Rosen	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Heather Wellik	....	art department production assistant (uncredited)

Sound Department
Laura Civiello	....	dialogue editor
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist (as Marko Costanzo)
Dan Edelstein	....	additional sound editor
Eugene Gearty	....	supervising sound designer
Eugene Gearty	....	supervising sound editor
Anguibe Guindo	....	boom operator
Paul Hsu	....	sound re-recording mixer
George A. Lara	....	foley editor (as George Lara)
George A. Lara	....	foley recordist (as George Lara)
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Eytan Mirsky	....	additional assistant sound editor
Sara Stern	....	sound intern
Noah Timan	....	sound mixer (as Noah Vivekanand Titman)
Larry Wineland	....	assistant sound editor
Joseph Adorisio II	....	sound (uncredited)
Leslie Bloom	....	foley artist (uncredited)
Phil Jeffers	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Paul Pouthier	....	second boom operator (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Janos Pilenyi	....	optical supervisor: Cineric, Inc. (as János O. Pilenyi)
Ariel Enriquez Saulog	....	digital supervisor: Cineric, Inc.

Stunts
Bill Anagnos	....	stunt driver (as Billy Anagnos)
Jeffrey Lee Gibson	....	stunt double: Gabriel (as Jeff Gibson)
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunt double: Donna
Manny Siverio	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Grady Bayersdorfer	....	set electric
Divine Cox	....	best boy (as Divine T. Cox)
Lamont Crawford	....	dolly grip
James P. Dolan	....	gaffer
Jeffrey Dutemple	....	first assistant camera (as Jeff Dutemple)
Kevin Fitzpatrick Jr.	....	rigging electric
Damien Gonzalez	....	additional electric
Keith Gordon	....	grip
Tim Guinness	....	rigging gaffer (as Timothy Guinness)
Thomas Hamilton	....	set electric
Petr Hlinomaz	....	additional electric
David Isern	....	camera operator
David Isern	....	steadicam operator
Gary Jackiewicz	....	grip (as Gary P. Jackiewicz)
Nils Johnson	....	24 frame playback
Anne Joyce	....	still photographer
Peter McEntyre	....	best boy
James McMillan	....	key grip
Tim McNulty	....	film loader
Iris Ng	....	additional electric
Michael G. Philips	....	additional electric
Patrick Stegall	....	camera intern
Nathan Swingle	....	second assistant camera (as Nathan Allen Swingle)
Craig Vaccaro	....	key rigging grip
Nicky 'Nuckles' Vaccaro	....	rigging grip (as Nick Vaccaro)
David Isern	....	additional photographer (uncredited)
Justin Panzanaro	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Paul Schnee	....	casting associate
Ashley Springer	....	casting assistant
David M. Waldron	....	background casting associate (as David Waldron)
Luis Garcia	....	casting assistant (uncredited)
Grant Wilfley	....	extras casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Arlynn Abseck	....	assistant wardrobe supervisor
Ariel Bowman	....	costume department assistant
Amanda Ford	....	assistant costume designer
Jacqueline Jones	....	costume intern
Roseann Milano	....	wardrobe supervisor
Robin Sprance	....	costume department assistant
Mikaela Wohl	....	costume intern (as Kaela Wohl)

Editorial Department
Fred Heid	....	color timer
Allyson C. Johnson	....	additional editor
Misako Shimizu	....	assistant editor
David A. Smith	....	additional assistant editor
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor
Steve Calalang	....	mastering colorist (uncredited)
Chris Gennarelli	....	colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Linda Cohen	....	music supervisor
Brian Deming	....	score mixer
Brian Deming	....	score recordist
Andy Farber	....	conductor
Andy Farber	....	orchestrator
Lawrence Manchester	....	score recordist
Peter Nashel	....	score producer
Tony Volante	....	score mixer

Transportation Department
Bobby Alberga	....	driver (as Robert T. Alberga)
Keith Bunce	....	driver
Charlie Fay	....	driver
Michael Fennimore	....	transportation captain (as Mike Fennimore)
Parrish McLean	....	driver: cast
John Riggins	....	driver
Matt Schneider	....	driver: cast
Gabe Turiello	....	driver

Other crew
Tobin Addington	....	assistant: Patrick Stettner
Matthew Amenta	....	office production assistant
Barbara Austin	....	animal wrangler: Dawn Animal Agency
John Baker	....	office intern
Michele Baker	....	assistant location manager: upstate New York
Randall Balsmeyer	....	main title designer: Big Film Design
Joanie Bauret	....	insurance: England Insurance Brokerages Ltd. (as Joanie Bauert)
James Berkery	....	set production assistant
Adam Bernard	....	set production assistant
Brette Billow	....	office production assistant
Jason Block	....	post-production accountant
Shannon Bowen	....	location manager
Bambi Brook	....	handler: German Shepherd Dog
Adam Bryant	....	stand-in: Robin Williams
Tertius Bune	....	office intern
Brian Burkin	....	production legal: Linowes & Burkin (as Brian L. Burkin Esq.)
Kate Carcaterra	....	set production assistant
Betty Chin	....	production coordinator
Jennifer Cook	....	office intern
J. John Corbett	....	main title designer: Big Film Design (as J.John Corbett)
Ralph Costanza	....	print coordinator
Jacq Donegan	....	production secretary
Kathy England	....	insurance: England Insurance Brokerages Ltd.
Natsu Furuichi	....	production assistant: HSE
Jonathan Golfman	....	production legal: Linowes & Burkin (as Jonathan S. Golfman Esq.)
Louis Henley	....	set production assistant
Michael E. Hernandez	....	caterer: Premiere Catering (as Michael Hernandez)
Andrew Johnston	....	office intern
Phil Johnston	....	assistant: Patrick Stettner
Benjamin Jones	....	set production assistant (as Benjamin C. Jones)
Hollis McConnell Jones	....	stand-in: Toni Collette (as Hollis M. Jones)
Chris Leidy	....	set production assistant
Michael J. Linowes	....	production legal: Linowes & Burkin (as Michael Linowes Esq.)
Patrick Mahoney	....	craft service (as Pat Mahoney)
Hunter Marshall	....	assistant chef: Premiere Catering
Angela Matthews	....	office intern
Jason Michael Matthews	....	office intern
Tim Oakes	....	production assistant: HSE
Kory O'Donnell	....	assistant production coordinator
Luke Parker Bowles	....	production associate: HSE
Hyo Park	....	location assistant
Anthony Pettine	....	script supervisor
Phuong-Thuy Pham	....	location assistant
Alex Reinach	....	office intern
Joe Robinson	....	office production assistant
George Sheanshang	....	finance: distribution and general counsel (as George Sheanshang Esq.)
Michele Soddano	....	assistant accountant (as Michele A. Soddano)
Rebecca Erwin Spencer	....	assistant: Mr. Williams
Bill Stitt	....	scout
Pat Tetrault	....	handler: 'Hugo'
Clayton Thomas	....	parking coordinator (as Clayton 'Massive' Thomas)
Rob van de Laar	....	craft service assistant (as Rob Van De Laar)
Nick Vanderpool	....	key set production assistant
Michael J. Vitale Jr.	....	chef: Premiere Catering
Joe Wehmeyer	....	set production assistant
Derek Yip	....	production accountant
Teddy Yoon	....	assistant location manager
Brianne Zulauf	....	assistant coordinator
Louis Zuppardi	....	scout
Henry Fernaine	....	production executive (uncredited)
Joshua Huffman	....	office production assistant (uncredited)
John Perez	....	location scout (uncredited)
Michael A. Rizzo	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jonathan Starch	....	on-set consultant: New York (uncredited)
Michael Yoon	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
Lauren Albright	....	the producers wish to thank
Erica Berg	....	the director wishes to thank
Andy Bienen	....	the director wishes to thank
Marty Bowen	....	the director wishes to thank
Jennifer Cox	....	very special thanks
Sarah Durham	....	the director wishes to thank
Kara Dusenbury	....	the director wishes to thank
Charles Ferraro	....	the director wishes to thank
Scott Fleischer	....	the production wishes to thank: Panavision New York
Julie Fontaine	....	the producers wish to thank
Dianne Orkin Footuck	....	the producers wish to thank
Jerry Footuck	....	the producers wish to thank
Anna Hall	....	the director wishes to thank
Tanya Hamilton	....	the director wishes to thank
Joanne Hogan	....	the producers wish to thank
Myles Hogan	....	the producers wish to thank
Quinn Hogan	....	the producers wish to thank
Anne Hubbell	....	the production wishes to thank: Eastman Kodak
Andrew Hurwitz	....	the director wishes to thank
Elaine Kessel	....	the producers wish to thank
Mark Kessel	....	the producers wish to thank
Raya Kessel	....	the producers wish to thank
Richard Klubeck	....	the director wishes to thank
Laura Linney	....	the producers wish to thank
Perry Lin	....	the director wishes to thank
Craig Marsden	....	the director wishes to thank
Peter Mattei	....	the director wishes to thank
Scott McGehee	....	the director wishes to thank
Robert H. Nathan	....	the director wishes to thank (as Robert Nathan)
Jamie Pallot	....	the director wishes to thank
Christine Rollet	....	the director wishes to thank
Gail Savarese	....	the production wishes to thank: Panavision New York
Owen Shaw	....	the producers wish to thank
Adam Shulman	....	the director wishes to thank
David Siegel	....	the director wishes to thank
Issar Smith	....	the director wishes to thank
Douglas Steinbrech	....	the producers wish to thank
Susan A. Stover	....	the director wishes to thank (as Susan Stover)
Sabin Streeter	....	the director wishes to thank
Alan Suna	....	the production wishes to thank: Silvercup Studios
Krista Whetstone	....	the director wishes to thank

Production Companies

• Hart-Sharp Entertainment (as Hart Sharp Entertainment)
• IFC Films
• Fortissimo Films (in association with)

Distributors

• Miramax Films (2006) (USA) (theatrical) (presents)
• Encore Films (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Eurocine Films (2007) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Icon Film Distribution (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• A-Film Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2007) (Canada) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Movie Bank (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• NTV (2008) (Russia) (TV)
• Sunfilm Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cineric (opticals and end titles)

Other Companies

• Avatar Studios  score recorded at
• Axium International  payroll services provided by
• Big Film Design  main title sequence designed and produced by
• C5  post-production sound facility
• CPMK Lighting  lighting equipment
• Clearance Domain  script clearances
• Dawn Animal Agency  animal wrangler
• Duotone Audio Group Ltd.  score recorded at
• England Insurance Brokerage  insurance
• Eyes of Mohr Ltd.  grip equipment
• Grant Wilfley Casting  background casting
• J.G. Films  negative cutter (as JG Films)
• Jeremy Walker + Associates  publicity (uncredited)
• Kodak  filmed on
• Linowes & Burkin  production legal
• New Jersey Film Commission  the production wishes to thank
• New York City Mayor's Office of Film, Theater & Broadcasting, The  the production wishes to thank (as The New York City Mayor's Office for Film, Theatre and Broadcasting)
• Orbit Digital  Avids (uncredited)
• Panavision  camera equipment
• Premiere Catering  caterer
• Smooth Moving Productions  Steadicam equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Soundtrack  mixed at
• TCS  video dailies
• Village of Montgomery New York, The  the production wishes to thank

MPAA:

Rated R for language and some disquieting sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:81 min (DVD version) | USA:91 min (Sundance Film Festival) | USA:82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #42175) | Ireland:16 | UK:15 | Singapore:M18 | Finland:K-15 | Portugal:M/16 | New Zealand:M | Netherlands:12 | Germany:16

Filming Locations:

Montgomery, New York, USA

Company:

Hart-Sharp Entertainment

Trivia:

At 5 minutes and 58 seconds into the film, Armistead Maupin's real-life husband, Christopher Turner, appears playing Jess's (Bobby Cannavale) friend that Gabriel (Robin Williams) refers to facetiously as "Lucifer" (Jess corrects him and says, "Lucien. He's just a friend").

Goofs:

Errors in geography: The zip code for the Montgomery, Wisconsin address starts with a '2', but all Wisconsin zip codes start with 5.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Gabriel Noone: [Black screen. Sounds of squeaking chair as someone sits down, microphone squealing, paper rustling, and a thump] Ready?
[Sound of one breath blown into microphone]
Gabriel Noone: [Unknown woman mumbles]
Gabriel Noone: Yeah, let's try it like that.
[Paper rustling]
Gabriel Noone: [Unknown woman mumbles again]

Movie Connections:

Spin off from "Further Tales of the City" (2001)

Soundtrack:

La Judia Del Albayzin

Really Good Stuff

When it comes to movies I can be pretty picky, and I'll complain about anything and everything that is done wrong. While every movie has its flaws, The Night Listener had an exceptionally low count.

If you read the last review (it was hard, since half of it was written in caps and it contained no actual information about the movie), you may have been led to believe that this movie was not too well done. Unfortunately, if you read more than 3 lines into that same review, you discovered the poster's reason for disdain: he/she does not like the fact that the director is gay (or that the production team smokes crack...apparently).

So, despite the fact that I have never written a review before, I thought this movie deserved one based on its merits, not the sexual orientation of its director. Let's go over a quick checklist first: 1. Great plot? Absolutely. I won't give a shred of it away, but the plot is highly compelling and definitely not what one would expect based on the commercials. This is a thriller, not a horror, and it should be approached as such. The story really will amaze you, even more so because it's true (and the plot did stay quite faithful to the actual events).

2. Wonderful Acting? Oh Yes. Robin Williams long ago broke free from the chains of the comedy type-cast, and he has since flourished in serious roles for which many people would have wrote him off just a decade ago. He once again achieves high form in his role in The Night Listener, playing a radio host who becomes increasingly troubled by and entangled in a case of...well, I'll let you see for yourself.

3. Excellent direction? Certainly. Now, unlike the other poster to which I referred, I actually know something about direction. I've been sutdying the art of direction at school now for 3 years. Of course I really don't think that makes a lick of difference (the only thing that matters is if YOU like the direction), but I thought I should simply establish once again that I'm basing my opinions here on something both substantial and relevant...for example: not the sexual orientation of the director (or the alleged drug habits of the production team, LOL).

Patrick Stettner's direction was moody and dark, and he allowed the angles and lighting to help create those so-sought-after feelings of "tension and release" rather than the messy, fast-paced camera-work and quick cuts we're so often subjected to today. Some people can truly show you a story through their camera, while other's feel as if they have to make the story with the camera. I really appreciate when someone these days has the courage to just use the camera as its supposed to be utilized, which is as an eyeball through which we all see.

4. Lighting, cinematography, and editing? Great all around. I've already wrote so much, and I could go on about these last three things for another ten paragraphs, so I'll just wrap it up.

In short, go see this movie. Don't listen to people who have alterior motives for trashing it, especially if they're so stupid that they unknowingly reveal that motive 1/4 of the way through their post. Enjoy the show! -Ben