The Great Buck Howard (2008)

Director:

Sean McGinly

Writer (WGA):

Sean McGinly (written by)

Release Date:

5 June 2009 (Latvia)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Get ready for the comeback of a lifetime.

Plot:

A young man, much to the chagrin of his father, becomes the new assistant to an illusionist in decline.

Plot Keywords:

Illusionist | Magician | Real Life Father And Son Playing Father And Son | Character Name In Title

Cast

John Malkovich	...	Buck Howard
Colin Hanks	...	Troy Gable
Emily Blunt	...	Valerie Brennan
Ricky Jay	...	Gil Bellamy
Steve Zahn	...	Kenny
Tom Hanks	...	Mr. Gable
Griffin Dunne	...	Johnathan Finerman
Debra Monk	...	Doreen
Adam Scott	...	Alan Berkman
Patrick Fischler	...	Michael Perry
Wallace Langham	...	Dan Green
Jonathan Ames	...	Edward Kelly
Jacquie Barnbrook	...	Sheila Heller
Paul Darricarrere	...	Restaurant Manager
Terry Scannell	...	Kip
Matt Hoey	...	Charley
Jobi Graham	...	Tall Guy
B.J. Hendricks	...	Burly Guy
Nate Hartley	...	Teenage Kid (as Nathan Hartley)
Floyd Van Buskirk	...	Middle Aged Gentleman
Sandy Martin	...	Female Hotel Worker
Wendy Worthington	...	Oregon Woman
Danica Sheridan	...	Wisconsin Woman
Casey Wilson	...	Charity
Steven Metzler	...	Ventriloquist
Bill Saluga	...	Himself
Gary Coleman	...	Himself
Michael Winslow	...	Himself
Jack Carter	...	Himself
Julie Shimer	...	L.A. Benefit Producer
Stacey Travis	...	Cindy Crown
Jill Ragan	...	Cincinnati TV Coordinator
David Nunn	...	Cincinnati TV Producer
Bill Rochon	...	Cincinnati TV Engineer
David Higgins	...	Mark Simpson
Ming Lo	...	Doctor
Kimberly Scott	...	Nurse
Sheila Gray Robinson	...	Cincinnati Anchor
Robert Lewis Williams	...	Cincinnati Achor
Daniel Leo Carroll	...	Cincinnati Anchor
Max Williams	...	Flower Delivery Guy
Dale Waddington Horowitz	...	Sleeping Woman
Martha Stewart	...	Herself
Damien Fahey	...	Himself
Conan O'Brien	...	Himself
Jon Stewart	...	Himself
David Blaine	...	Himself
Regis Philbin	...	Himself
Kelly Ripa	...	Herself
George Takei	...	Himself
Mary Hart	...	Herself
Jay Leno	...	Himself
Tom Arnold	...	Himself
Don Most	...	Tonight Show Producer
Shane Johnson	...	Las Vegas Producer
Amy Jo Traicoff	...	Las Vegas Woman
Melissa Stone	...	Las Vegas Wife (as Melissa Dawn Stone)
Matthew Gray Gubler	...	Russell
Marni McFair	...	Doctor in Audience
Mary Jo Burger	...	Audience Member
Norm O'Neill	...	Audience Member with Cash (as Norman O'Neill)
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah	...	Band
Alec Ounsworth	...	Band Member: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Sean Greenhalgh	...	Band Member: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Robert Guertin	...	Band Member: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Tyler Sargent	...	Band Member: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Lee Sargent	...	Band Member: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Tony Clemons	...	Law Student
Dave Attell	...	Las Vegas Husband (uncredited) (as David Attell)
Ankur Bhatt	...	(uncredited)
Yuki Bird	...	Law School Student (uncredited)
Osa Danam	...	Hypnotized Woman (uncredited)
Bubba Da Skitso	...	Sitcom Actor (uncredited)
Diana Kyle	...	Hypnotized Woman (uncredited)
Chene Lawson	...	Law Student #1 (uncredited)
Kirsten Maryott	...	Dani (uncredited)
David Mehl	...	Hypnotized Guest (uncredited)
P. David Miller	...	Sleeping Woman's Husband (uncredited)
Wayne Roadie	...	Law Student (uncredited)
Franklin Ruehl	...	Diner (uncredited)
Lawrence J. Russo	...	Hotel Guest (uncredited)
Lorna Scott	...	Leesburg Virginia Woman (uncredited)
Paul Simon	...	Grateful Old Performer (uncredited)
Katherine VanderLinden	...	Law Student (uncredited)
Nate Witty	...	Law Student #2 (uncredited)

Directed by
Sean McGinly

Writing credits (WGA)
Sean McGinly		(written by)

Produced by
Marvin V. Acuna	....	executive producer (as Marvin Acuna)
Gary Goetzman	....	producer
Tom Hanks	....	producer
Steve Shareshian	....	executive producer (as Steven Shareshian)
Ginger Sledge	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Blake Neely

Cinematography by
Tak Fujimoto		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Myron I. Kerstein		(as Myron Kerstein)

Casting by
Jeanne McCarthy

Production Design by
Gary Frutkoff

Art Direction by
Tristan Paris Bourne		(as Tristan P. Bourne)

Set Decoration by
Linda Lee Sutton		(as Linda Sutton-Doll)

Costume Design by
Johnetta Boone		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Karen Asano-Myers	....	hair stylist: Mr. Hanks, additional unit (as Karen Myers)
Bridget Cook	....	key hair stylist (as Bridget McNamara Vook)
Bill Corso	....	key makeup artist (as William Corso)
Nicole Frank	....	hair stylist (as Nicole J. Frank)
Nicole Frank	....	hair stylist: additional unit
Martina Kohl	....	makeup artist: additional unit
Kenny Myers	....	makeup artist: Mr. Hanks, additional unit
Cheryl Ann Nick	....	key makeup artist (as Cheryl Nick)
Carol Schwartz	....	makeup artist (as Carol Schwartz Maehl)
Vivian Baker	....	makeup artist: Mr. Hanks (uncredited)
Ginger Damon	....	hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Lis Kern	....	post-production supervisor
Ginger Sledge	....	unit production manager
Graham Stumpf	....	post-production supervisor
Lila Yacoub	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Rosemary C. Cremona	....	key second assistant director (as Rosemary Cremona)
Peter Dress	....	second second assistant director
Vincent Palmo Jr.	....	first assistant director (as Vincent N. Palmo Jr.)

Art Department
Mike Blaze	....	property master: additional unit
Susannah Carradine	....	art department coordinator
Bob Cervi	....	set dresser
Kevin Chambers	....	set dresser
Nicki Cohen	....	buyer
Tim Donelan	....	set dresser
Doug DuRose	....	assistant property master
Marcus Epps	....	on-set dresser
Don Kaeding	....	leadman (as Donald Kaeding)
Charles Kern	....	stand-by painter
David Lucene	....	draper
Dana McCall	....	assistant property master
Eugene McCarthy	....	property master
Anuradha Mehta	....	set decorator: additional unit (as Radha Metha)
Matthew Murphy	....	leadman: additional unit
Andre Sowards	....	on-set dresser: additional unit
Will Ziegenhorn	....	art department production assistant
Michael Keith Aleshire	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Nicole Dome	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Katherine Grace	....	layout board (uncredited)
Tracy A. Morris	....	buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
David A. Arnold	....	dialogue supervisor (as Dave Arnold)
Eric Bautista	....	sound utility (as Eric A. Bautista)
Gaston Biraben	....	dialogue editor
Rick Canelli	....	adr recordist
William Cawley	....	first assistant sound editor (as Bill Cawley)
Lucy Coldsnow-Smith	....	dialogue editor
Michael Dressel	....	foley supervisor
Robert Eber	....	sound mixer: additional unit (as Bob Eber)
Juno J. Ellis	....	adr supervisor
Jonathan Fuh	....	boom operator
José Antonio García	....	sound mixer (as Jose Antonio Garcia)
Robin Harlan	....	foley artist
Jason King	....	sound effects editor
Nicholas Vincent Korda	....	adr editor (as Nicholas V. Korda)
Lisa J. Levine	....	adr editor (as Lisa Levine)
Brian Magerkurth	....	sound recordist
Steve Mann	....	sound effects editor
Sarah Monat	....	foley artist
Alan Robert Murray	....	supervising sound editor
Kevin Murray	....	second assistant sound editor
Rupert Nadeau	....	adr assistant
Thomas J. O'Connell	....	adr mixer
Mark Pappas	....	foley editor
Steve Pederson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Bryan Pennington	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Brad Sherman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Randy Singer	....	foley recordist
Bruce Tanis	....	sound effects editor
Charles Hamilton	....	sound recordist (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
William L. Arance	....	visual effects supervisor: Film Roman
Brent M. Bowen	....	visual effects artist: Film Roman
Chadd B. Cole	....	visual effects supervisor: Film Roman
Carin Davis	....	visual effects producer: Film Roman
Harry Eisenstein	....	visual effects supervisor: Film Roman
Steven Fahey	....	compositing supervisor: Film Roman
Peter Gend	....	visual effects artist: Film Roman
Adam Klein	....	visual effects artist: Film Roman
Carol VanHook	....	visual effects artist: Film Roman
Andrea Yomtob	....	visual effects artist: Film Roman (as Andrea N. Yomtob)

Camera and Electrical Department
Brandon Ainsworth	....	best boy rigging electric
Randy Babchuck	....	rigging electric
Ron Batzdorff	....	still photographer: additional unit
Kenneth Bender	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Kenneth C. Bender)
Brian Cantrell	....	rigging electric
Kevin Chickanis	....	rigging grip
Loren Corl	....	key grip: additional unit
Donald D. Davidson	....	electrician (as Don D. Davidson)
Jerry C. Deats	....	key grip
R. Michael De Chellis	....	best boy electric: additional unit (as Michael De Chellis)
Sean Devine	....	dolly grip: "a" camera
Reggie Dominquez	....	camera loader
Robert Dudley	....	key rigging grip
Charles Ehrlinger	....	grip
Sammy Escobar	....	best boy grip: additional unit
Claire Farrand-Stone	....	camera loader (as Claire Farrand Stone)
Robbie Greenberg	....	director of photography: additional unit
Lisa Guerriero	....	second assistant camera: additional unit
Owen Hablutzel	....	grip (as O. Hablutzel)
Dan Hawking	....	rigging gaffer (as Daniel Hawking)
Douglas Henri	....	rigging grip
Mark Humphreys	....	camera loader
Jeffrey A. Johnson	....	best boy grip (as Jeffrey Johnson)
Matt Kubas	....	rigging electric
Jay Levy	....	first assistant camera: additional unit
Michael Lyon	....	electrician
Markus Mentzer	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Luis Moreno	....	best boy electric
Charles Papert	....	camera operator
James Plannette	....	gaffer: additional unit (as Jim Plannette)
Ron Santoyo	....	grip
Baird Steptoe	....	first assistant camera (as Baird B. Steptoe)
Tony Thomas	....	grip
Michael Tolochko	....	electrician
Jaimie Trueblood	....	still photographer
Richard Turner	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Scott Watkins	....	best boy rigging grip (as Scott D. Watkins)
Paul Wilkowsky	....	grip
Michael Woodside	....	electrician
Randy Woodside	....	gaffer
John Young	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Isaac McKee	....	lighting technician (uncredited)
Charles Papert	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Andrew Robison	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Riley Sidore	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Tony Varuola	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Nicole Abellera	....	casting associate
Joanne Bloom	....	casting assistant
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Carla Lewis	....	extras casting associate
Deedra Ricketts	....	extras casting
Leslie Woo	....	casting intern (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
David Dietch	....	costumer
Kendall Errair	....	on-set costumer
Juan Lopez	....	costume supervisor (as Juan A. Lopez)
Robert Mata	....	key costumer
Shelli Nishino	....	costumer
Stephanie Portnoy Porter	....	costume buyer (as Stephanie Portnoy)

Editorial Department
Bert Beatson	....	post-production runner
Mellissa Bretherton	....	first assistant editor (as Melissa Bretherton)
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Brandon Jones	....	editing production assistant
Paul Lavoie	....	digital post-production manager
Matt Maddox	....	second assistant editor
Mato	....	color timer
Alexis Seymour	....	first assistant editor
Jonas Thaler	....	post-production executive
Greg Thompson	....	first assistant editor
Brent White	....	additional editor
Tanner Bean	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Ryan Gomez	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Lacy Wittman	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)

Music Department
Josh Aberson	....	scoring assistant
Deva Anderson	....	music supervisor
Christine Bergren	....	music legal and clearance
Lindsay Fellows	....	music supervisor
James T. Hill	....	score recordist
James T. Hill	....	scoring mixer
Peter Myles	....	music editor
Elizabeth Neely	....	music studio manager
Northwest Sinfonia	....	musicians
Robert Puff	....	music preparation: Robert Puff Music
Delphine Robertson	....	music coordinator
David Sabee	....	conductor: Northwest Sinfonia
Andrew Silver	....	music editor
Michael D. Simon	....	scoring assistant

Transportation Department
Michael Bangs	....	transportation co-captain (as Mike Bangs)
Stephan Brooks	....	driver (as Stephen Brooks)
Lewis Burnett	....	driver
Paulie DiCocco	....	driver: John Malkovich
William Dreher	....	driver (as William T. Dreher)
Jay Galloway	....	driver
Don Joseph	....	driver
Robert Kitterman Jr.	....	driver
Craig Lietzke	....	driver
Tom Lyons	....	transportation captain (as Thomas Lyons)
Luis Mata	....	driver
Joel Renfro	....	transportation coordinator (as Joel A. Renfro)
Kirk Roberts	....	driver
German Rodriguez	....	driver
Michael 'Bud' Ruben	....	driver (as Michael Ruben)
Scott Sampson	....	driver
Adam Segen	....	driver
John Simanovich	....	transportation co-captain
James Westdorpe	....	driver (as James Westdorp)
L. Chip Crosby Jr.	....	additional driver (uncredited)
Miguel Lozano	....	driver (uncredited)
Mike Ortiz	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Lance Baily	....	set production assistant
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances
Tony Clark	....	magic consultant
Kyle Cooper	....	title designer
Lisa Curtis	....	assistant production coordinator (as Lisa Joelle Curtis)
Shelly Darden	....	assistant: Mr. Malkovich (as Shelly M. Darden)
Jose De Jesus Garcia	....	assistant chef
Allison Diamond	....	assistant: Mr. Hanks
Derek Doneen	....	set production intern
Ryan Ebelt	....	production assistant
Annette Encinas	....	payroll accountant
Elif Erginer	....	location assistant
Anne Marie Feldman	....	first assistant accountant: additional unit
Evan Feuerman	....	assistant post-production accountant
Jessica Franks	....	set production assistant
Tiffany Fraser	....	post-production accountant
Mario Gilbert	....	key assistant location manager: additional unit
Nathan Christopher Glass	....	assistant chef
Armando Gonzalez	....	assistant chef
Jeff Gross	....	production resources
Jill Hahn	....	second assistant accountant (as Jill K. Hahn)
Tory Haljun	....	assistant: Mr. Goetzman
Cate Hardman	....	script supervisor
Justin W. Hill	....	key assistant location manager
Meredith Humbracht	....	production coordinator
Jose G. Hurtado	....	assistant chef
Barry Hutchins	....	craft service
Suzanne Januszewski	....	production assistant
Douglas Jones	....	senior physical production executive
Christian Laffey	....	production assistant
Jackie Levine	....	production executive
Brandon Linville	....	first assistant accountant
Jim Meenaghan	....	business & legal affairs executive
Aaron Millar	....	location scout
Jennifer Mosley	....	production assistant
Tara Norris	....	assistant: Mr. McGinly
Robert Paulsen	....	key assistant location manager
Sally Potters	....	production secretary (as Sally Jean Potters)
Eric Quijano	....	assistant: Mr. Shareshian
Sooki Raphael	....	assistant: Mr. Hanks
Brennan Reynolds	....	production assistant
Kevin Roy	....	set production assistant (as Kevin Thomas Roy)
Sara Scarritt	....	production coordinator: additional unit
Alex Schwartz	....	production executive
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances: Entertainment Clearances
Julie Shimer	....	assistant: Mr. Goetzman
Deborah Simmrin	....	publicist
Kelly Snyder	....	production accountant (as Kelly A. Snyder)
Emre Sonmez	....	location manager
Mollie Stallman	....	key set production assistant
Mylan Stepanovich	....	physical production executive
Kim Thio	....	set medic
Marsha Trainer	....	second second assistant accountant
Joshua C. Van Ermen	....	craft service assistant
Derek Weil	....	set production intern
Taylor Zerbey	....	production intern
John Butterfield	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Orlando Chongo	....	craft service (uncredited)
Natasha Delahunt	....	background coordinator (uncredited)
Seth Kleinberg	....	producer: main titles (uncredited)
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer (uncredited)
Michael Lippert	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Joey Rivera	....	craft service (uncredited)
Sven Zuege	....	designer/animator main titles: Prologue Films (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Bristol Bay Productions
• Playtone
• Great Buck Productions

Distributors

• CTV International (2009) (France) (theatrical)
• Long Shong Entertainment Multimedia Company (2007) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• Magnolia Pictures (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
• Culture Publishers (CP) (2009) (Japan) (DVD)
• Ledafilms (2009) (Mexico) (TV)
• Magnolia Home Entertainment (2009) (USA) (DVD)
• Odeon (2009) (Greece) (all media)
• RCV Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• VVS Films (2009) (Canada) (all media)

Special Effects

• Film Roman Productions (visual effects) (as Film Roman)
• Pacific Title (opticals)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Chef Robért Catering  catering
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• FotoKem Film and Video  post-production and digital film services
• Headquarters Casting  extras casting
• Hollywood-DI  HD Screening Services
• J.L. Fisher  camera support
• LaserPacific  HD on-line
• Pacific Title  titles
• Prologue Films  main titles
• Robert Puff Music  music preparation
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  sound editing & re-recording facility
• Widget Post Production  sound post-production

MPAA:

Rated PG for some language including suggestive remarks, and a drug reference.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG | Singapore:PG | France:U | Netherlands:6

Filming Locations:

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

Company:

Bristol Bay Productions

Trivia:

Kevin Kline was originally going to play Buck Howard. Colin Hanks stated this in an interview at the premiere of Zathura: A Space Adventure (2005).

Goofs:

Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): While talking about Star Trek, Buck says "May the force be in you". This is one of the famous lines of Star Wars movies, not Star Trek.

Movie Connections:

References "The Jerry Springer Show" (1991)

Enjoyable all-ages movie

I just saw this movie at SIFF. It was well-cast and entertaining. Colin Hanks, Adam Scott, and John Malkovich were especially enjoyable to watch. It is a comedy, but it was written and performed in such a way that I cared about the characters. It was funny and interesting so time flew because I was engaged in the plot. It is appropriate and appealing to a wide age range, and I would have felt comfortable going with my grandmother or my 12-year-old cousin. I especially recommend this movie to families or couples who are just getting to know each other because it will give you something to talk about afterward without ever making you feel uncomfortable or embarrassed. It is not action packed but if you enjoyed "Lars and the Real Girl" or "Little Miss Sunshine," you will probably like "The Great Buck Howard."