The Lazarus Project (2008)

Director:

John Glenn

Writers (WGA):

John Glenn (screenplay)
Evan Astrowsky (story)

Release Date:

24 October 2008 (Taiwan)

Genre:

Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Some realities have no escape

Plot:

A former criminal is drawn into a criminal endeavor and subsequently finds himself living an inexplicable new life working at a psychiatric facility.

Plot Keywords:

Lethal Injection | Second Chance | Oregon | Texas | Grim Reaper

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Paul Walker	...	Ben Garvey
Piper Perabo	...	Lisa Garvey
Brooklynn Proulx	...	Katie Garvey
Bob Gunton	...	Father Ezra
Lambert Wilson	...	Avery
Linda Cardellini	...	Julie Ingram
Tony Curran	...	William Reeds
Malcolm Goodwin	...	Robbie
Ross McMillan	...	Dr. James
Aaron Hughes	...	Caleb
Sean Skene	...	Orderly
John Callander	...	The Lineman
Shawn Hatosy	...	Ricky Garvey
Alex Sol	...	Phelps
Peter Jordan	...	Male Tech

Also Known As:

The Heaven Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some violence, disturbing images and thematic material.

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Company:

Be Good Productions

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ben Garvey is going out of the car, awaiting the tour from the priest, you see his shirt and jacket is soaking wet. In the next scene it is dry.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Katie Garvey: Daddy, what's the greatest thing you ever saw?
Ben Garvey: Greatest thing you ever saw. Umm. One time when I was a little boy, I was playing with my slingshot and I saw this Jaybird. I don't know why but I shot him.
Katie Garvey: You killed a birdie?
Ben Garvey: I didn't mean to. I don't even know why I shot at him, but I felt so bad, I started praying to God that he would come back. And all of a sudden the Jaybird woke up. He just flew away.
Katie Garvey: God saved him?
Ben Garvey: Yeah, I think so.

Uncle Sam will take care of you!

I didn't think too much of this movie after reading the plot, but fortunately there are these pleasant surprises. Although the story is very thin, I think the acting is great. Paul Walker, whom I did not know before, is very convincing and so are the other characters. The movie is a bit dark, gloomy and sometimes you will feel lost, just like the main character. Bob Gunton is great as a priest, you will love him as you love your granddad. Don't be surprised that you will hardly find a reference from the title to the actual story. I will have to see the movie again to find out if there is one. But one thing is very clear, this is a must see if you prefer acting above action.