Tuesday, June 17, 2008

The Life of Mr. Willow

Author(s): JG
Location: NY

"The Life of Mr. Willow"

Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
Written by: Charlie Kaufman
Music by: Thomas Newman

Main Cast
Ryan Gosling as David Willow
Natalie Portman as Gabby Willow
Ed Harris as John Poldman
Marcia Gay Harden as Shelly Gripes
Heath Ledger as Richard Mundon

Tagline: "Some things are never certain"

Synopsis: David Willow is a poor man who works hard everyday to support himself, his wife Gabby, and their young son. He is caring, loving, and an all around good guy. He works as a construction worker at a power plant in New Jersey and struggles to make ends meet. One winter, David develops a terrible cough and begins having severe chest pains. When he visits a free clinic, a doctor named Shelly Gripes diagnoses him with lung cancer. She tells him that the cancer has already started to spread and that the chances of him surviving this are not likely. However, David is a fighter and decides he will try to battle it anyway. He begins undergoing chemotherapy and puts his entire paycheck toward the costly cancer treatments. Soon after, David goes into debt, sparking heated arguments between him and Gabby. Eventually, Gabby gets fed up with David spending most of their income on himself and walks out on him with their son. To make matters even worse, David is evicted from his apartment and is forced to rely on a homeless shelter for a place to sleep. One day at work, David suddenly collapses and is rushed to a local emergency room by his co-worker and only friend, Richard Mundon. After undergoing a series of tests, the doctors determine that David's breakdown was just due to malnutrition and lack of sleep. They also tell him that he has been mistaken and does not have lung cancer. As a result, David brings Shelly Gripes to trial and is appointed lawyer John Poldman, a diligent man who is passionate about his job. Together, they try to fight for justice, but as a poor man, David faces many problems and is not given the respect he deserves. The case soon becomes a nationwide matter and turns into one of the biggest court cases in recent American history.

What the Press would say:
Steven Soderbergh directs this contemporary masterpiece about a man living in poverty. The story takes us through the life of David Willow (Ryan Gosling) and how he struggles with paying the rent, keeping his family together, and a deadly disease. Ryan Gosling delivers a heartbreaking performance, perfectly illustrating his character's strengths, weaknesses, fears, and emotions. He makes it hard for audiences not to feel compassionate toward the way his life turns out. Natalie Portman turns in a stellar performance as David Willow's cold-hearted wife Gabby who shows no signs of care or consideration toward David during his difficult times. Ed Harris offers remarkable support as David's tough and stubborn lawyer John Poldman, while Marcia Gay Harden gives a powerful performance as the aggressive doctor who changes David's life forever. The film truly delivers with its incredible cast, touching story, and unpredictability. It is sure to be a main contender for the upcoming awards season.

For Your Consideration:
Best Picture
Best Director: Steven Soderbergh
Best Actor: Ryan Gosling
Best Actress: Natalie Portman
Best Supporting Actor: Ed Harris
Best Supporting Actress: Marcia Gay Harden
Best Original Screenplay: Charlie Kaufman
Best Cinematography
Best Film Editing
Best Original Song
Best Original Score

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