Starring :Keanu Reeves, Vincent D'Onofrio, Tilda Swinton, Vince Vaughn, Lou Taylor Pucci, Kelli Garner, Benjamin Bratt
Director: Mike Mills
Screenwriter: Mike Mills
Story Source: The Walter Kirn novel
Production Company: Bull's Eye Entertainment
Premise: A nervous teen with a major thumb-sucking problem seeks help from an orthodontist (Keanu Reeves) and a high-school debate coach in Thumbsucker, based on a novel by Walter Kim and adapted and directed by first-timer Mike Mills.
This could be great , Mike Mills is responsible for the following videos:
1996-mar Men in black Frank Black
1997-jun Hey hey you say Pappas Fritas
1998-jan Sexy boy Air
1998 Legacy Mansun
1998-jun Kelly, watch the stars Air
1998-sep Party hard Pulp
1998-nov Afrodiziak Bran Van 3000
1998-dec All I need Air
1999-may Run on Moby
1999-aug Le soleil est près de moi Air
Quote from: cronopioPremise: A nervous teen with a major thumb-sucking problem seeks help from an orthodontist (Keanu Reeves) and a high-school debate coach in Thumbsucker
I don't know about you guys, but it's been a dream of mine ever since I was 1 month old to see a thumb-sucking movie.
dunno about the plot, but it has a good cast.
Trailer's up
http://www.ifilm.com/ifilmdetail/2676660
Looks like it could go either-or, but im in.
edit: I just found out that Mike Mills is the director of that volkswagon commercial that was shown in theaters before "Punch-Drunk" that got us all saying, "I can't fuckin wait for this flick!"
"Bubble Boy" can be seen here, along with numerous other Mike Mills gems: http://www.thedirectorsbureau.com/archive_vault/mills/archpop_mm_all.asp
I saw Thumbsucker at the Berlin film festival in the beginning of this year. I really liked it. The plot is very captivating, and the part played by Keanu Reeves is hilarious.
It will be great fun to watch it a second time.
When I first saw the plot I thought it looked kind of dumb, but seeing that trailer, I think this could be really good.
Quote from: andrigoI saw Thumbsucker at the Berlin film festival in the beginning of this year. I really liked it. The plot is very captivating, and the part played by Keanu Reeves is hilarious.
It will be great fun to watch it a second time.
u are awesome. introduce urself (http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=2&start=330)
Quote from: Pubricku are awesome. introduce urself (http://xixax.com/viewtopic.php?t=2&start=330)
Done. Thanks for telling me about that thread buddy :)
Ha ha ha!
When director Mike Mills began considering the music that would underscore his coming-of-age teen dramedy "Thumbsucker," he remembered a similar, albeit darker film: Hal Ashby's 1971 classic comedy, "Harold and Maude," which was scored entirely by singer/songwriter Cat Stevens.
Known primarily for his imaginative music videos for '90s hipsters (Air, Cibo Matto, Jon Spencer Blues Explosion), his graphic design and album art (Beastie Boys, Sonic Youth) and his affiliation with Spike Jonze's skate video crew, Mills was originally pegged as an ironist, but hopes the raw and emotional nature of "Thumbsucker" will clear the misconception.
Influenced by Ashby's movie, Mills sought a contemporary analogue to Stevens' folk-inflected songs, and settled upon indie-rock auteur Elliott Smith, who died of an apparent suicide in 2003 (see "Singer/Songwriter Elliott Smith Dead; Friends, Fellow Musicians Pay Tribute"). Before Smith's death, the director approached the singer about scoring his debut film, and to his surprise, the reclusive Smith agreed.
"Elliott has always been an artistic hero of mine," Mills said from his home in Los Angeles, noting that he'd met Smith in 2000, when he designed the artwork for the singer's "Happiness" single. "I gave him the script and I was shocked that he liked it and wanted to work on it."
Then Smith, who had well-documented bouts with substance abuse, dropped from sight at around the same time Mills cast the film and began shooting in Portland, Oregon (ironically, Smith's former hometown). Coincidentally, by the time Mills had completed shooting the film, Smith began his recovery.
"I gave the script to him, and then he dropped off the face of the earth," Mills said. "He went through his whole crazy time, but by the time I was done with the film, he was making From a Basement on a Hill [which was released posthumously last year] and I was shocked that he was actually making music."
The two reconnected and Mills screened a working version of the film for an enthusiastic Smith. The plan to score the film was revived, only this time the pair came up with the idea of recording a series of covers. "We didn't even know if we could possibly afford getting all the rights to the music," Mills said, noting that Smith had planned to cover Leonard Cohen's "Sisters of Mercy" and an unspecified Neil Young song. "But that was the goal. It was just a crazy idea, but Elliott was so into it."
Smith was no stranger to soundtrack work: He garnered an Oscar nomination for his work on Gus Van Sant's 1997 film "Good Will Hunting" and was approached by Wes Anderson to record Beatles covers for "The Royal Tenenbaums," though the collaboration never came to fruition (the film did use Smith's composition "Needle in the Hay"). The singer gave Mills a version of Big Star's ballad "Thirteen" (previously released only as a snippet in the Jem Cohen short film "Lucky Three") and "Let's Get Lost," a track that would eventually surface on Basement.
In the last few weeks of Smith's life, he completed a cover of Cat Stevens' "Trouble" for the soundtrack, which is believed to be one of the last songs he ever recorded. According to Mills, Smith also began work on a version of John Lennon's "Isolation" before he passed away.
Distraught over Smith's death and left in the lurch for his soundtrack, the filmmaker attended a show by the Polyphonic Spree — a group that includes a 20-odd-member chorus and performs wearing choral robes — that left him electrified and inspired.
"[The show] really changed all the molecules in my body!" he enthused. "Their performance just made me feel like, 'Why not be happy? Why aren't you choosing to be positive?' I walked out of the theater and [felt], 'That's what I want people to feel like in the film.' "
Galvanized, Mills approached Spree leader Tim Delaughter about picking up where Smith had left off. Soon, the pair were creating a new vision for the film that would combine Smith's vocal songs with the Spree's choral-driven orchestrations.
"They rescued me, big time," Mills said of the Spree. "In more ways than one — personally and the film's emotion. They provided the glue for the film."
To Mills, the balance of Smith's emotionally vulnerable covers and the Polyphonic Spree's inspiring score was the perfect balance for the film's tone. "The Spree is a lot darker than people [think], and Elliott was a lot more positive than most people associate him with being, and in a way they're both very Beatles-influenced, so it's all in a musical family."
"Thumbsucker" is due in theaters September 16; the soundtrack will arrive three days earlier and includes alternate and unreleased Polyphonic Spree tracks not featured in the film
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1507697/20050816/smith_elliott.jhtml?headlines=true
Looks a bit Garden State self-conscious Indie Using-special-techniques-for-the-sake-of-it to me. But ill give it a try.
I saw it today. It's really great in a lot of ways. The plot is really disjointed and episodic and probably way too long, but I didn't really mind at all while I was watching it. There's some really exquisite material in it, and stylistically it very rarely feels self conscious (a la Garden State). There's some really gorgeous photography too (with a few PDL style lens flairs to boot).
Lou Pucci is really awesome. He was good in Chumscrubber too, but that movie was pretty bad overall - he reminds me a lot of Johnny Depp in this movie.
So: :yabbse-thumbup:
A good portion of the Polyphonic Spree were at the press screening. Every now and then they'd start quietly humming along to their music - it was kinda funny.
Quote from: Director Mike Mills'Why not be happy? Why aren't you choosing to be positive?'
something really bugs me about the director working with Elliott Smith to do the soundtrack and deciding after his death 'why not be happy' and going in the COMPLETE other direction. i mean, its understandable but its still fucked up.
Quote from: GhostboyThere's some really gorgeous photography too (with a few PDL style lens flairs to boot).
Funny, but I was thinking since it was predominantly natural photography and had a high school setting, it reminded me a bit of Elephant.
Quote from: modageQuote from: Director Mike Mills'Why not be happy? Why aren't you choosing to be positive?'
something really bugs me about the director working with Elliott Smith to do the soundtrack and deciding after his death 'why not be happy' and going in the COMPLETE other direction. i mean, its understandable but its still fucked up.
i thought he said he was going in that positive direction originally, making mention in the article that elliot smith can be positive with a little darkness, and then went over the edge to way-positive after elliot snuffed it and he heard the polyspree.
I didnt really get a kick out of the trailer but I've got to hear Elliot Smith sing 'Trouble'. Its another one of those songs that are perfect for his voice like previous covers of 'Waterloo Sunset' and 'Jealous Guy'. Any new material by him has to be savoured.
http://www.cutthechord.com/ElliottSmith-Trouble_unmastered.mp3
Thanks ®edlum, Ive been listening to this like crazy...
Quote from: 72teethThanks ®edlum, Ive been listening to this like crazy...
Yes, I would like to thank you as well. That song really does fit his voice excellently.
i just saw a thing on IFC for this movie and it looks really good actually. i'll probably just rent it though.
edit: i think i'm gonna see this soon.
on iTunes you can only buy the Elliott Smith songs by album, not by track. EVERY other song you can buy individually though. THIS PISSES ME OFF. see what happens when i try to buy music legally?
Here's my interview (http://www.road-dog-productions.com/reviews/archives/2005/09/a_conversation_4.html) with the director and star of Thumbsucker I'm afraid its length is rather inversely related to its informative quality, but I'm not a professional journalist and am somewhat obsessed with providing (almost) full transcriptions of these conversations. It's sorta like screenwriting practice, in a way.
i just saw this. it was good-ish, probably more of a rental though. i thought it had some really good parts sprinkled througout but more of a 'well, thats promising (actor/director/etc.)' than a 'i'd pay $12 to see that again!' C+
the last part was good, but it was a pretty boring film at times, and the camera being on the tripod for most of the film didn't help. it was way too familiar and predictable, though the acting was great all around. the entire middle part where he was on ritalin was highly unnecesasry and bland.
You're glib, Pete. Do you even know what ritalin is?
Quote from: petethe entire middle part where he was on ritalin was highly unnecesasry and bland.
i agree and i think you're totally right. that's exactly when the film lost its pace. it started to drag on a bit. but it was okay. a "good-ish" film.
Quote from: Ultrahip Lobster SupperYou're glib, Pete. Do you even know what ritalin is?
you're ritalin do you even glib what know is?
I think I'm probably going to be alone on this one, but I just got back from this and loved it.
for samsong...
Title: Thumbsucker
Released: 24th January 2006
SRP: $26.96
Further Details:
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has released artwork for Thumbsucker which stars Keanu Reeves, Tilda Swinton and Lou Pucci. The film tells the story of a teenager who still sucks his thumb. Realizing it's totally disrupting his home, love and school love life, he allows his orthodontist to break him of the habit through hypnosis. Justin begins to experiment with prescription drugs, pot and sex as alternate means to overcome his anxieties and become "normal," never realizing normal is just a state of mind. The disc will be available to own from the 24th January, and should retail at around $26.96. As well as an anamorphic widescreen transfer and English Dolby Digital 5.0 track, the disc will include an audio commentary with writer/director Mike Mills and preview trailers. The official region one package artwork is attached below:
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.xixax.com%2Fimages%2Fdvd%2Fthumbsuckerdvd.jpg&hash=86d4d5e390c59ed5f1590a509d1718c1058d912a)
Who keeps hiring this graphic designer? First Me And You and now this...
Mike Mills is an accomplished designer, so he may have done it himself.
Quote from: Chester R. Rubarb on December 06, 2005, 09:29:39 PM
Mike Mills is an accomplished designer, so he may have done it himself.
mike mills didn't do this cover art nor me and you's... these are both a sony release - i recently read an artist statement of sorts by miranda july informing that she had no input on the dvd design - it look as if the same sony design guys did the thumbsucker dvd as well... heres a bit from the publication --
"...I don't like to look at the actual DVD cover because, unlike the movie, it does not reflect my soul. I know it is not unusual for the director to have no participation in the DVD cover design, but I have these personal standards that, as it turns out, are totally unrelated to the way this business works. Luckily the folks at IFC and Sony have agreed to let me re-design the cover for the next batch of DVDs. In fact, it is going to be a complete do-over, with different (director-approved) extras on the disc as well. I am very relieved because I lost many hours of sleep over the whole thing, especially the tag-line on the back cover: The person you've been waiting to find is waiting to be found. I would lay in bed at night wondering who had come up with this line and how it had ended up on something that was mine. No offense to the person at Sony who thought it up, there is nothing bad about it in and of itself. But for me it is like wearing someone else's hair on my head. Oh Sony Tag-line Writer, you probably have no idea how much I would have loved to talk to you and your friend in graphic design. If you two are reading this now then please contact me through secretary@mirandajuly.com. I promise we won't talk about the tag-line or the cover design, because that's water under the bridge, but maybe we can talk about our hopes and dreams for an industry where great care is given to every step of the process."
I think I love her, she sounds so nice.
Great little article/publication cowboy.
yeah i read that a few weeks ago in her charming blog.
This movie by Mike Mills makes Miranda July look like the pretentious filmmaker she really is. Me & You was so damn over-rated.
They're both first films but this one delivered in a much, much bigger way than Me & You. Thumbsucker is indie but it isn't too self-concious in it's indie style. Unlike Me & You or I Heart Huckabee's, it's authentic without being off the wall just for the sake of being off the wall. If it does have any quirky touches, they're not big enough to take you out of the story. Maybe I'm alone here, but Thumbsucker was one of the better indie movies I've seen in a while.
Pucci was great.
yeah you're pretty alone. I mean, really, how was Me and You that off the wall? Did it have Keanu Reeves falling off his bike? The NYPD Blues guy mocking himself? Thumbsuckers was like First Indie Film 101, with a list of things that everyone's seen somewhere else.
Quote from: pete on January 24, 2006, 04:11:23 PM
Thumbsuckers was like First Indie Film 101, with a list of things that everyone's seen somewhere else.
Thumbsucker does have story and character elements that we've seen before, but the film was done unassumingly, without a tone of self-importance. The theme of wanting to relieve the ennui of suburbia is subtext, and it doesn't pretend that its a brilliant enough insight to be the main theme.
I liked it for one viewing. I probably wouldn't watch it again since it does tread familiar ground and the treatment wasn't all that great. But I don't feel as strongly about the familiarity of the material as you do.
The film is disjointed. It almost felt like three movies instead of three acts of the same movie. Maybe it was because Justin goes through such clearly demarcated phases that seem to end abruptly so that the next phase can begin.
This is a truley wonderful film. I really connected with the story and the characters. There are so many beautiful moments. It's just plain good.
Quote from: Anonymous Joe on December 06, 2005, 09:29:39 PM
Mike Mills is an accomplished designer, so he may have done it himself.
If you're familiar with Mike Mills' work at all, you would not have said that. It's almost a slap in the face really...
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Edit:
I believe this is Mike's
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fboroworks.brinkster.net%2Fmusse%2Fmikemillsposter.jpg&hash=f0b99c6ee58340eafac32b6a82c8d0e3a5b7e9b5)
&
(https://xixax.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fboroworks.brinkster.net%2Fmusse%2Fmikemillscd.jpg&hash=8bd4e8b502f9635cdefb29781ead44d31f2f3f80)
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QuoteThis is a truley wonderful film. I really connected with the story and the characters. There are so many beautiful moments. It's just plain good.
Totally agree. I favor this more than me,you&everyone. However, I enjoyed Michael Andrews' score more.
this was okay. good performances, under developed characters. its marketed as a coming of age movie where we really get into the minds of the parents, but D'Onofrio's character, despite his best efforts, is pretty one dimensional.
the movie works best when it uses just music and images to move the plot forward, rather than relying on boring exposition to let us know how the characters feel. this results in a few inspired moments of filmmaking (i specifically remember a thirty second sequence where justin starts winning, all over the polyphonic spree music, that is particularly well-done) and i really wish mills went down this avenue a little more. ultimately pete says it best:
Quote from: pete on September 26, 2005, 06:29:05 PM
it was way too familiar and predictable.
throw-away indie flick.