HOME ROOM

[Mike]

http://www.thezreview.co.uk/posters/posterimages/homeroom.jpg


Genre: Drama

PLOT:

When a teenager kills eight other high school students and himself in a school shooting, the detective (Garber) investigating the case targets a quiet, socially alienated girl, Alicia (Philipps) who was the only one present through the entire event who wasn't injured. The principal compels Alicia to go spend time with one of the few survivors, the popular Deanne (Christensen), which leads the two girls to bond through their shared experience of the horrors that happened in home room.


Release Date: September 5th, 2003 (Los Angeles, New York, Denver); expands to other cities at later dates


MPAA Rating: R for strong language and some violent images.

Running Time: 126 minutes

Distributor: DEJ Distribution

Starring: Erika Christensen, Victor Garber, Busy Philipps, Holland Taylor, Nathan West

Directed by: Paul F. Ryan

Awards: Audience Award for Best Film of Fest (2002 Santa Cruz Film Festival)

Distributor Note: (6/27/03) This is the first film to be released theatrically by DEJ Distribution, which is the in-house video production company of Blockbuster Video (where this film will eventually become a "Blockbuster Exclusive" upon its video release).


This sounds great and is one of my most anticipated movies opening in September. I'd have to say this would probably be my first pick of the month for wanting to see the most. I just wish it would go wide enough so I could go see it, but unfortunately, it probably won't :(. I will see it for sure on video though if I can't see it in theaters.

[Judge_Smails]

This will be my first pick also... sorry DICKIE ROBERTS!

Here's my story with this movie: I saw the first 30 minutes or so of HOME ROOM at a film festival, but then had to leave the theater (for an "emergency" that turned out to be nothing at all).

Anyway, when I finally got back to the theater the movie was over, but people were still outside raving about it. One woman was crying.

All I can tell you is the first thirty minutes started sort of slow, but then it really kicked-in and I've been dying to see the rest of it ever since!

This isn't a "teen movie" at all. And while I haven't seen THIRTEEN yet, I think that HOME ROOM is very different from it as well. It's actually a very quiet, restrained movie. It is clearly Erika Christensen's best work since TRAFFIC. Victor Garber, from ALIAS, was very good from the couple of scenes I saw. But the real story is going to be Busy Philipps. I promise you, come September, everyone is going to be talking about her. I didn't know who she was going into this film, but she absolutely commands the screen from the first moment you see her.

I know this won't be everybody's cup of tea. It's not like a film about a school shooting is going to be the "feel good movie" of the year. But I'm really looking forward to seeing this. All the way through, this time!!!

[dh1989]

Sounds very good.

[Mike]

Originally posted by Judge_Smails
Anyway, when I finally got back to the theater the movie was over, but people were still outside raving about it. One woman was crying.


Yeah, the advanced buzz has been great on this one. I'm really really looking forward to it. Thanks for sharing some stuff from your experience, it sounds great (well, not your experience with having to leave the theater and all, but the movie). Man, I would have been pissed if I had to leave for an emergency that ended up being nothing. Then on top of that, to come back and hear everyone raving about it. I would have been really ticked that I missed it.

[ilovemovies]

Well I liked Busy Phillips on Dawson's Creek (well, before her alcohole problem that is) and Erika Christenssen is a talented young actress as well. And Victor Garber rocks. The premise of the movie sounds promising so I hope I get to see it as well. I'm looking forward to it.

[XCoRyX]

this movie has potential to be GREAT...im seeing it..hopefully it plays around here.

[MadsenOMC]

I think it sounds like a very good movie, but is there really any buzz on it? I haven't seen a trailer, read a single review or seen any articles or stories on it anywhere.

[XCoRyX]

i just read an article on it in the NY Daily News...and the trailers in joblos trailer section archives..

[Judge_Smails]

The following is a news article that ran today on Reuters about HOME ROOM. I think this sums up everything that is "right" with this movie...



School-Shooting Film a Hit at Columbine
Sun Aug 24, 8:00 PM ET

By Chris Gardner

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - For actress Erika Christensen (news) and director Paul Ryan, the biggest hurdle for their upcoming film "Home Room" has already been crossed.


This year, the duo traveled to Denver to screen the film -- a Columbine-inspired look at the aftermath of a high school shooting -- for the audience whose reaction they cared about most: the students, faculty and families touched by 1999's real-life incident in Littleton, Colo., which claimed the lives of 13 students and a teacher.


"I was scared as hell to take the movie there, to be honest," reveals first-time director Ryan. "I know I have a good movie, but it's different when you go to Columbine. I created a work of fiction and screened it for people who actually lived it and I can't conceive of there being a more important audience in all the world."


Taking the project to Colorado wasn't easy for Christensen either. "Going to Columbine was really scary," explains the "Traffic" actress, who stars in the under-$500,000 production together with Busy Phillips and Victor Garber (news).


"We just didn't know how they were going to react because even though it's been a couple of years since it happened, it's still relevant and fresh for them. When the movie ended, we were all bawling and hugging. They said that it's one of the most realistic movies about kids they've ever seen -- that's the best thing we could've possibly asked for."


Critics and audiences across the country are about to have their chance to offer an opinion as well, with the movie scheduled to reach theaters Sept. 5 courtesy of Blockbuster-arm DEJ Prods., marking the company's first foray into theatrical distribution.


"A girl came up to me after the screening who had a bullet in her leg put there by Dylan Klebold and she thanked me for making 'Home Room.' That had a huge emotional impact for me," Ryan recalls. "Obviously I want the movie to go out and be successful, but the hardest part is over."


Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

[CyclicNightmare]

Originally posted by ilovemovies
Well I liked Busy Phillips on Dawson's Creek (well, before her alcohole problem that is) and Erika Christenssen is a talented young actress as well. And Victor Garber rocks. The premise of the movie sounds promising so I hope I get to see it as well. I'm looking forward to it.

Busy is also amazing in the short-lived Freaks and Geeks. Damn I miss that show.

[XCoRyX]

i am soooo wanting to see this

[Judge_Smails]

I posted this in the "Current movies" thread also, but Victor Garber is scheduled to be on GOOD MORNING AMERICA tomorrow morning (Tuesday, Sept. 2nd) talking about HOME ROOM.

I know this because my TiVo told me so :)