Marvin's Room (1996)

User Rating:

6.6/10   

Director:

Jerry Zaks

Writers (WGA):

Scott McPherson (play)
Scott McPherson (screenplay)

Release Date:

8 February 1997 (Japan)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

A story about the years that keep us apart... And the moments that bring us together.

Plot:

A leukemia patient attempts to end a 20-year feud with her sister to get her bone marrow.

Plot Keywords:

Leukemia | Doctor | Fire | Transplant | Nursing Home

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 4 wins & 9 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Wed. Nov. 11	11:30 AM	SHOW
Fri. Nov. 20	1:30 PM	SHOW

Cast

Meryl Streep	...	Lee
Leonardo DiCaprio	...	Hank
Diane Keaton	...	Bessie
Robert De Niro	...	Dr. Wally
Hume Cronyn	...	Marvin
Gwen Verdon	...	Ruth
Hal Scardino	...	Charlie
Dan Hedaya	...	Bob
Margo Martindale	...	Dr. Charlotte
Cynthia Nixon	...	Retirement Home Director
Kelly Ripa	...	Coral
John Callahan	...	Lance
Olga Merediz	...	Beauty Shop Lady
Joe Lisi	...	Bruno
Steve DuMouchel	...	Gas Station Guy (as Steve Dumouchel)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements and brief language.

Runtime:

98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:PG-13 (certificate #34951) | South Korea:12 | Australia:M | Argentina:Atp | Austria:6 | Belgium:KT | Finland:S | France:U | Germany:6 (bw) | Mexico:B | Netherlands:AL | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:7 | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:PG | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Disney-MGM Studios, Walt Disney World, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA

Company:

Scott Rudin Productions

Trivia:

Hume Cronyn's final appearance in a theatrical film.

Goofs:

Continuity: As Meryl Streep’s character is packing her suitcase in a hurry, she grabs an article of clothing off the wall and the clock can be seen falling. In the next scene she is grabbing another article of clothing off the wall and the clock is back in place.

Quotes:

Lee: [to her son] My feelings for you, Hank, are like a big bowl of -
[sighs]
Lee: fish hooks. I can't just pick up one up at a time. I pick one up and they all come, so I just had to leave 'em alone.

Movie Connections:

Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Meryl Streep (2004) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Carousel Music

This family put the "dys" into "dysfunctional".

This is really the little movie that could. It is a very good film that likely got made only because Robert DeNiro co-produced it and thus had the clout to raise financing. With a script at different turns funny and wrenching and an exceptional cast that by and large does a great job playing a family that occasionally makes the Addams family look mundane, particularly Diane Keaton and Leonardo DiCaprio. Am I the only one who's noticed that DiCaprio does his best performances in little films (read: small-budget) that make up for limitations by, wonder of wonders, good scripts and perhaps more challenging roles. He can act; all too often he doesn't seem to want to from his selection of parts. Yes, I am talking about Titanic. Good movie, even if it isn't going to save the ozone layer or bring about world peace. It is an entertaining way to pass not quite two hours and it does have Hume Cronyn, whom I'd gladly have watched reading a newspaper and drinking coffee, he was so good. Well worth seeing. Recommended.