Phenomenon (1996)

Director:

Jon Turteltaub

Writer (WGA):

Gerald Di Pego (written by)

Release Date:

3 July 1996 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Fantasy

Tagline:

Some things in life just can't be explained.

Plot:

An ordinary man sees a bright light descend from the sky, and discovers he now has super-intelligence and telekinesis.

Plot Keywords:

Light | Telekinesis | Bar | Birthday | Science

Awards:

7 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	George Malley
Kyra Sedgwick	...	Lace Pennamin
Forest Whitaker	...	Nate Pope
Robert Duvall	...	Doc Brunder
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Prof. John Ringold
Richard Kiley	...	Dr. Wellin
David Gallagher	...	Al Pennamin
Ashley Buccille	...	Glory Pennamin
Tony Genaro	...	Tito
Sean O'Bryan	...	Banes
Michael Milhoan	...	Jimmy
Troy Evans	...	Roger
Bruce A. Young	...	FBI Agent Jack Hatch (as Bruce Young)
Vyto Ruginis	...	Ted Rhome
Brent Spiner	...	Dr. Bob Niedorf

MPAA:

Rated PG for language and mild sensuality.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (FotoKem)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Netherlands:6 | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Philippines:G | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Austria:12 | Finland:S | Germany:12 | Peru:PT | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Auburn, California, USA

Company:

Touchstone Pictures

Trivia:

Nate Pope (Forest Whitaker) is an Amateur Radio operator with the call sign WB6QLF. QLF is amateur shorthand for "I am sending with my left foot", a reference to someone whose Morse Code sending skill is very bad. This is normally sent as a question "QLF?" meaning "Are you sending with your left foot?" to an operator who is very difficult to understand in Morse.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The signals George intercepts are not high speed Morse signals as he pretended but simple old-fashioned telex transmissions.

Quotes:

Doc: Every woman has her chair, something she needs to put herself into, Banes. You ever figure out what Lisa's chairs were and buy 'em?
[pause]
Doc: Nope. But, you're right about one thing, George never changed.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Be Kind Rewind (2008)

Soundtrack:

It's All Right

One of my all-time favorites.

This movie doesn't get the credit that it deserves. Travolta's speech at the end of the movie to the doctor is incredible. Rarely do I ever see a movie that acknowledges the value of a single human life like this movie does. Most movies glorify sacrifice. This movie glorifies life. I highly recommend it.