A New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman who has two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband.A New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman who has two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband.A New England couple's college-aged son dates an older woman who has two small children and an unwelcome ex-husband.
- Nominated for 5 Oscars
- 39 wins & 75 nominations total
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThere were 15 takes of Sissy Spacek slapping Marisa Tomei. The final version of the film used the first take.
- GoofsIn several scenes, the Fowlers are drinking Moxie soda, a brand most people think disappeared in the 1950s. It still exists in Maine and a few other locations around northern New England.
- Quotes
Matt: You wanna know why our son is dead? You really wanna know? He was with her not because of me. He went there because of you. Yes he did, because you are so... controlling, so... overbearing... so angry... that he was it! That he was our only one!
Ruth: That is not true!
Matt: Oh, yes it is. Yes it is. Even when he was a kid, you were telling him how, how he was always wrong. Oh! I remember. Uh... one time you yanked him out of a Little League game. And sent him home. For throwing his, his glove in the dirt. He was what? Nine years old.
[long pause]
Matt: Everything he did... was wrong. Well, what was wrong with him, Ruth?
[long pause]
Matt: You're... you're so... unforgiving. You are. That's what he said. And you're pulling the same shit with me. And that's a horrible way to be, it's horrible. You're bitter, Ruth. And you can point your finger at me all you like, but you better take a damn good look at yourself.
- Crazy creditsGraham Leader gratefully acknowledges ... Ann, Kira & Saks.
Todd Field's film is about a college freshman home for the summer who is dating a soon-to-be-divorced mother many years his senior. This relationship causes a rift between his mother and father, especially after a serious tragedy occurs affecting their lives forever.
The film has a good cast of underrated and underused actors and I feel like they all did a good job in particular Tom Wilkinson and Sissy Spacek. Spacek shows an emotional side to herself, which is perfectly normal as any mother would show. Wilkinson however keeps a calm reserve state of mind, but the end of the movie is his show. Nick Stahl also did a decent job, and likewise for Marisa Tomei.
Overall, In the Bedroom is a slow-moving, but very effective movie that relies upon its characters more than anything else. The film is emotional, but sometimes the film shows different takes on getting to that state of mind. An incredibly strong script as well as fantastic acting makes this film a worthy watch. But beware of the tepid pace, as only serious film-goers may appreciate this kind of pace.
My Grade: A
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $1,700,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $35,930,604
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $93,972
- Nov 25, 2001
- Gross worldwide
- $44,763,181
- Runtime2 hours 11 minutes
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1