Joshua

September 19th, 2007







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Joshua

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Still of Sam Rockwell and Jacob Kogan in JoshuaStill of Jacob Kogan in JoshuaSam Rockwell at event of JoshuaStill of Sam Rockwell in JoshuaStill of Sam Rockwell in JoshuaStill of George Ratliff and Jacob Kogan in Joshua

Plot
The arrival of a newborn girl causes the gradual disintegration of the Cairn family; particularly for 9-year-old Joshua (Kogan), an eccentric boy whose proper upbringing and refined tastes both take a sinister turn.

Release Year: 2007

Rating: 5.9/10 (6,479 voted)

Critic's Score: 69/100

Director: George Ratliff

Stars: Sam Rockwell, Vera Farmiga, Jacob Kogan

Storyline
The Cairn's life seems to be a harmonic family: The father Brad works as a stockbroker, his wife Abby takes care of their common new-born daughter Lily, and the 9-year-old Joshua is high-talented. But the appearances are deceptive. Joshua becomes gradual jealously, that his parents give the baby more attention than him. Therefore he begins to terrorize his family.

Writers: David Gilbert, George Ratliff

Cast:
Sam Rockwell - Brad Cairn
Vera Farmiga - Abby Cairn
Celia Weston - Hazel Cairn
Dallas Roberts - Ned Davidoff
Michael McKean - Chester Jenkins
Jacob Kogan - Joshua Cairn
Nancy Giles - Betsy Polsheck
Linda Larkin - Ms. Danforth
Alex Draper - Stewart Slocum
Stephanie Roth Haberle - Pediatrician
Ezra Barnes - Fred Solomon
Jodie Markell - Ruth Solomon
Rufus Collins - Henry Abernathy
Haviland Morris - Monique Abernathy
Tom Bloom - Joe Cairn

Taglines: The story of a perfect boy who had a perfect plan.



Details

Official Website: Official site | Official soundtrack site |

Release Date: 19 September 2007

Filming Locations: New York City, New York, USA

Opening Weekend: $51,233 (USA) (8 July 2007) (6 Screens)

Gross: $478,492 (USA) (5 August 2007)



Technical Specs

Runtime:



Did You Know?

Trivia:
The note that Joshua leaves for his father reads: "Dad,/Eaten lunch already/and gone to/The Brooklyn Museum of Art/having fun with Nunu and Lily." If you arrange the first letter of each line in order, it reveals an acrostic for "Death."

Goofs:
Revealing mistakes: When Brad tries to seduce Abby in their bedroom, the peak meter of the baby monitor indicates that Lily is still screaming on top of her lungs, when she is actually sleeping peacefully.

Quotes:
Abby Cairn: Mommy is just being silly. Hormones.
Joshua Cairn: What -mones?



User Review

Clearly not what the ignorant masses were expecting

Rating: 8/10

I had been waiting quite impatiently for the release of Joshua from the moment I saw the trailer. Unlike the people who walked out of the theater, I was not disappointed. But that doesn't mean you won't be. Joshua is clearly not a movie for the everyman and it never really tries to be.

It is a story about a boy who longs to be understood by parents who choose to watch from the sidelines. The previews made the boy seem like he was just a creepy weirdo, but it becomes obvious quite quickly why he is the way he is. Joshua tells his father that he does not like soccer and baseball. In an attempt to seem open-minded and understanding, his father tells him that it's okay and that he should just do what he wants (without ever asking exactly what it is that his son wants). His mother just doesn't care as long as she's not bothered.

Dark, disturbing, creepy, but occasionally sadistically humorous, events unfold slowly (much to the dismay of people expecting shock after gratuitous shock) proving Joshua to be a far more calm and calculating boy than originally perceived. Jacob Kogan's performance is reminiscent of Haley Joel Osment in A.I. (if that character were a sadistic schemer). He is the only character who stands out and I believe this was intentional; the other characters can tell, right along with the audience, that the boy ain't quite right.

This movie is certainly not for the impatient and/or those who need to be smacked in the face repeatedly to stay awake during movies. But if you want a movie that slowly and coolly toys with your mind until the very end, Joshua will likely deliver what you are looking for.





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