A Doll's House

Authors: Lee
Location: New Jersey

"A Doll's House"
A Suspenseful Take on Henrik Ibsen's Classic Play

Distributed by: Focus Features
Directed by: Kenneth Lonergan
Written by: Kenneth Lonergan
Produced by: George Clooney

Principal Cast:

Nora Helmer: Laura Linney
Torvald Helmer: George Clooney
Dr. Rank: Ralph Fiennes
Mrs. Christine Linde: Emily Watson
Nils Krogstad: Robert Downey Jr.
Anne: Patricia Clarkson

Tagline: "Discomfort exists, even in the comfort of your own home"

Synopsis: Kenneth Lonergan (You Can Count On Me, Margaret) teams up once again with Academy Award nominee, Laura Linney for this glorious "A Doll's House," a contemporary adaptation of the classic play by Henrik Ibsen. George Clooney stars as Torvald Helmer, a controlling man who calls his wife "his little song-bird," and has her trapped in their home as his personal call-girl. Torvald beats Nora, and scolds her in public, and treats her like a whore.

The role of Mrs. Christine Linde (a former schoolmate of Nora's, is played by the Oscar nominee, Emily Watson; the moral center of the story, Dr. Rank (who is both Torvald's doctor as well as a love interest for Nora is played by Ralph Fiennes, and Robert Downey Jr., stars as Krogstad, (the man who bribes Nora with her dirty secret). Lastly, in a touching and poingant role, Patricia Clarkson stars as Anne, Nora's long-time nurse and family friend.

In addition to a more crisp and concise script by Mr. Lonergan, and the edginess and sexiness of this work, "A Doll's House," differs from the original play in how it ends. In the original, Nora leaves Helmer at the end of the play for freedom. Here, she escapes for that purpose as well, but also, to be with Dr. Rank, (whom she has had a love for many years).

Lonergan's film is much edgier, sexier and raw than the play itself, and other previous adaptations of the source material, yet it manages to maintain the excellent narratology, dramatic strengths, and moral seriousness that made the play so famous. Additionally, Mrs. Linde embarks on a love affair with Torvald that Nora discovers once she comes to visit the first time. In the end, Torvald kills Nora for leaving him, but he will feel the rath of Dr. Rank.

What the press would say:

Review: "All of the actors here will be nominated for Oscars... Mark my words. The entrie cast. And, Linney, Clooney, and Fiennes, are on their way to wins!"
-Oprah Winfrey, ABC TV

Review 2: "With "A Doll's House," Ms. Linney proves she is the best actress in her generation at playing vulnerable, probably because as an actress she is not...The unspoken energy and power she brings to the screen serves as a forshadowing for Nora's future escape. " E-movies

Review 3: "Mr. Clooney delivers an deliciously evil performance as the more contemporarily cynical Torvald. Linney is likwise, bold and courageous, as the woman who confronts a monster head on.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION:

BEST PICTURE
BEST ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE, LAURA LINNEY
BEST ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE, GEORGE CLOONEY
BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE, RALPH FIENNES & ROBERT DOWNEY JR.
BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: EMILY WATSON AND PATRICIA CLARKSON
BEST ADAPTED SCREENPLAY, KENNETH LONERGAN