Wackos

Authors: Zgamer
Location: Eagle, Idaho

"Wackos"

Distributed by: Focus Features
Produced by: Wes Anderson, Barry Mendel and Peter Newman
Directed by: Noah Baumbach
Written by: Noah Baumbach

Principal Cast:

Jeff Daniels as Dr. Steve Kent
Allison Janney as Rebecca Kent
Alessandro Nivola as Paul Reiner
Charlize Theron as Wendy Reiner
Steve Buscemi as Ricky Urick
Amy Adams as Amanda “Mandy” Edwards
John C. Reilly as Oliver Franklin
Ian Holm as Brian Franklin

Tagline: "Help is just a four letter word for therapy"

Release Date: November 6, 2007

Synopsis: Steve Kent has a great job. He sits in the same room six days a week for eight hours listening to people talk about why their life is so miserable. Then he says some little white lies about their situation, tell them some positive things to make them feel special, then either gets drenched in their tears of joy or has his hand shaken so hard that his blood circulation gets cut off. That person then leaves and the next comes in and repeats the process. And he gets paid to do all of this.

Recently though, he has been getting some very unique patients. There’s Paul, a selfish know-it-all who claims his wife is cheating on him while she says that it is him doing that to her. Next is Ricky, who isn’t aware that almost everything he says is either insulting, vulgar, or a combination of both. There’s also Oliver, a neurotic coward who is trying to work up the courage to tell off his dad, who is currently at his deathbed. Then there’s Mandy, who has a phobia of everything from insects with stingers to black people to words that relate to sex.

Things aren’t going so hot for Steve either, as he is suspecting that his wife may be thinking of leaving him. Worse yet, he believes he may have cancer. Yet, he has to go on. As he helps his patients, he starts to truly understand their pain. Meanwhile, the patients (all unaware that the others go to this place) are interacting with each other with different results each time. So now the question is, how will it all turn out in the end?

What the press would say:

Noah Baumbach’s newest adventure into the troubled lives of others may well be one of his best. He expertly juggles a balance between humor, drama, and sensitivity towards those who really are in these situations, and as usual his writing and dialogue shows the wit that gave The Squid and the Whale its wings. Returning star Daniels gives another great performance that shows the charm that his previous Baumbach role gave. The supporting cast also offers some great performances, which includes a scene stealing Buscemi in his most brilliantly bizarre role yet. This may very well be the dark horse for the Oscar race.

Possible Nominations

Best Picture (Wes Anderson and Peter Newman)
Best Director (Noah Baumbach)
Best Actor (Jeff Daniels)
Best Supporting Actor (Steve Bushemi)
Best Supporting Actor (John C. Reilly)
Best Supporting Actress (Amy Adams)
Best Original Screenplay (Noah Baumbach)
Best Editing (Tim Streeto)
Best Original Score (Mark Mothersbaugh)