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| {{Infobox Film | | {{Infobox Film | | ||
| name =Bruce Almighty | | name =Bruce Almighty | | ||
| image =BruceAlmighty_poster.jpg| |
image =BruceAlmighty_poster.jpg| | ||
| caption =''Bruce Almighty'' theatrical poster | | caption =''Bruce Almighty'' theatrical poster | | ||
| imdb_id =0315327 | | imdb_id =0315327 | | ||
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| =$80 million | | =$80 million | | ||
| followed_by = '']'' (2007) | }} | followed_by = '']'' (2007) | }} | ||
| '''''Bruce Almighty''''' is a ] ] ] ] by [ |
'''''Bruce Almighty''''' is a ] ] ] ] by ] and written by ], ], and ]. It stars ], ], and ]. ], ], ], and ] co-star. ] and ] make cameo appearances. | ||
| Oedekerk]]. It stars ], ], and ]. ], ], ], and ] co-star. ] and ] make cameo appearances. | |||
| When the film was released in American theaters in late May 2003, it took the #1 spot at the box office, grossing $85.7 million, higher than the release of '']'', making it the highest-rated ] weekend opening of any film in motion picture history until the release of '']'' over Memorial Day 2006.<ref>{{cite web | When the film was released in American theaters in late May 2003, it took the #1 spot at the box office, grossing $85.7 million, higher than the release of '']'', making it the highest-rated ] weekend opening of any film in motion picture history until the release of '']'' over Memorial Day 2006.<ref>{{cite web | ||
Revision as of 07:38, 15 October 2007
2003 film| Bruce Almighty | |
|---|---|
 Bruce Almighty theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Tom Shadyac |
| Written by | Steve Koren (story/script) Mark O'Keefe (story/script) Steve Oedekerk (script) |
| Produced by | Gary Barber Roger Birnbaum |
| Starring | Jim Carrey Morgan Freeman Jennifer Aniston Catherine Bell Steve Carell Philip Baker Hall |
| Music by | John Debney |
| Distributed by | Universal Studios (USA) Buena Vista International (non-USA) |
| Release date | May 23 2003 |
| Running time | 101 min. |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $80 million |
Bruce Almighty is a 2003 comedy movie directed by Tom Shadyac and written by Steve Koren, Mark O'Keefe, and Steve Oedekerk. It stars Jim Carrey, Morgan Freeman, and Jennifer Aniston. Steve Carell, Catherine Bell, Lisa Ann Walter, and Philip Baker Hall co-star. Tony Bennett and Juan Valdez make cameo appearances.
When the film was released in American theaters in late May 2003, it took the #1 spot at the box office, grossing $85.7 million, higher than the release of Pearl Harbor, making it the highest-rated Memorial Day weekend opening of any film in motion picture history until the release of X-Men: The Last Stand over Memorial Day 2006. The movie surprised media analysts when it beat The Matrix Reloaded after its first week of release. By the time it left theaters in December 2003, it took in a United States domestic total of over $242 million and $484,572,835 worldwide, breaking records as the highest-grossing live action comedy ever.
Plot
Bruce Nolan (Jim Carrey) is a TV news reporter at Eyewitness News Channel 7 in Buffalo, New York (WKBW-TV) who fails to get a job as an anchorman and, after a series of other bad luck incidents, complains to God that he is both treating him unfairly and is doing a poor job as supreme deity. Bruce is then contacted by God (Morgan Freeman) who grants Bruce all of his supreme power to see if he can prove that he can do a better job. Bruce quickly uses his new-found powers for personal gain. He sabotages a colleague so that he can get a better job, transforms his car, and enhances his girlfriend's breasts and sex drive. He is then reminded that he also has to take care of other people's problems. Meanwhile, Bruce endangers his relationship with his girlfriend, Grace Connelly (Jennifer Aniston), through his self-centered behavior. In the end, Bruce realizes that God's powers are best left for God to handle and graciously asks for God to take control of his life.
The movie portrays God as a wise but smart-aleckey elderly man. God quotes a line from one of Carrey's other movies ("Alrighty then", from Ace Ventura), and tells Bruce that if he wants, Bruce can fix all the world's problems in a few minutes, knowing full well from eons of experience that he cannot. Bruce receives millions of prayers, all from, according to God, his single town. Having to listen to the prayers of the whole world, one can only imagine how God feels. Bruce is thus able to realize just how much work God must do to keep creation "in line." As Bruce and God themselves put it in two scenes, where Bruce wants the person he loves to love him:
- Bruce: How do you make someone love you without affecting their free will?
- God: Heh, welcome to my world, son. If you come up with an answer to that one, let me know.
And a second scene over prayers:
- God: You made a mess of things, huh?
- Bruce: I just gave them what they wanted.
- God: Yeah, but since when does anyone have a clue what they want?
This scene continues with poignant lines in which God allows Bruce to understand the true nature of people's problems and how to resolve them:
- God: Parting your soup is not a miracle, Bruce, it's a magic trick. A single mom who's working two jobs and still finds time to take her kid to soccer practice, that's a miracle. A teenager who says no to drugs and yes to an education, that's a miracle. People want me to do everything for them, and what they don't realize is - they have the power. You want to see a miracle, son? Be the miracle.
Near the end of the movie, a depressed Bruce walks onto the highway and is hit by a truck. He talks to God in heaven, who asks him "what he really wants." After Bruce asks for Grace to find a man to make her truly happy, God brings Bruce back to life and Grace returns to him at the hospital. In the end, Bruce has changed his outlook on life - he is happy with the meager stories he covers, donates blood, and marries Grace.
Cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Jim Carrey | Bruce Nolan |
| Morgan Freeman | God |
| Jennifer Aniston | Grace Connelly |
| Lisa Ann Walter | Debbie |
| Philip Baker Hall | Jack Baylor |
| Steve Carell | Evan Baxter |
| Catherine Bell | Susan Ortega |
| Sally Kirkland | Anita Mann |
| Nora Dunn | Ally Loman |
| Jack Jozefson | the Homeless Man |
| Gretchen Hill | the Disgruntled Nurse |
Controversy and reception
- The movie was banned in Egypt and Malaysia due to pressure from Islamic religious circuits who objected to the portrayal of God as a visually ordinary man. The ban in Malaysia was eventually lifted after the Censorship Board gave it the "18" rating (suitable for adult viewers only.
- In Iran, the movie was interpreted in the light of Twelver Shiism—the predominant branch of Islam practiced in the country. The appearance of Morgan Freeman's character at the end echoes the prophesied return of the 12th Imam.
The movie received rather mixed reviews (50% on Rotten Tomatoes and an average of 46 out of a 100 on Metacritic.com). The film took nearly $243 million at the box office, making it Jim Carrey's most successful film since 2000's How the Grinch Stole Christmas (also released by Universal).
Telephone numbers
The film caused controversy because God contacts Bruce, via pager, using an actual phone number rather than a number in the standard fictional 555 telephone exchange. The original telephone number was 776-2323. No area code was included. Several people and groups sharing this number have received hundreds of phone calls from people wanting to talk to God. Oddly enough, some of the calls went to a church located in Sanford, North Carolina, whose pastor happened to be named Bruce. A church in Georgia also happens to use this number. The number even turned out to be valid in Greater Manchester in Britain.
The producers noted that the number chosen was not in use in the Buffalo, New York (area code 716) area where the film is set in, but did not check anywhere else. The DVD and television versions changed the display of the pager to 555-0123.
Religious allusions
- At the diner when Bruce Nolan just discovered his new powers he "parted" the red tomato soup as a reference to Moses parting the Red Sea from the Book of Exodus in the Bible.
- Before the news party for Bruce begins, a golden calf statue can be seen.
- When talking to his boss, Bruce jokes about how much he can do in 7 days, which is how long the Bible says God took for the creation.
- During the big party scene, while everyone is cheering Bruce when he arrives, he can be seen pouring a pitcher of water into a wine cup. As he pours, the water is turned into wine. This is a reference to Jesus' first miracle at the wedding at Cana.
- He can be seen talking to God whilst walking on the sea, citing another miracle of Jesus, this at the point where God is telling him what he can and cannot do with the powers, God (Morgan Freeman) then picks up the prayer beads and walks away.
- When Grace drives away during the party, Bruce says "I am the Alpha, I am the Omega", referencing God being the beginning (Alpha) and the end (Omega).
- Director Tom Shadyac stated in the DVD commentary that God appearing as the boss, the janitor and the electrician was a parallel to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, although this was not his original intention, and he only noticed this afterwards.
Sequel
Main article: Evan AlmightyOn June 22, 2007, Evan Almighty was released. The film stars Steve Carell reprising his role as Evan Baxter, and Morgan Freeman reprising his role as God. Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston, both co-stars of the first film, were not involved with this film.
Soundtrack
Original Release Date: June 3, 2003
Number of Discs: 1
Format: Soundtrack
Label: Varese Sarabande
- 01 - One of us - Joan Osborne
- 02 - God-shaped-hole - Plumb
- 03 - You're a God - Vertical Horizon
- 04 - The power - Snap!
- 05 - A Little less Conversation - Elvis vs. JXL
- 06 - Rockafeller Skank - Fatboy Slim
- 07 - God gave me Everything - Mick Jagger
- 08 - AB Positive - Hollywood Studio Symphony, Brad Dechter, Sandy De Crescent
- 09 - Walking on water - Hollywood Studio Symphony, Brad Dechter, Sandy De Crescent
- 10 - Seventh at Seven - Hollywood Studio Symphony, Brad Dechter, Sandy De Crescent
- 11 - Bruce Meets God - Hollywood Studio Symphony, Brad Dechter, Sandy De Crescent
- 12 - Bruce's Prayer - Hollywood Studio Symphony, Brad Dechter, Sandy De Crescent
- 13 - Grace's prayer - Hollywood Studio Symphony, Brad Dechter, Sandy De Crescent
Usage of the Bruce Almighty name
When registering for hotel stays, Don Mattingly used the alias "Bruce Almighty" to avoid unwanted fan attention .
References
- "'Bruce' Blesses Memorial Weekend with $85.7 Million".
- "Box Office Mojo - Bruce Almighty".
- http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=7703
- http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0315327/trivia
- Malaysian Muslims call for ban on movie, AFP, Fri July 13, 2007
- Karl Vick (June 25, 2006). "Misreading Tehran". Washington Post. p. B01. Retrieved 2006-06-27.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Joe does the Movies".
- "Bruce Almighty fans give God a call".
- "BBC News website, 30th June 2003".
External links
- Bruce Almighty at IMDb
- Bruce Almighty at Rotten Tomatoes
- Bruce Almighty at Box Office Mojo
- Original Site
| Preceded by"The Matrix Reloaded" | List of Box Office #1 Movies May 25 2003 |
Succeeded by"Finding Nemo" |
| Preceded by"Liar Liar" | Movies made by Spy Glass Productions 1997-2007 |
Succeeded by"Evan Almighty" |