Synopsis: Two-time Academy Award winner Jodie Foster directs and co-stars with two-time Academy Award winner Mel Gibson in THE BEAVER – an emotional story about a man on a journey to re-discover his family and re-start his life. Plagued by his own demons, Walter Black was once a successful toy executive and family man who now suffers from depression. No matter what he tries, Walter can’t seem to get himself back on track…until a beaver hand puppet enters his life. Written by Summit
WHO’S WHO IN THE BEAVER
Starring: Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, Cherry Jones, Anton Yelchin, Riley Thomas Stewart, Zachary Booth, Jennifer Lawrence
Director: Jodie Foster
Writer: Kyle Killen
Studio: Summit Entertainment
Production Companies: Participant Media, Imagenation Abu Dhabi FZ, Anonymous Content
Original Music: Marcelo Zarvos
Cinematography: Hagen Bogdanski
Film Editing: Lynzee Klingman
Production Design: Mark Friedberg
Art Direction: Alex DiGerlando, Kim Jennings
Set Direction: Rebecca Meis DeMarco
Costume Design: Susan Lyall
MOVIE TRIVIA
Genre: Drama
Tagline: He’s here to save Walter’s life.
Runtime: 91 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for mature thematic material, some disturbing content, sexuality and language including a drug reference
Filming locations: New York (Bronx, White Plains, Brooklyn, Harrison, Mamaroneck, New York City)
TRAILER: THE BEAVER
REEL MOVIE THOUGHTS REVIEW AND RATINGS:
In this film, Walter Black (Mel Gibson) has hit rock bottom. The toy company he inherited is failing as is his marriage to Meredith (Jodie Foster) and he goes on a drunken bender that culminates with Walter attempting suicide. When Walter decides to utilize an unconventional form of therapy by speaking only through a beaver hand puppet (in a voice that sounds remarkably like Michael Caine), he is miraculously able to reach some level of functionality at work, with his wife and his youngest son, Henry (Riley Thomas Stewart). Walter’s oldest son, Porter (Anton Yelchin), wants nothing to do with his father and has created a collage of Post-it notes on his bedroom wall listing all of the ways he is like his father so he can attempt to eradicate himself of the habits and mannerisms that link them. A side story between Porter and Norah(Jennifer Lawrence) showcases both Yelchin’s and Lawrence’s immense acting talents.
If you can get past all of Mel Gibson’s real life, off-screen drama to see this film, you will witness one of his most compelling performances to date. This is a sad and somber film attempting to deal with crushing depression and an alcoholic in acute distress. The movie is bizarre and offbeat to say the least (and definitely not a film for everyone) but Gibson, Foster and Yelchin all deliver poignant and sensitive performances which make this flawed film worth watching.
Reel Movie Thoughts entertainment rating: 3/5
Reel Movie Thoughts award-worthy rating: 3/5
Sources: IMDb: THE BEAVER; Rotten Tomatoes: THE BEAVER
