Pleasantville (1998)
Front Cover Actor
Tobey Maguire David/Bud
Jeff Daniels Mr. Johnson
Joan Allen Betty
William H. Macy George
J.T. Walsh Big Bob
Reese Witherspoon Jennifer/Mary Sue
Don Knotts TV Repairman
Paul Walker Skip
Marley Shelton Margaret
Jane Kaczmarek David and Jennifer's Mom
William H. Macy George Parker
Joan Allen Betty Parker
Natalie Ramsey Real Mary Sue Parker
Kevin Connors Real Bud Parker
Jeff Daniels Mr. Bill Johnson
Tobey Maguire David Wagner
Heather McGill Girl in School Yard
Paul Morgan Stetler College Counselor
Denise Y. Dowse Health Teacher (as Denise Dowse)
McNally Sagal Science Teacher
Movie Details
Genre Fantasy; Comedy; Drama
Director Gary Ross
Writer Gary Ross
Studio New Line Cinema
Language English
Audience Rating PG13
Running Time 2 hr 3 mins
Country USA
Color Color
Plot
Gary Ross , Oscar nominated for his Dave and Big screenplays, made his directorial debut with this comedy. The cheerful '50s TV sitcom "Pleasantville" is revived in the '90s for a loyal cable audience. One devoted fan is shy suburban teen David Wagner ( Tobey Maguire ), who has an almost obsessive interest in the series. Living with his divorced mother ( Jane Kaczmarek ), David sometimes has disputes with his ultra-hip twin sister Jennifer ( Reese Witherspoon ). She wants to watch MTV just when a Pleasantville marathon is about to begin. They struggle over the remote control, and it breaks. A strange TV repairman ( Don Knotts ) supplies their new remote, a potent high-tech device which zaps David and Jennifer inside Pleasantville, where their new sitcom parents are businessman George Parker ( William H. Macy ) and wife Betty ( Joan Allen ). As "Bud" and "Mary Sue," the teens take up residence in a black-and-white suburbia where sex does not exist and the temperature is always 72 degrees. Life is always pleasant, books have no words, bathrooms have no toilets, married couples sleep in twin beds, the high school basketball team always wins, and nobody ever questions "The Good Life." David revels in Pleasantville's Prozac-styled peacefulness. He fits right in, but Jennifer's 1990s attitude upsets the blandness balance, painting parts of Pleasantville in "living color." Repressed desires surface, cracks appear in the '50s lifestyles, and the Pleasantville populace finds their lives changing in strange, wonderful ways. It's liberating — but there's also a darker side. This film breaks an all-time record with more than 1700 special effects shots. Shown at the 1998 Toronto Film Festival . — Bhob Stewart
Personal Details
Seen It Yes
Index 94
In Collection Yes
Purchase Date 8/1/2003
Tape Label 30
Product Details
Format VHS
Region Region 1
Release Date 2003
Nr of Disks/Tapes 1
Links
Internet Movie Database