Old Joy (2006)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Kelly Reichardt

Writers:

Jonathan Raymond (writer)
Kelly Reichardt (writer)

Release Date:

26 January 2007 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Two old pals reunite for a camping trip in Oregon's Cascade Mountains. |

Plot Keywords:

Oregon | Dog | Guilt | Bird | Diner

Awards:

4 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Daniel London	...	Mark
Will Oldham	...	Kurt
Tanya Smith	...	Tanya
Robin Rosenberg	...	Waitress
Keri Moran	...	Lawnmower
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Autumn Campbell	...	Diner Patron
Steve Doughton	...	Diner Patron
Lucy	...	Herself
Matt McCormick	...	Weed Salesman
Darren Prolsen	...	Homeless Man
Jillian Wieseneck	...	Diner Patron

Directed by
Kelly Reichardt

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jonathan Raymond		writer
Kelly Reichardt		writer

Produced by
Joshua Blum	....	executive producer
Julie Fischer	....	senior post-production producer
Todd Haynes	....	executive producer
Lars Knudsen	....	producer
Neil Kopp	....	producer
Mike S. Ryan	....	executive producer
Anish Savjani	....	producer
Rajen Savjani	....	executive producer
Jay Van Hoy	....	producer

Original Music by
Yo La Tengo

Cinematography by
Peter Sillen

Film Editing by
Kelly Reichardt

Sound Department
Shaun Brennan	....	foley artist
Gabriel Fleming	....	location sound
Jeff Formosa	....	dialog editor
Mark Garcia	....	assistant supervising sound editor
Mark Garcia	....	foley supervisor
Eric Offin	....	sound re-recording mixer
Eric Offin	....	supervising sound editor
Daniel Perlin	....	sound designer
Daniel Perlin	....	sound effects editor

Camera and Electrical Department
T.G. Firestone	....	first assistant camera
Reed Harkness	....	still photographer
Simon Max Hill	....	still photographer

Editorial Department
Steve Beganyi	....	on-line editor
John Crowley	....	digital intermediate colorist
Ron Eyal	....	second assistant editor
Tim Hedden	....	dailies colorist
Jennifer Ruff	....	post-production coordinator
Katie Stern	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Smokey Hormel	....	musician (as Gregory 'Smokey' Hormel)
Yo La Tengo	....	composer: original music

Other crew
Julian Chadwick	....	production assistant
Morgan Currie	....	production coordinator
Jonathan Gray	....	production counsel
Matthew Guiderian	....	production assistant
Jeff Harding	....	production assistant
Gina Heyman	....	location team
Taylor Kopp	....	production assistant
Tyler Robinson	....	production assistant

Thanks
Lance Bangs	....	special thanks
David Doernberg	....	special thanks
Lance Edmands	....	special thanks
Alicia Van Couvering	....	special thanks
Shelly Westerman	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Film Science
• Van Hoy/Knudsen Productions
• Washington Square Films

Distributors

• Epicentre Films (2007) (France) (theatrical)
• Filmmuseum Distributie (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• International Film Festival Rotterdam (2006) (Netherlands) (theatrical) (for)
• Kino International (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Kino Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Soda Pictures (2006) (UK) (all media)

Other Companies

• Ovasen  post-production services and facilities
• Tandem Sound  sound post-production

Runtime:

USA:76 min | UK:73 min | Argentina:76 min (Buenos Aires Festival Internacional de Cine Independiente)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:M | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Bagby Hot Springs, Mount Hood National Forest, Oregon, USA

Company:

Film Science

Trivia:

The small New York distributor Kino International spent roughly $40,000 to transfer the film from 16 mm to 35 mm; $24,000 on 22 prints; $6,500 on 200 trailers; $4,000 on 50,000 postcards and about $3,000 on Web advertisements.

Goofs:

Factual errors: When Mark and Kurt stop to get gas, Mark pumps his own gas. In Oregon, however, you are not allowed to pump your own gas.

Quotes:

Kurt: Sorrow is nothing but worn out joy.

Movie Connections:

References Jesus Christ Superstar (1973)

What a brilliantly rare little movie.

Everyone has been there, had a really close friend when growing up and somehow lost contact only to meet up years later to find that you have taken different paths and it's become a little awkward. You still have your past but as time has moved on you've grown apart. It's an age old story but in this instance told so beautifully against the backdrop of the Oregon woods. Mark (Daniel London) and Kurt (Will Oldham) are the old friends reunited in their weekend camping trip of walking, talking, smoking pot and drinking beer. Along with Mark's dog they venture into the lush forest to look for a set of natural springs that Kurt remembers from a few summers ago. The dynamism between the two characters is great and the casting of Oldham as the kind of drop-out figure against Mark's soon to be dad with his newly found family responsibility is perfect. The soundtrack is hauntingly complimentary to the camera work and overall style and its no surprise that it's done by Yo La Tengo a band known for their sweeping instrumental pieces and at times because the dialogue is so sparse it often feels like your watching one of their videos punctuated by spoken inserts, which is no bad thing. Essentially Old Joy is one of those films where not a lot really happens, there is amazing scenery, comical conversational sections, a moving if very light story about human nature and life and a kind of lament on lost friendships and strange unspoken love. At just over an hour this little American tale unfolds with an exquisite subtlety and not only is it a joy to watch, it also makes you feel kind of warm inside. What a brilliantly rare little movie.