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Northfork
Northfork
Actors: Duel Farnes, Nick Nolte, Anthony Edwards, James Woods, Douglas Sebern
Director: Michael Polish
Genres: Indie & Art House, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy
PG-13     2003     1hr 43min

Following their super-quirky films Twin Falls Idaho and Jackpot, the Polish brothers take a leap of faith with their third picture, Northfork. And it pays off handsomely. Somewhere in the desolate Midwest, the town of Nort...  more »

     

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Movie Details

Actors: Duel Farnes, Nick Nolte, Anthony Edwards, James Woods, Douglas Sebern
Director: Michael Polish
Creators: Mark Polish, Michael Polish, Anthony Romano, Barbara A. Jones, Bruce E. Jones, Chad Troutwine, Damon Martin
Genres: Indie & Art House, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sub-Genres: Indie & Art House, Drama, Science Fiction & Fantasy
Studio: Paramount
Format: DVD - Color,Widescreen,Anamorphic - Closed-captioned
DVD Release Date: 12/30/2003
Release Year: 2003
Run Time: 1hr 43min
Screens: Color,Widescreen,Anamorphic
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaDVD Credits: 1
Total Copies: 0
Members Wishing: 1
MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Languages: English

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Member Movie Reviews

Gloria B. (glowbird) from SPOKANE, WA
Reviewed on 8/31/2011...
Other reviewers have done a great job of describing the pluses of this movie. I can only add that I was blown away. Highly recommend this one! Watched it after reading a couple reviews, and glad I did. What a gem, and definite "keeper." The good ones are few and far between.
2 of 3 member(s) found this review helpful.
Sara F. (cupcakelover) from BATESVILLE, IN
Reviewed on 1/23/2008...
I loved northfork!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Movie Reviews

Mesmerizing, haunting and visually stunning
audrey | white mtns | 02/20/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"This film is based on the first screenplay by brothers Michael and Mark Polish, though it is the third of their trilogy to be filmed.Set in a small Montana town in the 1950s, this is the story of town with a mythic past that is now doomed. A dam will submerge the town soon, so there is palpable, imagic tension as three storylines develop: first, a young adopted boy, dying, is returned to Fr. Harlan (Nick Nolte) as his parents leave town, so the priest keeps vigil over the youngster and comforts him as much as possible; secondly, six agents (including James Woods and Mark Polish) with a monetary incentive have been sent to roust out those landholders who refuse to budge, and they have a number of surrealistic experiences along the way; finally, whenever the young boy collapses he encounters four purported angels who seem to be searching for him.It would be interesting to give this premise to a half dozen filmmakers and see the various movies they come up with; in the Polish brothers' case, we get a remarkable melange of images and themes -- angels, death, wings, bearing witness to each other, loneliness and human grief -- all set in a dream-like landscape. The cast is flawless, the pacing is slow (which makes it easier to enjoy the extraordinary visuals), and the stark situation is emphasized using a variety of techniques to film in color though almost always appearing to be black & white.It's fascinating to listen to the brothers' commentary which tells us, among other things, that these guys were basically bankrupt when they made the film and that their father became the production designer because he was the only person who, when asked to build an ark, just said "How big?".In addition to a fascinating (and essential) commentary track, extras include a series of featurettes collectively running 36 minutes and called "BareKnuckle Filmmaking: the Construction of Northfork", which delves into the genesis, production and filming of this remarkable film, including great comments from the actors; a trailer; and a Sundance Channel 4-1/2-minute featurette about the brothers in Montana, their homestate and the location of filming.I'm amazed at the polarity of the reviews on this movie, and would suggest that if you are a person who likes straightforward narrative, this is probably not for you; however, if you enjoy life's amibiguities, mystery, symbolism and earlier Polish Brothers' films -- get this as quickly as you can. It is unique and breathtaking. These talented siblings are two of the most innovative visionaries in cinema today. When others' films are long forgotten, our grandchildren will be watching these films. These guys are totally underappreciated, and I hope they make films forever. It doesn't seem right that they have to struggle to get their works filmed, but I'm so grateful to them for all the passion and effort that they bring to their projects and with which they inspire their colleagues."
Offbeat but beautiful meditation on change and acceptance
Danny M. Hobbs | Tigard, OR United States | 05/04/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1955, the town of Northfork, Montana was flooded when the gates of a completed dam were closed. Against this backdrop, two related stories are told. In one, three teams of men, motivated by rewards of lakefront property, attempt to get local die-hards to move on before their homes are flooded. This story is filled with humor - visual gags, offbeat characters, and a 100% off-the-wall scene at the local diner. But there are human touches, too, as one father-and-son team argue over whether to save their wife/mother's coffin from the rising flood.
In the other story, Father Harlan (played with heart-breaking tenderness by Nick Nolte) takes care of Irwin, a young orphan who is dying. As Irwin drifts in and out of consciousness, his fevered mind creates visions of angelic beings and reunion out of the landscape and his pitifully few belongings - a model airplane, a comic book, bird feathers he's collected.
This film is very carefully crafted. The two, interleaved stories are visually unified by the "big sky" landscape and a color palette of muted blues, grays, and tans (everything - land, water, buildings, machinery, people - is color-coordinated). The transitions between the two stories deliberately link the fantasy-like character of Irwin's angelic visions with the absurd elements in the evacuation story, and at one point suggest that Irwin's dreams may not be that far off the mark. And finally, Nolte's monologue, inspired by his own experience, goes straight to the heart of the matter.
The result, for me, was a gentle and moving meditation on the inevitability of change and loss, and the grace we find through humor and acceptance. This is visual poetry, a movie to watch again and again."
Can't wait for the DVD of Northfork
Tim Fallon | Seattle, WA | 10/28/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Northfork I saw this summer and fell in love with it. It is one of those movies which demands multiple viewings because the writing is so rich and visuals so hypnotically dense. I'm really interested in checking out the documentary on the DVD which chronicles the making of the movie.
`Northfork' has that something special that the Polish Brothers brought to "Twin Falls Idaho". But Northfork is grander and would accurately be called an epic. Shot in the Northwest (I think entirely in Montana) the movie is just striking to look at : The backdrop is the transcendent mountains of Montana photographed like never before as a haunting score swells and rises with the impending flood of the soon to be deserted town, and smack dab in the middle of the mountain grandeur is a house turned giant ark, as in Noah's Ark.
The story counterbalances the intense visuals: a town in the mid 1900's is being evacuated to make way for Government dam project. James Woods and company are sent out to remove the holdout residents. Meanwhile a dying orphan, recently adopted, is brought back to the town preacher(Nick Nolte) because his parents say he is too sick to make the journey. The boy slips in and out of surreal dream sequences with a band of hilariously dry gypsies.
Northfork really took me on a journey. It has an American heartland feel, with a very European pace. It is such a beautiful movie to look at and to ponder that the DVD will surely be part of any serious film library."