A Map of the World (film)
A Map of the World is a 1999 American drama film, based on the 1994 novel of the same name by Jane Hamilton. It was directed by Scott Elliott and stars Sigourney Weaver, Julianne Moore, and David Strathairn. Sigourney Weaver was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama.
| A Map of the World | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Scott Elliott |
| Screenplay by | Peter Hedges Polly Platt |
| Based on | A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton |
| Produced by | Kathleen Kennedy Frank Marshall |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Seamus McGarvey |
| Edited by | Naomi Geraghty Craig McKay |
| Music by | Pat Metheny |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | First Look Studios |
Release dates | September 13, 1999 (TIFF) January 21, 2000 (USA) |
Running time | 125 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $544,538[1] |
Plot
Alice Goodwin is a school nurse who lives with her husband Howard and two girls on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. After the death of the daughter of her friend Theresa Collins on Alice's property, the couple watch helplessly as the community turns against them. To make matters worse, Alice finds herself fighting charges of child abuse.
Cast
- Sigourney Weaver as Alice Goodwin
- Julianne Moore as Theresa Collins
- David Strathairn as Howard Goodwin
- Arliss Howard as Paul Reverdy
- Chloë Sevigny as Carole Mackessy
- Sara Rue as Debbie
- Aunjanue Ellis as Dyshett
- Nicole Ari Parker as Sherry
- Bruklin Harris as Lynelle
- Lisa Emery as Susan Durkin
- Ron Lea as Dan Collins
- Louise Fletcher as Nellie Goodwin
In addition, the young daughters of Weaver's character were played by real life sisters Dara and Kayla Perlmutter.
Reception
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of 65% based on reviews from 55 critics.[2] On Metacritic the film has a score of 65% based on reviews from 25 critics.[3]
Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars, praising the performances, and likening it to such movies as Being John Malkovich and Three Kings in "being free—in being capable of taking any turn at any moment, without the need to follow tired conventions".[4]
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
References
- "A Map of the World (1999) - Financial Information". The Numbers.
- "A Map of the World (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
- "A Map of the World". Metacritic. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
- Ebert, Roger (February 4, 2000). "A Map of the World Review". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 17, 2020.