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| THE REF (1994) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| MORGAN'S RATING | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Denis Leary plays an unfortunate cat burglar, who is abandoned by his partner in the middle of a heist and is forced to take an irritating Connecticut couple hostage. He soon finds that he took more than he bargained for when the couple's blackmailing son and despicable in-laws step into the picture. Before long they're driving him nuts with their petty bickering and family problems. The only way for him to survive is to be their referee and resolve their differences, before he can be nabbed by the police. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Denis Leary (Gus), Judy Davis (Caroline), Kevin Spacey (Lloyd), Robert J. Steinmiller Jr. (Jesse), Glynis Johns (Rose), Raymond J. Barry (Lt. Huff), Richard Bright (Murray), Christine Baranski (Connie), Adam LeFevre (Gary), Phillip Nicoll (John), Ellie Raab (Mary), Bill Raymond (George), John Scurti (Lt. Steve Milford), Jim Turner (Phil), Herbie Ade (Herbie, Bartender Mackerel Bar), Ron Gabriel (Limo Driver), Scott Walker (Will Warren, Prosecutor), Edward Saxon (Mike Michaels TV Reporter), Donna Holgate (Karen the Newscaster), Kenneth Utt (Jeremiah Willard), B. D Wong (Dr. Wong, Marriage Counselor). | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| HE'S TAKEN THEM HOSTAGE. THEY'RE DRIVING HIM NUTS! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| FACTS | PRODUCTION INFORMATION | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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| RELEASE DATE: March 11th, 1994 (USA) | DIRECTOR: Ted Demme. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| WRITERS: Marie Weiss and Richard LaGravenese. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BOX OFFICE OPENING: $3.0 million (USA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BOX OFFICE RESULT: $11.3 million (USA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| PRODUCERS: Ronald M. Bozman, Richard LaGravenese and Jess Weis. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| BUDGET: $11 million (USA) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| - The original ending has Denis Leary being caught by the cops to show the son that a life of crime leads nowhere. However, after screening the movie to a test audience and receiving negative comments about the ending, director Ted Demme changed it. Now he admits he regrets changing it. | EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ORIGINAL MUSIC: David A. Stewart. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| DISTRIBUTOR: Touchstone Pictures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| QUOTES | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| [Gus on the phone with the Bartender) Gus: Look, just see if there's a Murray there. Bartender: (to the patrons.) Is there a Murray here? (Into the phone.) I don't think so. Gus: See if there's a waste of fucking life named Murray, try that. Bartender: (to the patrons.) Is there a fucking waste of life named Murray here? Murray: Gussy? Yeah that's me. |
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| CRITICAL COMMENTS | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "This caustic comedy is meatier than you might expect, with top-notch performances by Spacey and the always terrific Davis, but it gets unexpectedly serious--then silly and illogical. Still worth a look." -- Leonard Maltin | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "There's a sense a lot of The Ref was snipped in the cutting room. While this undoubtedly helped the pacing, it also opened a few noticeable plot holes. This is not a seamlessly constructed movie, but as long as you're not expecting great art, it's unlikely to disappoint." -- James Berardinelli | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gus: From now on, the only person who gets to yell is me. Why? Because I have a gun. People with guns get to do whatever they want. Married people without guns-for instance-you-do not get to yell. Why? No guns, no yelling. See? Simple little equation. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| "Material like this is only good as the acting and writing. The Ref is skillful in both areas." -- Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun Times | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gus: You know what this family needs? A mute. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rose: You're a "Wang"? Gus: Well, my mother was Irish. Rose: And your father? Gus: Wasn't |
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| "The Ref is one of those rare movies that seem to have everything going for it-- a promising director, terrific actors and an original, unapologetically grown-up script-- yet somehow still turns out to be a phenomenal drag." -- Hal Hinson, Washington Post | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lloyd: You know what I'm going to get you next Christmas, Mom? A big wooden cross, so that every time you feel unappreciated for your sacrifices, you can climb on up and nail yourself to it. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Gus: Your hisband ain't dead, lady; he's hidin'. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gus: Connecticut is the fifth ring of hell. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lloyd: I suppose you'll use this drama as a reason to have another affair. I feel sorry for the next delivery man that comes to this house! | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gus: I highjacked by fucking parents. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lloyd: Caroline, the day you see anything through to the end, I'll stick my own dick in my ear. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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