THE BOX (2009)
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Release Date: Nov 6, 2009
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures
Synopsis: What if someone gave you a box containing a button that, if pushed, would bring you a million dollars…but simultaneously take the life of someone you don’t know? Would you do it? And what would be the consequences? The year is 1976. Norma Lewis (CAMERON DIAZ) is a teacher at a private high school and her husband, Arthur (JAMES MARSDEN), is an engineer working at NASA. They are, by all accounts, an average couple living a normal life in the suburbs with their young son…until a mysterious man with a horribly disfigured face appears on their doorstep (FRANK LANGELLA) and presents them with a life-altering proposition: the box. With only 24 hours to make their choice, Norma and Arthur face a momentous moral dilemma. They soon discover that the ramifications of this decision are beyond their control and extend far beyond their own fortune and fate. “The Box” is based upon the classic short story “Button, Button” by Richard Matheson. It was written for the screen and directed by Richard Kelly, whose 2001 sci-fi mystery thriller “Donnie Darko,” a cult classic, earned a Grand Jury Prize nomination at the Sundance Film Festival. “Donnie Darko” went on to screen at film festivals around the world and brought Kelly Independent Spirit Award nominations for Best First Feature and Best First Screenplay. “The Box” stars Cameron Diaz (“The Holiday”), James Marsden (“X-Men: The Last Stand”), Oscar® nominee Frank Langella (“Frost/Nixon”), James Rebhorn (“The International”) and Holmes Osborne (television’s “Invasion.”)
MPAA Rating: THIS FILM IS RATED PG-13 FOR THEMATIC ELEMENTS, SOME VIOLENCE AND DISTURBING IMAGES.
My Rating
MOVIE SCREENINGS
COMMENTS post a comment
willimar 11.20.09 12:28pm(Hide)(Show)
Entertainment, a little odd.
hcrumb77 11.19.09 12:12pm(Hide)(Show)
I knew this movie was based off of the twilight zone episode called "the button". They could have made this movie much better than it, and possibly open it up to a sequel but it fell flat. There was no character development, there was no real plot, nothing made any sense, and there was no closure to the movie. You left confused. I appreciate that it was a free screening because I would have been u...more
wagner 11.18.09 11:40pm(Hide)(Show)
Worst movie of the year!
Mack 11.17.09 6:33pm(Hide)(Show)
I did't like it very much.
reenie46 11.17.09 4:42pm(Hide)(Show)
did not like this movie at all
jmonopoli 11.16.09 4:00pm(Hide)(Show)
Liked the local scenes shot in Virginia. Plot was tough to follow in spots but I'm not a big science fiction fan. Casting was good.
dionnefalconer 11.16.09 1:20pm(Hide)(Show)
I really enjoyed the movie and feel honored to have received the tickets. Thanks again. It was also great seeing Cameron Diaz.
ladue 11.16.09 1:37am(Hide)(Show)
Worst movie of the year!
DaHalloweenBaby 11.15.09 6:57pm(Hide)(Show)
I loved the scene where shes says "Are we ever going to get out of Richmond?" since its where I currently am.
guster 11.15.09 11:49am(Hide)(Show)
Started out OK but I didn't like the direction the movie took. Disappointing.
vababy84 11.15.09 7:34am(Hide)(Show)
Movie was somewhat disappointing ~ I suppose the trailers promoting it carried most of the good scenes.
amymarie 11.15.09 1:22am(Hide)(Show)
For me I feel that Cameron Diaz was a bad cast for this film. I thought the whole plot was badly done. I did not like this movie at all.
moneysez 11.14.09 10:31pm(Hide)(Show)
Talk about a movie with a moral!
tjflemings 11.14.09 9:20pm(Hide)(Show)
Mr. Stewarts first and second appearance at the family's house are awesome scenes as are most of the scenes in the library.
hispoo 11.14.09 9:05pm(Hide)(Show)
The whole entire movie was intriguing.
PMBtour 11.14.09 5:27pm(Hide)(Show)
I really liked the movie. I was drawn into it. I keep wondering where the movie was going. (In a good way)
I kept thinking what's going to happen next.
It had the Twilight Zone / The Shining feel to it.
I loved every minute of it.
Well, except Cameron's accent. Richmond is neutral. Her regular voice would have sounded exactly like someone from Richmond.
absolutshelley 11.14.09 3:58pm(Hide)(Show)
Very disappointing - just didnt get into the story - but I loved the cast. Frank Langella is definitely one of my favorites!
djflynn 11.14.09 11:38am(Hide)(Show)
James Marsden did a great job of acting, and he is easy on the eyes! While watching it, I thought he deserved an Academy Award nomination. Not so Cameron Diaz. The story is interesting, however the movie was rather "preatchy." Horror films are not particularly my type of movie.
pam59 11.14.09 3:20am(Hide)(Show)
good but strange movie
mcannem 11.14.09 1:52am(Hide)(Show)
I did not understand the concept of this movie. There was many flaws from the beginning: based in the 70's, the strong southern accent, and the reception/wedding ( if I had just gone through all of that, why would I want to go to party?) There was to much going on at once. I did however like the scenes of Richmond which was the only plus.
ladue 11.13.09 11:58pm(Hide)(Show)
I did not like it.
afreund1 11.13.09 7:49am(Hide)(Show)
i loved it. I could not guess what would happen next (unlike most movies) it was unusual and gripping. I also though it kept to the original style of show it was based on.*** warning*** everyone with me hated the movie and that was 5 other people.
spot70 11.12.09 11:51pm(Hide)(Show)
A little drawn out
unclerusty47 11.12.09 7:32pm(Hide)(Show)
i liked win are we going to leave richmond
prittyc 11.12.09 3:33pm(Hide)(Show)
DID NOT LIKE AT ALL....SEEMED TO BE VERY AGAINST WOMEN. DID NOT LIKE
rdix 11.12.09 3:17pm(Hide)(Show)
The concept of this movie is good, but the reality of it was rather lame. It went off in too many directions for me so that I was confused and then bored. I did like that it took place in Richmond, VA and I did like the actors in the film. There was enough focus on the relationship between the main characters so that the audience felt somewhat for them in the end.
cwoleben 11.12.09 3:07pm(Hide)(Show)
liked the fact that the movie based in Richmond (where I live) - excellent descriptions of the regions in which the movie took place
bocondo 11.12.09 10:51am(Hide)(Show)
Overall the movie was OK, the pace of movie was slow and grip on story was slipping at times. The best scene was when they decide to press the button.
Worse scene was the library and I couldn't understand the logic of that whole scene.
ddeniseberry 11.12.09 10:46am(Hide)(Show)
I liked the concept of the movie but didn't always understand what was going on.
vrumans 11.12.09 10:04am(Hide)(Show)
Me and my date found ourselves bored and ready to leave about half way through the show. I would not recommend this movie. I am glad the movie was free for me to view and did not have to pay my hard earned cash on this one.
ltldjw 11.12.09 8:32am(Hide)(Show)
This movie was pretty good. I am one of those who like to figure out how a movie is going to end and most of the time I'm right. This movie stumped me and it was a plesant surprise.
jay_portillo 11.12.09 8:26am(Hide)(Show)
What ever became of the aliens? What was their origin?
Why did the 'Southern' accents keep fading in and out?
Franl Langella's performace was, as usual, top notch. The movie would have been pointless had it not been for the creepy, yet caring performance.
Adamcr 11.12.09 7:44am(Hide)(Show)
I liked the Santa in the road.
Adamcr 11.12.09 7:41am(Hide)(Show)
I liked the Santa scene.
MCarpe1569 11.12.09 5:06am(Hide)(Show)
The movie was not what I expected from the previews. I was expecting more suspense and horror. It was more of a thought provoking movie about humanity.
MzCece77 11.12.09 4:28am(Hide)(Show)
SUPER CONFUSING AND BORING. The most confusing scene was the library scene, did not understand the concept of it, maybe it was too religious for me to comprehend.
mcannem 11.12.09 12:20am(Hide)(Show)
The movie seemed to go astray after the button was pushed. There was to much going on without alot of action. This was supposed to be mystery/drama/keep you guessing type of movie, but this one was to confusing, very hard to follow.
Wordman 11.11.09 10:41pm(Hide)(Show)
I really like the movie. The tone, the story, the performances. It's the kind of movie you'll want to see multiple times, and I look forward to going to the theatre to see it again.
mkwood64 11.11.09 8:59pm(Hide)(Show)
I thought that it was creepy but in a good way. Some of Frank Langella's best work.
ajrhunter 11.11.09 8:31pm(Hide)(Show)
Enjoyed the overall mistery about the box. The ending could be seen as open ended with some questions left unanswered.
clickonchase 11.11.09 7:45pm(Hide)(Show)
Very creative. Loved the concept. Unfortunately It started getting real sci-fi later though and it kind of killed it for me. Like the floating water, etc. I loved how believable it was until all that happened.
janedoe721 11.11.09 6:47pm(Hide)(Show)
This movie was terribly disjointed. It had the pontential to be agreat story, but the movie didn't flow. The 70's theme was done well, but it was distraction. What was the point of setting it that era? The whole subplot with her foot had no value to the plot.
jinkies22 11.11.09 6:37pm(Hide)(Show)
The only scene in the movie that elicited a strong response was when the truck T-boned the car bearing James Marsden. The scene during which Cameron Diaz is shot was also somewhat moving.
vimishad 11.11.09 6:35pm(Hide)(Show)
"are we ever going to leave richmond?" hahahha
st2sxy 11.11.09 6:04pm(Hide)(Show)
5- Movie was a little drawn out but you get the point. Too many extra scenes going to parties.
moviefan55 11.11.09 5:53pm(Hide)(Show)
From the start, this movie was a downward spiral. There was nothing really to like about the main characters (Cameron Diaz and family); they seemed terminally depressed. The plot was stupid and far-fetched.
comiconmom 11.11.09 5:48pm(Hide)(Show)
Frank Langella was excellent; the soundtrack was annoying and did nothing for the film - it's no Donnie Darko - pacing was VERY slow and the film was not mystical throughout like DD so the slow pacing didn't work
ctbarker 11.11.09 5:24pm(Hide)(Show)
The premise was great...The acting was pretty good...The story was interesting...but to be quite honest, I spent two hours deep into this movie....and I have no idea what it was about. I understand the main plot. However, the movie leaves so many unanswered questions. The viewer is left guessing about so many crucial details that help one wholy understand the storyline. I would not reccomend s...more
Suzanne_Shupe 11.11.09 5:11pm(Hide)(Show)
It was very disjointed, cut up, things were introduced and never explained. The whole Mars things and the lightning was never really explained. I felt like the story could have been a good one, maybe just very bad editing. I have told everyone I know NOT to see it.
Epiphany312 11.11.09 4:13pm(Hide)(Show)
This movie was not what I expected. It started out slow and then I wasn't sure if I was watching something that had a religious undertone or if aliens from Mars were taking over people's bodies. I also didn't like the heavy accent Cameron Diaz had throughout the movie. I am from Richmond, VA and I have never heard someone talk with an accent that southern. It kind of left me a little offended beca...more