Helix

Author: Daniel Crooke
Location: OH

"Helix"

Directed by Sofia Coppola
Written by: Dan Futterman
Score by: Hans Zimmer

Principal Cast:

Hugh Laurie as James Watson
Gene Hackman as Francis Crick
Catherine Keener as Rosalind Franklin
Sam Lloyd as Maurice Wilkins
Colin Mochrie as Linus Pauling
Maya Rudolph as Ruth Doreen Dodd

Tagline: "Rediscover Deoxyribonucleic acid this November, 2007"

Synopsis: In the 1950's, the discovery of DNA was born. Between two teams of scientists, the brilliant James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double helix structure of DNA in Cambridge. In London, Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins worked further on the three dimensional shape. From the early experiments to winning the Nobel Prize, the story of these scientists working together and independently warms the spirit with not only the discovery of the double helix, but also hope.

What the press would say:

After a brilliant screenplay in last year's Capote, Dan Futterman brings us another exceptional screenplay in Sofia Coppola's Helix. The principle cast is led by Hugh Laurie, Gene Hackman, Catherine Keener, and Sam Lloyd. One of the reasons this film is so different is because it brings two very talented comedic actors, Sam Lloyd and Colin Mochrie, and puts them in roles they were, forgive the cliché, born to play. Sam Lloyd as the brilliant, yet shattered Maurice Wilkins, it really is his time to shine. In a supporting role as the inspiration for the scientists, Colin Mochrie is great as scientist Linus Pauling. Hugh Laurie makes a brilliant leap from the small screen to the larger one as James Watson, and Gene Hackman gives a quite good rendition of American scientist Francis Crick. Even better than Hackman is Maya Rudolph as his first wife. Ms. Rudolph's performance, although brief, deserves recognition this award season. Although she was snubbed by the Golden Globes, could she be the most underrated actress of the year? With a perfect score brought by Hans Zimmer, it seems that Helix is unstoppable this awards season, as Hugh Laurie and Catherine Keener have already won the Golden Globes for Best Actor and Best Actress.

Nominations:
Best Picture
Best Actor- Hugh Laurie
Best Actor- Sam Lloyd
Best Actress- Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actor- Colin Mochrie
Best Supporting Actress- Maya Rudolph
Best Original Screenplay
Best Director- Sofia Coppola
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing
Best Cinematography