When It All Falls Apart

Author: Jamie Madden
Location: Australia

"When It All Falls Apart"

Director: Sam Mendes
Writer: Alan Ball and Cameron Crowe
Producer: Mike Nichols
Original Score: Gustavo Santaolalla

Principal Cast:

Allison Janney - Sally
Anthony LaPaglia- Dustin
Evan Rachel Wood - Ingrid
Jamie Bell - Will
Jake Gyllenhaal - Michael

Tagline: "What do you do when it all falls apart?"

Synopsis: A dysfunctional American middle class family experiences utter agony and turmoil as their oldest son is sent off to war in the middle east and is tragically killed. The family then breaks down. The mother, Sally, suffers denial and enforces her political views by blaming the current administration. The father, Dustin, feels complete guilt in encouraging Michael (the dead son) to go to war, and questions his own political views. The younger sister, Ingrid, is at her own coming of age at 16, and it seems that she can’t cope with anything at all , when she is really the glue that holds the family together. The middle son, Will suffers from classic middle child syndrome, even more so after the tragic death of his beloved older brother, and argues continually with his parents, fighting about the deterioration of the family. When It All Falls Apart chronicles one family’s journey through the five stages of grief (denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance). But will the family find acceptance as a whole, individually, or even at all?

What the press would say:

An unlikely teaming by co-writers Alan Ball and Cameron Crowe and director Sam Mendes along with the reunion of Allison Janney and Anthony LaPaglia (last seen together Arthur Miller’s stage version of A View from the Bridge) comes a story that has not been told yet, of the grief a family shares from a death of a son at war. When it all falls apart tackles the tough themes of denial, anger, blame and politics seamlessly, with originality, humor and heartbreak. The best parts of the movie are the performances from an established cast, and the score from Oscar winning composer Gustavo Santaolalla.

For Your Consideration

Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actress (Allison Janney)
Best Actor (Anthony LaPaglia, Jamie Bell)
Best Supporting Actress (Evan Rachel Wood)
Best Supporting Actor (Jake Gyllenhaal)
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Score
Other technical awards