The Greatest

MPAA Rating:

for language, some sexual content and drug use.

Moral Rating:

_____

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Moviemaking Quality:

Primary Audience:

Adults

Genre:

Drama

Length:

1 hr. 39 min.

Year of Release:

2009

USA Release:

January 17, 2009 (festival)
April 2, 2010 (limited)
DVD: July 13, 2010

Relevant Issues

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Featuring:	Carey Mulligan (Rose), Aaron Johnson (Bennett Brewer), Pierce Brosnan (Allen Brewer), Susan Sarandon (Grace Brewer), Johnny Simmons (Ryan Brewer), Kevin Hagan (Priest), Miles Robbins (Sean Brewer), Cara Seymour (Janis), Ramsey Faragallah (Dr. Shambus), Colby Minifie (Latral), Zoë Kravitz (Ashley), more » Portia (Toni), Michael Shannon (Jordan Walker), Dante E. Clark (Dante), Ron Scott (Police Officer), Miguel Cervantes (EMT #1), Maya Ri Sanchez (EMT #2), Lindsay Beamish (Shea), Eric Santiago (Party Goer), John Boyd (Wyatt), Cynthia Boorujy (Rose’s Doctor), Hannah Hodson (Amy), Miriam Cruz (Gloria), Joel de la Fuente (Allen’s Doctor), James Biberi (Prison Security Guard), Wai Ching Ho (Piano Teacher), Louis D'Agostino (Friend #1), Alexander Flores (Geeky Student), Jennifer Ehle (Joan), Amy Morton (Lydia), Deirdre O'Connell (Joyce), Maryann Urbano (Cheryl), Cheryl Alessio (Piano Student—uncredited), Ryan Brandon (Party Goer—uncredited), Alana Cadiz (Girl Making out at Movie Theater—uncredited), Cheryl Cosenza (Hair Stylist—uncredited), Rawson Faux (Student—uncredited), Nikita Francois (Student—uncredited), Alyssa May Gold (Cheerleader—uncredited), Maria Justine Henley (Student—uncredited), heather Matthews-Yanoff (Friend #2—uncredited), Nick Naney (Party Goer—uncredited), Anthony Del Negro (Friend at Funeral—uncredited), Javier Picayo (Jay—uncredited), Garett Ross (Ryan’s Stoner Friend—uncredited)
Director:	Shana Feste
Producer:	Barbarian Films, Irish DreamTime, Oceana Media Finance, Silverwood Films, Tax Credit Finance, Pierce Brosnan, Anthony Callie, Nissa Ren Cannon, Chris Charalambous, Doug Dey, Ron Hartenbaum, Lynette Howell, Aaron Kaufman, Douglas Kuber, Katie Mustard, Katie Mustard, Myles Nestel, Amanda Scarano, Beau St. Clair
Distributor:	Paladin

Producer’s synopsis: “‘The Greatest’ tells the story of Allen and Grace Brewer, a grief-stricken couple whose family has been pushed to the breaking point by the death of their older son, Bennett, in a car crash. When a young woman, Rose, shows up a few months later announcing that she is pregnant with Bennett’s child, the Brewer’s are forced to take her in. At first, Rose’s presence threatens to tear the family even further apart but, eventually, her interaction with each of the Brewers proves to be the very thing that brings them back together.

For the past few years, 17-year-old Bennett and Rose always look forward to the moment when their eyes meet as they pass each other going home from school. Still, they never exchange a single word until the very last day of school when Bennett musters up the courage to confess his love to Rose. At last they kiss, and end up having the most memorable night of their lives.

Seconds after Bennett says goodbye to Rose, a tragic car accident takes his life. His mother Grace (Academy Award® winner Sarandon) has a hard time coping with the devastating news and becomes obsessed with the final moments of Bennett’s life. Her husband Allen (Brosnan) tries to make up for his past mistakes while fighting to keep his family together, and the youngest son Ryan feels neglected and overcome by his own problems. And then one night, Rose shows up at their doorstep announcing she is pregnant with Bennett’s baby and has been disowned by her own family. While things will never be the same for each of them, together they come to recognize that the life of a family will carry on.”

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Movie Critics

…an earnest, high-minded, would-be sobfest about grief and healing, left me dry-eyed and squirming with impatience… “The Greatest” is so badly edited that it barely makes sense.
—Stephen Holden, The New York Times

…Stirring and emotional tale of family grief.… compelling drama…
—Duane Byrge, The Hollywood Reporter

…Brosnan and the remarkable Susan Sarandon are just perfect in a film that clearly echoes Robert Redford’s classic “Ordinary People” but has enough new twists to make it very interesting.…
—Roger Friedman, FOX News

…deals in a nuanced manner with the different ways those affected by the loss deal with it. As demonstrated by the recent “Revolutionary Road,” this sort of grim material with agonized characters emits serious noncommercial vibes, suggesting a hard road ahead in a marketplace in which solid reviews will have to help the star names in selling it.…
—Todd McCarthy, Variety

…“The Greatest” hopes that all you need to whip up a really sad movie is an hour and a half of people making distraught faces, crying, clutching their hearts, hitting the deck in a grocery store, looking into the distance to signal a flashback is coming and (especially) sleepwalking while shouting, “Find the baby! He was right here! I can’t find him!”…[1/4]
—Kyle Smith, New York Post

…soap-opera feel… dignity dies a million deaths despite the best intentions.…[2/4]
—Joe Neumaier, New York Daily News

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