A Map of the World (film)

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A Map of the World
A Map of the World poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed byScott Elliott
Screenplay by Peter Hedges
Polly Platt
Based on A Map of the World by Jane Hamilton
Produced by Kathleen Kennedy
Frank Marshall
Starring
Cinematography Seamus McGarvey
Edited by Naomi Geraghty
Craig McKay
Music by Pat Metheny
Production
companies
Distributed by USA Films [1]
Release dates
  • September 13, 1999 (1999-09-13)(TIFF)
  • January 21, 2000 (2000-01-21)(USA)
Running time
125 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$544,538 [1]

A Map of the World is a 1999 American drama film, based on the 1994 novel by Jane Hamilton. Directed by Scott Elliott and produced by Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall, the film stars Sigourney Weaver, Julianne Moore and David Strathairn. Weaver was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Drama for her performance.

Contents

Synopsis

Alice Goodwin is a school nurse who lives with her husband Howard and two girls on a small dairy farm in Wisconsin. After the death of the daughter of her friend Theresa Collins on Alice's property, the couple watch helplessly as the community turns against them. To make matters worse, Alice finds herself fighting charges of child abuse.

Cast

In addition, Emma and Claire Goodwin, the young daughters of Weaver's character, were played by real-life sisters Dara and Kayla Perlmutter.

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, 66% of 56 reviews are positive, and the average rating is 6.4/10. The critics consensus states, "Disjointed storytelling overshadows noteworthy performances." [2] On Metacritic, the film has an average score of 65 based on reviews from 25 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [3]

Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film three and a half out of four stars, praising the performances, and likening it to such movies as Being John Malkovich and Three Kings in "being free—in being capable of taking any turn at any moment, without the need to follow tired conventions". [4]

Awards and nominations

YearAward / FestivalCategoryRecipient(s)Result
1999 National Board of Review Special Recognition for Excellence in FilmmakingA Map of the WorldWon [5] [6]
Best Supporting Actress Julianne Moore
(also for Magnolia and An Ideal Husband )
San Sebastián International Film Festival Golden Shell Scott ElliottNominated [7] [8]
2000 National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actress Julianne Moore
(also for Magnolia , Cookie's Fortune and An Ideal Husband )
Nominated [9]
Golden Satellite Awards Best Screenplay – Adapted Peter Hedges and Polly PlattNominated [10]
Best Actress – Drama Sigourney Weaver
Golden Globe Awards Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Nominated [11] [12]
Cairo International Film Festival Golden Pyramid Scott ElliottNominated [13] [14]

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References

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  3. "A Map of the World". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 2020-09-20. Retrieved 2021-01-02.
  4. Ebert, Roger (February 4, 2000). "A Map of the World Review". Chicago Sun-Times . Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
  5. National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards for 1999
  6. "1999 Archives". Archived from the original on 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2024-09-03.
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  12. Wolk, Josh (23 January 2000). ""American Beauty," "Sopranos" dominate the Golden Globes". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
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