Empire Falls (miniseries)

Last updated
Empire Falls
Empire-Falls-DVD.jpg
DVD cover
Genre Drama
Based on Empire Falls
by Richard Russo
Written byRichard Russo
Directed by Fred Schepisi
Starring
Narrated by Larry Pine
Music by Paul Grabowsky
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerWilliam Teitler
Cinematography Ian Baker
EditorKate Williams
Running time195 minutes (8 chapters)
Production companies
Original release
Network HBO
ReleaseMay 28 (2005-05-28) 
May 29, 2005 (2005-05-29)

Empire Falls is a 2005 American television miniseries directed by Fred Schepisi and written by Richard Russo, based on Russo's 2001 novel of the same name. It aired on HBO in two parts, from May 28 to May 29, 2005. [1] [2] The miniseries was nominated for and won multiple awards, including ten Primetime Emmy Awards (winning one) and four Golden Globe Awards (winning two). [3]

Contents

Plot

Miles Roby, the unassuming manager of the Empire Grill, has spent his entire life in the small, decaying, nearly bankrupt town of Empire Falls, Maine.

His ex-wife, Janine, has become a cocky, selfish bachelorette after exercising rigorously and losing weight. This is partly due to encouragement from Walt Comeau, an antagonistic fitness center owner who visits the Empire Grill every day and has moved into Miles' old house.

Miles' loving teenage daughter, Christina ("Tick"), is dealing with Zack Minty, her cruel ex-boyfriend, plus an emotional conflict over her mother's engagement to Walt, whom Tick despises. She has a complicated friendship with John Voss, an emotionally disturbed boy at school. The obnoxious jock Zack and his friends constantly bully John.

Other important people in Miles' life include Max, his grubby ne'er-do-well father, a rascal who can't resist a handout when it comes his way; David, Miles' reformed marijuana smoking brother, who is a talented Empire Grill cook; Bea, Miles' good-hearted ex-mother-in-law, who owns a bar; the town's wealthiest woman, a condescending matron who owns the Empire Grill; that woman's daughter, who has loved Miles for many years; an attractive waitress; a retiring police chief; and a dimwitted police officer, Jimmy Minty, who is Zack's father and has known Miles since childhood.

Miles is plagued by flashbacks of his family when he was a child, including a mysterious affair between his mother and a suitor, the details of which might answer some questions Miles has had his entire life.

Characters

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryNominee(s)ResultRef.
2005
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Mini-Series Casting Avy Kaufman Won [4]
Online Film & Television Association AwardsBest Motion Picture Made for TelevisionNominated [5]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Ed Harris Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Paul Newman Won
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Joanne Woodward Nominated
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Fred Schepisi Nominated
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Richard Russo Nominated
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Best Editing in a Motion Picture or MiniseriesNominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Paul Newman, Scott Steindorff, Fred Schepisi, Marc Platt, and William TeitlerNominated [6]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Ed HarrisNominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Philip Seymour Hoffman Nominated
Paul NewmanWon
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Joanne WoodwardNominated
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Fred SchepisiNominated
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Richard RussoNominated
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Stuart Wurtzel, John Kasarda, and Maria NayNominated
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special Avy KaufmanNominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie Kate WilliamsNominated
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries Nominated [7]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Ed HarrisNominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Paul NewmanNominated
Women's Image Network Awards Actor in Made-for-TV Movie/MiniseriesEd HarrisWon
Philip Seymour HoffmanNominated
Actress in Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries Danielle Panabaker Nominated
2006
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best TV Movie Nominated [8]
Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-series Stuart Wurtzel, John Kasarda, David Stein, and Tom WarrenWon [9]
Costume Designers Guild Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries Donna Zakowska Nominated [10]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries Fred SchepisiNominated [11]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Won [12]
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Ed HarrisNominated
Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Paul NewmanWon
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Joanne WoodwardNominated
Gracie Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Special Helen Hunt Won [13]
Producers Guild of America Awards David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Paul Newman, Marc Platt, Scott Steindorff, Fred Schepisi, and William TeitlerNominated [14]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Ed HarrisNominated [15]
Paul NewmanWon
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Joanne WoodwardNominated
Robin Wright Penn Nominated

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