Next Stop Wonderland

Last updated
Next Stop Wonderland
Next stop wonderland.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Brad Anderson
Written by
  • Brad Anderson
  • Lyn Vaus
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Uta Briesewitz
Edited byBrad Anderson
Music byClaudio Ragazzi
Production
company
Robbins Entertainment
Distributed by Miramax Films
Release dates
  • January 17, 1998 (1998-01-17)(Sundance)
  • August 21, 1998 (1998-08-21)(United States)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
BudgetUS$1 million [1]
Box officeUS$3.47 million [1]

Next Stop Wonderland is a 1998 American romantic comedy film directed by Brad Anderson, written by Anderson and Lyn Vaus, and starring Hope Davis and Alan Gelfant. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 17, 1998, where it was nominated for a Grand Jury Prize. [2]

Contents

Plot

Two people live unlucky in love in Boston: Erin, whose activist boyfriend Sean has just walked out on their relationship to help a Native American tribe fight off a land development deal, and Alan, a plumber struggling to pay off family obligations while pursuing a career as a marine biologist. Both deal with personal and professional problems and stumble through relationships, continually crossing one another's paths without ever truly meeting and realizing how perfect they are for one another. Time and time again one almost catches the other's eye, but circumstances intervene. After a series of ups and downs both of their budding relationships with others crash and burn, just in time for a chance meeting on the MBTA train (the Blue Line) heading to Wonderland station in Revere, Massachusetts, on the outskirts of Boston. [3]

Cast

Release

The film, which cost $1 million to make, [1] was an audience favorite at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998. A bidding war among studio distributors resulted in Miramax Films paying $6 million for the film's North American distribution rights. [4] The film grossed $3.3 million during its theatrical release. [1]

Soundtrack

The film's soundtrack is scored by Claudio Ragazzi with various renditions by Vinicius Cantuaria, Arto Lindsay, and Bebel Gilberto. It was released on Verve Records. [5]

Reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 73%, based on 45 reviews, and an average rating of 6.8/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Endearing performances create characters you care about". [6] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 71 out of a 100 based on reviews from 19 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [7]

Rita Kempley of The Washington Post wrote: "It's the individual characters, so carefully crafted, who count, as opposed to a tidy conclusion". [8] Variety 's Todd McCarthy wrote that Next Stop Wonderland is "Low on plot but high on charm and personality", adding that "[it']s a sly, hand-crafted indie that is very alive and attentive to its characters' feelings and foibles". [3] Stephen Holden of The New York Times said that "Next Stop Wonderland isn't really much more than a beautifully acted, finely edited sitcom, but it creates and sustains an intelligent, seriocomic mood better than any recent film about the urban single life". [9]

Related Research Articles

<i>A Perfect Murder</i> 1998 film by Andrew Davis

A Perfect Murder is a 1998 American crime thriller film directed by Andrew Davis and starring Michael Douglas, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Viggo Mortensen. It is a remake of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film Dial M for Murder, though the characters' names have been changed and much of the plot has been rewritten and altered from its original form. Loosely based on the play by Frederick Knott, the screenplay was written by Patrick Smith Kelly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Seymour Hoffman</span> American actor (1967–2014)

Philip Seymour Hoffman was an American actor. Known for his distinctive supporting and character roles—eccentrics, underdogs, and misfits—he acted in many films and theatrical productions, including leading roles, from the early 1990s until his death in 2014. He was voted one of the 50 greatest actors of all time in a 2022 readers' poll by Empire magazine.

<i>Hard Eight</i> (film) 1996 film by Paul Thomas Anderson

Hard Eight is a 1996 American crime film written and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson in his feature directorial debut, and starring Philip Baker Hall, John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson. It is the expansion of the short film Cigarettes & Coffee. The film follows the life of a senior gambler and a homeless man. It premiered at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival.

<i>You Can Count on Me</i> 2000 American film

You Can Count on Me is a 2000 American drama film written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan in his feature directorial debut. Starring Laura Linney, Mark Ruffalo, Rory Culkin, and Matthew Broderick, the film follows a single mother living in a small Catskill Mountains town, and her complicated relationships with family and friends.

<i>Happiness</i> (1998 film) 1998 American black comedy film by Todd Solondz

Happiness is a 1998 American black comedy film written and directed by Todd Solondz, that portrays the lives of three sisters, their families, and those around them. The film was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival for "its bold tracking of controversial contemporary themes, richly-layered subtext, and remarkable fluidity of visual style," and the cast received the National Board of Review award for best ensemble performance.

<i>Love Liza</i> 2002 French film

Love Liza is a 2002 American tragicomedic drama film directed by Todd Louiso and starring Philip Seymour Hoffman, Kathy Bates, Jack Kehler, Wayne Duvall, Sarah Koskoff and Stephen Tobolowsky. The film is written by Gordy Hoffman, a playwright and the elder brother of Philip. Love Liza debuted at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.

<i>Soapdish</i> 1991 film by Michael Hoffman

Soapdish is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Michael Hoffman, from a screenplay by Robert Harling and Andrew Bergman. The film was produced by Aaron Spelling and Alan Greisman, and executive produced by Herbert Ross.

<i>Once Bitten</i> (1985 film) 1985 film by Howard Storm

Once Bitten is a 1985 American teen horror comedy film, starring Lauren Hutton, Jim Carrey, and Karen Kopins. Carrey has his first major lead role playing Mark Kendall, an innocent and naive high school student who is seduced in a Hollywood nightclub by a sultry blonde countess (Hutton), who unknown to him is a centuries-old vampire. While the film underperformed at the box office, it has since become a cult classic.

Forty Shades of Blue is a 2005 independent drama film directed by Ira Sachs. Starring Rip Torn, Dina Korzun, and Darren R. Burrows, the film follows a young Russian woman living in Memphis with an aging music producer who comes to question her life when his adult son comes to visit.

<i>Less than Zero</i> (film) 1987 American drama film

Less than Zero is a 1987 American drama film directed by Marek Kanievska, loosely based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Bret Easton Ellis. The film stars Andrew McCarthy as Clay, a college freshman returning home for Christmas to spend time with his ex-girlfriend Blair and his friend Julian, both of whom have become drug addicts. The film presents a look at the culture of wealthy, decadent youth in Los Angeles.

<i>Come Early Morning</i> 2006 American film

Come Early Morning is a 2006 American film starring Ashley Judd and Jeffrey Donovan. It marked the directorial debut of Joey Lauren Adams. The film was shot throughout the metropolitan Little Rock, Arkansas area including Pulaski Heights, and Adams' hometown of North Little Rock. The film was an official selection for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. It premiered for wide release in Little Rock on December 14, 2006.

<i>The Underneath</i> (film) American crime film

The Underneath is a 1995 American crime film directed by Steven Soderbergh, from a screenplay he co-wrote under the pseudonym Sam Lowry with Daniel Fuchs, and starring Peter Gallagher and Alison Elliott. The film is based on the novel Criss Cross by Don Tracy, and is a remake of the original 1949 film adapted from the novel by Daniel Fuchs. The plot revolves around many themes common to film noir, including romantic intrigue, a botched crime, and a surprise ending.

<i>Born to Be Wild</i> (1995 film) 1995 American film

Born to Be Wild is a 1995 American family comedy film released by Warner Bros. under their Warner Bros. Family Entertainment label.

<i>Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten</i> 2007 film

Joe Strummer: The Future Is Unwritten is a 2007 documentary film directed by Julien Temple about Joe Strummer, the lead singer of the British punk rock band The Clash, that went on to win the British Independent Film Awards as Best British Documentary 2007. The film premiered 20 January 2007 at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival. It was also shown at the Dublin Film Festival on 24 February 2007.

<i>Shrink</i> (film) 2009 film directed by Jonas Pate

Shrink is a 2009 American independent black comedy-drama film about a psychiatrist who treats members of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles, California. It is directed by Jonas Pate, written by Thomas Moffett, and stars Kevin Spacey with an ensemble cast. The film premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and includes music by Jackson Browne. Shrink received negative reviews from critics, praising Spacey's performance but critical of the film's scripting and directing.

<i>Dick</i> (film) 1999 film by Andrew Fleming

Dick is a 1999 comedy film directed by Andrew Fleming from a script he co-wrote with Sheryl Longin. It is a comic reimagining of the Watergate scandal which ended the presidency of Richard Nixon and features several cast members from Saturday Night Live and The Kids in the Hall. Kirsten Dunst and Michelle Williams star as Betsy and Arlene, two warm-hearted but unworldly 15-year-old friends, who – through various arbitrary circumstances – become the legendary "Deep Throat" figure who played a key role in bringing down the presidency of Nixon. At the time of the film's release, the real identity of Deep Throat was not yet known to the public.

<i>Jack Goes Boating</i> 2010 film by Philip Seymour Hoffman

Jack Goes Boating is a 2010 American romantic drama film directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman and stars Hoffman in the title role, as well as Amy Ryan, John Ortiz and Daphne Rubin-Vega. The film's script was written by Robert Glaudini, based on his 2007 play Jack Goes Boating. The film's cast was mostly the same as that of the play's premiere at The Public Theater, although Amy Ryan replaced Beth Cole. The film was produced by Overture Films and Relativity Media. It premiered at the 26th Sundance Film Festival and was later released in the United States on September 17, 2010.

Gun Hill Road is a 2011 drama film directed by Rashaad Ernesto Green and starring Esai Morales. The title of the film derives from the Bronx road of the same name. The film is notable for starring a transgender character who is played by a transgender actor, Harmony Santana, who was the first openly transgender actress to be nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

<i>War Story</i> (2014 film) 2014 American film

War Story is a 2014 American drama film directed by Mark Jackson from a screenplay by Jackson and Kristin Gore. It stars Catherine Keener, Hafsia Herzi and Ben Kingsley. The film had its world premiere at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2014, and later screened at 2014 International Film Festival Rotterdam. Its music was composed by Amy Lee, Dave Eggar, and Chuck Palmer.

<i>Seymour: An Introduction</i> (film) 2014 American film

Seymour: An Introduction is a 2014 American documentary film. Directed by Ethan Hawke, the film documents the career of Seymour Bernstein, a classical pianist who abandoned his rising career as a concert pianist at age 50 to retreat to a more modest, private life as a music educator and composer. The film premiered at the 2014 Telluride Film Festival, and was released on March 13, 2015, by IFC Films. As of May 2023, it has a 100% rating on the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Next Stop Wonderland (1998)". The Numbers . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  2. Fee, Gayle (4 February 2014). "Philip Seymour Hoffman's big Boston break". Boston Herald. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  3. 1 2 McCarthy, Todd (January 21, 1998). "Next Stop Wonderland". Variety .
  4. Baumgarten, Marjorie (28 August 1998). "Next Stop, Wonderland". Austin Chronicle. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  5. "Next Stop Wonderland". Film Music Site. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  6. "Next Stop Wonderland (1998)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  7. "Next Stop Wonderland". Metacritic . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  8. Kempley, Rita (August 28, 1998). "'Wonderland': Alice Doesn't Love Here Anymore". The Washington Post .
  9. Holden, Stephen (August 21, 1998). "'Next Stop Wonderland': Love Lies in an Emerson Quotation". The New York Times .

Bibliography