"Two Weeks" Movie Released

On March 2, 2007, the independently-produced movie "Two Weeks" was released to theaters by Warner Brothers, with initial showings in selected major cities nationwide. Its tag line is: "What happens to a family when the one person who holds it together can't hold on anymore?"

This is a synopsis of the story:

Two-time Academy Award winner Sally Field and Ben Chaplin head a terrific acting ensemble in this bittersweet comedy.

Four siblings rush home to say a last goodbye to their very sick mother. When she hangs on, they find themselves trapped together -- for two weeks. Through laughter and tears, they come to terms with the tragedies we all must face, and rediscover the joy we find in each other.

The film chronicles the Bergmans' alternately heartbreaking and hilarious struggles, intercut with Anita's own reflections on her life and her family.

According to writer & director Steve Stockman, "the film was inspired by what happened to me and my family when my mother was dying of peritoneal cancer seven years ago." The event apparently profoundly affected this sophisticated Texan, who once was known as a political activist and who served a term (1992-94) as a Republican congressman from the 9th Congressional District in Texas.

It’s been great for me to find out that we’ve created a film about an experience common to many, many people. And it’s been great, I think, for people who’ve been through it to realize they’re not alone.

The cast includes Sally Field, Ben Chaplin, Tom Cavanagh, Julianne Nicholson, & Clea Duvall.

On May 29, 2007, Steve Stockman posted a blog entry on the movie's official website, "Two Weeks on a Plane", where he discussed the hoped-for impact of the movie:

The theatrical release of Two Weeks brought us nice publicity, and garnered respectable reviews in publications like the New York Times, Newsday, Entertainment Weekly and People (here's my favorite, from Jeffrey Lyons and Alison Bailes on WNBC TV in New York: Reel Talk: Two Weeks).

And now it's time to move from theatrical release (the big dream of any independent filmmaker) to the rest of the movie's life -- which is where far more people will see it.

First up, September 12, 2007 is the DVD release. In addition to deleted scenes and a "Making of" documentary, it includes two Two Weeks innovations . . . .

At the screenings I attended, people wanted to know what was true in the film -- not just what actually happened to my family, but what's true for others going through the same thing. So we've invited Dr. Ira Byock, one of America's leading end-of-life experts, to join in on the director's commentary track (You can see his website here.) * * *

Also at the screenings, a lot of people expressed an interest in showing the film to their book groups. So on the DVD, you'll be able to flip through an on-screen Book Group Discussion Guide with what we hope are a whole bunch of interesting questions. * * *

When MGM releases the Two Weeks DVD on September 12, you'll be able to find it in all major rental stores, retailers, and on-line outlets. You can (and should!) reserve it now on Netflix.

That last comment is useful for those of us -- such as most Pennsylvanians -- who did not have the opportunity to view the movie previously at its showings in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Nashville, Dallas, Atlanta, Boston, or Washington D.C.

Instead, we must either rent it or buy it for home viewing. Look for "Two Weeks" in stores sometime after September 12, 2007.

More information about the movie is available here on the Internet Movie Database.

"We've tried to make it about truth.
About a family trying to figure things out
when the one person who really holds them together can't hold on anymore."

-- Steve Stockman, Writer & Director of "Two Weeks"

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