Friday, June 20, 2008

Olean

Authors: Pat
Location: NY

"Olean”

Directed By Steven Spielberg
Written By David Milch and Eric Roth
Music By James Newton Howard
Based Upon Actual Events and the Play "Sniper" by Bonnie Culver

Principal Cast:

Kevin Zegers (Anthony Barbaro)
Jon Voight (Earl Metcalf)
Tim Robbins (Neal Pilon)
Kerry Washington (Carmen Wright)
Linda Hunt (Virginia Sgro)
William Hurt (Richard Ulasewicz)
Thomas Haden Church (Joseph Englehof)
David Duchovny (Michael Barbaro)
Sean Faris (Jock #1)
Kyle Gallner (Jock #2)
Amanda Seyfried (Sandra)

Tagline: "This is where horror began"

Synopsis: Based upon true events and a play by Bonnie Culver, "Olean" tells the story about the first school shooting in American history through the eyes of the attacker and three of his victims. 17-year-old Anthony Barbaro (Kevin Zegers) was a bright, young man in the small town on Olean , New York . He was a member of the National Honor Society, scholarship recipient, avid reader, hard worker, big brother of six, and gun enthusiast. He was seemingly normal and beloved by his teachers and guidance counselors. But on December 30, 1974, Anthony left his home to commit one of the most horrible acts in America that left 3 dead and numerous others wounded in a standoff that involved over 100 law enforcement officials. Jon Voight plays one of his victims, a janitor at the high school where Anthony opened fire, who tried to stop him before the shooting began. Tim Robbins plays a 58-year-old meter reader who happens to be checking the houses directly across the street from the school. Kerry Washington plays a divorced and pregnant mother of three who was driving down the street at the wrong time. Linda Hunt and William Hurt play English teachers who believe they are at fault for not recognizing Anthony's troubles in his essays. Thomas Haden Church plays a reporter who travels to the school to watch the events unfold while David Duchovny plays Anthony's uncle who is a police officer.

What the press would say:

In 1974, Anthony Barbaro barricaded himself in a room on the fourth floor of Olean High School in Olean, New York, and killed 3 people and wounded dozens of passerbys and law enforcement officials during his seemingly never-ending standoff. Steven Spielberg directs his best movie since "Schindler's List" by handling the subject with bluntness and ability to show the horror of that day. The first half of the film follows four individuals who were either killed or would die because of that day while the second half details the excruciating standoff created by 17-year-old Anthony Barbaro, played eerily well by Kevin Zegers. Jon Voight deserves great accolades as the heartbreaking and tragic school janitor who becomes Barbaro's first victim. Kerry Washington also gives her best role as another victim who is six-months pregnant and dealing with a harsh divorce. Nearly unrecognizable Oscar-winners William Hurt and Linda Hunt play two actual teachers with shockingly realistic performances who believed that they were partially to blame for not realizing that the student was having troubles when he exibited strange behavior in his writings.

Awards

Best Picture
Best Director-Steven Spielberg
Best Adapted Screenplay
Best Actor-Kevin Zegers
Best Supporting Actor-William Hurt
Best Supporting Actor-Jon Voight
Best Supporting Actress-Linda Hunt
Best Supporting Actress-Kerry Washington
Best Original Score
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing
Best Sound

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