The Underground

Authors: Manos Peponakis
Location: Athens, Greece

"The Underground”

Produced by Jane Scott
Directed by Mike Nichols
Written by Harold Pinter
Based on the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky
Music by David Hirschfelder
Cinematography by Eduardo Serra
Art Direction by Stuart Craig & Stephanie McMillan
Costume Design by Bob Ringwood
Editing by Pip Karmel
Makeup by Keith Vanderlaan & Christien Tinsley

Principal Cast:

Edward Norton (The Underground Man)
Scarlett Johansson (Lisa)
Joaquin Phoenix (Zverkov)
Mark Wahlberg (Simonov)
Ryan Gosling (Ferfitchkin)
Emile Hirsch (Trudolioubov)
Orson Bean (Apollo, Underground Man's servant)

Tagline: "There are secrets that we are afraid to whisper to ourselves"

Synopsis: The Underground is the story of a man (Norton) who has remained 20 years in isolation, without friends, without affection, lost in his thoughts, filled with anger. The only human presence in his underground is an old servant (Bean). His mind is going mad. Insanity seems unavoidable. Suddenly, he decides to break his isolation. His colleagues (Phoenix, Wahlberg, Gosling, Hirsh) insult and humiliate him. Then, he meets Lisa (Johansson), a whore and he promises to save her. She joins him in his underground. He cynically admits that he fooled her. She stays, she has loved him. But his insanity is incurable. At the end Lisa goes and the Man stays in his solitude, accompanied by his thoughts

What the press would say:

"Chapeau" New York Times

"Only insensible can not weep with this film" Los Angeles Times

"Nichols finds himself again" Washington Post

"A master adapting a masterpiece" Times Literary Supplement

"Norton in the role of his life. Give him the Oscar now" Rolling Stone

The most difficult book of Fyodor Dostoevsky on screen. Only geniuses can fulfill this risky enterprise. A Novelist (Harold Pinter) and Mike Nichols, the Oscar winning director of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe, do their best and succeed to depict the masterpiece of the Dostoevsky. Nichols does wonders in this subtle and bewildering movie. Technically the movie is impeccable. Dark colors dominate the movie and help us to focus on the haunted soul of the hero. The excellent work in Cinematography, Art Direction and Costume Design depict magnificently the 19th century Russia. So does Hirschfelder's score with the vast use of traditional Russian organs like balalaika. Pinter, as in his plays, uses pauses to make the people feel the great existential dilemmas of the Underground Man. Norton's performance is sublime. His best film yet. If his performance in American History X was 100% shocking, this one is 1000%. A man filled with anger and hate, a selfish and insane creature that you can hate and grieve at the same time. The first half of the movie is a monologue where Norton unwinds his hypocritical talent. His performance there must be taught in acting classes. The character walks step by step the pathway that leads from sanity to insanity. Pinter respects the text of Dostoevsky and tears the soul of The Underground Man apart. We see the Underground Man suffering, struggling, crying. Scarlett Johansson portrays the character of Lisa, the young whore that fells in love with The Underground Man. She gives a powerful performance in this supporting role. In her face we see the expression of a young girl daunted by her cruel life. She wastes her youth selling her body and she seeks for a hope in life. The chemistry between Norton and Johansson is unique. They share the most dramatic and powerful scenes in the movie.

The Underground will make the audience pick up their handkerchiefs and cry a river. The most compelling drama this year. Well-written, well-directed, well-performed. The Academy cannot ignore a film like this. The triumph is going Underground this year.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Best Picture
Best Director- Mike Nichols
Best Adapted Screenplay- Harold Pinter
Best Actor in a Leading Role- Edward Norton
Best Actress in a Supporting Role- Scarlett Johannson
Best Original Score- David Hirschfelder
Best Cinematography
Best Art Direction
Best Costume Design
Best Film Editing
Best Makeup