Simon Birch

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Simon Birch
Simon Birch theatrical poster
Directed by	Mark Steven Johnson
Produced by	Roger Birnbaum, Laurence Mark
Written by	Mark Steven Johnson (screenplay), John Irving (novel)
Starring	Ian Michael Smith, Joseph Mazzello, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt
Music by	Marc Shaiman
Cinematography	Aaron E. Schneider
Editing by	David Finfer
Distributed by	Hollywood Pictures
Release date(s)	11 September 1998 (USA) 25 June 1999 (UK)
Running time	113 min.
Language	English
Budget	$20,000,000 (estimated)
IMDb profile

Simon Birch is a 1998 dramedy film loosely based on the novel A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It was directed and written for the screen by Mark Steven Johnson. The film stars Ian Michael Smith as Simon, Joseph Mazzello as Joe, Ashley Judd, Oliver Platt and Jim Carrey. It omitted much of the latter half of the novel and altered the ending. The movie does not share the book's title at Irving's request; he did not believe that this novel could successfully be made into a film. The name "Simon Birch" was suggested by him to replace that of Owen Meany.

The film opened on September 11, 1998.^[1]

1 Synopsis
2 Cast
3 Production
4 VHS/DVD release
5 Trivia
6 Soundtrack
7 References
8 External links
- 8.1 Resources

[edit] Synopsis

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

In the title role is 11-year-old Ian Michael Smith, who is afflicted with Morquio's syndrome, a genetic disorder which causes dwarfism. The story begins when Joe Wenteworth, played by Jim Carrey, visits the grave of his childhood friend Simon Birch, whose stone is marked 1952-64. Joe explains that Simon is "the reason I believe in God." This is followed by a flashback to their friendship during the early '60s.

In Gravestown, New Hampshire, young Joe Wenteworth, played by Joseph Mazzello, doesn't know who his father is, and his loving mother Rebecca (Ashley Judd) won't tell him. Joe's best buddy is young Simon Birch, born so tiny that his classmates pass him about like a "doll." Simon’s mother is shown in a flashback giving birth to him by merely sneezing, implying the labor was made so easy because of his diminutive stature. Upon seeing his infant son for the first time in the nursery and told he would not survive, Simon’s father writes him off thus beginning his lifetime of neglect. Ignored at home, Simon turns to Rebecca as a surrogate mother, and he often has dinner with the Wenteworths.

The main plot hovers about the life of 12 year-old Joe who does not know who his father is. For some time he has been the butt of jokes and scorn in their small town, but his mother has not revealed her lover met years ago on the train. Life-long pal Simon, also 12 but with the eccentricities of someone much older, decides he will help Joe find his father. We are also informed of Simon's deep-seated belief that God put him here for a purpose, that because of his faith, Simon would cope with his dwarfism and overcome people's blindness. Simon would become a hero.

These two early adolescents quickly endear themselves to the viewer. Although their routine is typical - playing baseball, racing to the creek for a swim, discussing girls - the script (by Mark Steven Johnson) has them perform these growing up tasks with quirky originality. Simon's self-deprecating humor is especially charming. He one-ups Joe in physical comparisons, though he goes for the smaller instead of the superior. He accepts playing the Baby Jesus because he is the only student who will fit in the crib. And he rides in a wooden Coca-Cola crate rigged up as a sidecar to Joe's bike.

Part of Rebecca Wentworth’s importance is serving as Simon's surrogate mom, one who cares about the boy - unlike his real parents, who permit Simon to live with them but are otherwise uninvolved. Ben Goodrich the drama teacher played by Oliver Platt begins to date Rebecca. Joe initially resents him, and Ben tries to win the boy over with goofy gifts and behaviors. During a baseball game Simon is given his first chance at swinging the bat instead of standing at the plate waiting for the guaranteed walk and he gets his first hit of his life. Unfortunately this is a foul ball that strikes Rebecca in the head and kills her instantly. Both Simon and Joe mourn the loss of their mother, surrogate or real, and their friendship ultimately survives this tragedy.

David Strathairn plays Reverend Russell who is often interrupted by Simon during his Sunday sermons. The Sunday school teacher is at her wits end with Simon who is constantly questioning religion to help him understand his destiny. Jan Hooks is almost unrecognizable as Miss Leavy in this role. Joe and Simon are caught breaking into the office of the swimming coach, Mr. Baker, because they suspect he is Joes’ real father. The two are sentenced to community service on a church-run retreat, under the leadership of Rev. Russell. Simon shows his ability to connect with people his own size, a.k.a., the children on the retreat.

The Christmas pageant is one of the funniest scenes in the whole movie. It is also the reason Rev. Russell bans Simon from attending the church retreat. Stuck at home, Simon retrieves his confiscated collection of baseball cards from Russell's study, and finds the final clue as to who Joe’s father really is. He and Ben race to the retreat to tell Joe, but they arrive to find Rev. Russell has already told him. On the journey home, a road accident caused the school bus to plunge into a river, but Simon's initiative saves the other children. Joe awakens in the hospital to find Ben at his bedside. He goes to his best friend's bedside and stays with him until Simon dies, a hero.

[edit] Cast

Ian Michael Smith..........Simon Birch
Joseph Mazzello............Joseph 'Joe' Wenteworth
Ashley Judd................Rebecca Wenteworth
Oliver Platt.................Ben Goodrich
David Strathairn...............Rev. Russell
Dana Ivey........................Grandmother Wenteworth
Beatrice Winde................Hilde Grove
Jan Hooks........................Miss Leavey
Cecilley Carroll...............Marjorie
Sumela Kay.....................Ann (as Sumela-Rose Keramidopulos)
Sam Morton.....................Stuart
Jim Carrey.......................Adult Joe Wenteworth
John Mazzello.................Simon Wenteworth
Holly Dennison...............Mrs. Birch
Peter MacNeill................Mr. Birch
Addison Bell....................Dr. Wells
Roger McKeen................Coach Higgins
Sean McCann..................Chief Al Cork
John Robinson.................Mr. Baker
Guy Sanvido....................Janitor
Gil Filar...........................Eddie
Marcello Meleca..............Howard Ellis
Tim Hall...........................Pitcher
Tom Redman...................First Baseman
Mark Skrela.....................Third Baseman
Kevin White....................Shortstop
Terry V. Hart...................Umpire
Alan Markfield................Umpire
Christopher Marren.........Rival Baseball Coach
Tommy Dorrian...............Teammate #1
Justin Marangoni.............Teammate #2
Tyler Cairns.....................Sheep
Gino Giacomini................Wise Man
Barbara Stewart................Delivery Room Nurse
David Rigby......................Bus Driver
Sam Aaron........................Old Man #1
David Chapman................Old Man #2
Wendy Fleming................Mrs. Russell
Paul De Fibo.....................Junior Lamb
Dalton Rondell..................Junior Lamb
Cameron Croughwell........Junior Lamb
Logan Holladay.................Junior Lamb
Scotty Leavenworth...........Junior Lamb
Devon Alan........................Junior Lamb
Joshua Titen.......................Junior Lamb
Tony Orr............................ Junior Lamb
Joshua Croughwell.............Junior Lamb
Jeffrey Schoeny..................Junior Lamb
Derek Montgomery............Junior Lamb
Sean Sullivan.....................Junior Lamb
Devon Cole Borisoff..........Junior Lamb
Taylor Emerson..................Junior Lamb
Brian McLaughlin..............Junior Lamb
Nicholas Andrew................Junior Lamb
Sean Flynn..........................Junior Lamb
Patrick McTavish................Junior Lamb
Blake Hubbell......................Junior Lamb
Cody Gill.............................Junior Lamb
Ramiro González.................Junior Lamb
Mitchell Orr.........................Junior Lamb
Trevor Habberstad...............Junior Lamb

[edit] Production

Spoiler warning: Plot and/or ending details follow.

Behind the scenes where the bus crash takes place

The bus crash scene was filmed near French River (Ontario). The film's quarry scenes were shot at Elora, Ontario. The church featured in many parts of the film is in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Its black borders were painted white for the film. At the end of the film when it switches to the future, the borders are black.^[2]

[edit] VHS/DVD release

The film was released on VHS on November 2, 1999 and on DVD in 2002 (Region 1). The region 1 DVD contains a theatrical trailer.

[edit] Trivia

Jim Carrey provides the voiceover narrative during the film as a grown-up Joe Wenteworth. He appears on camera at the very beginning briefly and towards the end.

[edit] Soundtrack

Simon Birch features many songs from the 50s and 60s era. Babyface had written "You Were There" for the film. It was used in the ending credits and a music video was produced.^[3] There were also four cover songs by Marc Shaiman.

The film's OST was released with the following songs (available on CD and cassette):