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THE URANIUM THIEF (Evan)
Written and Directed by: Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
CAST
David Learned Dale - Tim Blake Nelson
Melinda Dale - Marisa Tomei
NERT Commander Stiles - Chris O'Dowd
Garrett Dale - Alex Watson
Bonnie Smith - Debby Ryan
Lynn Smith - Frances McDormand
Harry Smith - Kevin Pollak
Tagline: Hunger can make a thief of any man.
Synopsis:
David Dale was a thoroughly annoyed man. He worked at the GE power plant in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1979, but the job wasn't paying enough for his wife Melinda's liking. David was a simple man who didn't need anything extravagant, whereas his wife liked to be pampered, and Davids salary usually disappeared as soon as she got her hands on it. David thought Melinda was way out of his league, and that keeping her happy could fix their struggling marriage. So, when the opportunity presented itself, David Dale managed to enter a restricted area of the plant and wheel out two 5-gallon drums of low-enriched uranium. David thought that if he could blackmail his company anonymously, he might be able to get a large sum of money, making his wife happier. As nothing like this had ever been attempted before, and the plant wasn't expecting anything like it, David was successful in loading them into the trunk of his car, and driving home.
David and his quiet, well behaved son Garrett, went to work filling a small vile with the uranium and sending it to the president of the company, Harry Smith, with a note stating that if they didn't receive $100,000, they would send small viles of the uranium, identical to the one they sent to him, to every anti-nuclear group in the country, a move which would shut down the plant for good, and cost over 4,000 men and women their jobs.
When it was discovered that the uranium had been stolen, Harry Smith was confused and scared of where the uranium might end up. And when he received the note and vile, he had an even more difficult decision to make. But Harry wasn't one to negotiate with terrorists. He immediately sent his wife, the beautiful and flirtatious Lynn, to investigate around the plant, and try to find out if any of the workers knew anything. He also got in contact with the special investigation team known as the Nuclear Emergency Response Team, or NERT. A few days later, the sweet talking, immensely likable, but immensely dangerous NERT Commander Stiles showed up, and with the help of Lynn, they get to work trying to find the stolen uranium.
Meanwhile, Melinda found out about the uranium theft and got furious at David, saying she'd rather have a husband who wasn't in jail. But she quickly changes her mind when she finds out how much money they stand to receive. David was interrogated at work, as were all the staff, but he didn't give anything away, or so he thought. But Bonnie Smith, the daughter of Harry and Lynn, was suspicious of him from the start, and started her own investigation when she sees him whispering has a son in the parking lot.
Bonnie, having inherited the wit and sensuality of her mother, befriended Garrett and tried to find out if it was his father who was blackmailing her fathers plant. Garrett, who had never had a girl pay this much attention to him, was suspicious, and didn't give away any clues about the location of the uranium.
But when Commander Stiles starts doing mandatory searches of all the employees houses, it will take everything the Dale family has to keep this hundred thousand dollar secret, a secret, and hope that neither Stiles, Bonnie, or Lynn have any evidence against them.
Press Section:
"The Uranium Thief" tells the little known story of David Dale, who succeeded in stealing $100,000 worth of uranium in 1979. This telling of the story, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, is hilarious, taking the story to a whole new level of craziness. The film shows a first time criminal, and his equally green family, getting in way over their heads as they try to pull off something that had never been done before in America. Starring Coen brother's regulars like Tim Blake Nelson, and Frances McDormand, the film also shines a light on some budding new talent and some reliable veterans. Tim Blake Nelson gives a comedic and thoughtful performance as Dale, a bumbling first time offender who has no idea what he's in for, but is really just trying to keep his wife happy. Marisa Tomei is also fantastic as the egotistical and materialistic Melinda, the woman who eggs her husband on just because there's a chance they might become richer, even though she knows it's far more likely he'll end up in prison. Kevin Pollack and Frances McDormand turn in fine performances as well, but are saddled with limited screen time. Debby Ryan takes her first stab at an oscar-film, and uses her perfect comedic timing to full affect as a flirtatious schoolgirl trying to get the information she needs out of a lonely, unsuspecting boy. Ryan is wonderful, and makes what would be a two dimensional character, into someone who sees that her family could be torn apart if the uranium isn't found. Alex Watson, younger brother of Emma Watson, is also very effective as a son who wants to please his father, but is also a little bit scared of being an accomplice in such an audacious plan. But the most unexpectedly brilliant performance comes from the underrated Chris O'Dowd, who, like Christoph Waltz in "Inglorious Bastards" is a master of words, and uses them to charm, and then to take. O'Dowd is highly effective and should be seriously considered for an Oscar nomination. The great performances and witty writing make "The Uranium Thief" a funny, entertaining and altogether captivating caper, and the Coen brothers are the perfect people to handle it. It's one of the years best films, and should be considered come oscar time for it's creativity and willingness to make an oscar contender out of one of the least known almost-disasters of the 70's.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Best Picture
Best Director - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Best Adapted Screenplay - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Best Actor - Tim Blake Nelson
Best Actress - Marisa Tomei
Best Supporting Actress - Debby Ryan
Best Supporting Actor - Chris O'Dowd
and
all applicable categories
CAST
David Learned Dale - Tim Blake Nelson
Melinda Dale - Marisa Tomei
NERT Commander Stiles - Chris O'Dowd
Garrett Dale - Alex Watson
Bonnie Smith - Debby Ryan
Lynn Smith - Frances McDormand
Harry Smith - Kevin Pollak
Tagline: Hunger can make a thief of any man.
Synopsis:
David Dale was a thoroughly annoyed man. He worked at the GE power plant in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1979, but the job wasn't paying enough for his wife Melinda's liking. David was a simple man who didn't need anything extravagant, whereas his wife liked to be pampered, and Davids salary usually disappeared as soon as she got her hands on it. David thought Melinda was way out of his league, and that keeping her happy could fix their struggling marriage. So, when the opportunity presented itself, David Dale managed to enter a restricted area of the plant and wheel out two 5-gallon drums of low-enriched uranium. David thought that if he could blackmail his company anonymously, he might be able to get a large sum of money, making his wife happier. As nothing like this had ever been attempted before, and the plant wasn't expecting anything like it, David was successful in loading them into the trunk of his car, and driving home.
David and his quiet, well behaved son Garrett, went to work filling a small vile with the uranium and sending it to the president of the company, Harry Smith, with a note stating that if they didn't receive $100,000, they would send small viles of the uranium, identical to the one they sent to him, to every anti-nuclear group in the country, a move which would shut down the plant for good, and cost over 4,000 men and women their jobs.
When it was discovered that the uranium had been stolen, Harry Smith was confused and scared of where the uranium might end up. And when he received the note and vile, he had an even more difficult decision to make. But Harry wasn't one to negotiate with terrorists. He immediately sent his wife, the beautiful and flirtatious Lynn, to investigate around the plant, and try to find out if any of the workers knew anything. He also got in contact with the special investigation team known as the Nuclear Emergency Response Team, or NERT. A few days later, the sweet talking, immensely likable, but immensely dangerous NERT Commander Stiles showed up, and with the help of Lynn, they get to work trying to find the stolen uranium.
Meanwhile, Melinda found out about the uranium theft and got furious at David, saying she'd rather have a husband who wasn't in jail. But she quickly changes her mind when she finds out how much money they stand to receive. David was interrogated at work, as were all the staff, but he didn't give anything away, or so he thought. But Bonnie Smith, the daughter of Harry and Lynn, was suspicious of him from the start, and started her own investigation when she sees him whispering has a son in the parking lot.
Bonnie, having inherited the wit and sensuality of her mother, befriended Garrett and tried to find out if it was his father who was blackmailing her fathers plant. Garrett, who had never had a girl pay this much attention to him, was suspicious, and didn't give away any clues about the location of the uranium.
But when Commander Stiles starts doing mandatory searches of all the employees houses, it will take everything the Dale family has to keep this hundred thousand dollar secret, a secret, and hope that neither Stiles, Bonnie, or Lynn have any evidence against them.
Press Section:
"The Uranium Thief" tells the little known story of David Dale, who succeeded in stealing $100,000 worth of uranium in 1979. This telling of the story, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, is hilarious, taking the story to a whole new level of craziness. The film shows a first time criminal, and his equally green family, getting in way over their heads as they try to pull off something that had never been done before in America. Starring Coen brother's regulars like Tim Blake Nelson, and Frances McDormand, the film also shines a light on some budding new talent and some reliable veterans. Tim Blake Nelson gives a comedic and thoughtful performance as Dale, a bumbling first time offender who has no idea what he's in for, but is really just trying to keep his wife happy. Marisa Tomei is also fantastic as the egotistical and materialistic Melinda, the woman who eggs her husband on just because there's a chance they might become richer, even though she knows it's far more likely he'll end up in prison. Kevin Pollack and Frances McDormand turn in fine performances as well, but are saddled with limited screen time. Debby Ryan takes her first stab at an oscar-film, and uses her perfect comedic timing to full affect as a flirtatious schoolgirl trying to get the information she needs out of a lonely, unsuspecting boy. Ryan is wonderful, and makes what would be a two dimensional character, into someone who sees that her family could be torn apart if the uranium isn't found. Alex Watson, younger brother of Emma Watson, is also very effective as a son who wants to please his father, but is also a little bit scared of being an accomplice in such an audacious plan. But the most unexpectedly brilliant performance comes from the underrated Chris O'Dowd, who, like Christoph Waltz in "Inglorious Bastards" is a master of words, and uses them to charm, and then to take. O'Dowd is highly effective and should be seriously considered for an Oscar nomination. The great performances and witty writing make "The Uranium Thief" a funny, entertaining and altogether captivating caper, and the Coen brothers are the perfect people to handle it. It's one of the years best films, and should be considered come oscar time for it's creativity and willingness to make an oscar contender out of one of the least known almost-disasters of the 70's.
FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION
Best Picture
Best Director - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Best Adapted Screenplay - Joel Coen & Ethan Coen
Best Actor - Tim Blake Nelson
Best Actress - Marisa Tomei
Best Supporting Actress - Debby Ryan
Best Supporting Actor - Chris O'Dowd
and
all applicable categories