IMDb RATING
6.5/10
3.6K
YOUR RATING
When a student visits her professor to discuss how she failed his course, the discussion takes an awkward turn.When a student visits her professor to discuss how she failed his course, the discussion takes an awkward turn.When a student visits her professor to discuss how she failed his course, the discussion takes an awkward turn.
- Awards
- 1 nomination
Diego Pineda
- Quarterback
- (uncredited)
Scott Zigler
- Clerk in Copy Shop
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaDavid Mamet's script was heavily criticized as sexist. He defended himself against this allegation in (Guardian supplement) (UK) 8 April 2004, pg. 8-9, "'Why can't I show a woman telling lies?'"
- GoofsWhen Carol leaves John's office after their second meeting, shouting "Help!", the shadow of the camera covers the door.
- Alternate versionsThere is a version of the movie circulating in Australia, in a series of videos along with other David Mamet films including "A Life in the Theater". This particular copy of the film is timecoded. In that version, after Carol tells John not to call his wife "baby," (thus sending him into a torrent of rage), and he slaps her arm and grabs her, screaming a sexual expletive and raising a chair above her head, the door to the hallway swings open and a number of people stand in the hallway, observing the fight and thus hopelessly damning John. In the version now appearing on The Sundance Channel (10/05), the expletive is unchanged but he never lifts the chair and the door never opens; aside from a final exterior shot of the school, the film ends with Carol (Eisenstadt) having collapsed on the floor of John's office, and John sitting in his chair, his head buried in his hands.
- SoundtracksLong Ago And Far Away
Words by David Mamet
Music by Rebecca Pidgeon
Soloist: Steve Goldstein (as Steven Goldstein)
© Copyright 1994 Dwight Street Music
Featured review
Prepare yourself for discussions and dissensions.
This is a movie not without faults -- the dialog at the beginning is stilted, William H. Macy's performance is not without its weak spots -- but in spite of those quibbles, is a compelling, intriguing film.
The movie centers on the relationship between a student and a professor at an unnamed university. She goes to him for extra help in his class (but she may be just trying to set him up for a sexual harrassment lawsuit). He tries to help her with her studies (but may be trying to dominate and have innappropriate relations with her at the same time). As the relationship turns into a struggle, the viewer finds him/herself switching sides early and often. The tension in the film becomes the viewer's tension; during the final scenes you'll barely breathe.
The tagline is right -- whatever side you choose, you're wrong. I've seen this movie lambasted as being anti-feminist, lauded for being pro-feminist, hated for being anti-establishment, pro-establishment, racist, sexist, etc. In reality, it is all and none of these things. Oleanna is a mirror that forces us to examine and discuss our own convictions. That it accomplishes this while still being an exciting film makes it worth seeing more than once.
The movie centers on the relationship between a student and a professor at an unnamed university. She goes to him for extra help in his class (but she may be just trying to set him up for a sexual harrassment lawsuit). He tries to help her with her studies (but may be trying to dominate and have innappropriate relations with her at the same time). As the relationship turns into a struggle, the viewer finds him/herself switching sides early and often. The tension in the film becomes the viewer's tension; during the final scenes you'll barely breathe.
The tagline is right -- whatever side you choose, you're wrong. I've seen this movie lambasted as being anti-feminist, lauded for being pro-feminist, hated for being anti-establishment, pro-establishment, racist, sexist, etc. In reality, it is all and none of these things. Oleanna is a mirror that forces us to examine and discuss our own convictions. That it accomplishes this while still being an exciting film makes it worth seeing more than once.
helpful•378
- niteman
- Jan 22, 2000
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- David Mamet's Oleanna
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $124,693
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $25,316
- Nov 6, 1994
- Gross worldwide
- $124,693
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