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Movies / On DVD / The Door in the Floor
The Door in the Floor

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The Door in the Floor (2004)

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Reviews Counted:138

Fresh:91

Rotten:47

Average Rating:6.4/10

Consensus: Though uneven in tone, this is one of the better adaptations of John Irving's novels, with Jeff Bridges giving one of his best performances.

Runtime: 1 hr 51 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: The Door in the Floor explores the complexities of love in its brightest, most mysterious, and darkest corners. The Door in the Floor is directed by Tod Williams, whose screenplay is adapted from... The Door in the Floor explores the complexities of love in its brightest, most mysterious, and darkest corners. The Door in the Floor is directed by Tod Williams, whose screenplay is adapted from John Irving's best-selling novel A Widow for One Year. Set in the beach community of East Hampton, New York, the film chronicles one pivotal summer in the lives of famous children's books author Ted Cole (Jeff Bridges) and his beautiful wife Marion (Kim Basinger). Their once-great marriage has been strained by tragedy. The Coles lovingly parent their surviving child, bright 4-year-old Ruth (Elle Fanning), who takes everything in stride as perhaps only a child can. But Marion's equation of love with loss, coupled with Ted's infidelities, points towards a much-needed change in the relationship. That may come in the form of Eddie O'Hare (Jon Foster), the young man Ted hires to work as his summer assistant - and, Ted hopes, the catalyst to invigorate the Coles' bond of marriage. Eddie idolizes Ted, but Ted's erratic work habits soon leave Eddie to his own devices. Marion becomes an object of desire for Eddie, rekindling in her some surprising emotions as a mother and as a woman. To Eddie's surprise and delight, his yearning is potently reciprocated. As he becomes passionately entwined with the seemingly fragile yet increasingly bold Marion, Eddie comes to realize that, similarly, Ted's surface fecklessness hides something deeper within. As the summer draws to a close, Marion and Ted must make difficult decisions about the future of their family. A Focus Features and Revere Pictures presentation of a This is that production. Jeff Bridges, Kim Basinger. The Door in the Floor. Jon Foster, Mimi Rogers, Elle Fanning, with Bijou Phillips. Composer, Marcelo Zarvos. Costume Designer, Eric Daman. Editor, Affonso Gonçalves. Production Designer, Thérèse DePrez. Director of Photography, Terry Stacey. Co-Producer, Marisa Polvino. Executive Producer, Amy J. Kaufman. Executive Producer, Roger Marino. Produced by Michael Corrente. Produced by Ted Hope, Anne Carey. Based the novel A Widow for One Year by John Irving. Screenplay by Tod Williams. Directed by Tod Williams. -- © Focus Features [More]

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Kim Basinger, Mimi Rogers, Elle Fanning

Starring: Jeff Bridges, Kim Basinger, Mimi Rogers, Elle Fanning, Jon Foster, Bijou Phillips

Director: Tod Williams

Director: Tod Williams
Screenwriter: Tod Williams
Producer: Michael Corrente, Ted Hope, Anne Carey
Composer: Marcelo Zarvos
Studio: Focus Features

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Reviews for The Door in the Floor

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Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
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Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
03/07/05
Independent
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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
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Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
11/06/04
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

A finely made drama about a seriously disturbed family.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
10/31/04
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

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Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
07/20/04
Boston Phoenix
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Houston Chronicle | comment Comment
07/21/05
Houston Chronicle
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N/R

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Full Review Source: St. Louis Post-Dispatch | comment Comment
07/20/04
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
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N/R

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Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
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Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
02/01/05
J. Robert Parks
J. Robert Parks
Looking Closer
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Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

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Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Film Threat
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

I can't say I minded the movie too much, but I can't say it ever grabbed me, which is how I feel about every other movie adapted from an Irving novel.

Full Review Source: New York Observer | comment Comment
07/23/04
Andrew Sarris
Andrew Sarris
New York Observer

Incomplete and dreary, despite some beautiful atmospherics and an exceptional performance by Jeff Bridges.

Full Review Source: Sympatico.ca | comment Comment
07/19/04
Angela Baldassarre
Angela Baldassarre
Sympatico.ca

A carefully conceived, thoughtfully orchestrated effort in taste and restraint that ultimately is too restrained and tasteful.

Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
07/14/04
Ann Hornaday
Ann Hornaday
Washington Post

Strongly character-based...[but] the balance among the characters is badly skewed and, as well, they are an unsympathetic lot

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
07/17/04
Arthur Lazere
Arthur Lazere
culturevulture.net

Lines soaked with irony in the novel are played utterly straight-faced in the film—making Irving’s tale seem less imaginative (and considerably more pretentious) than it is.

Full Review Source: East Hampton Independent | comment Comment
07/13/04
Ben Kenigsberg
Ben Kenigsberg
East Hampton Independent

As tenderly acted as Door is, it never finds its tone or purpose.

Full Review Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press | comment Comment
07/14/04
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
Chris Hewitt (St. Paul)
St. Paul Pioneer Press

Marion (Kim Basinger) is, in Irving's universe, the perfect muse, the victim you can blame.

Full Review Source: PopMatters | comment Comment
07/15/04
Cynthia Fuchs
Cynthia Fuchs
PopMatters
 
 
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Latest News for The Door in the Floor

April 08, 2005: Frankie Muniz Aims to "Stay Alive"!
The Hollywood Reporter brings news of a rather drastic career switch for the young Frankie Muniz. Known throughout the universe as "Malcolm in the Middle" (or perhaps... More...

June 22, 2004: Not so easily cast was the role of Marion, a woman so traumatized by the death of her sons that she can’t properly mother her daughter. Opens in new window
More...

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