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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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1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
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N/R

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Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
01/18/05
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: Independent | comment Comment
03/07/05
Independent
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

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Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
11/06/04
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

Bridges, a consistently under-appreciated actor, does arguably the best work of his career...

Full Review Source: AboutFilm.com | comment Comment
07/10/04
Carlo Cavagna
Carlo Cavagna
AboutFilm.com

Dark cinema, but also perceptive and revelatory in exploring how an ill-fated couple struggles to cope with tragedy.

Full Review Source: Apollo Guide | comment Comment
07/16/04
Brian Webster
Brian Webster
Apollo Guide

This is a film to wrap around yourself like a blanket, huddling from life's harshness and tasting its riches.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
08/16/04
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

...an odd movie, but the kind of odd movie that some people will take to and even love in spite of its confusing and difficult nature.

Full Review Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette | comment Comment
08/23/04
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

If The Door in the Floor is good enough for Irving, who's often distanced himself from films based on his books, it's certainly good enough for the rest of us.

Full Review Source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution | comment Comment
07/22/04
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Eleanor Ringel Gillespie
Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
07/25/04
Kimberly Jones
Kimberly Jones
Austin Chronicle

"The film, while telling a story dealing with tragedy and its after affects, essentially boils down to a study in humiliation"

Full Review Source: Bangitout.com | comment Comment
08/31/04
Jordan Hiller
Jordan Hiller
Bangitout.com

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Big Picture Big Sound | comment Comment
12/27/07
Joe Lozito
Joe Lozito
Big Picture Big Sound

A stunningly well-acted drama for grown-ups.

Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
07/14/04
Ty Burr
Ty Burr
Boston Globe
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Boston Phoenix | comment Comment
07/20/04
Boston Phoenix
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

You’ve heard of straight-to-video, but how about straight to the trash can?

Full Review Source: Boulder Weekly | comment Comment
07/23/04
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

A compelling, beautifully acted drama.

Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
07/16/04
Sheri Linden
Sheri Linden
Boxoffice Magazine

Williams handles the main line of the story, the war between Ted and Marion, clearly and strongly.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
07/14/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Feels more about a situation than actual people. It's sensitively rendered, filled with those necessary evocative details, and it never rings true.

Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
07/16/04
Mark Caro
Mark Caro
Chicago Tribune
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by source; UK critics are listed first)
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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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