The Curious Case of Phineas Gage

Authors: D.W. Dillon
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada

“The Curious Case Of Phineas Gage”

Directed by Joel Coen
Written by Joel & Ethan Coen
Music by Carter Burwell
Produced by Ethan Coen

Principal Cast:

Paul Giamatti - Phineas P. Gage
Jean Smart - Jeanette Gage
William H. Macy - Dr. J.M. Harlow
Stellen Skarsgard - Dr. Henry Bigelow
Bernadette Peters - Sherri "Madame Ruby" Bedford
Steve Buscemi - Danny Dooley
Dan Hedaya - Bosco Issel
and
Robert Duvall as P.T. Barnum

Tagline: "The curious case of Phineas Gage. Took a tamping iron rod through the brain. It didn't take his life. He placed no blame, but Phineas Gage would never be the same”

Synopsis: Here's the story of Phineas P. Gage (Giamatti). An honest-hardworking man of age. Took a job on a railroad for a decent wage. He had many friends (Hedaya, Buscemi) and a doting wife (Smart) until a tamping iron rod sought to take is life. He packed the iron into the rock without sand, forgetting the most important part of the plan. The iron blasted back as forceful as could be. Straight through his cheek bone, out his brain we could see. Horror turned to amazement to everyone's surprise. Phineas Gage was curiously still alive! Rushed to his physician who could not believe, that Phineas could return to work without ease. But something happened to Phineas Gage. He began to swear and lie with hostile rage. To gain fame and acclaim for his own selfish needs, Harlow (Macy) his doctor was desperate to be. But not all were amazed, one man worried so, for the life of poor Phineas was Dr. Bigelow (Skarsgard). But to his disappointment, he would fall on deaf ears. Phineas lost his job, his wife and everything he held dear. Some saw a jerk or a bum, or just a plain freak, but Mr. P.T. Barnum (Duvall) saw a human being. Sickened with doctors and his old life left behind. He soon joined the circus to help take up some time. He fell in love with a psychic (Peters) who could not ease his pain. But she loved him anyways, through his last turbulent days. And so is the story of Phineas P. Gage. A man that could not help but to change.

What the press would say:

From the quirky minds of the the most creative duo in showbiz, the Coen Brothers strike gold again with The Curious Case Of Phineas Gage. Their take on one of the most extraordinary medical mysteries will leave you laughing and crying even after you've seen it a hundred times. Paul Giamatti tackles a role bread for Oscar gold. He definitely will not be ignored. And making her comeback is the vivacious Bernadette Peters, the "Queen of Broadway" returns to the big screen to offer a heartwarming performance as a bad psychic trying to tame a wild mind. The Coens pulled out all the stops here, bringing in perennial Oscar nominee William H. Macy who can spout Coen dialogue like no other. An unforgettable cameo sparks the movies climax when Robert Duvall graces our presence as the famous circus mogul P.T. Barnum. This film touches your heart without being sappy and makes you laugh without feeling shameful. Think strange. Think odd. Think Oscar.

Best Picture
Best Director - Joel Coen
Best Actor - Paul Giamatti
Best Actress - Bernadette Peters
Best Supporting Actor - William H. Macy
Best Supporting Actor - Robert Duvall
Best Supporting Actress - Jean Smart
Best Original Screenplay - Joel & Ethan Coen
Best Film Editing - Joel & Ethan Coen
Best Score - Carter Burwell (Fargo)
Best Cinematography - Roger Deakins (Shawshank Redemption, Fargo)
Best Visual Effects - Aaron Weintraub (A History Of Violence)
Best Make-Up - Grady Holder (Texas Chainsaw Massacre)