Empire Falls (miniseries)

Summary

Empire Falls is a 2005 American television miniseries directed by Fred Schepisi and written by Richard Russo, based on Russo's 2001 novel of the same name. It aired on HBO in two parts, from May 28 to May 29, 2005.[1][2] The miniseries was nominated for and won multiple awards, including ten Primetime Emmy Awards (winning one) and four Golden Globe Awards (winning two).[3]

Empire Falls
DVD cover
GenreDrama
Based onEmpire Falls
by Richard Russo
Written byRichard Russo
Directed byFred Schepisi
Starring
Narrated byLarry Pine
Music byPaul Grabowsky
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producers
ProducerWilliam Teitler
CinematographyIan Baker
EditorKate Williams
Running time195 minutes (8 chapters)
Production companies
Original release
NetworkHBO
ReleaseMay 28 (2005-05-28) –
May 29, 2005 (2005-05-29)

Plot edit

Miles Roby, the unassuming manager of the Empire Grill, has spent his entire life in the small, decaying, nearly bankrupt town of Empire Falls, Maine.

His ex-wife, Janine, has become a cocky, selfish bachelorette after exercising rigorously and losing weight. This is partly due to encouragement from Walt Comeau, an antagonistic fitness center owner who visits the Empire Grill every day and has moved into Miles' old house.

Miles' loving teenage daughter, Christina ("Tick"), is dealing with Zack Minty, her cruel ex-boyfriend, plus an emotional conflict over her mother's engagement to Walt, whom Tick despises. She has a complicated friendship with John Voss, an emotionally disturbed boy at school. The obnoxious jock Zack and his friends constantly bully John.

Other important people in Miles' life include Max, his grubby ne'er-do-well father, a rascal who can't resist a handout when it comes his way; David, Miles' reformed marijuana smoking brother, who is a talented Empire Grill cook; Bea, Miles' good-hearted ex-mother-in-law, who owns a bar; the town's wealthiest woman, a condescending matron who owns the Empire Grill; that woman's daughter, who has loved Miles for many years; an attractive waitress; a retiring police chief; and a dimwitted police officer, Jimmy Minty, who is Zack's father and has known Miles since childhood.

Miles is plagued by flashbacks of his family when he was a child, including a mysterious affair between his mother and a suitor, the details of which might answer some questions Miles has had his entire life.

Characters edit

  • Miles Roby (Ed Harris) – The middle-aged central character of the story. Miles is the seemingly content manager of the Empire Grill in Empire Falls, Maine and is divorced with one teenaged daughter. A blue-collar gentleman with his principles intact, he lives in an apartment over the restaurant he has managed ever since he dropped out of college to look after his dying mother. However, this has left him constantly accountable to Francine Whiting, causing others to persuade him to open a business of his own.
  • Janine Roby (Helen Hunt) – Miles' ex-wife. She has developed a selfish attitude, damaging her relationship with her daughter and annoying her mother. She gained ownership of the house and custody of their daughter while Miles ended up in an apartment above the Empire Grill. Janine resents the close relationship that exists between father and daughter. As the story progresses, Janine finds that tables are turning on her for the worst.
  • Christina "Tick" Roby (Danielle Panabaker) – Miles' daughter. She enjoys a loving relationship with both her father and grandfather. Tick is smart, friendly, and more sympathetic than most of her classmates. Her mother's engagement has a negative impact on her. She despises Walt, who is trying to act like a father figure, and resents her mother.
  • Max Roby (Paul Newman) – Miles' father. Disheveled and constantly defiant of those around him, Max has no problem saying what he thinks of people, even directly to their faces. He is happy to accept any "handout" (or to take anything he wants) even when it means stealing money from the church. Max has a lifelong affinity for Key West, Florida. Despite being a vagabond, Max loves his sons and granddaughter and is a great deal wiser than people assume him to be. (This was Paul Newman's final onscreen role. He is played by Josh Lucas in flashback)
  • Charlie Mayne (Philip Seymour Hoffman) – A mysterious suitor to Miles' mother and a symbolic figure in Miles' life. Charlie's involvement is pivotal with regard to why Miles has lived in Empire Falls his entire life.
  • Grace Roby (Robin Wright Penn) – Miles' mother (deceased in present). She considers her son the jewel of her eye. Her affair with Charlie plays a crucial role in Miles' life.
  • Francine Whiting (Joanne Woodward) – The town's wealthiest citizen. The manipulative Francine holds puppet strings over the town, in particular Miles, and has no problem pulling them when it suits her unscrupulous agenda. Her condescending manner veils a cunning woman with ulterior motives.
  • David Roby (Aidan Quinn) – Miles' younger brother. A former alcoholic, a reformed marijuana plant grower and a car-crash survivor, David is the chief cook at the Empire Grill. His talent brings a considerable amount of business to the diner. He encourages Miles to take risks, having promised their mother to watch after him. It is also implied that David is actually Miles's half-brother, through flashbacks of their mother and Charlie Mayne.
  • Walt Comeau (Dennis Farina) – Janine's fiance and the owner of a fitness club. Walt is extroverted and arrogant. He lives with Janine in Miles' old house, trying to develop a fatherly relationship with Tick. Walt makes daily appearances at the restaurant to challenge Miles to an arm-wrestling match. He has a couple of skeletons in his closet, hidden (temporarily) from Janine.
  • John Voss (Lou Taylor Pucci) – Tick's awkward, introverted classmate. He is from a deprived family, wears ragged, dirty clothing and is known to live with his grandmother after his parents abandoned him. He's constantly ridiculed by Tick's ex-boyfriend, Zack Minty. His history has created a dangerous aura about him, one that eventually escalates. No one but Tick pays enough attention to him until it's too late.
  • Cindy Whiting (Kate Burton) – Francine's daughter. Despite being permanently disabled by a car accident, she is a sweet woman with high spirits. She has a long-standing attraction to Miles; he is aware of it and is sympathetic but does not feel the same way.
  • Jimmy Minty (William Fichtner) – A dull-witted, unscrupulous police officer and former classmate of Miles. He is not well liked by most of the town, although he believes he is. Francine keeps him in her pocket by providing perks such as a red sports car. He has an eye on becoming chief of police one day, and unfortunately, has keys to most of the town's businesses which he uses to his advantage. He and Miles ultimately come to blows.
  • Zack Minty (Trevor Morgan) – Son of Jimmy Minty, Tick's ex-boyfriend and a high school bully. A football star who is an obnoxious and cruel punk, Zack gets away with his bad behavior because of his popularity and his father's status as a police officer. He loves tormenting John to the point of breaking into his house, and is indirectly responsible for making John reach his breaking point.
  • Bea (Estelle Parsons) – Janine's wise mother. Ex-mother-in-law to Miles, they remain good friends. Bea frequently takes Miles' side rather than Janine's, and often makes rather pointed remarks about Janine's behavior. She owns a local bar and wants Miles to go into business with her.
  • Charlene (Theresa Russell) – Waitress at the Empire Grill. She is aware that Miles is attracted to her, and she's kind to him, but she is dating David.
  • Bill Daws (Stephen Mendillo) – The compassionate chief of police and a friend to Miles. He is dying of cancer and is undergoing chemotherapy which takes a heavy toll on his health, confiding only in Miles with the news.
  • Horace (Jeffrey DeMunn) – A local reporter and a regular patron at the grill. He is an intellectual with a heavy Maine accent and has intimate knowledge of what goes on around town. He has a prominent cyst on his forehead and Max often tactlessly refers to it.
  • Father Mark (Adam LeFevre) – A friendly priest. He works at a decrepit church, which he has hired Miles to paint.
  • Father Tom (Nesbitt Blaisdell) – An elderly priest. He is becoming senile and behaves erratically, even helping Max steal money from the church.
  • Otto Meyer (Larry Pine) – Principal of the high school. A childhood friend of Miles, he is an honorable man who watches out for students like John and Tick. He plays a pivotal role when John "snaps." (Pine also serves as narrator.)
  • Candace (Delia Robertson) – Tick's classmate and best friend. She finds some amusement when Zack picks on John, but is inevitably involved when John reaches his breaking point.
  • Justin (Tony Takacs) – Zack's best friend. Overweight, with a penchant for junk food, he participates with Zack in taunting John, although he draws limits when Zack breaks into John's house. He, too, is affected by John's revenge.

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
2005
Artios Awards Outstanding Achievement in Mini-Series Casting Avy Kaufman Won [4]
Online Film & Television Association Awards Best Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [5]
Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Ed Harris Nominated
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Paul Newman Won
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Joanne Woodward Nominated
Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Fred Schepisi Nominated
Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries Richard Russo Nominated
Best Ensemble in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Best Editing in a Motion Picture or Miniseries Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Miniseries Paul Newman, Scott Steindorff, Fred Schepisi, Marc Platt, and William Teitler Nominated [6]
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Ed Harris Nominated
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Philip Seymour Hoffman Nominated
Paul Newman Won
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie Joanne Woodward Nominated
Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Fred Schepisi Nominated
Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Richard Russo Nominated
Outstanding Art Direction for a Miniseries or Movie Stuart Wurtzel, John Kasarda, and Maria Nay Nominated
Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or Special Avy Kaufman Nominated
Outstanding Single-Camera Picture Editing for a Miniseries or a Movie Kate Williams Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Miniseries Nominated [7]
Best Actor in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Ed Harris Nominated
Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Paul Newman Nominated
Women's Image Network Awards Actor in Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries Ed Harris Won
Philip Seymour Hoffman Nominated
Actress in Made-for-TV Movie/Miniseries Danielle Panabaker Nominated
2006
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best TV Movie Nominated [8]
Art Directors Guild Awards Excellence in Production Design Award – Television Movie or Mini-series Stuart Wurtzel, John Kasarda, David Stein, and Tom Warren Won [9]
Costume Designers Guild Awards Outstanding Made for Television Movie or Miniseries Donna Zakowska Nominated [10]
Directors Guild of America Awards Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television or Miniseries Fred Schepisi Nominated [11]
Golden Globe Awards Best Miniseries or Television Film Won [12]
Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Ed Harris Nominated
Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Paul Newman Won
Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Joanne Woodward Nominated
Gracie Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress – Drama Special Helen Hunt Won [13]
Producers Guild of America Awards David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Long-Form Television Paul Newman, Marc Platt, Scott Steindorff, Fred Schepisi, and William Teitler Nominated [14]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Ed Harris Nominated [15]
Paul Newman Won
Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Joanne Woodward Nominated
Robin Wright Penn Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ Zurawik, David (May 28, 2005). "HBO miniseries 'Empire Falls' is easy to fall for". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  2. ^ Heffernan, Virginia (May 27, 2005). "A Small Town Tangled in a New England Knot". The New York Times. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  3. ^ Labrecque, Jeff (May 15, 2014). "'Words and Pictures': Clive Owen, Juliette Binoche make love and war". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  4. ^ "2005 Artios Awards". www.castingsociety.com. Retrieved November 1, 2005.
  5. ^ "8th Annual TV Awards (2004)". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  6. ^ "Empire Falls". Emmys.com. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved July 13, 2017.
  7. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2005 (10th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". International Press Academy. Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Newcott, William R. (March 2006). ""Fifth Annual Movies for Grownups"". AARP the Magazine. Washington, DC. pp. 50–51.
  9. ^ "Nominees/Winners". Art Directors Guild. Retrieved July 28, 2018.
  10. ^ "7th Costume Designers Guild Awards". Costume Designers Guild. Retrieved May 21, 2016.
  11. ^ "57th DGA Awards". Directors Guild of America Awards. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  12. ^ "Empire Falls – Golden Globes". HFPA. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  13. ^ "2006 Gracies Gala Winners". Gracie Awards. 24 October 2016. Retrieved September 11, 2022.
  14. ^ McNary, Dave (January 22, 2006). "PGA on cowboy trail". Variety. Archived from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved September 21, 2017.
  15. ^ "The 12th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved May 21, 2016.

External links edit

  • HBO Films – Empire Falls
  • Empire Falls at IMDb