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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. Read critic reviews
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The Door in the Floor Photos
Movie Info
The lives of Ted (Jeff Bridges) and Marion Cole (Kim Basinger) are thrown into disarray when their two adolescent sons die in a car wreck. Marion withdraws from Ted and Ruth (Elle Fanning), the couple's daughter. Ted, a well-known writer, hires as his assistant a student named Eddie (Jon Foster), who looks oddly similar to one of the Coles' dead sons. The couple separate, and Marion begins an affair with Eddie, while Ted has a dalliance with his neighbor Evelyn (Mimi Rogers).
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Rating: R (Language|Graphic Images|Strong Sexuality)
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Genre: Drama
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Original Language: English
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Director: Tod Williams
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Producer: Anne Carey, Michael Corrente, Ted Hope
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Writer: John Irving, Tod Williams
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Release Date (Theaters): wide
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Release Date (Streaming):
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Box Office (Gross USA): $3.8M
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Runtime:
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Distributor: Focus Features
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Production Co: This Is That Productions, Good Machine, Revere Pictures, Focus Features
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Sound Mix: Surround, Dolby Digital, DTS
Cast & Crew
News & Interviews for The Door in the Floor
Critic Reviews for The Door in the Floor
Audience Reviews for The Door in the Floor
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What an injustice that "The Door in the Floor" has been seen by so few. It has its flaws, but it also has magnificence. It's a must-see DVD for anyone who cares about serious, complex drama and beautiful filmmaking. What a travesty that director Tod Williams (not to be confused with Todd Field of "In the Bedroom") has not been able to get a serious film made since 2004 -- almost a decade! It pisses me off how many talented filmmakers in America die on the vine. Anyone remember Laurie Collyer, who made the exquisite "Sherrybaby" in 2006? Or Karen Moncrieff, whose powerful "The Dead Girl" also came out that year? They're probably waiting tables, no one willing to bankroll their films. In "The Door in the Floor," which is based on the John Irving novel "A Widow for One Year," Jeff Bridges plays a famous writer living in the Hamptons. Kim Basinger plays his wife. Four-year-old Elle Fanning plays their daughter. Little-known actor Jon Foster plays a prep-school intern hired to be Bridges' assistant for the summer. It's amazing how much we learn about this troubled family in two hours. Williams' filmmaking is so good that a lot of ground is covered in such a short time. Not a single shot is wasted. There is so much story-telling in every scene. I've complained a lot in the past few years about filmmakers who don't know much about stories. Tod Williams knows how to tell a story. That of course means that audiences aren't interested in his work and producers don't want to work with him. In a word: Develop a talent for story-telling, lose all hope of getting work as a filmmaker in America.
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Enjoyed this film. Jeff Bridges and Kim Basinger turn in a wonderful performance. Dakota Fanning's younger sister Elle plays the daughter. Jon Foster did a stellar job with his role. Lucky guy did a love scene with Basinger :)
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A philandering childrens book writer and his depressive wife invite a young writer into their home as they're still coping with the traumatic deaths of their sons. Based on a part of a John Irving novel, this film features a truly exceptional performance by Jeff Bridges. During the film, I thought about how this character was perfect practice for his role in <i>Crazy Heart</i>. And the film's mood follows Bridges's performance - earthy and sullen yet always forcing a pained grin. Under the strong direction of Tod Williams, there are a few moments when I wondered how or if the same effect could be accomplished in Irving's prose, which I have always liked, but I never thought it deserved the accolades it received. For example, toward the end there is a silent goodbye that is almost impossible to render in words, and the images of the dead sons deftly render the loss this family experienced. However, not everything about this film shines. Numb and dead with grief, Kim Basinger's Marion isn't a very compelling character, and until the third act, Jon Foster's Eddie seems like he's on his way to another movie. Also, the film's climax is essentially expository. Though it's delivered effectively, structuring the film so that this revelation comes earlier would have made the film much stronger. Overall, Jeff Bridges and some truly effective moments rendering the depressing realities of this family's life make <i>The Door in the Floor</i> a fine drama.
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This proved a nearly perfect rendering of the first part John Irving's wonderful novel, A Widow for One Year. Kim Basinger was the perfect choice to play Marion Cole, a woman who has failed to rejoin life after a horrible family tragedy. Her ability to convey the profound sadness of a mother who has suffered an unspeakable loss and still come across as "the most beautiful woman" in young Eddie's life was flawless. Eddie was played by relative unknown, Jon Foster. He combined an awkward shyness with his undeniable good looks to keep Eddie from becoming a cliche. Jeff Bridges, as Ted Cole, a children's author, artist, and incorrigible womanizer and Mimi Rogers, as Mrs. Vaughn, his current target of lust were both excellent choices. But the real gem here was Elle Fanning, who played Ted and Marion's four year old daughter, Ruth, who grows up to become the widow of the book's title. What an amazing young actress! The scenery and cinematography combined to evoke the Hamptons beautifully and never overwhelmed. The script followed the arc of the novel nearly perfectly. Rarely has this viewer been able to stomach a film based on a book he has read. This is one of the rare exceptions. Having just finished the book, I found this treatment one of the best adaptations I have ever seen, faithful and true. Screenwriter and director Tod Williams has set a high bar indeed!
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