The Guys

Name: The Guys
Genre: Drama
Released: 2005-11-20T14:48:27-08:00
Rating: 73

2003

The Guys

Critics Consensus

A moving tribute.

The Guys Photos

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Movie Info

Adapted from a stage play by Anne Nelson, a drama centering on a slice of the aftermath of the 9/11 tragedy. Nick, a fire captain, who lost eight men in the collapse of the World Trade Center, enlists help from an editor, Joan, to prepare their eulogies. Nick builds a relationship with Joan, who helps him put together the difficult, heartfelt speeches that he must deliver with honor, humor and poise--all the while, navigating his way through his own emotional response.

Rating:

PG (for thematic elements and brief language)
Genre:

Drama
Directed By:

Jim Simpson
Written By:

Anne Nelson, Jim Simpson
In Theaters:

Apr 25, 2003 limited
On Disc/Streaming:

Sep 9, 2003
Runtime:

98 minutes
Studio:

Focus Features

Watch it now

Netflix

Cast

Sigourney Weaver
as Joan

Anthony LaPaglia
as Nick

Irene Walsh
as Joan's Sister

Jim Simpson
as Joan's Husband

Charlotte Simpson
as Joan's Daughter

Julian Trompeter
as Joan's Son

Katharine Schreiber
as Joan's Niece

Lucas Debassac
as Sister's Son

Joshua Ross
as Sister's Infant

Shelita Birchett
as Masseuse

Ron Dortch
as Joan's Friend

Alfredo Narciso
as Diner Cashier

Julia Nelson Black
as Acolyte

David Nelson Black
as Acolyte

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Critic Reviews for The Guys

All Critics (62) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (17)

Weaver, LaPaglia and director Simpson have little problem keeping us involved as they grapple with conflicting feelings in the ways nearly all Americans did.

Jul 4, 2003 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…

Terry Lawson
Detroit Free Press
Top Critic
A noble attempt, but not much more.

Jul 4, 2003 | Rating: C+

Eleanor Ringel Cater
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Top Critic
A well-intentioned misfire that doesn't work in the way it intended.

Jul 4, 2003 | Rating: 2/5

Randy Cordova
Arizona Republic
Top Critic
One of those rare and exemplary motion pictures that is likely to make audiences of strangers want to hold hands.

May 1, 2003

Rex Reed
Observer
Top Critic
If anyone needs reminding of those profound post-9/11 feelings, now or later, The Guys will be there to do it.

Apr 22, 2003

Jack Mathews
New York Daily News
Top Critic
The sobriety of the play has been preserved at the expense of the movie.

Apr 15, 2003 | Full Review…

Andrew Sarris
Observer
Top Critic
Very well acted performances from Sigourney Weaver and Anthony Lapaglia, the excellent screenplay, and fluid hazy direction make this a hidden masterpiece.

Apr 29, 2009 | Full Review…

Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
The occasional intercut of fire department surveillance camera footage isn't exactly making the most of the cinema medium.

Feb 6, 2009 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com
Painfully earnest but sporadically quite moving...

Mar 19, 2008 | Rating: 2.5/4 | Full Review…

David Nusair
Reel Film Reviews
The Guys accurately reflects all the helplessness and directionless determination of those unreal days.

Dec 27, 2004 | Rating: 2.5 | Full Review…

Jordan Hiller
Bangitout.com
If you want an idea of what New York was like in the immediate days after 9/11, here you go.

Sep 12, 2003 | Full Review…

MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher
[An example of our instinct to] moderate collective tragedies into easily-digested cud for bovine mastication on the Oprah show.

Jul 3, 2003 | Rating: 0.5/4 | Full Review…

Walter Chaw
Film Freak Central

View All Critic Reviews (62)

Audience Reviews for The Guys

Dec 22, 2009

a chief firefighter, needs to write eulogies for his 8 dead men, after september 11th 2001, so enlists a journalist to help him tackle subject, emotions come out in this well thought drama, possibly the first to tackle 911, a year after attacks, just a simple drama, paying respect to those who deserve it, both actors are well cast here playing off one another

scott g Super Reviewer
Sep 16, 2009

This is a tough movie to comment on, because i want to like it as i love Anthony Lapaglia and Sigourney weaver is amazing in this but it is a slow movie, really emotional and depressing and just not very much going on, i think they could of added a bit moreto this movie but it was nice to see a different view from what happened on 9/11! This movie reminds me of Flight 93 also known as United 93 although not very much going on a bit slow and you could say boring but its harsh to say this when its based on real events and is truly sad. Like Flight 93 at the end it made me blubber it dedicated the movie to the fallen firefighters and listed every single one of there names and it got really emotional and sad! Anthony Lapaglia plays a chief fireman who is ment to write something for memorials of his fallen men but cant think of anything to write so he asks for a journalist played by sigourney weaver for her help and between them they write speeches! This movie is majority set in weavers house with just te two of them talking! If you want excitement then this isnt the movie for you! Really this film isnt predictable becuase its hard to see where this movie is going because you sort expect more from this movie but it just doesnt cut it! i guess its worth a watch because it is a short movie and does get emotional!

Film C Super Reviewer
Mar 14, 2009

A good movie but a really odd choice of a movie to make.

Sunil J Super Reviewer
Jan 21, 2008

There are no active firefighting scenes in this movie but it is about NYFD captain who loses eight men in the WTC collapse. He is dumbfounded at the prospect of writing so many eulogies in one weeks and must enlist the help of a writer for help. I found this movie to be especially poignant because my husband was in the Baltimore City Fire Department for 32 years and know how many close calls he has had.

Ida K Super Reviewer