Panic Room
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2008-06-29T21:41:14Z
Wildroot
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moved [[Panic Room (film)]] to [[Panic Room]] over redirect: makes it easier to access
{{redirect|Panic Room|the room itself|safe room}}
{{Infobox Film
| name = Panic Room
| image = panicroomposter.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = Theatrical poster
| director = [[David Fincher]]
| producer = Ceán Chaffin<br>Judy Hofflund<br>[[David Koepp]]<br>Gavin Polone
| writer = David Koepp
| narrator =
| starring = [[Jodie Foster]]<br>[[Kristen Stewart]]<br>[[Forest Whitaker]]<br>[[Jared Leto]]
| music = [[Howard Shore]]
| cinematography = [[Conrad W. Hall]]<br>[[Darius Khondji]]
| editing = James Haygood<br>Angus Wall
| distributor = [[Columbia Pictures]]
| released = [[March 29]], [[2002]]
| runtime = 112 minutes
| country = {{USA}}
| language = English
| budget = $48,000,000
| gross = $196,397,415
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| website = http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/panicroom/
| amg_id = 1:259522
| imdb_id = 0258000
}}
'''''Panic Room''''' is a 2002 [[thriller film]] directed by [[David Fincher]], and starring [[Jodie Foster]] and [[Forest Whitaker]]. It also stars [[Jared Leto]], [[Dwight Yoakam]], and [[Kristen Stewart]]. The film tells a story of a mother and a daughter hiding in a [[panic room]] during an invasion by three [[armed robbery|armed robbers]] who aimed at millions of dollars stored in the house. The tale expresses strong moral themes.
==Plot==
The [[film]] focuses on a [[panic room]], a safe shelter located in some high-end residences, such as [[Brownstone|brownstones]]. The panic room in this film is protected by a four-inch-thick steel door and an impressive security system, and features a separate phone line.
The residence is 38 West 94th Street in [[Manhattan]], a four-story townhouse that was previously owned by a disabled reclusive millionaire. Following the owner's death, the house was bought by Meg Altman (Foster), a woman, recently divorced from the owner of a [[pharmaceutical]] giant, who is planning to go back to [[college]]. Meg has a 12-year-old daughter Sarah ([[Kristen Stewart|Stewart]]) who suffers from Type 1 [[diabetes]].
On the night the two move into the home, it is broken into by Junior ([[Jared Leto|Leto]]), the grandson of the previous owner, and Burnham ([[Forest Whitaker|Whitaker]]), an employee of the security company used by the residence. The two are after $3 million in [[bearer bond]]s, which is locked inside a floor safe in the panic room. Unknown to Burnham until after they've broken in, Junior has recruited Raoul (Yoakam), a bus driver who lives in [[Flatbush]], to assist in the [[Robbery|heist]].
After discovering that the Altmans have moved into the home one week before they anticipated, the burglars decide to go on as planned with the heist. However, Meg wakes up and discovers the intruders from the CCTV monitors in the panic room when she wanted to switch off its glaring light. Before the three can stop her, she runs to Sarah, wakes her, and they escape to the panic room.
The three make several attempts to get into the room, including filling the room with [[propane]] to get the Altmans to come out, and tunneling in from underneath. Neither works.
The Altmans make several attempts to call for help, including signaling a nearby neighbour with a [[flashlight]] (who they can only see from the opening of a water pipe) and tapping into the main [[telephone]] line to call for help (because Meg has not yet hooked up the panic room's phone). Only one works; the two get through to Meg's husband and Sarah's father, Stephen, before the burglars cut them off. To make matters worse, Sarah collapses due to [[hypoglycaemia]] caused by her diabetes and unfortunately the [[glucagon]] injections are in the refrigerator.
When all attempts to get into the room fail, Junior lets it slip that there is much more money in the panic room than he let on, and gives up. Burnham and Raoul find out that the bonds are actually worth $22 million. Upon trying to leave the house, Junior is shot in the head by Raoul. Stephen Altman arrives at the home and is then taken [[hostage]] by Raoul and Burnham. Raoul severely beats him. They then use the unconscious Altman to trick Meg (who is desperate to get the glucagon injections for Sarah) into momentarily exiting the panic room. Raoul ambushes her and a brief struggle ensues which ultimately results in Raoul and Burnham becoming trapped in the panic room with the critical Sarah, and Meg outside with Raoul's gun. However Meg was able to throw in the glucagon syringe in time and begs the two intruders over the [[intercom]] to give Sarah the injection, which Burnham, being the more humane of the two, later does.
However, two police patrolmen arrive, having received Altman's call earlier. With Sarah trapped with the two burglars, and Raoul threatening to kill her, Meg lies to the officers. Meanwhile, Burnham gets to work on the safe and obtains the [[bearer bonds]]. As the duo attempt to leave while using Sarah as a hostage, Meg and the badly injured Altman attack them. After an intense struggle, Burnham flees while Raoul prepares to kill Meg with a sledgehammer. However, upon hearing Sarah's screams of panic, Burnham doubles back and kills Raoul, delaying him enough that he gets caught by the police who return as the earlier patrolman was suspicious at Meg's behavior. As they approach, he releases the bonds, letting them fly off into the night and kneels in surrender.
The film closes with Meg and Sarah searching for a new house in the newspaper. This scene was added against the wishes of David Fincher after a test screening in which several people complained that the "cut to black" ending was too abrupt.
==Production and release==
Though the movie is set in [[New York City]], in reality it is primarily filmed in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] and released in March 29, 2002. It garnered box office of 95,308,367 USD.<ref> [http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1807776248/details Panic Room - details]. Yahoo film. </ref>
David Prior, the producer of ''Panic Room'''s [[DVD]], noted that the film was the "most elaborate, complex DVD I have yet produced". According to Prior, David Fincher originally conceived ''Panic Room'' as a [[low-budget film|low-budget]] [[B-film]], but during the process it evolved into "a gargantuan undertaking that tested the endurance and tenacity of everyone involved", and due to budget disagreements, the production was shut down three times.<ref> Prior, David. [http://www.thedigitalbits.com/articles/panicroom/pdiary02.html Panic Room DVD Production Journal]. The Digital Bits. April 5, 2004. </ref>
Director David Fincher agreed that the film's production was indeed an arduous project, remarking it as a "[[logistics|logistical]] nightmare". He said that the lighting issue during the filming process was a particular difficulty due to the complexity with the [[security camera]]s used in the mansion that send surveillance images to the television in the panic room.<ref> Collura, Scott. [http://www.mania.com/david-finchers-club_article_33772.html David Fincher's Club]. Mania.com. April 02, 2002. </ref>
==Cast==
{| class="wikitable"
|- bgcolor="#CCCCCC"
! Actor !! Role
|-
| [[Jodie Foster]] || Meg Altman
|-
| [[Kristen Stewart]] || Sarah Altman
|-
| [[Forest Whitaker]] || Burnham
|-
| [[Dwight Yoakam]] || Raoul
|-
| [[Jared Leto]] || Junior
|-
| [[Patrick Bauchau]] || Steven Altman
|-
| [[Ann Magnuson]] || Lydia Lynch
|-
| [[Ian Buchanan]] || Evan Kurlander
|-
| [[Andrew Kevin Walker]] || Sleepy Neighbor
|-
| [[Paul Schulze]] || Officer Keeney
|-
| [[Mel Rodriguez]] || Officer Morales
|-
| [[Richard Conant]] || [[SWAT]] Cop
|-
| [[Paul Simon (actor)|Paul Simon]] || SWAT Cop
|-
| [[Victor Thrash]] || SWAT Cop
|-
| [[Ken Turner]] || SWAT Cop
|-
| [[Nicole Kidman]] || Steven's Girlfriend (uncredited, voice only)
|}
Actress [[Nicole Kidman]] was originally to star in the role of Meg Altman, but had to back out due to a knee injury she sustained during the filming of ''[[Moulin Rouge!]]''.<ref>Angulo, Sandra P. and Justine Elias. [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,96904,00.html Nicole Kidman drops out of "The Panic Room"]. Entertainment Weekly. Jan 26, 2001</ref> However, she did add her voice to the movie portraying Steven Altman's girlfriend and talking with Meg Altman on the phone.
[[Hayden Panettiere]] was originally cast as Sarah Altman but was replaced by [[Kristen Stewart]]{{Fact|date=January 2008}}
[[Maynard James Keenan]] of the rock band [[Tool (band)|Tool]] was in passing offered the role of Raoul, by the director, but nothing came for it.<ref>[http://imdb.com/title/tt0258000/trivia Panic Room]. IMDB.</ref>
==Reception==
The film receives 76% positive reviews from the reviewers affiliated with the website [[Rotten Tomatoes]], and the site's "consensus" commented the film as a "well-crafted, above-average thriller".<ref>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Panic_Room_%28film%29&action=edit§ion=3 Panic Room], Rotten Tomatoes.</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] gave ''Panic Room'' a three out of four stars rating, indicating a mildly positive opinion.<ref>Ebert, Roger. [http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020329/REVIEWS/203290304/1023 Panic Room]. March 29, 2002.</ref>
Jodie Foster was nominated for the 2003 [[Saturn Award]] Best Actress for her role as Meg Altman, but did not win.<ref> [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0258000/awards Awards -- Panic Room]. IMDB. </ref>
== Score ==
The film's [[film score|score]] was released in 16 April [[2002]] on [[Varese Sarabande]] records. The album contains nine cues, running 30:09.
# "Main Titles"
# "Caution - Flammable"
# "Working Elevator"
# "Fourth Floor Hallway"
# "Locking Us In"
# "Castle Keep"
# "What We Want is in That Room"
# "Zone 19 Disabled"
# "A Very Emotional Property"
[[Howard Shore]], the [[Canadian]] composer known for the scores of ''[[The Lord of the Rings film trilogy|The Lord of the Rings]]'' trilogy, composed and conducted the score. It was a smaller project undertaken by Shore shortly after completion of ''The Lord of the Rings'' scores, and was remarked to be one of Shore's "darkest, most brooding thrillers".<ref> [http://www.filmtracks.com/titles/panic_room.html Panic Room]. Filmtracks. </ref>.
==References==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
* [http://www.sonypictures.com/movies/panicroom/ Official website]
* {{imdb title|id=0258000|title=Panic Room}}
* {{rotten-tomatoes|id=panic_room|title=Panic Room}}
* {{mojo title|id=panicroom|title=Panic Room}}
* [http://film.guardian.co.uk/interview/interviewpages/0,6737,689769,00.html ''Guardian'' interview with Fincher]
{{David Fincher}}
[[Category:2002 films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:Psychological thriller films]]
[[Category:Films shot in Super 35]]
[[Category:Films set in New York City]]
[[Category:Films directed by David Fincher]]
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