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Infinity(1996 film)

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Infinity
Theatrical release poster
Directed byMatthew Broderick
Screenplay byPatricia Broderick
Based onSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!andWhat Do You Care What Other People Think??
byRichard Feynman&Ralph Leighton
Produced by
  • Matthew Broderick
  • Patricia Broderick
  • Michael Leahy
  • Joel Soisson
Starring
CinematographyToyomichi Kurita
Edited byBill Johnson
Music byBruce Broughton
Distributed byFirst Look Pictures
Release date
  • October 4, 1996(1996-10-04)
Running time
119 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$5 million[1]
Box office$195,170[2]

Infinityis a 1996 Americanbiographical filmabout the romantic life of physicistRichard Feynman.Feynman was played byMatthew Broderick,who also directed and co-produced the film. Broderick's mother,Patricia Broderick,wrote the screenplay, which was based on the booksSurely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!andWhat Do You Care What Other People Think?,both written by Feynman andRalph Leighton.[3][4]It is the only film Broderick has ever directed.

Plot

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In 1924, Richard and his father Melville walk through the woods where Melville shows his scientific inspiration for Richard. In 1934, Richard and Arline are in high school and their romantic relationship starts. The story jumps to his college years and Arline getting sick with lymphatictuberculosis. It continues to his move west toLos Alamos National LaboratoryinLos Alamos, New Mexico,where Arline follows him later to a hospital inAlbuquerque, New Mexico,where she dies. The film ends with Feynman crying at the sight of the red dress Arline had pointed out.

Cast

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Production

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The film follows the 1988 bookWhat Do You Care What Other People Think?fairly closely in terms of the stories told.

In 1994, Broderick said of the project, "The obvious way to structure a film about Feynman would be to open with theChallengerdisaster:The crazy old genius comes along and figures everything out, then he drifts into a reverie along the lines of 'A long time ago I met a girl....' We didn't do that, because we want this to be an intimate movie and thought focusing on one period of his life that includes the invention of the bomb and the death of his first wife was enough. "[1]

Broderick later said in 1997, "It was a difficult job and took four years from start to finish."[5]

Reception

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OnRotten Tomatoesthe film has a 62% rating based on reviews from 13 critics.[6]Roger Ebertawarded the film three out of four stars.[7]Leonard Maltinawarded it two and a half stars.[8]

Emanuel LevyofVarietygave the film a negative review and described the film as "a flawed movie that suffers from a weak performance by Patricia Arquette."[9]John Krewson ofThe A.V. Clubgave it a positive review and wrote that "saps, scientific or otherwise, will enjoy it."[10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abMcKenna, Kristine (27 November 1994)."Mr. Feynman's Day Off: The late Nobel Prize winner Richard Feynman had a passion for the bongos, mischief and physics. Now the first marriage of the genius turned folk hero has become an unlikely love story from star-director Matthew Broderick. (page 2 of 3)".Los Angeles Times.Retrieved1 February2024.
  2. ^"Infinity (1996)".Box Office Mojo.1996-10-22.Retrieved2013-05-28.
  3. ^Howe, Desson (4 October 1996)."INFINITY' ADDS UP".The Washington Post.Retrieved10 February2019.
  4. ^Holden, Stephen (4 October 1996)."A Man, a Woman and an Atomic Bomb".The New York Times.Retrieved10 February2019.
  5. ^Nichols, Peter M. (20 January 1997)."Sensitive Love Story 'Infinity' is Now Available on Video".Deseret News.Archived fromthe originalon October 4, 2018.Retrieved10 February2019.
  6. ^"Infinity".Rotten Tomatoes.Retrieved1 February2024.
  7. ^Ebert, Roger(4 October 1996)."Infinity".Chicago Sun-Times.Chicago, Illinois:Sun-Times Media Group.Retrieved10 February2019– viaRogerEbert.com.
  8. ^Maltin, Leonard; Sader, Luke; Clark, Mike (2008).Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide.Penguin. p.671.ISBN9780452289789.matthew broderick richard feynman.page 671
  9. ^Levy, Emanuel (15 September 1996)."Infinity".Variety.Retrieved10 February2019.
  10. ^Krewson, John (29 March 2002)."Infinity".The A.V. Club.Retrieved10 February2019.
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