Stolen is a 2009 American drama mystery thriller film directed by Anders Anderson and starring Josh Lucas, Jon Hamm and Rhona Mitra.
Stolen | |
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Promotional poster | |
Directed by | Anders Anderson |
Produced by | Anders Anderson Al Corley Josh Lucas Devin Maurer Bart Rosenblatt Andy Steinman |
Written by | Glenn Taranto |
Starring | Josh Lucas Jon Hamm Rhona Mitra James Van Der Beek |
Music by | Trevor Morris |
Cinematography | Andy Steinmann |
Edited by | Anders Anderson |
Production company | 2 Bridges Productions A2 Entertainment Group Boy in the Box Code Entertainment |
Distributed by | IFC Films |
Release date |
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Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $7,943 (United States) |
Screenplay
A policeman from Barnstable, California works to uncover the truth behind two crimes; the disappearance of his son eight years earlier, and a fifty-year-old homicide of another boy. In the opening scenes, a mummified corpse is unearthed at a construction site. At first the policeman fears the body is that of his son, but also welcomes closure to the search. However, pathology demonstrates that these are the remains from a much older crime. The film continues with parallel stories in flashback, showing the events leading to the crimes and the investigation. The body is found with a burned toy, identical to one his own son had at the time of his disappearance, along with a whistle engraved with the words, "Keep the home fries burning". After noticing the similarities in the two cases, Adkins attempts to re-interrogate a local prisoner named Rogianni, a convicted murderer who the detective suspected in his son's disappearance. However, Adkins is rebuffed by the prison warden, due to earlier interrogations in which Adkins became violent. The investigation leads him to a man who lived in 1958 named Matthew Wakefield (Josh Lucas) and his mentally retarded son, John. The striking similarities in the cases pushes Adkins’ obsession over the top. Barely holding onto his sanity and bound by redemption, Adkins unravels the unspeakable truth behind what happened to his son.
- Jon Hamm as Tom Adkins, the policeman struggling to move on after the disappearance of his own son ten years earlier
- Josh Lucas as Matthew Wakefield, the father of a boy murdered in 1958
- Rhona Mitra as Barbara Adkins, the policeman's wife
- Jimmy Bennett as John Wakefield
- James Van Der Beek as Rogianni, aka "Diploma"
- Marcus Thomas as Pete Dunne
- Jessica Chastain as Sally Ann
- Rutanya Alda as Older Sally Ann
- Morena Baccarin as Rose Montgomery
- Glenn Taranto as Chollie
The film was conceived as The Boy in the Box and was later renamed Stolen Lives. In January 2010, IFC Films acquired the rights of the theatrical release and renamed the film Stolen.
Stolen was released on March 3, 2010 as Video on Demand and in a limited theatrical release on March 12.
Upon release, the film was universally panned by critics. It currently holds a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, although a 38% positive rating in the "audience score" showed the reaction from those who viewed the film was modestly more positive.