Trucker (film)

Trucker
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJames Mottern
Written byJames Mottern
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyLawrence Sher
Edited byDeirdre Slevin
Music byMychael Danna
Production
company
Distributed byMonterey Media (U.S.)
Release date
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Trucker is a 2008 independent drama film by Plum Pictures written and directed by James Mottern, and produced by Scott Hanson, Galt Niederhoffer, Celine Rattray and Daniela Taplin Lundberg. It stars Michelle Monaghan, Nathan Fillion and Benjamin Bratt.

Plot

Diane Ford (Michelle Monaghan) is a long-haul truck driver. She spends her off time having one-night stands and drinking with her married neighbor, Runner (Nathan Fillion), who's in love with her. Her routine life is upset when her ex-husband Len (Benjamin Bratt) sends their 11-year-old son Peter (Jimmy Bennett) to stay with her while he is fighting against cancer.

Cast

Production

The film was shot on location in Hawthorne, CA, Bloomington, CA, and Mira Loma, CA. Other portions of the film were shot in the Coachella Valley, California.[1]

Trucker had a reported budget of under $1.5 million.[2]

Actress Michelle Monaghan earned her commercial driver's license so she could drive a semi-trailer truck for her role; the movie was shot using authentic footage of her doing so.[3]

Reception

As of June 2020, the film holds a 59% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 37 reviews with an average rating of 5.84 out of 10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Excellent performances by Michelle Monaghan and Nathan Fillion and keenly-observed details of small-town life elevate this otherwise predictable and inconsistent melodrama."[4]

Roger Ebert chose it as one of his top ten independent films for 2009.[5]

Awards

List of awards for the film:[6]

  • Michelle Monaghan – Excellence in Acting Award – Vail Film Festival
  • Winner – Best Narrative Feature Film – Woods Hole Film Festival
  • Official Selection Tribeca Film Festival
  • Official Selection Austin Film Festival
  • Official Selection Oxford Film Festival
  • Official Selection Florida Film Festival
  • Official Selection Vail Film Festival
  • San Diego Film Critics: Best Actress (Michelle Monaghan)

References

  1. ^ Palm Springs Visitors Center. "Coachella Valley Feature Film Production 1920–2011". Filming in Palm Springs. Palm Springs, CA. Archived from the original on October 1, 2012. Retrieved October 1, 2012. ♦ Download[permanent dead link‍] (Downloadable PDF file)
  2. ^ ComingSoon.net interview with Michelle Monaghan April 22, 2008
  3. ^ James Mottern on Truckermovie.net
  4. ^ "Trucker". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 14, 2020.
  5. ^ The best films of 2009 Archived 2010-08-10 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Official "Trucker" Theatrical Site