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Close Call

  • 2004
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 33m
IMDb RATING
4.0/10
144
YOUR RATING
Close Call (2004)
ActionCrimeDrama

In Los Angeles, the young Jenny has a nice childhood with her Korean parents Joanne and David Kim. However, after the divorce of her parents, the judge gives her custody to her selfish mothe... Read allIn Los Angeles, the young Jenny has a nice childhood with her Korean parents Joanne and David Kim. However, after the divorce of her parents, the judge gives her custody to her selfish mother that neglects Jenny while the disappointed David returns to Seoul. Six years later, Jenn... Read allIn Los Angeles, the young Jenny has a nice childhood with her Korean parents Joanne and David Kim. However, after the divorce of her parents, the judge gives her custody to her selfish mother that neglects Jenny while the disappointed David returns to Seoul. Six years later, Jenny is a troubled and reckless teenager expelled from the public school that has easy sex an... Read all

  • Director
    • Jimmy Lee
  • Writer
    • Jimmy Lee
  • Stars
    • Annie Lee
    • Philip Moon
    • Jan Devereaux
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    4.0/10
    144
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Jimmy Lee
    • Writer
      • Jimmy Lee
    • Stars
      • Annie Lee
      • Philip Moon
      • Jan Devereaux
    • 10User reviews
    • 6Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Photos1

    View Poster

    Top Cast30

    Edit
    Annie Lee
    Annie Lee
    • Jenny Kim
    Philip Moon
    Philip Moon
    • David Kim
    Jan Devereaux
    Jan Devereaux
    • Modeling instructor
    Jeff Fahey
    Jeff Fahey
    • Elliot Krasner
    Christina Ma
    Christina Ma
    • Joanne Kim
    Faleena Hopkins
    Faleena Hopkins
    • Becky
    Angie Lee
    • Tanya
    Frayne Rosanoff
    Frayne Rosanoff
    • Ricky
    Adoni Maropis
    Adoni Maropis
    • Pimp
    Drew Fuller
    Drew Fuller
    • Sam
    Mathew Botuchis
    Mathew Botuchis
    • George Krasner
    Alexia Aleman
    • Cathy
    Kathleen Hickey
    • Mrs. Williams
    Mary Linda Phillips
    Mary Linda Phillips
    • Counselor
    Kaye Lu
    • Young Jenny
    James Quattrochi
    James Quattrochi
    • Chester
    Janet Hoskins
    Janet Hoskins
    • Judge
    Susan Talbot
    • Sharon Krasner
    • Director
      • Jimmy Lee
    • Writer
      • Jimmy Lee
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews10

    4.0144
    1
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    10

    Featured reviews

    10tanyakarbowski

    One of the 10 Best Films I've seen in my life!

    I was surprisingly shocked to see this kind of realism from an Asian American filmmaker. The story was very touching and I was able to relate to it 100%. Many of my close friends went through what the movie portrayed and I'm glad a film like this is out there. The different perspectives of the parents, the girl and the Asian culture was brought out perfectly. The editing was very unique and I'm glad to see a different style of film-making once in awhile. The style was mixed with new and traditional styles of shooting that I enjoyed very much.

    I haven't seen a film in a long time that affected me the way Close Call did. I give props to the filmmakers and hope that they continue sharing these strong and courageous stories with the public. Definitely worth watching! Bring your parents or kids too. They might learn something.
    10thejefffahey

    Never saw anything like it. Powerful, Intense, Racy! Worth watching!

    I just saw the film & I couldn't stop crying. I'm a person who actually did a lot of the things portrayed in the film & I related to the film 100%, surprisingly. It was very realistic for me. Some things were a little cheesy, but they made me laugh. For an indie, the production value was very good & every actor in the film was believable & gave stellar performances.

    I was shocked to see that the actress in the film was directed by her father! There were some intense sexual scenes, cursing, nudity, you name it...couldn't believe it. I give Annie Lee even more respect considering the things that she did in this film...outrageously awesome. And I don't know how the director, Jimmy Lee, did it. He didn't lose the focus of the story or the characters. I liked the way he captured some moments with different angles & close-ups.

    I was entertained throughout & I really enjoyed the behind the scenes. I'm glad the filmmakers took a courageous risk & confronted this topic, casted Asian actors & made a film like this. Something that actually means something & not just to make a buck. It was refreshing to see something different.

    I was also surprised to find out it was a true story. It was very interesting to find out how people from different cultures, race, age, or gender confront the same issues in life. It didn't matter in this film.

    Very inspiring story...going to call my father now.
    6claudio_carvalho

    Things do not Last Forever

    In Los Angeles, the young Jenny (Kaye Lu) has a nice childhood with her Korean parents Joanne (Christina Ma) and David Kim (Philip Moon). However, after the divorce of her parents, the judge gives her custody to her selfish mother that neglects Jenny while the disappointed David returns to Seoul. Six years later, Jenny (Annie Lee) is a troubled and reckless teenager expelled from the public school that has easy sex and uses drugs and booze, and her best friend is the orphan drug dealer Becky (Faleena Hopkins). The lawyer Elliot Krasner (Jeff Fahey) decides to call his former friend David to tell him about the self-destructive behavior of Jenny, and David returns to Los Angeles. He brings Jenny to live with him and support her, but the lack of emotional structure of Jenny imposes tough difficulties for their relationship.

    "Close Call" is a dramatic coming-to-age story of a girl completely lost with a broken family after a divorce process. The plot is not so deep like, for example, "Christiane F. - Wir Kinder Vom Bahnhof Zoo" or "Engel & Joe", and in some corny moments it seems to be a soap-opera with optimistic conclusion. However, the gorgeous and sexy Annie Lee has a magnificent performance in her debut, making this movie worthwhile. My vote is six.

    Title (Brazil): "No Limite" ("In the Limit")
    7ashland838

    Just watch it.

    Without getting to in depth into the the plot this well thought out drama rises on the performance of Annie Lee. She steels the movie form all her costars and puts on an excellent performance playing the gritty angst filled teen. I sometimes found the movie going from theatre quality when she's in the scenes to afterschool special when she wasn't in the scenes, but inspite of this minor setback the story is well thought out and it paints a vivid picture about kids nowadays, and how easily their whole lives can spin out of control. This isn't a movie for the weak of heart as it pulls no punches, and I love the smashmouth reality this movie reveals. I hope to see more movies starring Annie, and Close Call is well worth the watch.
    fauxrealist

    One of the Worst

    I would say Close Call is one of the worst movies I have ever seen, if I considered it an actual film.It is a joke, and is only inadvertently funny at that. It is a trainwreck of nightmarish proportions.From the first few minutes Close Call's choppy callow editing alone makes your stomach turn.The acting is terrible.The production value is so low budget, you almost begin to pity it.This (fill in the blank) is so horrifyingly bad I cannot comment on it further.If you are masochistic,and love torture-see Close Call.I will say this for those who are not masochistic,instead of watching Close Call,read a book, watch paint dry,play air guitar,thumb wrestle,listen to a Jessica Simpson album,Fondue,challenge the mirror to a staring contest.Do anything else.

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    Related interests

    Bruce Willis and Taniel in Die Hard (1988)
    Action
    James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Sharon Angela, Max Casella, Dan Grimaldi, Joe Perrino, Donna Pescow, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Tony Sirico, and Michael Drayer in The Sopranos (1999)
    Crime
    Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Janelle Monáe, André Holland, Herman Caheej McGloun, Edson Jean, Alex R. Hibbert, and Tanisha Cidel in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama

    Storyline

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    Details

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    • Release date
      • April 16, 2004 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Korean
    • Filming locations
      • Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Prime Media Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $950,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $12,077
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $12,077
      • Apr 18, 2004
    • Gross worldwide
      • $12,077
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33m(93 min)
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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