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Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench

  • 2009
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 22m
IMDb RATING
6.0/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009)
The story of two separated lovers, a young jazz trumpeter (Palmer) and an introverted woman (Garcia), who slowly wind their way back into each otherÂ’s lives through a series of romances and near-romances punctuated by song.
Play trailer1:16
2 Videos
22 Photos
DramaMusical

After connecting with the shy Madeline, a jazz trumpeter embarks on a quest for a more gregarious paramour, but through a series of twists and turns punctuated by an original score, the two ... Read allAfter connecting with the shy Madeline, a jazz trumpeter embarks on a quest for a more gregarious paramour, but through a series of twists and turns punctuated by an original score, the two lovers seem destined to be together.After connecting with the shy Madeline, a jazz trumpeter embarks on a quest for a more gregarious paramour, but through a series of twists and turns punctuated by an original score, the two lovers seem destined to be together.

  • Director
    • Damien Chazelle
  • Writer
    • Damien Chazelle
  • Stars
    • Jason Palmer
    • Desiree Garcia
    • Sandha Khin
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.0/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Damien Chazelle
    • Writer
      • Damien Chazelle
    • Stars
      • Jason Palmer
      • Desiree Garcia
      • Sandha Khin
    • 22User reviews
    • 39Critic reviews
    • 83Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos2

    Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench
    Trailer 1:16
    Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench
    A Guide to the Films of Damien Chazelle
    Clip 1:58
    A Guide to the Films of Damien Chazelle
    A Guide to the Films of Damien Chazelle
    Clip 1:58
    A Guide to the Films of Damien Chazelle

    Photos21

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    + 16
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    Top cast33

    Edit
    Jason Palmer
    • Guy
    Desiree Garcia
    Desiree Garcia
    • Madeline
    Sandha Khin
    • Elena
    Frank Garvin
    • Frank
    Andre Hayward
    • Andre
    Alma Prelec
    Alma Prelec
    • Alma
    Bernard Chazelle
    • Paul
    Eli Gerstenlauer
    • Eli
    Keith Gross-Hill
    • Keith
    Willie Rodriguez
    • Willie
    Elizabeth Tingue
    • Sophie
    Gonzalo Digenio
    • John
    Zerek Palmer
    • Zerek
    Karen Adelman
    • Karen
    Beverly Palmer
    • Guy's Mom
    Sharee Palmer
    • Guy's Sister
    Tj Palmer
    • Guy's Brother
    Daniel the Juggler
    • Juggler
    • Director
      • Damien Chazelle
    • Writer
      • Damien Chazelle
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews22

    6.02K
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    Featured reviews

    nanorfortysix

    Lalalandsucks knows nothing about film criticism

    Not a review, just wanted to saw that the user lalalandsucks writes the most hateful, poorly informed garbage I have ever had the misfortune of reading on this website.

    Lalalandsucks shows that watching 3 YouTube videos about filmmaking and looking up the Wikipedia page of umbrellas of Cherbourg does not make you a competent film critic

    Please delete your account.

    Guy and Madeline was quite good and had some interesting moments , although I wouldn't be in a rush to watch it again.
    6ThomasDrufke

    The Struggle of Love

    Damien Chazelle's first feature length film isn't an easy one to dissect. Filmed like an early John Cassavetes' movie and told with little to no dialogue at all, Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench is much more so an exploration into how difficult it is to maintain love than it is a musical like Chazelle's latest feature, La La Land. But it's Chazelle's grasp on the ups and down's of relationships that make this yet another interesting directorial effort from him. All 3 of his films to this point have involved Jazz, and all 3 of them have also dealt with characters trying to balance their love life with pursuing their Jazz related dreams. 'Guy and Madeline' isn't as intense as Whiplash nor as viscerally memorable as La La Land, but for a first- time feature, it definitely impresses. An occasional dance number, unique camera movement, and long unedited takes make for quite the viewing experience. Again, there's little dialogue, so I can't say I was as invested in the characters as I should have been, but sometimes scenes are more powerful when less is said (see: the final scene). If anything, this was an interesting watch considering all we know about Chazelle's career up to this point.

    6.7/10
    8valfedox

    La La Land with a 500 times lower budget

    There are so many similarities between this movie and the later La La Land: the perils of a relationship during times of rapid changing professional fortunes, the overall narrative tones, and the music score.

    It is a fundamental movie to start the arc of Chazelle creativity, and while the obvious budgetary constraints are interfering with the narrative, there are many great shots and great Music.

    Definitely recommended if watching movie is for you not exclusively entertainment but also part of an investigation of the true quality of the Art: expressing something fresh that can only be conveyed by potion pictures.
    Red_Identity

    Solid debut

    I definitely sought this out because of a particular reason- Damian Chazelle and Whiplash. Whiplash is an amazing film, intense, full of passion, and so I wanted to see his debut. It's a solid debut, if unremarkable and sort of dull at times. It's very natural and there's really nothing that would indicate the strong intensity in Whiplash. The only similarities are really that instruments and music are at the core (just like, also, the film he co-wrote grand Piano). Yeah, I could see many not liking this at all or liking Whiplash, or even, liking this or not Whiplash because both are so different in style so there's no telling which way the passion will go. I recommend it slightly, but it's not totally recommended and not a home run by any means
    7ASuiGeneris

    A marvelous jazz musical debut worth more for its subtlety!

    3/3 Damien Chazelle films for me.

    Tap dancing and jazz at its finest.

    The youngest director to win an Academy Award for "La La Land" and first discovered by most with his sophomore film, "Whiplash", this is his debut from when he was still attending Harvard University.

    This reminds me considerably of John Carney's "Once". A heartfelt, character driven, low budget musical that has the inklings of a true artist about to inevitably succeed in the mainstream, refining their craft slowly but surely. It should be appreciated even more for this, for their later award winning masterpieces will be far more influenced by Hollywood. Nothing much happens, but that is perfectly fine- because it is focused on the exceptional score and soundtrack. Cherish it.

    Best Emmys Moments

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Julie Andrews in The Sound of Music (1965)
    Musical

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Shortly after completing the film, a friend suggested to writer/director Damien Chazelle to watch Barry Jenkins's film Medicine for Melancholy (2008) given it was another black and white contemporary film gaining momentum among the indie circuit. Ironically, a friend of Barry Jenkins' told him to watch Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench (2009) shortly after completing his film. Both directors were up for several Academy Awards in 2017 for their films La La Land (2016) and Moonlight (2016) respectively and only discovered this after speaking to one another during The Hollywood Report's Oscar's Roundtable.
    • Goofs
      When Guy and Elena meet on the train, a recorded announcement says "Entering Charles/MGH, Mass. General Hospital," but they are on a Green Line train, which doesn't go to Charles station.
    • Connections
      Featured in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.16 (2011)
    • Soundtracks
      Cincinnati
      Music by Justin Hurwitz

      Lyrics by Damien Chazelle

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 14, 2009 (Greece)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • 公園長凳上的蓋伊和艾德琳
    • Filming locations
      • Boston, Massachusetts, USA
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $60,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $35,556
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,233
      • Nov 7, 2010
    • Gross worldwide
      • $35,556
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 22m(82 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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