starring
CAMERON DADDO, ANGIE MILLIKEN, and BRUCE DAVISON
in a film by MICHAEL BOND
“Accomplished acting….flashes of insight…..rich cinematography” HOLLYWOOD REPORTER
LOGLINE: Tom and Melony set out from their home in Santa Monica to meet friends for dinner in Hollywood. It’s Friday night – naturally they hit traffic. By the time they arrive, their marriage is over. SYNOPSIS: What lurks beneath the surface of a seemingly happy relationship? That’s the searing question posed by this intimate, nuanced drama in which Tom and Melony, a married couple living in Santa Monica, set out for a dinner party in Hollywood. No ordinary drive, a series of obstacles prevents them from arriving on time as they embark on a life-changing conversation, peeling back the layers of life together to reveal the resentment, jealousy, tension and sadness behind the veneer of contentment. The unfolding story grips us with the realization that this ride may just be the end of the road for the couple. With complex and winning performances from leads Cameron Daddo and Angie Milliken, and Bruce Davison as Tom’s writing partner Roger, Passengers is a strikingly realistic look at the bonds, sometimes tenuous and other times strong, that connect us to those we love. Nora Isaacs
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VIEWER COMMENTS FROM IMDB.COM
A secret masterpiece, 18 January 2010
Author: S.B. Myers from Australia
This film is a secret masterpiece. Why a secret ?, because too few people know about Michaels works of art. Michael is a master of seemingly simple yet deeply powerful stories. This film has a psychological power so understated and yet so powerful that it leaves a deep mark on your psyche long after the film is over. The story and the characters creep up on you step by step, drawing you into a world that is at once both familiar and momentarily comfortable until you realise everything is falling apart. If you enjoy the richness of emotional complexity that is beyond the obvious then you will love this film. All at once it is challenging, disturbing and wonderfully rewarding. This modest, courageous film deserves a string of awards. Bravo !
Looks superb excited to see it if it is available in Europe!, 5 November 2009
Author: heather_dymock from United Kingdom
please can we see this movie in the UK and the rest of Europe!We are fans of Cameron Daddo and would be excited to get to view this movie in our country in the very near future i believe there would be a very good audience for this movie which looks fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!Please send it to the UK or Scotland where i live!!!!!!!!!!!!The movie has a super cast of actors who are known to us here in Scotland so we would be very interested in seeing it at the cinema over here!i think this film would be successful over here and in other parts of Europe as i know others who are interested in seeing it too!We would be very grateful to be able to view the film in Europe in the future on its release!
Excellent movie with some great twists, 3 November 2009
Author: louis-184 from United States
I saw this movie at the Mill Valley Film Festival. it is a little gem of a production. the plot grabs you quickly and you want to know more about the love life of the leading male and who he is and is not sleeping with…is his wife his only love? who knew a 1.5 hour car ride from Santa Monica to Hollywood could be such a journey. Michael Bond has done an exceptional job at keeping the audience engaged with some cool twists at the conclusion of the film. The look of the film is rather raw, which i assume the production team intended as it shows a glimpse into the life of a seemingly beautiful couple who have some not so attractive issues to face. enjoy.
An exquisite film that drags you in to the inbuilt conflict of relationships and doesn’t let you go., 21 October 2009
Author: hope-nicholas from Australia
Michael Bond has used the self-defined constraints of his script and budget to great advantage here. The confines of the major setting – the inside of a car on traffic-heavy L.A roads – only adds to the expanding depth of discovery that his characters go through on their journey through the city, and into their relationship. What could have been a problem for the film in the hands of a lesser director or less accomplished actors, is here a plus: it ratches up the tension kilometre by tortured kilometre, with a well-earned, yet still double-edged visual and dramatic rest in the middle. Highly recommended.
enthralling, 27 October 2009
Author: pdaddo from Australia
I was kept in a state of anticipation, drawn in by the excellent photography as well as the connection and then disconnection of the 2 characters. At times I felt I was in the car and experiencing their pain and frustrations. Great acting and great screenplay! Los Angeles was brought alive in the process of the drive experience. The story started with absolutely no idea as to who the characters were but one could guess they were “normal” and heading out for dinner; rushed, not entirely comfortable with the night’s arrangements and yet on their way. How it unwound was both exciting and sad and at times too close for comfort. Was that me behind the wheel? Was that the end of the journey for them both or was it a repairable situation? One is left to create the future without a script. That in itself makes the film even more exciting. Great work by all involved!
Passengers in France??, 5 November 2009
Author: Ju from Paris, France
I can read in several magazines about that movie “Passengers” and it sounds really interesting. I wish I can watch it in France but unfortunately nothing schedule for here !! Don’t forget France, we don’t only want action movies ! We want some movies that make us think about life, about love, about what can happen between a man and a woman. Hope that movie will be schedule soon in France ! Don’t forget us !
The cast looks great and it is a real pleasure for me to see an actor such Cameron Daddo as a main character. He is so unbelievable true when he is acting. Very glad he is playing on that movie.
Loved it, 22 October 2009
Author: lilmisskat79 from Australia
I love films that really make you think about life and how people interact – how they relate and what they DON’T say to each other. I find this fascinating and was a topic excellently addressed in Passengers.
I thought the film was brilliantly written and very compelling. My first impressions were that it was a ‘conversational piece’ but soon found myself completely glued to the screen and totally immersed in this couple’s life. It really took me by surprise.
Acting was some of the best I’ve seen from Daddo. Was very moving – definitely recommend others to go see this film.
Amazing Film!, 22 October 2009
Author: Sarah-6000 from Australia
I loved this film.
Beautifully scripted with hard hitting performances, Passengers is at times frightening in it’s accurate portrayal of relationship weaknesses and human flaws.
I’d be surprised if anyone couldn’t relate to one of the lead characters on some level – their pain, frustration, distraction, isolation, alienation, a range of everyday emotions we all experience.
Further still, is the director’s ability to so beautifully capture all of this in a more subtle, authentic manner than we’re used to in recent dramas, which I found heightened the emotional impact even more.
Can’t wait to see it again, and looking forward to more offerings from first time director Michael Bond.
A story of relationships and how they can unravel without warning., 23 October 2009
Author: peter_kenny-562-85992 from Australia
What a great film. This is such a simple story but it leaves the viewer feeling that many vital questions have not been answered and a second viewing is necessary. It is a story about relationships and how precariously they can be balanced. You get drawn into the setting and feel as though you are intruding into a couple’s privacy. This is very realistic and the acting is excellent. The script is very well written and cleverly uses the art of dialogue to tell the story rather than rely on major visual effects which are so often used in contemporary film making. This is a film which considers an adult audience’s need for real stories. Congratulations to all involved.
Incredible film!, 23 October 2009
Author: darcy-30 from United States
I was simply blown away by this film. It is an artistic feat that I have yet to see rivaled in this way. To have such a limited area in which to film this story could have been disastrous, instead it was compelling, heart-wrenching, uncomfortable, and devastating in all the right ways.
I was riveted from start to finish and I have the writer/ director, cinematographer, and actors to thank for that. So, thank you for creating such a beautiful movie. Make more!
I am surprised at how much I am longing to see this film again. Well done!
Well worth viewing, 22 October 2009
Author: dangeric from Seattle, Washington
Who knew you could make such a compelling movie in a SUV? Great script, acting and directing made this a low budget pleasure. It’s also encouraging to see a movie aimed at adults that isn’t an ‘adult’ movie. Passengers is the type of movie the studios have given up making in favor of chasing 14 year old boys as an audience. This audience of boys is the same that is staying home and stealing studio content off the internet. This is collaborative film-making at its finest. Well done. Thanks for the mature feast. Let’s see more of it. This bodes well for the future of independent film-making.
rick Stevenson
We Need More Films Like Passengers, 25 October 2009
Author: mantonallen from United States
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
Michael Bond has created a beautiful film about the complexity of love in all its beauty, deceit and ugliness. Who hasn’t experienced such a ride as the couple in Passengers? The beauty of this film is how it takes its time. None of the rapid fire gamer mtv editing in this film. No Juno like soundbite dialogue to send the viewer screaming from the theater. This is a film to be savored like the works of Rob Nilsson and John Cassavetes and like their works, more detail is discovered, more is revealed with each viewing. If only we had more films about the way things seem to be– but that requires brave film makers and audiences willing to take risks in a world that seems to run toward mediocrity and predictability. And bravo –what striking performances from the actors-I look forward to more great works from Mr. Bond.
Well performed and written, 21 October 2009
Author: Rebecca Caldwell from Australia
*** This review may contain spoilers ***
A great example of how ’story’ can triumph over special effects and big budgets. I love how the characters are so true to life, that you feel as uncomfortable as they are during the conversation – that takes great acting AND writing.
Refreshing to see a film about real people with very real and understandable problems – the trials of living far from home, the hard work that goes into obtaining and maintaining a career in Hollywood all while struggling to keep a marriage afloat. It feels as if you are intruding on a very personal moment, congratulations to the director for pulling this off!
Best feature debut I’ve seen in a very long time, 28 October 2009
Author: raoclery from Australia
It’s difficult to add to the previous comments, with which I agree wholeheartedly. I’m usually an action/sci-fi movie junkie, but Passengers floored me for all the reasons expressed above. I think there is a depth to Passengers such that each of us in a relationship will find it talking personally to us at many points. From a technical perspective, Passengers is beautifully and succinctly shot, with the stunningly rich LA lights contrasting the mood within the SUV. Cutaway shots strengthen the developing poignancy, and the audio and atmospherics are perfectly integrated. This is simply the best feature debut I have seen in a very long time. I can’t wait for Mr Bond’s next movie!
Captivating from start to finish, 26 October 2009
Author: duncan-565-542544 from Australia
This movie had me intrigued and captivated from the start to the finish. It stimulated so many emotions and drew me in to reflect on my own life. It’s one of those movies that has you thinking about it for days after and even watching it for a second and third time. It’s beautifully directed and produced. Very interesting lighting and photographic angles. I think the casting and characters are spot on. Quality acting. So believable and so real. A really original concept for a movie that takes the viewer with it for the ride. I love this movie and I think it’s a must for everyone to view. ‘Passengers’ doesn’t insult your intelligence and stirs up so many emotions that the experience from viewing Passengers will be with you for a long time. This movie, its actors and the production team behind this movie thoroughly need to be rewarded and acknowledged. Brilliant. Simply brilliant and thank you for giving us a great ride ‘Passengers’.
Absolutely worth a look., 2 November 2009
Author: carnilent from USA
Saw this at Mill Valley FF in one of the sold out screenings. Very tense and intriguing little film that touches a raw nerve and had us all talking after wards. Obviously a low budget affair but looked great and created its own rhythms that sucked you into what is a simple but effective story. And in my mind that’s all you need. Don’t know much about the two Australian leads but they really got under your skin and did well to manipulate whose side you were on throughout – kept me guessing as to who I felt was morally right. It’s one of those film that should get a theatrical release and you should see with others at a cinema – being locked in a room with them helps to increase the claustrophobia of their relationship. Well worth a look if you get a chance.