Weeds (1987 film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Motion picture |
| Founded | 1987 |
Key people | John D. Hancock (director), Nick Nolte (lead actor), Ernie Hudson (actor) |
| Products | Drama film |
Weeds is a 1987 American drama motion picture helmed by director John D. Hancock, featuring performances by Nick Nolte, Ernie Hudson, among others. The narrative centers on a prisoner whose theatrical work captures the interest of a journalist.
Plot
Lee Umstetter (Nick Nolte) is incarcerated at San Quentin serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for armed robbery. Following two suicide attempts, he turns to literature and attends an in-prison staging of Waiting for Godot, which motivates him to create and produce plays focused on prison life.
Among his creations is a socially conscious musical addressing incarceration, which attracts audiences and catches the eye of a San Francisco theatre critic (Rita Taggart). This connection ultimately aids in securing Lee’s freedom.
After his release, Lee assembles a theatre company composed of ex-offenders—including a shoplifter (William Forsythe), a murderer (Ernie Hudson), an embezzler (Lane Smith), a pimp (John Toles-Bey), and a flasher (Mark Rolston)—to perform their shows on tour. Despite their efforts, the lack of financial resources and reliance on a camper for travel place them at risk of returning to criminal activities.
Cast
- Nick Nolte as Lee Umstetter
- Rita Taggart as Lillian Bingington
- Ernie Hudson as Bagdad
- Mark Rolston as Dave
- Lane Smith as Claude
- John Toles-Bey as Navarro
- Joe Mantegna as Carmine
- J.J. Johnston as Lazarus
- William Forsythe as Burt "The Booster"
- Anne Ramsey as Mom Unstetter
Reception
Critical response to the film was varied. Audience polling by CinemaScore showed an average rating of "A" on their A+ to F scale.
In The New Yorker, film critic Pauline Kael remarked, "This movie explores their journey to become legitimate theatre professionals. It examines how collaboration transforms them and also highlights the aspects that remain unchanged."
Although the movie opened strongly at the box office, it did not recover its production expenses but found success in the home video market on VHS.