''Against the Current'' is a 2009 American
drama film
In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...
released by
Ambush Entertainment directed by Peter Callahan and starring
Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (), known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Journalist Zoe Williams observed that "he seemed to be the go-to actor for English cultural history". Fiennes is particul ...
,
Pell James
Pell James (born April 30, 1977) is an American actress.
Life and career
James was born in Virginia. In the early 2000s, she appeared in an episode of ''Law & Order'' and an episode of '' Law & Order:SVU''. In 2005, she portrayed Brier in ''Undi ...
,
Justin Kirk
Justin Kirk (born May 28, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Prior Walter in Mike Nichols's screen adaptation of ''Angels in America'', for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting A ...
,
Elizabeth Reaser
Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films ''Stay'', ''The Family Stone'', ''Sweet Land'', '' Against the Current'', '' The Twilight Saga'', ''Young Adult'', and '' Oui ...
,
Martin Shakar
Martin Shakar (born January 1, 1940) is an American theatre, film and television actor.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan to an Armenian/Assyrian family from Adıyaman, Turkey and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
A life member of The Actors Studio ...
,
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Trachtenberg (; born October 11, 1985) is an American actress and model. Trachtenberg began her career at age three, appearing in a number of commercials, films, and television series as a child. Her starring role on the Nickelodeon tel ...
, and
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore (December 29, 1936 – January 25, 2017) was an American actress, producer, and social advocate. She is best known for her roles on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1961–1966) and ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977), which ...
(in her final film role).
Plot
Paul Thompson (
Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (), known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Journalist Zoe Williams observed that "he seemed to be the go-to actor for English cultural history". Fiennes is particul ...
) is a writer who lost his wife and child a few years back. He and his best friend, Jeff (
Justin Kirk
Justin Kirk (born May 28, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Prior Walter in Mike Nichols's screen adaptation of ''Angels in America'', for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting A ...
), have talked about swimming the length of the Hudson River since they were kids. Paul asks Jeff to come along with him on his trip to finally swim the river. Jeff agrees and brings along one of his friends, Liz (
Elizabeth Reaser
Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films ''Stay'', ''The Family Stone'', ''Sweet Land'', '' Against the Current'', '' The Twilight Saga'', ''Young Adult'', and '' Oui ...
). Paul is determined to reach the end of the river by a certain date, August 28.
Jeff and Liz have no idea the importance of the date Paul has chosen until they realize that the date they are supposed to finish the swim is the anniversary of his family's death. Paul tells them that on that date, he is planning on killing himself. Paul's confession causes Jeff to remember a moment about five years ago when he saved Paul from committing suicide. Jeff told him that he should wait five years and if he still wanted to end his life, he would support him in it. Now, five years later, Jeff and Liz have to decide whether they should let Paul continue with his plan or try to convince him to keep living.
Cast
*
Joseph Fiennes
Joseph Alberic Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes (), known as Joseph Fiennes, is an English actor of film, stage, and television. Journalist Zoe Williams observed that "he seemed to be the go-to actor for English cultural history". Fiennes is particul ...
as Paul Thompson
*
Justin Kirk
Justin Kirk (born May 28, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Prior Walter in Mike Nichols's screen adaptation of ''Angels in America'', for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting A ...
as Jeff Kane
*
Elizabeth Reaser
Elizabeth Ann Reaser (born July 2, 1975) is an American film, television, and stage actress. Her work includes the films ''Stay'', ''The Family Stone'', ''Sweet Land'', '' Against the Current'', '' The Twilight Saga'', ''Young Adult'', and '' Oui ...
as Liz Clark
*
Michelle Trachtenberg
Michelle Trachtenberg (; born October 11, 1985) is an American actress and model. Trachtenberg began her career at age three, appearing in a number of commercials, films, and television series as a child. Her starring role on the Nickelodeon tel ...
as Suzanne
*
Pell James
Pell James (born April 30, 1977) is an American actress.
Life and career
James was born in Virginia. In the early 2000s, she appeared in an episode of ''Law & Order'' and an episode of '' Law & Order:SVU''. In 2005, she portrayed Brier in ''Undi ...
as Amy Thompson
* Constance Barron as Aunt Karen
* Amy Hargreaves as Sarah Kane
*
Mary Tyler Moore
Mary Tyler Moore (December 29, 1936 – January 25, 2017) was an American actress, producer, and social advocate. She is best known for her roles on ''The Dick Van Dyke Show'' (1961–1966) and ''The Mary Tyler Moore Show'' (1970–1977), which ...
as Liz's Mom
* Samantha Sherman as Katie
*
Martin Shakar
Martin Shakar (born January 1, 1940) is an American theatre, film and television actor.
He was born in Detroit, Michigan to an Armenian/Assyrian family from Adıyaman, Turkey and lives in Brooklyn, New York.
A life member of The Actors Studio ...
as Boatyard Owner
* Avery Glymph as Fisherman #1
* Chad Brigockas as Fisherman #2
* Tom O'Rourke as Dock Man #1
* John Rue as Dock Man #2
* Douglas Odell as Dock Man #3
* Seth Kanor as Officer Lefurgy
* Nimo Gandhi as Pasthule
* Maggie Brown as Little Girl on Waterfront
* Perry Callahan as Older Girl on Waterfront
References
External links
*
* {{Rotten-tomatoes, against-the-current
2009 films
American drama films
2000s English-language films
2000s American films