Chrystal (film)
Encyclopedia
Chrystal is an American drama film, which was released to audiences in the United States
on April 8, 2005. The cast included Billy Bob Thornton
, Lisa Blount
, Harry Lennix, Walton Goggins
, and Grace Zabriskie
. Ray McKinnon
, in addition to playing the role of "Snake", directed
, wrote
, and produced
the film. The story is about a woman named Chrystal (Lisa Blount) who has been traumatized both physically and mentally from a car accident that took the life of her son. Joe (Billy Bob Thornton), Chrystal's husband, has just been released from jail after a 16 year sentence stemming from multiple crimes he committed.
. It is based around the story of Chrystal, a woman who has become permanently injured, emotionally detached, and mentally unstable stemming from several traumatic
events in her past. The movie begins in a rather dramatic fashion, depicting Joe fleeing from the police in a high speed police chase. While weaving down the roads at a high rate of speed, Joe loses control of the vehicle and ends up rolling down a hill and, subsequently, crashing into a tree. Chrystal is severely injured in the accident, suffering a broken neck. Their son, who the police presumed was flung through the windshield, was never found at the scene of the accident, or anywhere in the surrounding areas. For his role in running from the police and causing injuries to his passengers, Joe is arrested and sentenced to imprisonment for 16 years.
Upon his release from prison, Joe comes back to his home in search of a change in his life. He ends up coming back home to his wife, who hadn't divorced him even while he was away in prison. Because of the accident suffered from Joe's run-in with the law, and the resulting accident and loss of their child, Crystal is permanently injured in her neck and has completely lost her enthusiasm
, emotions, or will to live. As Joe begins to slowly work his way back into her life, she is unsure of whether to accept him once again, fearing what may happen if she does so. He now wants to change and atone for his past life of crime. Forced to face his past to continue with his future, Joe runs into an old enemy of his, Snake (Ray McKinnon). Worried about him, Snake invites Joe to rejoin him in his illegal drug operation.
, Chrystal received an average score of 8 out of 10.
. In total, the movie grossed
$80,701 in total box office ticket sales. Chrystal's best weekend in box office sales came on its second weekend, where it grossed
$19,074.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
on April 8, 2005. The cast included Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
, Lisa Blount
Lisa Blount
Lisa S. Blount was an American film and television actress and Oscar-winning producer.-Career:...
, Harry Lennix, Walton Goggins
Walton Goggins
Walton Sanders Goggins, Jr. is an American actor best known for his roles on the FX Networks series The Shield and Justified, portraying Detective Shane Vendrell and Boyd Crowder, respectively. He is also known for his character roles in the films Miracle at St. Anna and Predators...
, and Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie
Grace Zabriskie is an American actress. She has appeared in many popular American films but, she is best known for her work in television. She is perhaps best known for her roles in the television series Twin Peaks, Seinfeld, and Big Love.-Early life:Zabriskie was born in New Orleans, Louisiana...
. Ray McKinnon
Ray McKinnon (actor)
Ray McKinnon is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. He was married to actress and producer Lisa Blount from 1998 until her death on October 25, 2010...
, in addition to playing the role of "Snake", directed
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, wrote
Screenwriter
Screenwriters or scriptwriters or scenario writers are people who write/create the short or feature-length screenplays from which mass media such as films, television programs, Comics or video games are based.-Profession:...
, and produced
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
the film. The story is about a woman named Chrystal (Lisa Blount) who has been traumatized both physically and mentally from a car accident that took the life of her son. Joe (Billy Bob Thornton), Chrystal's husband, has just been released from jail after a 16 year sentence stemming from multiple crimes he committed.
Plot
The story takes place in ArkansasArkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. It is based around the story of Chrystal, a woman who has become permanently injured, emotionally detached, and mentally unstable stemming from several traumatic
Psychological trauma
Psychological trauma is a type of damage to the psyche that occurs as a result of a traumatic event...
events in her past. The movie begins in a rather dramatic fashion, depicting Joe fleeing from the police in a high speed police chase. While weaving down the roads at a high rate of speed, Joe loses control of the vehicle and ends up rolling down a hill and, subsequently, crashing into a tree. Chrystal is severely injured in the accident, suffering a broken neck. Their son, who the police presumed was flung through the windshield, was never found at the scene of the accident, or anywhere in the surrounding areas. For his role in running from the police and causing injuries to his passengers, Joe is arrested and sentenced to imprisonment for 16 years.
Upon his release from prison, Joe comes back to his home in search of a change in his life. He ends up coming back home to his wife, who hadn't divorced him even while he was away in prison. Because of the accident suffered from Joe's run-in with the law, and the resulting accident and loss of their child, Crystal is permanently injured in her neck and has completely lost her enthusiasm
Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm originally meant inspiration or possession by a divine afflatus or by the presence of a god. Johnson's Dictionary, the first comprehensive dictionary of the English language, defines enthusiasm as "a vain belief of private revelation; a vain confidence of divine favour or...
, emotions, or will to live. As Joe begins to slowly work his way back into her life, she is unsure of whether to accept him once again, fearing what may happen if she does so. He now wants to change and atone for his past life of crime. Forced to face his past to continue with his future, Joe runs into an old enemy of his, Snake (Ray McKinnon). Worried about him, Snake invites Joe to rejoin him in his illegal drug operation.
Cast
- Chrystal: the protagonist. Joe's wife, she is played by actress Lisa BlountLisa BlountLisa S. Blount was an American film and television actress and Oscar-winning producer.-Career:...
. She has lost touch with reality, her emotions, and the people around her after an accident that permanently disabled her and resulted in her son's disappearance. - Joe: Chrystal's husband. He has served a 16-year jail sentence for numerous crimes. Joe comes back into Chrystal's life in hopes of changing for the better, only to find Chrystal in her current condition. Joe is played by actor Billy Bob ThorntonBilly Bob ThorntonBilly Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
. - Snake: One of Joe's old friends from his life of crime. Snake comes to realize that Joe has changed during his imprisonment, and wants nothing to do with Snake. He thus perceives him as a threat to his drug trade. The character is played by actor Ray McKinnonRay McKinnon (actor)Ray McKinnon is an American actor, screenwriter, film director and producer. He was married to actress and producer Lisa Blount from 1998 until her death on October 25, 2010...
. - Larry: played by actor Walton GogginsWalton GogginsWalton Sanders Goggins, Jr. is an American actor best known for his roles on the FX Networks series The Shield and Justified, portraying Detective Shane Vendrell and Boyd Crowder, respectively. He is also known for his character roles in the films Miracle at St. Anna and Predators...
. - Kalid: played by actor Harry Lennix.
- Barry: played by the actor Johnny GaleckiJohnny GaleckiJohn Mark "Johnny" Galecki is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as David Healy in the ABC sitcom Roseanne, Rusty Griswold in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and as Leonard Hofstadter in the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory.-Early life:Galecki was born in Bree, Belgium, of...
.
Critical reception
Reviews for Chrystal were generally positive. On Rotten TomatoesRotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
, Chrystal received an average score of 8 out of 10.
Release and box office totals
The movie was released in the United States on April 8, 2005. It was in theaters for 11 weeks following this on limited releaseLimited release
Limited release is a term in the American motion picture industry for a motion picture that is playing in a select few theaters across the country ....
. In total, the movie grossed
Gross income
Gross income in United States tax law is receipts and gains from all sources less cost of goods sold. Gross income is the starting point for determining Federal and state income tax of individuals, corporations, estates and trusts, whether resident or nonresident."Except as otherwise provided" by...
$80,701 in total box office ticket sales. Chrystal's best weekend in box office sales came on its second weekend, where it grossed
Gross income
Gross income in United States tax law is receipts and gains from all sources less cost of goods sold. Gross income is the starting point for determining Federal and state income tax of individuals, corporations, estates and trusts, whether resident or nonresident."Except as otherwise provided" by...
$19,074.