Nim's Island
Encyclopedia
Nim's Island is a 2008
Australian adventure
-fantasy
film directed by Jennifer Flackett
and Mark Levin
and starring Abigail Breslin
, Jodie Foster
, and Gerard Butler
. The story is based on the book Nim's Island by Wendy Orr
. A young girl, Nim, seeks help from the author of her favorite adventure series when her scientist father goes missing. Nim, though, lives on an island in the South Pacific. The author, Alexandra Rover, is an agoraphobic
living in San Francisco. Rover overcomes her fears and sets out in search of Nim while Nim tries to overcome her fear of losing her father. In the meantime, a cruise ship company threatens to invade Nim's island with uncouth tourists.
) is an 11-year-old girl, whose mother, Emily, has died. Her father Jack Rusoe (Gerard Butler
), a marine biologist, said she was swallowed by a blue whale
after it was scared by a ship called the Buccaneers. Nim lives on an island in the South Pacific and has some local animals for company: Selkie the sea lion
, Fred the lizard
, Chicca the sea turtle
, and Galileo the pelican
. Jack goes by boat on a scientific mission of two days to find protozoa nim (a new species of plankton
); he wants to take his daughter along, but she convinces him that she needs to stay to oversee the imminent hatching of Chicca's eggs and can manage on her own; they will be able to communicate by satellite phone
.
Nim, who is fond of Alex Rover adventure books (a parody of Alex Rider
) written by Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster
), receives an email addressed to her father with an inquiry about his field of knowledge. The sender "Alex Rover" seems to be the explorer, but is actually Alexandra, a neurotic San Franciscan who constantly sees her character Alex Rover (also Gerard Butler). An email conversation follows, where Nim first poses as her father's assistant and then goes to the volcano
on the island to see what's inside it and is hurt in the process.
Jack suffers a shipwreck, which makes it impossible for Nim and Jack to communicate. Also, he does not return on the planned date. Throughout the movie, Galileo brings Jack things he needs to fix his ship. Nim explains the situation to "Alex". Although Alexandra suffers from agoraphobia
and therefore never leaves the house or even opens the door, she travels to the island to rescue Nim.
The island is visited by tourists, taken by Nim to be pirates. Without exposing herself, she scares them away by catapulting lizards at them and making it look like a volcano is about to erupt. One of the tourists, a young rich boy named Edmund, follows her and sees her. He is confused by her presence, and believes her to be another tourist. But when he tells the others, he isn't believed and is punished by his parents for leaving them by removal of his GameBoy and television
for a month
The tourists leave. Alex arrives by helicopter at the tourists' boat and tells them about her rescue mission. The tourists do not believe that a girl is on the island, but Edmund tells her what he had seen. Encouraged, Alex goes to the island and is saved by Nim from drowning when her boat gets trapped in a large monsoon
rainstorm and is wrecked. When the storm clears up, at the island, Alex introduces herself. At first Nim doesn't want her to stay, but eventually allows her. Later Jack arrives on a raft still holding the plankton, and falls in love with Alexandra.
reported that 51% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 80 reviews. Metacritic
reported the film had an average score of 55 out of 100, based on 23 reviews.
and Canada
, ranking #2 at the box office behind 21
. The film had a domestic box office gross of $48,006,762 surpassing its $37 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo and a foreign gross of 52,069,700 and total of $100,076,342 worldwide.
. He recorded his score with the Hollywood Studio Symphony
at the Sony Scoring Stage during the week of February 3, 2008. This marked the first time in a decade that he has recorded a score in Los Angeles.
The song playing over the closing credits
is "Beautiful Day
" by U2
.
The film's soundtrack CD was released on April 8, 2008 from Varèse Sarabande
.
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
Australian adventure
Adventure
An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. The term is often used to refer to activities with some potential for physical danger, such as skydiving, mountain climbing and or participating in extreme sports...
-fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
film directed by Jennifer Flackett
Jennifer Flackett
Jennifer Flackett is an American film director and screen/television writer.In television, she has written for series Beverly Hills, 90210, L.A. Law and Earth 2....
and Mark Levin
Mark Levin (director)
Mark Levin is an American film director and screenwriter. He is mostly known for directing the films Little Manhattan and Nim's Island. He is married to his collaborator, the screenwriter and director Jennifer Flackett. During the 1990s, he was a writer for the television series The Wonder Years,...
and starring Abigail Breslin
Abigail Breslin
Abigail Kathleen Breslin is an American teen actress. She is one of the youngest actresses ever to be nominated for an Academy Award....
, Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....
, and Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
. The story is based on the book Nim's Island by Wendy Orr
Wendy Orr
Wendy Orr is a Canadian-born Australian writer born in Edmonton, Alberta. She is probably best known as the author of Nim's Island, which was made into a film in 2008 starring Jodie Foster, Abigail Breslin and Gerard Butler.-External links:...
. A young girl, Nim, seeks help from the author of her favorite adventure series when her scientist father goes missing. Nim, though, lives on an island in the South Pacific. The author, Alexandra Rover, is an agoraphobic
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder defined as a morbid fear of having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms in a situation from which it is perceived to be difficult to escape. These situations can include, but are not limited to, wide-open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions...
living in San Francisco. Rover overcomes her fears and sets out in search of Nim while Nim tries to overcome her fear of losing her father. In the meantime, a cruise ship company threatens to invade Nim's island with uncouth tourists.
Plot
Nim (Abigail BreslinAbigail Breslin
Abigail Kathleen Breslin is an American teen actress. She is one of the youngest actresses ever to be nominated for an Academy Award....
) is an 11-year-old girl, whose mother, Emily, has died. Her father Jack Rusoe (Gerard Butler
Gerard Butler
Gerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
), a marine biologist, said she was swallowed by a blue whale
Blue Whale
The blue whale is a marine mammal belonging to the suborder of baleen whales . At in length and or more in weight, it is the largest known animal to have ever existed....
after it was scared by a ship called the Buccaneers. Nim lives on an island in the South Pacific and has some local animals for company: Selkie the sea lion
Sea Lion
Sea lions are pinnipeds characterized by external ear-flaps, long fore-flippers, the ability to walk on all fours, and short thick hair. Together with the fur seal, they comprise the family Otariidae, or eared seals. There are six extant and one extinct species in five genera...
, Fred the lizard
Lizard
Lizards are a widespread group of squamate reptiles, with nearly 3800 species, ranging across all continents except Antarctica as well as most oceanic island chains...
, Chicca the sea turtle
Sea turtle
Sea turtles are marine reptiles that inhabit all of the world's oceans except the Arctic.-Distribution:...
, and Galileo the pelican
Pelican
A pelican, derived from the Greek word πελεκυς pelekys is a large water bird with a large throat pouch, belonging to the bird family Pelecanidae....
. Jack goes by boat on a scientific mission of two days to find protozoa nim (a new species of plankton
Plankton
Plankton are any drifting organisms that inhabit the pelagic zone of oceans, seas, or bodies of fresh water. That is, plankton are defined by their ecological niche rather than phylogenetic or taxonomic classification...
); he wants to take his daughter along, but she convinces him that she needs to stay to oversee the imminent hatching of Chicca's eggs and can manage on her own; they will be able to communicate by satellite phone
Satellite phone
A satellite telephone, satellite phone, or satphone is a type of mobile phone that connects to orbiting satellites instead of terrestrial cell sites...
.
Nim, who is fond of Alex Rover adventure books (a parody of Alex Rider
Alex Rider
Alex Rider is a series of spy novels by British author Anthony Horowitz about a 14-15 year old spy named Alex Rider. The series is aimed primarily at young adults. Nine novels have been published to date, as well as three graphic novels, three short stories and a supplementary book...
) written by Alexandra Rover (Jodie Foster
Jodie Foster
Alicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....
), receives an email addressed to her father with an inquiry about his field of knowledge. The sender "Alex Rover" seems to be the explorer, but is actually Alexandra, a neurotic San Franciscan who constantly sees her character Alex Rover (also Gerard Butler). An email conversation follows, where Nim first poses as her father's assistant and then goes to the volcano
Volcano
2. Bedrock3. Conduit 4. Base5. Sill6. Dike7. Layers of ash emitted by the volcano8. Flank| 9. Layers of lava emitted by the volcano10. Throat11. Parasitic cone12. Lava flow13. Vent14. Crater15...
on the island to see what's inside it and is hurt in the process.
Jack suffers a shipwreck, which makes it impossible for Nim and Jack to communicate. Also, he does not return on the planned date. Throughout the movie, Galileo brings Jack things he needs to fix his ship. Nim explains the situation to "Alex". Although Alexandra suffers from agoraphobia
Agoraphobia
Agoraphobia is an anxiety disorder defined as a morbid fear of having a panic attack or panic-like symptoms in a situation from which it is perceived to be difficult to escape. These situations can include, but are not limited to, wide-open spaces, crowds, or uncontrolled social conditions...
and therefore never leaves the house or even opens the door, she travels to the island to rescue Nim.
The island is visited by tourists, taken by Nim to be pirates. Without exposing herself, she scares them away by catapulting lizards at them and making it look like a volcano is about to erupt. One of the tourists, a young rich boy named Edmund, follows her and sees her. He is confused by her presence, and believes her to be another tourist. But when he tells the others, he isn't believed and is punished by his parents for leaving them by removal of his GameBoy and television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
for a month
The tourists leave. Alex arrives by helicopter at the tourists' boat and tells them about her rescue mission. The tourists do not believe that a girl is on the island, but Edmund tells her what he had seen. Encouraged, Alex goes to the island and is saved by Nim from drowning when her boat gets trapped in a large monsoon
Monsoon
Monsoon is traditionally defined as a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation, but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with the asymmetric heating of land and sea...
rainstorm and is wrecked. When the storm clears up, at the island, Alex introduces herself. At first Nim doesn't want her to stay, but eventually allows her. Later Jack arrives on a raft still holding the plankton, and falls in love with Alexandra.
Cast
- Abigail BreslinAbigail BreslinAbigail Kathleen Breslin is an American teen actress. She is one of the youngest actresses ever to be nominated for an Academy Award....
as Nim Rusoe - Jodie FosterJodie FosterAlicia Christian "Jodie" Foster is an American actress, film director, producer as well as a former child actress....
as Alexandra Rover - Gerard ButlerGerard ButlerGerard James Butler is a Scottish actor who has appeared on film, stage, and television. A trained lawyer, Butler turned to acting in the mid-1990s with small roles in productions such as the James Bond film Tomorrow Never Dies , which he followed with steady work on television, most notably in...
as Jack Rusoe / Alex Rover - Anthony SimcoeAnthony SimcoeAnthony Simcoe is an Australian actor, best known for his portrayal of Ka D'Argo in the science fiction television series Farscape.The 6' 6" Simcoe is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Sydney...
as First Mate - Alphonso McAuleyAlphonso McAuleyAlphonso McAuley is an American actor who played Bucky in the Fat Albert movie. He also played Orsten Artis in the 2006 movie, based on the true story of the Texas Western Miners in Glory Road and Walt in the movie Pride. He went on to co-star with Tatyana Ali in the sitcom Love That Girl!...
as Russell - Morgan GriffinMorgan GriffinMorgan Griffin is an Australian actress. From 2006 until 2007 she starred in the second series of the Nickelodeon show The Sleepover Club....
as Alice - Michael CarmanMichael CarmanMichael Carman is an Australian film, television, and theatre actor. He attended Swinburne Film and Television School from 1971 to 1974.- Filmography :*Max's Dreaming as support*A Waltz Through the Hills as Sgt Rawlins*Hercules Returns as co-lead...
as CaptainCaptain (nautical)A sea captain is a licensed mariner in ultimate command of the vessel. The captain is responsible for its safe and efficient operation, including cargo operations, navigation, crew management and ensuring that the vessel complies with local and international laws, as well as company and flag... - Christopher Baker as EnsignEnsignAn ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
- Maddison Joyce as Edmund
- Peter Callan as Edmund's Father
Critical reception
The film received mixed reviews from critics. As of July 31st, 2011, the review aggregator 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...
reported that 51% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 80 reviews. Metacritic
Metacritic
Metacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...
reported the film had an average score of 55 out of 100, based on 23 reviews.
Box office performance
In its opening weekend, Nim's Island grossed $13.3 million in 3,513 theaters in the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, ranking #2 at the box office behind 21
21 (2008 film)
21 is a 2008 drama film directed by Australian director Robert Luketic and stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, and Aaron Yoo. The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in Bringing Down the House, the...
. The film had a domestic box office gross of $48,006,762 surpassing its $37 million budget, according to Box Office Mojo and a foreign gross of 52,069,700 and total of $100,076,342 worldwide.
Home media release
Nim's Island was released on DVD on August 5, 2008. It opened at #1 at the DVD sales chart, selling 466,326 DVD units which translates to $8,389,200 in revenue. As per the latest figures, 1,013,100 DVD units have been sold, acquiring revenue of $18,188,600.Soundtrack
The score to Nim's Island was composed by award-winning composer Patrick DoylePatrick Doyle
Patrick Doyle is a Scottish musician and film score composer. A longtime collaborator of actor/director Kenneth Branagh, Doyle is known for his work scoring such critically acclaimed films as Henry V , Sense and Sensibility , Hamlet , and Gosford Park , as well as noteworthy blockbusters as Harry...
. He recorded his score with the Hollywood Studio Symphony
Hollywood Studio Symphony
The Hollywood Studio Symphony is the credited name of the symphony orchestra behind many major soundtracks, including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, Sucker Punch, Jurassic Park 3, Last Samurai, Pirates of the Caribbean, We Are Marshall, Spider-Man 2, Lost and The...
at the Sony Scoring Stage during the week of February 3, 2008. This marked the first time in a decade that he has recorded a score in Los Angeles.
The song playing over the closing credits
Closing credits
Closing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
is "Beautiful Day
Beautiful Day
"Beautiful Day" is a song by the rock band U2. It is the first track from their 2000 album, All That You Can't Leave Behind, and it was released as the album's lead single. It was a commercial success, helping launch the album to multi-platinum status, and is one of U2's biggest hits to date...
" by U2
U2
U2 are an Irish rock band from Dublin. Formed in 1976, the group consists of Bono , The Edge , Adam Clayton , and Larry Mullen, Jr. . U2's early sound was rooted in post-punk but eventually grew to incorporate influences from many genres of popular music...
.
The film's soundtrack CD was released on April 8, 2008 from Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande
Varèse Sarabande is an American record label, distributed by Universal Music Group, which specializes in film scores and original cast recordings. It aims to reissue rare or unavailable albums as well as newer releases by artists no longer under a contract...
.
External links
- Official site and trailer
- WendyOrr.com Official website of the author of Nim's Island
- Nim's Island Full Production Notes for Nim's Island