Nothing of Importance Happened Here

Author(s): Ryan (N/A)
Nothing of Importance Happened Here

Directed by Ivan Reitman
Written by Ivan Reitman
Music by Rolfe Kent

Principal Cast:

Tom Hanks (Tom Daley)
Meg Tilly (Elizabeth Daley)
Mary Elizabeth Winstead (Alexis Daley)
Julianna Margulies (Samantha Tyler)
Alfre Woodard (Marcie Reynolds)
Vanessa Williams (Candice Price)
Mark Wahlberg (Christopher Weaver)
Queen Latifah (Betty Allen)
Morgan Freeman (Samuel Davis)

Tagline: "History is hard to find, but easy to make up."

Synopsis: In Philadelphia you can walk from Betsy Ross’ house to the Liberty Bell to Independence Hall in less than five minutes. In between the locations is the Daley house. Nothing of importance happened there. Countless tour buses and groups walk right by the Daley’s front door everyday to snap photos of the landmarks, but seem to miss Elizabeth (Meg Tilly) watering the plants or husband Tom (Tom Hanks) fetching the Philadelphia Inquirer.

As the couple nears retirement, the housing market has crashed and their real estate taxes have skyrocketed. They are to sell their house to move to a quainter town as their daughter, Alexis (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) has flown the coop; the house is too big and has too much maintenance for just the two of them.

Graduated from law school, Alexis has got a high-paying job at the prestigious firm, Weaver (Mark Wahlberg) & Allen (Queen Latifah).

As money woes are getting tighter and potential buyers of their house are getting fewer, Tom hatches an idea after walking around his historical block. Claim that the house is a historical landmark. Located on one of the busiest streets in the city, Elizabeth reluctantly agrees in their dishonest venture. They decide on declaring their house as a stop on the Underground Railroad.

Enlisting their daughter to forge the documents and legal work, their plan is set to dramatically cut their costs of living and largely increase the chances of potential buyers. However, the city’s historical curator, Samantha Tyler (Julianna Margulies), smells something fishy. Sending the documents that the Daley’s claimed to find in the attic to a lab, forensic director Marcie Reynolds (Alfre Woodard) tells Tom and Elizabeth she knows the truth and that she won’t tell anyone unless she gets a share of the profits in what she considers the greatest and most ingenious scam of the century.

However, as the tourists and boatloads of cash flow in, so do Historians and history teachers like Samuel Davis (Morgan Freeman) with their classes, prompting the Daley’s to tell more and more lies till they can’t remember fact from fiction. Also, Candice Price (Vanessa Williams), a fellow Historical Landmark owner down the street, is now losing business while wising up to the Daley’s scheme.

As Tom fears that they have gone too far, in a change of heart, Elizabeth is putting on lavish events in greed and attention, bringing history to life, literally, in reenactments. Losing sight of their goal of selling their house, they are becoming more and more attached to it. Not to mention, the documents that Alexis keeps on forging in the firm, bosses Chris and Betty can’t help but find out what is going on, in a film that proves that history certainly writes its self.

What the press would say:

“Two thumbs WAY up!”-Ebert & Roeper
“Something of Importance did happen here. A comedy with depth and emotion in one of the most satisfying and compelling films in recent memory!”- People
“A+! Side-splittingly, laugh-until-you-are-blue-in-the-face hilarious!”-Entertainment Weekly
“Meg Tilly makes her welcome and needed comeback, Winstead proves herself and Tom Hanks is once again amazing. What a family…”-Rolling Stone Magazine

NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE is one of those rare critic, family, box office and audience friendly comedies; Fox Searchlight has certainly found another winner. Somewhat wacky but leveled, funny yet relatable and most important, dimensional, NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE is truly a landmark film.

Tom Hanks finds himself in a comedic role which is a welcome change as he brings his A-game and impeccable timing as Tom, a character that is in it for the short-run and convinces his wife into the concept until she turns the tables on him, making their scam into something much larger than imagined. Hanks is witty and greedy, but relatable with the reasons behind the scheme something that is plaguing everyone across the country. Not getting too political, the film brings up some points in a funny, yet nicely toned manner. Academy Award nominee Meg Tilly is brilliantly casted and still knows how to act luminously even after a decade plus hiatus. Fitting the character like a glove, Tilly shows real emotion. The smart script allows Tilly to make a slow transition from cautious of the scheme to enjoying it to loving it to the point of living it in one of the biggest character personality changes in movie history. Unbelievably greedy at points, Tilly is likable when needed which makes her a success.

Mary Elizabeth Winstead who has been rising for quite some time finally gets the role needed to truly breakout with a stunning performance. Winstead holds her ground against screen legend Hanks. Neutral of the scheme, Winstead’s character only tries helping her parents after they helped her. However, when she realizes the risks, her morals fail her. Julianna Margulies also gets a role where she should get the attention she deserves after flying under the radar for many years.

Alfre Woodard is convincing as the forensics detective who needs extra cash to support her family in a world where it costs over four dollars a gallon for gas in a film that also hints on the crazy economy. Woodard is in it for the money, but also realizes that money isn’t the most important thing in life and becomes a confidant to Hank’s character. In a smaller, but memorable part, Vanessa Williams is put in a fun role that reminds us how much we all missed her filling up the silver screen. Williams is in a villainous role trying to unearth the scheme with a big nasty grin on her face.

After some alright films, director Ivan Reitman steals the spotlight from his son, Jason, making another classic comedy. Ivan uses more natural angles to help bring a sense of reality to the film as well as shooting the film where it really takes place. His script is smart and intelligent and just like the scheme, ingenious! Rolfe Kent sets a fun musical tone instead of using popular songs like so many comedies do nowadays in lieu of a traditional score.

All-around applauded; NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE HAPPENED HERE is certainly the movie of the year with audience and critic approval.

Best Picture
Best Director: Ivan Reitman
Best Screenplay: Ivan Reitman
Best Original Score: Rolfe Kent
Best Actor: Tom Hanks
Best Actress: Meg Tilly
Best Supporting Actress: Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Julianna Margulies, Alfre Woodard, Vanessa Williams