Rating: R
Genre:
Comedy Drama
Release Date: 06/24/2003
Sound: DD2/DD5.1/DTS
Run Time: 95 Minutes
Flags: Adult Situations, Strong Sexual Content, Not For Children, Profanity, Substance Abuse (Alcohol, Drugs)
Distributor/Studio: Image Entertainment
Michael Steinberg, co-director of
The Waterdance, made his solo directorial debut with the Gen-X character study
Bodies, Rest & Motion. Written by
Roger Hedden, based on his own play, the film's title refers to Newton's First Law of Motion, which states essentially that a body at rest or in motion will remain in that state until acted upon by an external force. The film is set in the desert town of Enfield, AZ.
Nick (
Tim Roth) is a feckless television salesman who gets fired and impulsively decides that he and his girlfriend,
Beth (
Bridget Fonda), will move to Butte, MT, which he's read is "the city of the future." "I read that a while ago, so the future should be there by now," he enthuses. He waits until the last moment to tell
Carol (
Phoebe Cates), his ex and
Beth's best friend, about the move. While
Nick is working his last day,
Sid (
Eric Stoltz) comes to the couple's house to paint it for the next tenants. He quickly develops an interest in
Beth. He,
Beth, and
Carol get stoned and hang out. When
Sid hears about the move, he tells
Beth that he's never left Enfield, and has no interest in traveling. Meanwhile,
Nick decides to take off on his own. When
Beth gets word of this from
Carol, she finds solace in
Sid's arms.
Sid proclaims his love the next morning, and implores
Beth to stay. Meanwhile,
Nick visits his childhood home, looking for his parents, has an epiphany, and decides to return to
Carol. The film features
Alicia Witt (
Urban Legend) in her first substantial part. There's also a very brief cameo by
Peter Fonda,
Bridget's father.
Hedden would go on to collaborate with
Stoltz again on
Sleep With Me and
Hedden's directorial debut,
Hi-Life.
~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide