Nikida and Bull

Author(s): Douglas Reese
Location: Clarksville, Ohio

“Nikida and Bull”

Directed by Stephen Daldry
Written by Douglas Reese
Based on the Short Autobiography by Douglas Reese

Principal Cast:

Susan Sarandon ... Sharon Barr/Lewis
Dan Hedaya ... Bruce Barr
Missy Crider ... Bobbie Hall/Reese/Barr
Jason Schwartzman ... Paul Reese
Russell Sams ... James Hall
Kodi Reese ... Douglas Reese

Tagline: “People change. For better or for worse. But always there happens a miracle. Always…”

Synopsis: It is 1989 and Bobbie has found the man of her dreams, which would sooner than she expected become – the man of her nightmares! Her husband is Paul, a heavily abusive drug dealer. Although she is addicted to cocaine herself, Bobbie is disgusted with Paul’s abusive behavior and leaves in 1991, taking her ten-month old baby Douglas with her.

Unfortunately, Bobbie’s mother Sharon is strict with Bobbie’s drug addiction and wants to take Douglas until Bobbie lies off the drugs. Bobbie agrees for Douglas’ sake and she visits Douglas every weekend while going into rehab.

In 1999, Douglas is eight and has been raised on an old farm in Ohio mostly by his Grandpa Bruce, a selfish farmer whose only cares are for Douglas. Douglas has two dogs - a boxer that Paul had given Bobbie before he was born, and a black lab that Sharon bought him. He called them Bull and Nikida.

In late 1999, Sharon and Bruce get a divorce. Bobbie then decides to move to Michigan with her born-again Christian husband James. Now off drugs, Sharon hands custody back to Bobbie. Douglas at first doesn’t get along with his mom because he loved his grandparents. This causes pain for Bobbie. More pain comes when Paul, still heavy on drugs, wants to see Douglas. This causes Bobbie to move back to Ohio where they stay at Bruce’s farmhouse. When they arrive, Bull is found dead by the house. Douglas becomes sad at the image of death.

At the end of the film, Bobbie and Douglas are on the plane headed to Arkansas. Bobbie tells Douglas how much she loves him and Douglas. She sobs bluntly and Douglas grabs her hand. But the film has a final story! The revelation of the film shows how Bruce sells his farmhouse to raise money to help Bobbie and himself to buy a house in Arkansas. He has to drop Nikida off at Sharon’s house in Kentucky. While there, Bruce and Sharon say nothing to each other. Seconds into the silence, they hug and cry realizing that they miss each other. Then Bruce leaves, Sharon heading in the house leaving Nikida outside. She stares at the moon before she lies on the porch and stares at the yard. In her mind she sees herself, Bull, and Douglas playing.

What the press would say:

15-year old Douglas Reese is completely brave as henwrites a major piece of his life while mixing that of the people (and dogs) he loves the most. The outcome turns out being one of the rarest of romances that is fresh, true, and original. NIKIDA AND BULL is a “powerfully moving, exceptionally acted, well-written picture” says Roger Ebert. “If there was anyone who asked me what the most recent movie I saw that made me cry, this would be the film I’d answer with.”

The film’s extraordinary cast includes Susan Sarandon as Sharon Barr. “She takes in the Southern accent, the different look, a look of beauty! At the end of the film, you forget Sarandon was even apart of the cast!”
- Roger Ebert

Newcomer 6-year old Kodi Reese stars as 8-year old Douglas, a character he plays with such realism and layers that he turns in “one of the Oscar-worthy performances of the year!” - Richard Roeper

Dan Hedaya gives a “quiet, realistic, and unforgettable performance as the greedy, selfish, and moderately caring farmer Bruce [that] goes down as one of the best performances of the decade!” - Roger Ebert

“Missy Crider’s sad role as Bobbie in the film is absolutely stunning as she embodies her character perfectly and amazingly! I was speechless since her performance was so exceptional!” - Peter Travers

As for the film itself, NIKIDA AND BULL has been placed on over 60 critics top ten lists of the year including Roger Ebert, Peter Travers, Dustin Putman, and Richard Roeper. There is no doubt that the film will be the movie to beat this Oscar season!

For Your Consideration:

Picture
Director
Adapted Screenplay
Actor – Hedaya
Actress - Sarandon
Supporting Actor – Schwartzman or Reese
Supporting Actress - Crider
Film Editing