Thanatos

Author(s): Matthew LaRusso
Location: New Jersey

“Thanatos”

Directed by: Mel Gibson
Written by: Paul Haggis
Original Score by: John Williams

Principal Cast:

Kate Winslet as Lindsay Kirksen
Jim Caviezel as Scott McCormick
Peter O’Toole as Marcus Streit
Judi Dench as Patricia Streit
Evan Rachael Wood as Courtney Blake
Willem Dafoe as Johnathan Blake
Mel Gibson as the Narrator

Tagline: “A Story of Self-Destruction, Suicide and Revenge”

Synopsis: “Thanatos” is a story about self-destruction. In fact, thanatos means to be inclined to inflict self damage on oneself. This movie covers three different stories. The first is that of a young couple (Winslet and Caviezel) who must deal with suicidal tendencies due to poor income. The second is about an older couple (O’Toole and Dench) that must deal with the depression that comes with being old, alone and abandoned by society and their own children. The third story is about a single dad (Dafoe) who sexually abuses his 16-year-old daughter (Wood) and psychologically and physically pushes her to self-mutilation and suicide. Three different stories from three different parts of the country, all with one thing in common, the concept of thanatos consumes them…

What the press would say:

Controversial director Mel Gibson brings his next motion picture to the screen in the form of the tumultuous “Thanatos”. It is a story of self-destruction, suicide and revenge that has a list of Hollywood stars including Judi Dench, Kate Winslet, Peter O’Toole and Jim Caviezel. Star power aside, Paul Haggis’ screenplay delves into the deepest recesses of the human soul and shows the dark side of human nature maybe never before matched on the big screen. Continuing in grand tradition, the cinematography is once again superb for Gibson and Dafoe gives the best performance of his career as the domineering abusive single father.

Best Picture
Best Director- Mel Gibson
Best Supporting Actor- Willem Dafoe
Best Original Screenplay
Best Original Score
Best Cinematography
Best Editing