Slipstream (2007 film)

Did You Know?

• The film experienced a one-week limited release in 6 theaters in the United States on October 26, 2007, earning $6,273 over the weekend.
• The film closed on November 1, 2007, after a week at the box office.
• British composer Harry Gregson-Williams scored and produced the film's music.

Production

Anthony Hopkins wrote the script for Slipstream as a personal amusement project, admitting he had no clear plan and that the story kept reshaping itself. His goal was to mock the self-importance of the film industry and acting. He first approached studios where he had previously been a reliable box-office draw; they showed interest and offered suggestions, but Hopkins declined their input. He then showed the script to Steven Spielberg, who complimented the dialogue but cautioned that securing funding would be tough.

Hopkins pushed ahead anyway, starting principal photography on June 12, 2006 in Los Angeles before shifting to the California desert. His wife, Gina Arroyave, served as a producer and also played his character’s spouse on screen. Hopkins turned down studios that demanded final cut approval, instead securing backing from an anonymous financier for less than $10 million. During filming, six graduate students from Northern Illinois University were brought in to help in exchange for academic credit.

Hopkins also wrote the film’s musical score and conducted the orchestra. In post-production, he employed rapid editing and digital effects to craft a brisk, high-speed version of the movie.

Reception

Slipstream premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2007, where audiences expressed confusion about the premise's meaning. The film was panned by critics; on Rotten Tomatoes it holds a 27% approval rating from 41 critics, with the consensus calling it a failed experiment that is confusing instead of coherent. Metacritic gave it a score of 47 out of 100 based on 14 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews. Roger Ebert gave the film three out of four stars and suggested it is worth seeing.