Don McKay (2009)

40% of critics liked it
(25 reviews)
23% of users liked it
(500 ratings)

First time writer/director Jake Goldberger takes the helm for this thriller about a man who returns to his hometown after receiving a letter from his high school sweetheart, who claims to be dying. It's been 25 years since Don McKay (Thomas Haden Church) turned his back on his hometown, and he never… More First time writer/director Jake Goldberger takes the helm for this thriller about a man who returns to his hometown after receiving a letter from his high school sweetheart, who claims to be dying. It's been 25 years since Don McKay (Thomas Haden Church) turned his back on his hometown, and he never imagined he would ever return. But when a letter from his former girlfriend Sonny (Elisabeth Shue) appears in Don's mailbox, he can't resist visiting his old flame one more time, before her light disappears forever. When Don comes home and realizes that his memories of Sonny don't match up with the woman she is now, it quickly becomes apparent that he harbors a shameful secret from years gone by. Meanwhile, Sonny's doctor (James Rebhorn) and caretaker (Melissa Leo) don't warm quickly to the returning visitor, and a chance run-in suddenly compounds Don's buried secret. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 27 min.
Directed By: Jake Goldberger
Written By: Jake Goldberger
Genres: Drama, Mystery & Suspense, Comedy

In Theaters: Apr 2, 2010 Wide
On DVD: Jun 29, 2010
Studio: Image Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Goldberger gets a few good tonal feints in, especially when he consults the Coen recipe book for the disorienting effect of blood (and bloody violence) on American simple folk.
Manohla Dargis, New York Times
When you pack your movie with performers like Mr. Church, Ms. Leo, Mr. Rebhorn and Keith David (as Donâ(TM)s old friend), all with faces and deliveries that can slide easily between comedy and menace, youâ(TM)re holding a full house.
Lou Lumenick, New York Post
Don McKay certainly has its moments, but it never manages to maintain the consistent tone so crucial if a black comedy is going to actually be funny.
Wesley Morris, Boston Globe
This is a movie that, if you can make it to the last 30 minutes, starts to make some sense. It seems the plot twist is the only good idea in the script.
David Germain, Associated Press
An admirable attempt even if the film only works spottily.
Michelle Orange, Village Voice
A strange, largely inert indie thriller.
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
...an almost aggressively pointless piece of work that simply isn't able to justify its very existence.
Brian Orndorf, DVDTalk.com
Labored and distractingly uneven, Don McKay comes across as a lackadaisical film school writing assignment that somehow lucked into a feature film deal.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
Goldberger makes the most of his eclectic, multi-Oscar-nominated cast to make up for the lack of scope and visual panache, not to mention the sometimes strained machinations of his plot
Kam Williams, Sly Fox
An entertaining enough diversion, though in this critic's opinion it veers sharply from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Peter Sobczynski, eFilmCritic.com
The tone and the pacing always seem a little off and as a result, we become all too aware of mechanics of the screenplay grinding along towards a finale that is simply too complicated and unbelievable for its own good.
Pete Hammond, Boxoffice Magazine
Clearly Goldberger thinks he can juggle this delicate noirish soufflé but it all comes crashing down around him because the true nature of his characters' actions just don't make a whole lot of sense.
Robin Clifford, Reeling Reviews
[Director] Greenberg's tyro script is both dark comedy and slick whodunit and all the players do it justice. He handles his material and fine cast with a deft hand that belies his freshman status.
Kurt Loder, MTV
Church's performance could be stuffed and mounted with no loss of liveliness.
James Verniere, Boston Herald
First-time writer-director Jake Goldberger may have a great film in him. But "Don McKay" isn't it.
Jules Brenner, Filmcritic.com
Savvy viewers aren't likely to get too invested in these characters and their dilemmas, if only because the style of this parody of wish fulfillment will tip most of them off about the plot's misrepresentations in advance
Laura Clifford, Reeling Reviews
...doesn't have the most tightly written script, but off kilter performances, particularly a hilariously determined Elisabeth Shue as the femme fatale Sonny...keep things bubbling along as the plot rolls to a boil over.
Annlee Ellingson, Moving Pictures Magazine
Thomas Haden Church wears a puzzled scowl throughout this bizarre film noir, and so will viewers as they struggle to figure out just what Jake Goldberger is going for.
Michael C. Walsh, Boston Phoenix
The plot unfolds like a numbed-down neo-noir, and the actors treat it as such, using overwrought dramatic turns as a springboard for delightfully hammy performances.

Read all 19 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Tim S

A lukewarm Lynch-like film that leaves much to be desired, especially from stiff-jointed actress Elisabeth Shue. The movie's a series of curve balls without any real dramatic tension. It also can't make up its mind tonally. One minute it's a serious thriller, the next a… More
A lukewarm Lynch-like film that leaves much to be desired, especially from stiff-jointed actress Elisabeth Shue. The movie's a series of curve balls without any real dramatic tension. It also can't make up its mind tonally. One minute it's a serious thriller, the next a black comedy. It's very rough and with a little work it could have been a bit more interesting. It's just a mess of a movie that will only mildly entertain.
♥˩ƳИИ &

Cast: Thomas Haden Church, Rachel Harker, Stephen Benson, M. Emmet Walsh, Melissa Leo, Elisabeth Shue, Amanda Donaghey, James Rebhorn, Keith David, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Lonnie Farmer Director: Jake Goldberger Summary: At the urging of his ex-girlfriend, Sonny (Elisabeth Shue),… More
Cast: Thomas Haden Church, Rachel Harker, Stephen Benson, M. Emmet Walsh, Melissa Leo, Elisabeth Shue, Amanda Donaghey, James Rebhorn, Keith David, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Lonnie Farmer Director: Jake Goldberger Summary: At the urging of his ex-girlfriend, Sonny (Elisabeth Shue), who has been diagnosed with terminal cancer, high school janitor Don McKay (Thomas Haden Church) returns to his hometown for the first time in 25 years and finds himself ensnared in a web of conspiracy, deception and murder. My Thoughts: "I really don't know how I feel about this film. It's not your typical thriller. It's pretty average to say the lease. The character's are odd and sometimes unbelievable in their parts. The acting was semi good. Elisabeth Shue's acting was between good and bad. I'm not sure if that was how her character was to be played, or if it was indeed her acting. Thomas Haden Church played an quiet, sad, but kinda interesting character. He just seemed very lonely, but by the ending of the film you understand why. The last 30-40 minutes of the film, in my opinion, is the only part worth watching. That's when you get interested in where it's going. Unfortunately you have to sit through the rest of it to understand the ending. But the ending and the twist is disappointing as well. Even unrealistic. There was some dry humor, but not much. The script left something to be desired. Not sure if many will like this film."
Brian D

Its a thriller,comedy and indie role in to one.Thomas Haden Church is great as the main title role.Elisabeth Shue as never been better.The movie is a mix bag and was not sure what i was watching but was drawn into it with ease.Its was never boring and with the added little twist at… More
Its a thriller,comedy and indie role in to one.Thomas Haden Church is great as the main title role.Elisabeth Shue as never been better.The movie is a mix bag and was not sure what i was watching but was drawn into it with ease.Its was never boring and with the added little twist at the end which i never saw coming it is a great watch and worth checking out.
Fascade F

Thomas Hayden Church (as Don McKay) has been around for a loooong time, as an actor...I saw this and wasn't disappointed at all!!! What a twisting, dark and delirious movie of a man that kept a secret for years and saved it to the very end.See this...his secret will stun and move… More
Thomas Hayden Church (as Don McKay) has been around for a loooong time, as an actor...I saw this and wasn't disappointed at all!!! What a twisting, dark and delirious movie of a man that kept a secret for years and saved it to the very end.See this...his secret will stun and move you.
Christopher H

With an old time feel, complete with faded and grainy film stock, Don McKay becomes a one man show with a mishmash plot and no real reason for a viewer to care. The lasting impression left from this film is simply hoping that all parties involved can do better next time.… More
With an old time feel, complete with faded and grainy film stock, Don McKay becomes a one man show with a mishmash plot and no real reason for a viewer to care. The lasting impression left from this film is simply hoping that all parties involved can do better next time. http://proofinpicture.wordpress.com/2010/07/10/don-mckay/