Grand Canyon is a 1991 American drama film directed and produced by Lawrence Kasdan, and written by Kasdan with his wife Meg. Featuring an ensemble cast, the film is about random events affecting a diverse group of people, exploring the race- and class-imposed chasms which separate members of the same community.
The film was produced and distributed by 20th Century Fox and was released on December 25, 1991. Grand Canyon was advertised as "The Big Chill for the '90s", in reference to an earlier Kasdan film.
Plot After attending a Lakers basketball game, an immigration lawyer named Mack finds himself at the mercy of potential muggers when his car breaks down in a bad part of Los Angeles late at night. The muggers are talked out of their plans by Simon, a tow truck driver who arrives just in time. Mack sets out to befriend Simon, despite their having nothing in common.
In the meantime, Mack's wife Claire and his best friend Davis, a producer of violent action films, are experiencing life-changing events. Claire encounters an abandoned baby while jogging and becomes determined to adopt her while Davis faces a philosophical fork in the road after being the victim of violence. Other issues include uncertainty in Mack and Claire's marriage, Mack's secretary dealing with his lack of sensitivity regarding their former affair, and his effort to help a coworker save her kids from gang violence.
Beneath it all lies the search for perspective amidst all the challenges and the need to know that things will probably work out.
Cast
Production Writer-director Lawrence Kasdan explained, "Part of what Grand Canyon is about is that we have accepted the fact that our city is not our own. That for people from South Central, for them to go into Beverly Hills and West L.A., the police are on the lookout. They feel unwelcome, are under threat. And vice-versa. Our cities have become these little armed camps."
Parts of the film were shot at Glen Canyon in Utah as well as Los Angeles and Canoga Park, California and the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
The footage of the Los Angeles Lakers game in the film was shot before anybody knew Lakers guard Earvin "Magic" Johnson was HIV+. Rita Kempley, in her film review in The Washington Post, pointed to this scene as proof that "... the filmmaker and his team ha[d] truly caught society on the verge."
The character Davis is based on action film producer Joel Silver.
Soundtrack Grand Canyon: Music From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released in 1992 on Milan Records. In 2013 a remastered and expanded edition was released on La-La Land Records. This version does not contain Warren Zevon's "Searching for a Heart."
Track listing
Personnel
James Newton Howard: Piano, Keyboards, Synthesized Bass, Synthesizer Programming, Programming, Orchestration Dean Parks, Michael Landau, Jude Cole, Davey Johnstone: Guitars Michael Boddicker: Programming, Synthesizer, Synthesizer Programming Simon Franglen: Synclavier Programming John "J.R." Robinson: Drums Neil Stubenhaus: Bass Guitar Chuck Domanico: Acoustic Bass Michael Lang: Piano Joe Porcaro, Emil Richards, Donald Williams, Mike Fisher: Percussions Kirk Whalum, Larry Williams: Saxophones Paul Salamunovich: Choir Director, Choir Master Warren Zevon: Performer (track 9) Grand Canyon Fanfare Orchestra: Performer (track 16) Chris Boardman, Brad Dechter: Orchestrations Marty Paich: Conductor Tommy Johnson, Jim Self: Tubas Rick Baptist, Charlie Davis, Gary Grant, Mario Guarneri, Jerry Hey, John Richard Lewis, Jon Lewis, Warren Luening, Malcolm McNabb: Trumpets Gayle Levant: Harp Charles Loper, Bill Reichenbach Jr., George Thatcher: Trombones David Duke, Joe Meyer, Brian O'Connor, John A. Reynolds, James Thatcher, Richard Todd: French Horns
Reception Box office Grand Canyon earned $40.9 million worldwide.
Critical response Grand Canyon received generally positive reviews from critics; it has a 7/10 "fresh" rating at Rotten Tomatoes and a critical rating of 79% based on 38 reviews."Grand Canyon (1991)," Rotten Tomatoes. Accessed Dec. 27, 2023. Janet Maslin of The New York Times wrote,
Washington Post critic Rita Kempley wrote,
Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly chided the film for its "... solemn zeitgeist chic," and called it "... way too self-conscious," but ultimately decided that "Grand Canyon is finally a very classy soap opera, one that holds a generous mirror up to its audience's anxieties. It's the sort of movie that says: Life is worth living. After a couple of hours spent with characters this enjoyable, the message—in all its forthright sentimentality—feels earned."Gleiberman, Owen. "Grand Canyon (1991)," Entertainment Weekly. (Jan 10, 1992).
Film critic Roger Ebert gave the film four out of four stars, and wrote, "In a time when our cities are wounded, movies like Grand Canyon can help to heal."Ebert, Roger. "Grand Canyon," Chicago Sun-Times (Jan. 10, 1992). Ebert's television reviewing partner Gene Siskel also loved the film, with Ebert placing it at the #4 and Siskel at #6 on their 1991 top ten lists.
Accolades Award Category Nominee(s) Result Ref. Academy Awards Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Lawrence Kasdan and Meg Kasdan Berlin International Film Festival Golden Bear Lawrence Kasdan Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards Best Film Golden Globe Awards Best Screenplay Lawrence Kasdan and Meg Kasdan NAACP Image Awards Outstanding Motion Picture National Board of Review Awards Top Ten Films Political Film Society Awards Peace Turkish Film Critics Association Awards Best Foreign Film Writers Guild of America Awards Best Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen Lawrence Kasdan and Meg Kasdan
Legacy Phil Collins' 1993 song "Both Sides of the Story" references the scene from Grand Canyon where the young mugger tells Simon (played by Danny Glover) that he carries a gun to make sure people respect (and fear) him.Kot, Greg. "Pop: Phil Collins, Regular Guy: And Like Regular Guys, He's Worried About His Kids," Chicago Tribune (Nov. 7, 1993).
See also List of films featuring the deaf and hard of hearing
References
External links