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Bogus (film)
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Wikipedia article
'Bogus' is a 1996 American fantasy film directed by Norman Jewison from a screenplay written by Alvin Sargent, and starring Whoopi Goldberg, Grard Depardieu, and Haley Joel Osment. It features magic tricks with magician Whit Haydn as consultant. It did poorly at the box office and Goldberg was nominated for a Razzie Award for her performance. It was filmed in Canada and New Jersey.
Plot
A fantasy, 'Bogus' tells the story of seven-year-old Albert Franklin (Haley Joel Osment), the son of a Las Vegas showgirl (Nancy Travis). His mother dies suddenly in a car accident and Albert, who is now an orphan, is sent to New Jersey to live with his mother's foster sister, Harriet (Whoopi Goldberg). The plot is about Albert, and his imaginary friend named Bogus (Grard Depardieu), a French magician, who helps the boy cope with his transition. Gradually Harriet, who can also see Bogus, comes to terms with her new situation as well.
Cast
* Whoopi Goldberg as Harriet Franklin
* Grard Depardieu as Bogus
* Haley Joel Osment as Albert Franklin
* Nancy Travis as Lorraine Franklin
* Andrea Martin as Penny
* Denis Mercier as Monsieur Antoine
* Ute Lemper as Babette
* Sheryl Lee Ralph as Ruth Clark
* Al Waxman as School Principal
* Fiona Reid as School Teacher
* Kevin Jackson as Bob Morrison
* Richard Portnow as M. Clay Thrasher
* Stefan Batory as M. Clay Fisher
* Barbara Hamilton as Mrs. Partridge
Filming location
Although portrayed as Newark, NJ, part of the film was filmed in Van Vorst Park neighborhood of Downtown Jersey City. Apartment building that the character, Harriet lives is at the corner of York Street and Barrow Street is called Madison on the Van Vorst Park.
Release
'Bogus' opened at #11 in its opening weekend with $1,895,593 and grossed $4,357,406 in the US.[http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?yr=1996&wknd=36&p=.htm Weekend Box Office Results for September 6-8, 1996 - Box Office Mojo]
Reception
Rotten Tomatoes reports that 41% of 17 surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating is 5/10. Leonard Klady of 'Variety' wrote, "Sweetly sentimental and anachronistically whimsical, 'Bogus' is a modern metaphor oddly out of step with contemporary taste." Janet Maslin of 'The New York Times' wrote, "Jewison lays on the dry ice and special effects without adding emotion to a slow, hackneyed story." Roger Ebert of the 'Chicago Sun-Times' rated it 3/4 stars and called it "a charming, inconsequential fantasy" that wisely avoids realism. Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a grade of "B+" on a scale of A+ to F.
References
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