| Chrystal | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Ray McKinnon |
| Written by | Ray McKinnon |
| Produced by | Peter E. Strauss Bruce Heller David Koplan II Walton Goggins Lisa Blount Ray McKinnon |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Adam Kimmel |
| Edited by | Myron Kerstein |
| Music by | Stephen Trask |
Production companies | Ginny Mule Pictures Panache Productions |
| Distributed by | First Look Studios[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 106 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $80,858[2] |
Chrystal is an American drama film, which was released to audiences in the United States on April 8, 2005. The cast includes Billy Bob Thornton, Lisa Blount, Harry Lennix, Walton Goggins and Grace Zabriskie. Ray McKinnon, in addition to playing the role of "Snake", directed, wrote and produced the film.[3] The story is about a woman named Chrystal (Lisa Blount) who has been traumatized both physically and mentally from a car accident that took the life of her son. Joe (Billy Bob Thornton), Chrystal's husband, has just been released from jail after a 16-year sentence stemming from multiple crimes he committed.
In Arkansas, a woman named Chrystal, has become permanently injured, emotionally detached, and mentally unstable stemming from several traumatic events in her past.
The movie begins with Joe fleeing from the police in a high-speed police chase with his wife and son in the same car. While weaving down the mountain roads at a high speed, Joe loses control of the vehicle and ends up rolling down a hill and crashes into a tree. Chrystal suffers a broken neck in the accident. Their son, who the police presumed was flung through the windshield, was never found at the scene of the accident, or anywhere in the surrounding areas.
For his role in running from the police and causing injuries to his passengers, Joe is arrested and sentenced to 16 years in prison for a variety of crimes, including fleeing to avoid capture by police.[4]
Upon his release from the state prison, Joe returns home in search of a change in his life. He ends up coming back home to his wife, who hadn't divorced him even while he was away in prison. Chrystal is a quadraplegic although she has regained limited mobility in her body; however, she has completely lost her enthusiasm, emotions, or will to live.
As Joe begins to slowly work his way back into her life, she is unsure of whether to accept him once again, fearing what may happen if she does so. He now wants to change and atone for his past life of crime. Forced to face his past to continue with his future, Joe runs into an old enemy of his, Snake (Ray McKinnon). Worried about him, Snake invites Joe to rejoin him in his illegal drug operation.[5]
The film was shot in the Eureka Springs, Arkansas area of the Ozark Mountains.
Reviews for Chrystal were generally positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, it received an 80% score based on 20 reviews, with an average score of 7 out of 10.[6]
Kevin Crust of the Los Angeles Times gave it 3 out of 5 and wrote: "Chrystal unravels a bit toward the end as it becomes more fable-like, but the performances make it worthwhile."[7] Variety called it "Respectable piece of work is reasonably involving if not compelling.".[8]
The movie was released in the United States on April 8, 2005. It was in theaters for 11 weeks following this on limited release. In total, the movie grossed $80,701 in total box office ticket sales. Chrystal's best weekend in box office sales came on its second weekend, where it grossed $19,074.[2]
