Just as Michelle Monaghan ( Eagle Eye, Made Of Honor, Gone Baby Gone, North Country) described, Trucker is indeed “a film, small on scale, but huge with emotion”. Monaghan spoke about her latest independent film at its recent screening at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival. Trucker is currently in limited theatrical release, and opening in new cities as the film generates buzz.
The character-driven drama owes its success to Monaghan, and the equally impressive performances by her supporting cast, as much as the unique story’s perceptive. The original screenplay was written by James Mottern, who makes his directorial debut with Trucker. Incidentally, Mottern also co-produced the Slamdance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, which runs simultaneously with Sundance.
The film opens with a provocative scene of Monaghan’s character, Diane, in a roadside motel room, having sex with a random waiter from the nearby diner. After they finish, Diane hurriedly get dressed to get back on the road.
Diane Ford is an independent truck driver, and she has a deadline to meet. Meanwhile, her bedmate earnestly tries to extend their one-night stand into a romantic relationship. Diane is not interested.
Living Life on Her Own Terms
As soon Diane returns from her long haul to her modest one-bedroom home, Runner (Nathan Fillion) is at her door. He is her married neighbor, and, for as long as they deny the sexual tension between them, they are drinking buddies and best friends.
Diane is soon visited by her ex-husband’s girlfriend, Jenny (Joey Lauren Adams), who has come to explain why she will be bringing Diane’s 11 year old son, Peter, for her to watch for three weeks. Diane’s ex-husband Leonard (Benjamin Bratt) has been hospitalized with an advance stage of cancer, at the same time that Jenny’s mother has passed away.
Peter hasn't seen his mother since he was an infant and wants to live with Diane as little as she wants him. However, for the time being, they have no other choice than to be stuck with each other.
Diane is not happy to have this responsibility. Especially since it compromises the sense of freedom she enjoys, while earning her living on lengthy cross country road trips. So, initially, detached mother and alienated son barely seem to tolerant each other, -with Peter often calling her Bitch and she addressing him as Little Shit.
The love, both for her son and for Runner that she has long denied herself out of fear, rushes to the surface. Now, after living her life for the moment, for the first time, Diane is considering her future.
Seen at the 2009 Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival
After the festival screening of Trucker at the Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival (FLIFF), Michelle Monaghan talked about her experience making the independent film. Writer-director James Mottern saw Monaghan in her small role in the film “North Country”, in where she entices Woody Harrleson’s character. Mottern knew instantly that he had found the right actress to star as the lead in his yet-to-be produced film.
When Michelle received the script, she was immediately drawn to the gritty female part so rarely seen in Hollywood films. In preparing for the role, she went to truck driving school, and obtained a CDL (commercial driver’s license), that has since expired.
On the skilled performance of her young co-star Jimmy Bennett as Peter, she disclosed that “Jimmy has longer acting credits than I do!”. How was it working with the charming, sexy Nathan Fillion (ABC’s Castle, Waitress, Serenity)? Michelle blushingly admitted that he was “easy on the eye’s”, and he has that “old Hollywood style” about him.
The Cast and Crew of Trucker
“Trucker” stars Michelle Monaghan, Jimmy Bennett, Nathan Fillion, Benjamin Bratt and Joey Lauren Adams.
Written and directed by James Mottern. Cinematography by Lawrence Sher. Edited by Deirdre Slevin.
Produced by Scott Hanson, Daniela Taplin Lundberg, Galt Niederhoffer and Celine Rattray. Executive producers are John Allen, Frank Frattaroli, Pamela Hirsch and Robert Kessel. U.S. limited release by Monterey Media.
(Running Time: 93 min)
(Rated: R; for Some Sexuality, Language, Brief Drug Use involving Minors, and a Sexual Assault.)
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