Wonderful World

Encounters

World Premiere

USA | 89 MINUTES | English |

WONDERFUL WORLD

Drama, Comedy, Romantic Comedy
Ben Singer (Matthew Broderick) is a failed children's folk singer, a career proofreader, a compulsive marijuana smoker, and a less-than-extraordinary weekend dad. He's also the most negative man alive. Floundering in all aspects of his life, Ben's only comfort comes from regular chess games and friendly debates on game theory with his Senegalese roommate Ibou. When Ibou is suddenly struck ill, and an insensitive municipal employee exacerbates the emergency situation, Ben's pessimistic worldview seems unequivocally confirmed. His only recourse is to pour his energies into a frivolous lawsuit against the city for depraved indifference. But Ben soon finds that cynicism may be all a matter of perspective.

Writer/director Josh Goldin increasingly calls into question Ben's misanthropy and carefully navigates the character's midlife melancholy as a possible product of his own mind. Goldin delicately balances both seriousness and levity, giving texture and depth to this offbeat and entertaining character study. Broderick brings the unlikable but undeniably savable Ben to life with the wry antics of his performance.

CAST & CREDITS

Directed by Josh Goldin and Josh Goldin

Josh Goldin (b. New York City) earned a BA in English literature and an MFA in film from Columbia. He collaborated with his brother Daniel Goldin on screenplays like Darkman (directed by Sam Raimi) and Night at the Museum. His first solo project, From the Life of Abe Brennan, was selected for the Sundance Director's Lab. Goldin alternates between writing character-based dramas and comedies and writing pilots for cable TV. He is currently at work on a highly neurotic comic drama called Look At Me as well as a dramatic thriller pilot for FX called Outlaw Country.
Composer
Craig Richey
Associate Producer
Amanda Marshall
Director
Josh Goldin
Producer
Miranda Bailey, Matt Leutwyler, Glenn Williamson
Screenwriter
Josh Goldin
Co-Producer
Julie Sandor
Primary Cast
Matthew Broderick, Sanaa Lathan, Phillip Baker Hall, Michael Kenneth Williams, Jodelle Ferland, Ally Walker
Executive Producer
Lampton Enochs

CONTACTS

Print Source
Amanda Marshall
Production Executive
Ambush Entertainment
7364 1/2 Melrose Ave Los Angeles, CA 90046
Phone: P: 323-951-9197
amanda@ambushentertainment.com
International Sales Agent
Bill Stephens
K5 International
18 Sherwoods Road Watford, UK WD194AZ
Phone: 44-192-333-3597
bill@k5international.com
Press Contact
Sara Groves
42West
220 West 42nd Street, 12th Fl. New York, NY 10036
Phone: 212 277 7555
sara.groves@42west.net