Aurora Borealis

Movie Info

Genre(s): Drama

Written by: Brent Boyd

Directed by: James C.E. Burke

Release Date:
Theatrical: September 15, 2006
DVD: April 3, 2007

Running Time: 110 minutes, Color

Origin: USA

Summary

RATING: R for language

Starring Joshua Jackson, Donald Sutherland, Louise Fletcher, Juliette Lewis, Steven Pasquale, Zack Ward, and Timm Sharp

Ever since the premature death of his father, 25-year-old Minneapolis slacker Duncan (Jackson) is content with shuffling aimlessly through life, hanging out with his lifelong friends, and ditching one dead-end job after another. Duncan takes a job as a handyman in a high-rise that allows him to be near his gravely ill grandfather Ronald (Sutherland), who's more than a handful for his grandmother Ruth (Fletcher). That newfound sense of purpose, plus a budding romance with home healthcare provider Kate (Lewis), gives Duncan the motivation to take charge of his life. However, Kate isn't one to stay in the same place for too long, and Duncan is soon torn between following her to California and a new, more responsible life, and his feelings of familial obligation to an increasingly suicidal Ronald. (Regent Releasing)

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What The Critics Said

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What Our Users Said

Vote Now!The average user rating for this movie is 5.7 (out of 10) based on 4 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Chad S. gave it a7:
During a pick-up hockey game, Duncan Shorter(Joshua Jackson) goes ballistic after a friend botches-up his perfect pass. The twenty-something slacker brushes up against the right epiphany when he realizes that hockey is a serious matter. After some careful thought, he'll realize it's life that's not a game, but there are indeed real winners and losers. "Aurora Borealis" tells the story of a Minneapolis native who needs to get lost in love, then get lost. His grandfather(played by Donald Sutherland) wants to die because he feels like a burden to his wife. What goes unsaid is that he's also an albatross to his grandson. Exactly what are Duncan's motivations, we wonder, as he helps Ronald(Sutherland) late in the film? Freedom, at long last, from caregiving and the onus of the past, must've crossed his mind with Kate's departure looming on the horizon. By the way, Juliette Lewis is great as the only well-adjusted, mature young person in the film; this coming from an actress known for a bevy of neurotic and sociopathic characters. "Aurora Borealis" is a feel-good movie for late bloomers.

Tova E. gave it a9:
Great acting by all the lead actors.

Ken G. gave it a5:
The problem is Jackson (who is the lead character), is the least interesting character in the movie. He's so nice, and wholesome, that he never comes across (except for the first few minutes), as the somewhat troubled guy, with personal demons and an attitude problem that the filmmakers want us to see him as. The movie also doesn't work as a love story, as I couldn't have cared less if Jackson and Lewis ended up together. The acting isn't bad, Sutherland and Lewis are pretty good, and even Jackson wasn't bad. (The problem was more the way his character was written, than with his performance)