Independent Films, Film Profiles

Scorched (film)

Scorched is a 2003 independent comedy film starring Alicia Silverstone, Rachael Leigh Cook, Woody Harrelson, and John Cleese. The film was directed by Gavin Grazer, brother of Academy Award winning television and film producer Brian Grazer. Scorched follows the story of several disgruntled bank employees who all try to rob the same bank on the same night without knowing that others are doing the exact same thing.The film was notable as a major box office bomb. From the initial budget of US$ 7 million, Scorched earned back only $8,000 at the end of its theatrical run, approximately 0.1% of its initial cost. It was pulled from its theatrical run after just one weekend in the theaters where it managed to earn a meager $666 per theater.Sheila Rilo (Alicia Silverstone) is a bank teller at Desert Savings Bank in a small desert town. Her boyfriend is Rick Becker (Joshua Leonard), the bank manager who was informed by his superiors that he would be fired if the bank's ATM machines were to be robbed just one more time. Sheila and Rick have spent several years together in their on-again off-again relationship through which Sheila felt like she was being used by Rick emotionally and financially; this was partly due to the fact that Sheila had paid for most of Rick's education and, in the process of getting an education and while still in a relationship with Sheila, Rick become romantically involved with his tutor who was being paid by Sheila. After his relationship with the tutor becomes more serious, Rick breaks up with Sheila and Sheila decides to exact revenge on Rick by robbing the bank and causing Rick to be fired.On the night on which she decides to do this, Stuart (Paulo Costanzo) and Jason (Woody Harrelson), two other tellers from the same bank, have also decided to rob the bank on the same night. Stuart's plan is to steal $250,000 from the bank and bet the entire amount on one game of roulette in Las Vegas. Stuart, who is desperate for excitement in his life, is doing this on the suggestion of his friend Max (David Krumholtz) even though the intelligent Stuart is usually the one talking Max out of his hair-brained ideas and get-rich-quick schemes.Jason is a nature lover who lives with an orphaned duck. Jason was promoted to assistant bank manager, a position with much more responsibility but only a $0.55 per hour raise. He feels the bank owes him for years of loyal and underpaid service and he decides to get even by robbing the safety deposit box of a mean-spirited local millionaire, Charles Merchant (John Cleese). Merchant, who got rich from making infomercials and selling videotapes on how to get rich quickly on the real estate market, is the person that shot Jason's duck's mother, therefore making easier Jason's decision to rob Merchant's safety deposit box.But Jason is not the only person with a plan for revenge against the local tycoon. A disgruntled clothing store employee, Shmally (Rachael Leigh Cook), takes her revenge against Merchant the same night by having Carter (Marcus Thomas) help her throw eggs at Merchant's home. Carter Doleman is Shmally's friend and roommate and the bank's newest employee. Due to his inability to dress well and his lack of ability to get a job on his own, Shmally agreed to help him. When Carter was called for an interview at the bank, Shmally gave Carter a make-over, dressed him up properly and coached him on how to pass the interview. Anxious and excited about starting his first day of work, hesitant Carter lets himself be dragged out of bed by Shmally so that he can help her egg Merchant's house.