Main Cast: Jodie Foster, Liam Neeson, Natasha Richardson, Richard Libertini, Nick Searcy
Release Year: 1994
Country: US
Run Time: 113 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
A woman is brought to civilization after spending her life in the wilds in this drama. Dr. Jerome Lovell (Liam Neeson) happens upon a shack deep in the woods, where he discovers a strange woman who appears to be about 30, speaking an incomprehensible language. The woman, named Nell (Jodie Foster), was raised in the cabin by her late mother, who was incapacitated by strokes (Nell speaks English, but distorted -- as it was by her mother's infirmities); with the exception of her twin sister, who died as a child, Nell has had contact with no other human being. Lovell brings in a psychiatrist, Dr. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson) to help determine what, if anything, should be done for Nell; Olsen thinks that Nell should be committed to an institution, but Lovell demands a period of unobtrusive observation instead. When it becomes obvious that the courts will demand that Nell be hospitalized for psychiatric observation, Lovell and Olsen take it upon themselves to gently introduce Nell to the outside world. Jodie Foster's performance in Nell earned her an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress, and she won the Screen Actor's Guild award in that category. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Review
Jodie Foster's beguiling mix of pre-linguistic drawling and moon-eyed curiosity make hers one of the most engrossing portrayals of stunted development captured on film. Although Liam Neeson and Natasha Richardson provide strong support as Foster's surrogate parents, Nell lives on the strength of Foster's unselfconscious dedication to her craft. She awards and rescinds trust like a wounded animal, and she's convincingly fluent in a sing-songy language that flows effortlessly. Michael Apted is a fitting director for the project, as the film blends themes from his Gorillas in the Mist and his respected documentary series 7 Up. Acclaimed cinematographer Dante Spinotti captures the Carolina woods with virtuosity, from the helicopter shot that accompanies the opening credits to the moving camera following Nell through the lakes and forest stomping grounds of her memory. Despite talent bursting from every pore, however, Nell can't quite escape its disease-of-the-week trappings. The script follows familiar patterns when it turns into a tug of war between the humanists who prize Nell's happiness and the scientists who yearn to probe and examine her. The fact that this culminates in a courtroom competency hearing with considerably lax standards just underscores the film's conventionality. Still, Foster's Oscar nomination was clearly justified, and one can understand why Neeson and Richardson develop an intense parental affection for her character. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide
Robin Mullins - Mary Peterson; Jeremy Davies - Billy Fisher; O'Neal Compton - Don Fontana; Joe Inscoe - Judge; Marlon Jackson - Male Nurse; Robin Rochelle - Teacher; Dana Stevens - Rachel Weiss
Credit
Tim Galvin - Art Director, Linda Lowy - Casting, Graham Place - Co-producer, Susan Lyall - Costume Designer, David Sardi - First Assistant Director, Michael Apted - Director, Jim Clark - Editor, Mark Isham - Composer (Music Score), Jean A. Black - Makeup, Jaren Millard - Makeup, Jon Hutman - Production Designer, Dante Spinotti - Cinematographer, Jodie Foster - Producer, Renee Missel - Producer, Samara Hutman - Set Designer, Chris Newman - Sound/Sound Designer, William Nicholson - Screenwriter, Mark Handley - Screenwriter, Gary Pilkinton - Special Effects Assistant, Mark Handley - Play Author
Nell Kellty's mother was paralyzed on one side, which contributed to the oddity of Nell's speech. She and her mother live in an isolated cabin in the mountains of extreme Western North Carolina. Technically, because she lives in a house, cooks her food, wears clothing and performs routine household tasks, she is not a "wild child" or feral child. She seems like one to outsiders at first, because of her terror of strangers, her ritualistic behaviors, and her unintelligible, idiosyncratic language. This language is made up of English-like phrases that are a blend of stroke-impaired speech and twin language.
Once Nell’s mother dies, she is confronted by the outside world through Dr. Jerome Lovell (Liam Neeson) and Dr. Paula Olsen (Natasha Richardson). When Lovell goes there to declare her mother dead, Nell screams and fights, but gradually adjusts to his presence as he visits more and more often.
Unsure what to do, he talks to psychologist Paula Olsen in Charlotte, who wants to bring Nell to a laboratory for tests. When Lovell fights this in the courts, he and Olsen are given three months to observe Nell in her own home; when this period of observation ends, the judge will rule on Nell's fate.
Production history
Jodie Foster originally hired Mary Steenburgen for the role of Nell. Steenburgen's middle name is Nell. Foster was set to direct and it was a project to be directed by her. However, Michael Apted preferred to direct and offered the role to Natasha Richardson. Within a few weeks prior to production, Foster accepted the part of Nell and Richardson was cast as Paula Olsen. The role of Paula, however was originally offered to Christina Applegate, and later to Bridget Fonda.
