“Around the Bend” is inspired by the relationship between writer-director Jordan Roberts and the absentee father he barely knew. It tells the story of four generations of men who are suddenly brought together by the chance to uncover the truth about their family’s past. The journey will take them out on the road to a world full of surprises—some comic, some dramatic, and all of them personal.
Jason Lair (Josh Lucas) is a simple man with a simple wish: a normal life. This isn’t an easy goal for the mild-mannered bank employee: Jason is newly separated from his wife, who has left him to care for their six-year-old son Zach (Jonah Bobo) while she paints in Nepal, and his ailing grandfather Henry (Oscar® winner Michael Caine), a former archaeologist close to death, is investigating alternative rituals for his impending funeral (“I’m not going in the ground!” he protests.) So when Jason’s estranged father and Henry’s son Turner (Oscar® winner Christopher Walken), whose checkered past includes exploits from the musical to the criminal, pays the family an unexpected visit, nothing is ‘simple’ or ‘normal’ in Jason’s life anymore.
In the coming days, the somewhat reluctant Lair men will embark on a trip not only through the mythic beauty of the Desert Southwest, but across the family’s own rocky emotional landscape. Forced together by a deep loss, these very different people find a great deal along the way—devastating secrets, amazing discoveries and, just as Henry wanted… each other.
Warner Independent Pictures presents a Kirkham-Lewitt Production “Around the Bend,” directed by Jordan Roberts from his original screenplay. Producers are Elliott Lewitt and Julie Kirkham. Executive Producer is Ronald G. Smith. Director of photography is Michael Grady. Production designer is Sarah Knowles. Editor is Francoise Bonnot, A.C.E. Costume designer is Alix Friedberg. Composer is David Baerwald. The film stars Christopher Walken, Josh Lucas and Michael Caine. Also in the film are Glenne Headly, Jonah Bobo and Kathryn Hahn.
CHRISTOPHER WALKEN (Turner Lair) won the 1978 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his astonishing performance in Michael Cimino's THE DEER HUNTER, a role that also earned him the New York Film Critic's Circle Award, and a Golden Globe nomination. Walken also received a 2002 Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and won BAFTA and SAG awards for his role opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks in Steven Spielberg's CATCH ME IF YOU CAN.
Christopher Walken's film career skyrocketed after his unforgettable role as "Duane Hall," brother to Diane Keaton's title character in Woody Allen's Oscar-winning Best Picture ANNIE HALL.
Since then, Walken has appeared in more than 50 feature films including Herbert Ross' Oscar-nominated PENNIES FROM HEAVEN, David Cronenberg's adaptation of Stephen King's THE DEAD ZONE, James Foley's AT CLOSE RANGE, opposite Sean Penn, Mike Nichols' BILOXI BLUES, based on the Neil Simon play, Abel Ferrara's gritty crime-drama KING OF NEW YORK, Joe Roth's comedy, AMERICA'S SWEETHEARTS, co-starring Julia Roberts, Billy Crystal, and John Cusack, and Peter Berg's THE RUNDOWN.
Walken has succeeded in creating some of the most memorable characters in film history, appearing in supporting and cameo roles such as: "Vincent Coccotti" in Tony Scott's TRUE ROMANCE, "Captain Koons" in Quentin Tarantino's PULP FICTION, "Carlo Bartolucci" in SUICIDE KINGS, "The Headless Horseman" in Tim Burton's SLEEPY HOLLOW, and crooked businessman, "Max Shreck," in Burton's BATMAN RETURNS.
Walken began acting and dancing as a boy. He trained to be a dancer at the Professional Children's School in Manhattan, and eventually went on to appear in numerous stage plays and musicals. He received the Clarence Derwent Award for his performance in the Broadway production of THE LION IN WINTER, an Obie Award for his role in THE SEAGULL, a Theatre World Award for THE ROSE TATTOO, and the 1997 Susan Stein Shiva Award for his work with Joseph Papp's Public Theatre.
In the Fall of 1999, he co-starred in the stage adaptation of James Joyce's THE DEAD. In the summer of 2001, Christopher again appeared in a revival of Chekhov's THE SEAGULL for the New York Shakespeare Festival, directed by Mike Nichols, opposite Meryl Streep.
On television, Walken has hilariously and memorably hosted SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE a total of 6 times since 1990 and contributed a mesmerizing dance performance to the Spike Jonze-directed music video for Fat Boy Slim's WEAPON OF CHOICE.
Most recently, Walken was seen in Tony Scott's MAN ON FIRE opposite Denzel Washington and in Frank Oz's STEPFORD WIVES opposite Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler and Glenn Close. Walken next appears in AROUND THE BEND opposite Michael Caine, in WEDDING CRASHERS opposite Owen Wilson, and in John Turturro's ensemble musical ROMANCE AND CIGARETTES.
