Mr. Rice's Secret

Synopsis

Twelve year old Owen Walters has just lost his best friend, the elderly and enigmatic Mr. Rice. His parents have decided it's best he doesn't attend the funeral-but friends Veg, Funnel Head and Gilbert have other ideas.Challenged by his peers, Owen sneaks into the church to videotape the funeral of Mr. Rice. It's a terrifying experience, made more so by Owen's own acute fear of impending death. Owen suffers from an illness he'd just as soon forget. But the passing of Mr. Rice, the seemingly omnipresent hearse of mortician Mr. Death, and the chilling reminders of Simon, a fellow patient, leaves Owen little escape from the nightmares that plague him.

Latest from Mr. Rice's Secret

Mr. Rice's Secret: Film Threat.com Review

DAVID BOWIE'S BIG SECRET

by Phil Hall
(2002-07-26)

For the past quarter-century, David Bowie has been one of the cinema's most intriguing yet elusive performers. Beginning with his star turn as the alien who becomes imprisoned in alcoholism as his planet dies of thirst in Nicholas Roeg's "The Man Who Fell to Earth," the film roles of David Bowie reflect the eclecticism and eccentricity of his musical orbit. On screen, he played a male prostitute in a Berlin brothel in "Just a Gigolo," a glamourous vampire in "The Hunger," a British soldier in a Japanese POW camp in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," Pontius Pilate in the controversial adaptation of "The Last Temptation of Christ," and appearances in films that only the most die-hard cinephile or Bowiephile could ever dream of recalling: "Christiane F.," "Into the Night," "Labyrinth," "Absolute Beginners," "The Linguine Incident."
Currently, Bowie can be seen in the title role as a mysterious 400 year-old man who helps a terminally ill teenager discover a new meaning to life in "Mr. Rice's Secret." This award-winning Canadian film, directed by Nicholas Kendall, offers a mature and uplifting story focusing on the spirit of life and well-being, and it is among the very rare contemporary films where teenagers are portrayed with a high level of intelligence and sincerity.

"Mr. Rice's Secret" will have its US theatrical premiere on December 22nd at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater in New York. "Mr. Rice's Secret" will also be the lead in the Two Boots Pioneer's Theater's mini-retrospective of Bowie's films. Entitled "A Very Bowie Christmas," the series will include rare screenings of "The Man Who Fell to Earth," "The Hunger," "Basquiat" (with Bowie in a flawless supporting role as Andy Warhol) and the concert film "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars." In an interview with Film Threat, David Bowie discussed "Mr. Rice's Secret" and his unique relationship with films.

[ What was it about "Mr. Rice's Secret" that first attracted you to consider starring in the film? ]
From the script, it was so thoughtfully and considerately conceived. Nothing smacked of the sensational. It could have so easily have slipped into that hole given the subject matter. There was an active intelligence behind it all.

[ How did you prepare for your role as a 400 year-old man in that film? ]

I have quite a few years of my own to draw upon, though a year in Manhattan is good for fatigue resource. I don't think you can 'play' 400. There are no precedents. A 400 year-old may well have the ability to project the characteristics of a 19 year-old. Who knows? I just settled for him to be relatively low-key.

[ "Mr. Rice's Secret" touches on several subjects that rarely get addressed in mainstream films. How do you feel audiences will respond to this film and its message? ]

I think the intention of the writer and director is firm, focused and quite clear. There is no ambiguity to the situation. Audiences will respond to the honesty and clear insight of what they are watching in a positive way.

[ "Mr. Rice's Secret" is opening in New York as part of a retrospective of your film career. Where do you see this film in the context of your work in films to date? ]

I don't really think in those terms. It was nice to play a father/confidant figure because of my own family ties. These days, having three children, two grown of course, draws me toward material that projects certain truths for the younger, I guess.

[ "Mr. Rice's Secret" is a Canadian production in which teenagers intelligently face questions of mortality and faith in each other. In many recent American productions, however, teenagers are portrayed as sex-obsessed and shallow and rarely face the challenges that the young people meet in "Mr. Rice's Secret." Do you think American filmmakers have the proper image of today's young people? ]

A majority of producers and directors have no wish or desire to see past the buck or vain glory. The banana skin rules. I find many European releases are far more considered vehicles for timely and important questions.

[ You've appeared in relatively few Hollywood productions, with most of your film work concentrated in independent films like "Mr. Rice's Secret" and in productions based outside of the U.S. Have you specifically avoided working in Hollywood films or you find the opportunities in non-Hollywood productions to be more stimulating? ]

I have, on the whole, avoided Hollywood like the plague. One cameo for Scorsese (Pontius Pilate in "The Last Temptation of Christ") to me brings so much more satisfaction than, say, a James Bond. For instance, I turned down the part of the villain 'Zorin' in "A View To Kill" as it simply was a terrible script and I saw little reason for spending so long on something that bad, that workmanlike. And I told them so. I don't think anyone had turned down a 'major' role in a Bond before. It really didn't go down too well at all. They were very tetchy about it. The only Hollywood movie I regret having passed on was a piece that Ridley Scott wanted me very much to do. He even determined that if I didn't do it he wouldn't make it. Unfortunately I was touring at that time so it became an impossibility. He never did make it, so at least I know that I don't have to kick myself too hard.

The only role that one could define as 'Hollywood' that I have accepted recently was for Ben Stiller with his 'Zoolander' fashion epic. It was just too funny a script to walk past. An absolute hoot!

[Which current films and filmmakers excite you? And what trends in contemporary films leave you disappointed or worse?]

Ang Lee, Tom Tykwer, Darren Aronofsky are among my favorites. But there again, there really are a lot of tremendous films being made. You just have to search for them. It's always subject matter over content that leaves me cold. The subject is so often a potpourri of effect and bad visual punning against tissue thin content. No writing, no thoughtful direction.

Check out FILMTHREAT.com's I NTERVIEW ARCHIVES and read hundreds of fascinating in-depth interviews with directors, filmmakers, actors and celebrities from the world of film!
Mr. Rice's Secret: IMDB's Review

Mr. Rice's Secret not rated 92 minutes New City Distribution starring Bill Switzer, David Bowie, Garwin Stanford, and Zack Lipovsky written by J.H. Wyman directed by Nicholas Kendall A Review by Frankie Paiva David Bowie isn't exactly the person you would expect to be appearing in a family film. Even stranger is that he's in a film having to do with such serious material like death, fear of death, and growing up with Hodgkin's disease. The surprising secret is that Bowie is the best part of the movie. While given first billing, he's in no more than ten minutes of the picture, but his voice, messages, and spirit live on in the main character. That character is Owen Walters (Bill Switzer) a nearly friendless young boy with Hodgkin's disease. The two spend a lot of time together. Owen looks for support, care, and advice in Mr. Rice when his parents aren't providing it. I'd be running to this guy too. The parents (played by Teryl Rothery and Garwin Standford) apparently love their son very much. However, all these clueless two ever do is make their child's situation worse by not encouraging him or answering his questions. They are unawares to the feelings their child is experiencing. Other characters include the stereotypical fat and stupid bully (Jason Anderson), and a leukemia suffering boy (Richard de Klerk) who is more accepting of his condition than Owen is. Together these people could make quite a tedious tense family drama, and at many times they do. Helping things move along though is the pursuit of treasure. When Mr. Rice dies, he leaves behind a decoder ring and code so Owen can find his secret. Soon Owen is digging up dead bodies, breaking into houses, and discovering lost keys that could all lead to Mr. Rice's secret. It's quite plain what the secret is early on in the film, but the journey is exciting and I was waiting to see what Owen would do with it. Despite some somewhat solid performances, particularly from its lead, there isn't a huge reason to see Mr. Rice's Secret. There isn't a reason to see it with the kids either. This certainly isn't a family film, even though it's marketed as one. The themes of death will be too heavy and boring for most children and the film contains an awful lot of unneeded swearing and a very brief sexual image. The problem is simple. I counted at least ten noticeable clichés I had all seen in, at minimum, five other movies. Thinking back, it's hard to recall a part of Mr. Rice's Secret that seemed original, witty, or unique. Cliché ridden movies are not always bad, but the emotion exhibited by the actors is faker than Cher's body. Last year, October Sky managed to be entertaining and sad even though it too was cliché ridden. However, that movie had much better actors. This isn't to say director Nicholas Kendall doesn't pull some things off. One character has a very funny stuttering punk brother, and there is a great close-up shot of ants feeding on a rotten apple in one frightening scene. There is also a very funny discussion about how authority figures (like parents) are meant to get lied to. Even so, I doubt parents want their children learning that you can dig up graves in the middle of the night and get away with it. They probably wouldn't want kids to blackmail their siblings, or know you can always sneak out your bedroom window without ever getting caught either. Additionally, we must not forget the most important lesson of all. Whenever you punch a fat person in the stomach, they always cry. I do appreciate the attempt to capture young boy's friendships and their true meaning, but this movie is just a depressing sham. The difficulties Owen must face never rise above the after-school special drama level, and when I figured out the ending about thirty minutes into the movie that didn't help either. I got continuously reminded of an Aesop fable the entire time, thinking that each scene was there to teach me a lesson, and they do. Perhaps the film will be an inspiration to children with Hodgkin's, leukemia, or other types of life threatening diseases. It shows that you can succeed, have friends, and triumph in life if you are only willing to try and prove yourself. The actors tried, and almost flourished. Mr. Rice's Secret isn't a guilty pleasure; it's more of a guilty emotional enjoyment. Even if I knew what was going to happen, I still left with a feeling of happiness. There just wasn't enough real emotion or material happening in the story to get this thing off its feet, or for me to rise up and cheer. C- Frankie Paiva The review above was posted to the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup (de.rec.film.kritiken for German reviews). The Internet Movie Database accepts no responsibility for the contents of the review and has no editorial control. Unless stated otherwise, the copyright belongs to the author. Please direct comments/criticisms of the review to relevant newsgroups. Broken URLs inthe reviews are the responsibility of the author. The formatting of the review is likely to differ from the original due to ASCII to HTML conversion. Related links: index of all rec.arts.movies.reviews reviews
Mr. Rice's Secret: Q Network's Review

Q Network's Review of Mr. Rice's Secret Mr. Rice's Secret Director: Nicholas Kendall Screenplay: J.H. Wyman Stars: David Bowie (William Rice), Bill Switzer (Owen Walters), Teryl Rothery (Marilyn Walters), Garwin Sanford (Stan Walters), Richard de Klerk (Simon), Zack Lipovsky (Funnell Head), Jason Anderson (Veg), Tyler Thompson (Gilbert), Campbell Lane (Mr. Death) MPAA Rating:NR Year of Release: 2000 Country: Canada Mr. Rice's Secret is a children's film about dealing with death. There are not many films aimed at kids that deal with this topic because, in Western society at least, we feel the need to protect them from it. Why? Death is part of the natural cycle of life, yet there is an enduring belief that children somehow cannot comprehend it--as if they are not part of that cycle and need to be protected from it. Of course, there is one small segment of children who know death intimately: those with terminal diseases. The central character of Mr. Rice's Secret, Owen Walters (Bill Switzer), is one of those children. A 12-year-old who is fighting Hodgkin's Disease, Owen has spent a great portion of his life in and out of hospitals and chemotherapy sessions, surrounded by other children who are all-too-aware that their time on earth will not be as long as most people's. One of those children is Simon (Richard de Klerk), a young boy with leukemia who wants to be Owen's friend. Owen resists Simon's friendly advances because his own group of friends doesn't particularly care for Simon, plus Owen wants to distance himself from a boy who he deems to be sicker than he is. Many adults, including Owen's parents, want to put Owen and Simon in the same category because they are both "sick," but one of Owen's defense mechanisms to protect himself from the emotional pain of his own condition is to construct a hierarchy of sickness in which he can feel better about himself because he is not as sick as Simon. At the beginning of the film, Owen is faced with death in another, and in some ways more painful, way: His neighbor and good friend, a mysterious man named Mr. Rice (David Bowie), has just died. Owen's parents (Teryl Rothery and Garwin Sanford) don't want him to go to the funeral, but he sneaks to the church anyway and secretly videotapes the ceremony. Later, Owen and three of his friends, Funnell Head (Zack Lipovsky), Veg (Jason Anderson), and Gilbert (Tyler Thompson), decide to sneak into Mr. Rice's empty house in order to watch the videotape. While in the house, they stumble upon a trunk filled with photographs and old letters, one of which is still sealed and addressed to Owen. Owen opens the envelope to find a letter written in code, which he decodes using a special ring Mr. Rice had given him. This leads him to series of clues, each of which leads to more clues, which eventually leads to the answer posed by the film's title: What is Mr. Rice's secret? What Mr. Rice's secret is becomes fairly obvious early on, but it doesn't prove to be a real stumbling block because the real question becomes what will Owen do once he discovers the secret. The construction of the narrative is clever in that it creates a boyish mystery-adventure that screenwriter J.H. Wyman can use to wrap about his larger themes about the relations between childhood and death. The film is in no way didactic or preachy about its admittedly heavy subject matter, which is perhaps its greatest strength. The film benefits from several strong performances, especially by the young, largely unknown, cast. I was particularly impressed by Bill Switzer's performance as Owen. The role is complex and deeply felt, and it requires him to go through a number of character changes and mood swings without being false or obvious. He handles Owen's multifaceted nature extremely well, without once becoming cloying or disingenuous. However, Mr. Rice's Secret does have a few problems, most of which are related to Wyman's script. One of the largest problems is the lack of presence by Mr. Rice in the narrative. By showing him only in flashbacks that constitute less than 10 minutes of the running time, the film creates a strong sense of mystery and aura around the man, but only to the detriment of the human relationship between him and Owen. How did they meet? Why did they become such good friends? The few scenes that Owen and Mr. Rice have together are so well done that it makes you yearn for more of them. The only other reservation I have is part of Owen's search for clues to unravel the mystery of Mr. Rice's secret. It becomes clear right at the start that Mr. Rice has carefully constructed this scavenger hunt for clues--he wants Owen to find each clue and move closer to uncovering the secret. With that in mind, it is deeply disturbing that part of this preplanned adventure entails Owen having to dig up Mr. Rice's coffin in a graveyard in order to retrieve one of the clues, which is hidden inside. There is a great deal of joking between Owen and Funnell Head (who enlists the help of his delinquent teenage brother) about what a sick act this is (not to mention illegal and, in some people's minds, a desecration). Their conversation is intended, I suppose, to lighten the mood, but it only emphasizes how severely out of place this particular plot point is. Obviously, Wyman intended for Owen's search to be a challenging adventure. But, there are so many other possibilities besides digging up a dead body that could have posed a great challenge. Perhaps the moment is intended to be symbolic--Owen's having to come face-to-face with death physically incarnated as Mr. Rice's corpse--but it doesn't work because the uneasy literalness of the scene is too off-putting. If you can ignore that section of the film, Mr. Rice's Secret has a great deal to offer. It is that rare "family film" (I dislike using that term because it seems to imply a lack of anything that might make anyone uncomfortable) that challenges both the young and old alike to ponder something difficult, yet universal. Dealing with weighty issues in films aimed at a younger audience requires a careful touch, and director Nicholas Kendall does a fine job of making Mr. Rice's Secret entertaining while also allowing it to about something. It is also realistic about kids and the fact that they cuss, they are often cruel to each other, and they often do the wrong thing. But, they often do the right thing, as well. Kids who see the movie will easily relate to the young characters, and hopefully will take away the lesson that, while Owen is hardly perfect, in the end he does what is right. Too many kids' films want to think that modern kids are shallow, attention-span-deprived simpletons who just want to be wowed with cool visuals and loud music. Mr. Rice's Secret is a film that might make them think. Overall Rating: (2.5)
Mr. Rice's Secret: Laramie Movie Scope:: Review

Laramie Movie Scope: Mr. Rice's Secret A movie about dying and living. by Robert Roten, Film Critic April 16, 2002 -- "Mr. Rice's Secret" is a story about a family dealing with their young son's cancer, told in a very non-depressing and positive way. Bill Switzer of "Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension") stars as Owen Walters, suffering from a deadly form of cancer. The weight of the disease hangs over him like a black cloud. He is in denial about his condition, cruelly turning against a fellow young cancer patient, Simon (played by Richard de Klerk). On top of that, his friend, the kindly neighbor Mr. Rice (played by David Bowie of "Basquiat"), has died. Owen tries hard to follow Rice's advice to live without fear of death, but he cannot. The imminent threat of death weighs him down. Then he happens upon a letter to Owen written in code by Mr. Rice. Using a decoder ring, Owen tries to unravel the mystery bequeathed him by his friend. The screenplay, written by J.H. Wyman ("The Mexican") does an excellent job dealing with the subject of terminally ill young people and their families. The script is intelligent and pulls no punches when it comes to the subject of how cruel some children can be to each other. But the story is more about life than it is about death. Owen's parents, Marylyn and Stan Walters (played by Teryl Rothery of "Stargate SG-1" TV series and Garwin Sanford of "Get Carter") come across as intelligent, sensitive, caring people, not the usual one-dimensional characters one often sees in family dramas. Owen also comes across as multi-dimensional. He's a good kid, but he makes some serious mistakes, too. He has a tough time dealing with his condition. Owen's friends, Funnel Head (Zack Lipovsky) Veg (Jason Anderson) and Gilbert (Tyler Thompson) are also interesting characters. They are sometimes supportive, sometimes cruel, just like real kids. While the dialogue didn't always ring true, the characters are very believable. Owen's nemesis is "Mr. Death," (Campbell Lane) the local funeral director. Owen has nightmares and visions of Mr. Death coming to take him away. Later in the film, the story veers off into science fiction, but this is actually not a major part of the plot. It is more of a metaphor for Owen's emotional transformation from a dying person to a living person. This joyous transformation is all the more gratifying because of his strenuous emotional journey to get to that point. As wise men have pointed out over the years, the height of our joys cannot exceed the depth of our sorrows. They are two sides of the same coin. Obviously, this is not a big-budget movie. It was filmed in Canada has a good helping of Canadian talent (it was partially funded by Canadian money). David Bowie fans will be disappointed that his role in the movie is quite limited, his character being dead for most of the story. This is a well-constructed film with real substance. The film is very well-written, well-acted and well-directed by Nicholas Kendall ("Just Deal" TV series director). The musical score, featuring haunting, etheral Celtic-flavored music by Simon Kendall and Al Rodger, is also very effective. This film rates a B. I saw this film initially on DVD. The disc has few embellishments. There is a Spanish subtitles option. There are biographies of some of the actors, a trailer and scene selections. It does not come with a full-screen option. Click here for links to places to buy this movie in video and/or DVD format, the soundtrack, books, even used videos, games and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information. Copyright Â© 2002 Robert Roten. All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of the copyright holder. Back to the Laramie Movie Scope index. Robert Roten can be reached via e-mail at . roten@lariat.com
Mr. Rice's Secret: Star Pulse's Review

Star Pulse.com's Mr. Rice's Secret Review:

The touching ending is a bountiful payoff for those who have been suffering through the occasionally maudlin aspects of this film. Mr. Rice's Secret is the rare family film that dares tackle a heavy theme -- death -- from a child's perspective, and for that it should be applauded. There are moments that are overwrought and sappy, but given the material, how could it be avoided? The pacing and level of suspense is ideal for preteens, who won't mind the occasional emotional manipulation, but some parents watching with their kids may be shocked to see that one of the clues for Owen to find requires he and his young friends to exhume the body. Just keep saying, "It's only a movie, it's only a movie." The production values are good, and David Bowie fans rarely see their hero in such a charming, down to earth role. The two twists in the last reel -- the treasure and what Owen does with it -- are endearing.

Buzz McClain, All Movie Guide
Mr. Rice's Secret: Teenage Wild Life Review

Exhuming Mr Rice also known as Mr Rice's Secret

Mr Rice's Secret

A review by Kristin Machina (July 23, 2000)

Today, 7/23/00, was the NY premiere of Mr. Rice's Secret at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. SUNY Stony Brook has been having a week long film festival featuring "Titus", "Cider House Rules", "All About My Mother" and many unreleased films and short films. "Mr. Rice's Secret" was one of 3 "spotlight" features. Tickets were $4 for each film, and $30 for the whole festival (I just paid for this one movie). Anyhow, the film runs for about 90 minutes, and Bowie gets about 20 minutes film time (sorry). However small his role was, it was crucial to the movie (hence the title, duh!)

The film isn't one of these squeakie-clean kiddie movies--this would probably get a PG rating--some strong language, themes of death and illness (especially children being terminally ill) and some little ones may find a certain exhumation scene (original title: Exhuming Mr. Rice) a little too much to take. Don't worry-it's not graphic, but again, little kids...

The film opens with Mr. Rice giving Owen, a boy suffering from Hodgkin's, a beautiful silver decoder ring. Next scene, Owen's parents prepare to attend Mr. Rice's funeral. We get the feeling that Mr. Rice was a beloved, wise, generous member of the community who strangely has no family of his own. To Owen, he was his mentor and best friend. Owen, against his father's wishes, sneaks into the funeral and videotapes it from the balcony. We learn his group of "friends" compete against each other form points--a funeral on tape earns substantial points--sneaking into Mr. Rice's house at night earns even more. But what Owen finds in the old house is a letter, addressed to him, a journal, and several old photographs (the boys assume it's old relatives) dating back at least to the Civil War. The letter and journal are in code. The ring cracks the code, leading to the number of a man, who apparently slipped something valuable (and something Mr. Rice wants Owen to find) in the coffin. Owen must then get into the coffin, to ultimately find out the secret to Mr. Rice's long life...

The movie mostly deals with Owen's fear of dying. He has a friend, Simon, who has leukemia, who Owen both confides in and is ashamed to be around. Simon, the creepy undertaker, even a blue suit hanging in his closet, all remind Owen of death. He just wants to be a normal boy--playing street hockey, getting into mischief with his friends, trying out for baseball. Remember when you were a child, and there might have been something about you that set you apart, and might have made you feel like an outcast. Cancer was not only threatenig Owen's health, but his emotional and social health as well.

I know what you must be saying by now: That's nice, but how was Bowie??? However brief and intermittent his screen time was (we mostly see him through a couple of flashbacks), he stil gives a fine performance. He portrays this kindly, incredibly wise old man (395 years old is still old), and yet he looks...50-ish. Charming gray highlights to his hair and a short, stubbly beard. In one scene, Owen says, "I wish I could live forever." Mr. Rice sighs, looks up and says sadly, "No you don't." The message of the movie is it's not how long you live, it's how you live your life. I won't give up the ending, hopefully you'll see it for yourself, but Owen must make a choice between how long he wants to live and what he does in his lifetime.

So "Exhuming Mr. Rice" would have been too narrow a title--it only describes one particular event in the movie, but in the closing credits, it still has it's original title. The movie isn't so much about exposing the truth about Mr. Rice, but about the very special gift he left behind (and not just the glowing vile of life potion that made his live for 4 centuries).

--Kristin Johnson
Mr. Rice's Secret: Film Threat .com Review

DAVID BOWIE'S BIG SECRET

by Phil Hall
(2002-07-26)

For the past quarter-century, David Bowie has been one of the cinema's most intriguing yet elusive performers. Beginning with his star turn as the alien who becomes imprisoned in alcoholism as his planet dies of thirst in Nicholas Roeg's "The Man Who Fell to Earth," the film roles of David Bowie reflect the eclecticism and eccentricity of his musical orbit. On screen, he played a male prostitute in a Berlin brothel in "Just a Gigolo," a glamourous vampire in "The Hunger," a British soldier in a Japanese POW camp in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," Pontius Pilate in the controversial adaptation of "The Last Temptation of Christ," and appearances in films that only the most die-hard cinephile or Bowiephile could ever dream of recalling: "Christiane F.," "Into the Night," "Labyrinth," "Absolute Beginners," "The Linguine Incident."

Currently, Bowie can be seen in the title role as a mysterious 400 year-old man who helps a terminally ill teenager discover a new meaning to life in "Mr. Rice's Secret." This award-winning Canadian film, directed by Nicholas Kendall, offers a mature and uplifting story focusing on the spirit of life and well-being, and it is among the very rare contemporary films where teenagers are portrayed with a high level of intelligence and sincerity.

"Mr. Rice's Secret" will have its US theatrical premiere on December 22nd at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater in New York. "Mr. Rice's Secret" will also be the lead in the Two Boots Pioneer's Theater's mini-retrospective of Bowie's films. Entitled "A Very Bowie Christmas," the series will include rare screenings of "The Man Who Fell to Earth," "The Hunger," "Basquiat" (with Bowie in a flawless supporting role as Andy Warhol) and the concert film "Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars."

In an interview with Film Threat, David Bowie discussed "Mr. Rice's Secret" and his unique relationship with films.

[ What was it about "Mr. Rice's Secret" that first attracted you to consider starring in the film? ]
From the script, it was so thoughtfully and considerately conceived. Nothing smacked of the sensational. It could have so easily have slipped into that hole given the subject matter. There was an active intelligence behind it all.

[ How did you prepare for your role as a 400 year-old man in that film? ]
I have quite a few years of my own to draw upon, though a year in Manhattan is good for fatigue resource. I don't think you can 'play' 400. There are no precedents. A 400 year-old may well have the ability to project the characteristics of a 19 year-old. Who knows? I just settled for him to be relatively low-key.

[ "Mr. Rice's Secret" touches on several subjects that rarely get addressed in mainstream films. How do you feel audiences will respond to this film and its message? ]
I think the intention of the writer and director is firm, focused and quite clear. There is no ambiguity to the situation. Audiences will respond to the honesty and clear insight of what they are watching in a positive way.

[ "Mr. Rice's Secret" is opening in New York as part of a retrospective of your film career. Where do you see this film in the context of your work in films to date? ]
I don't really think in those terms. It was nice to play a father/confidant figure because of my own family ties. These days, having three children, two grown of course, draws me toward material that projects certain truths for the younger, I guess.

[ "Mr. Rice's Secret" is a Canadian production in which teenagers intelligently face questions of mortality and faith in each other. In many recent American productions, however, teenagers are portrayed as sex-obsessed and shallow and rarely face the challenges that the young people meet in "Mr. Rice's Secret." Do you think American filmmakers have the proper image of today's young people? ]
A majority of producers and directors have no wish or desire to see past the buck or vain glory. The banana skin rules. I find many European releases are far more considered vehicles for timely and important questions.

[ You've appeared in relatively few Hollywood productions, with most of your film work concentrated in independent films like "Mr. Rice's Secret" and in productions based outside of the U.S. Have you specifically avoided working in Hollywood films or you find the opportunities in non-Hollywood productions to be more stimulating? ]
I have, on the whole, avoided Hollywood like the plague. One cameo for Scorsese (Pontius Pilate in "The Last Temptation of Christ") to me brings so much more satisfaction than, say, a James Bond. For instance, I turned down the part of the villain 'Zorin' in "A View To Kill" as it simply was a terrible script and I saw little reason for spending so long on something that bad, that workmanlike. And I told them so. I don't think anyone had turned down a 'major' role in a Bond before. It really didn't go down too well at all. They were very tetchy about it. The only Hollywood movie I regret having passed on was a piece that Ridley Scott wanted me very much to do. He even determined that if I didn't do it he wouldn't make it. Unfortunately I was touring at that time so it became an impossibility. He never did make it, so at least I know that I don't have to kick myself too hard.
The only role that one could define as 'Hollywood' that I have accepted recently was for Ben Stiller with his 'Zoolander' fashion epic. It was just too funny a script to walk past. An absolute hoot !!

[ Which current films and filmmakers excite you? And what trends in contemporary films leave you disappointed or worse? ]
Ang Lee, Tom Tykwer, Darren Aronofsky are among my favorites. But there again, there really are a lot of tremendous films being made. You just have to search for them. It's always subject matter over content that leaves me cold. The subject is so often a potpourri of effect and bad visual punning against tissue thin content. No writing, no thoughtful direction.

Check out FILMTHREAT.com's INTERVIEW ARCHIVES and read hundreds of fascinating in-depth interviews with directors, filmmakers, actors and celebrities from the world of film!
Mr. Rice's Secret: 4 helpful reviews from Amazon.com

Finding your way home, (3 of 3 people found the review helpful)

From A Bowie Fan Perspective (11 of 11 people found the review helpful)

A Secret we could All Learn from (7 of 7 people found the review helpful)

Bowie is the only real star here, has good message for kids (3 of 4 people found the review helpful)

Amazon: click here.
'Mr. Rice's Secret': David Bowie With a Secret and a Power

'New York Times December 22, 2000

Mr. Rice's Secret': David Bowie With a Secret and a Power
By ELVIS MITCHELL

Panorama Entertainment
David Bowie, right, and Bill Switzer in "Mr. Rice's Secret."

The boys in "Mr. Rice's Secret" belong to a club that awards points to the members who manage the weirdest and riskiest achievements, like secretly videotaping a funeral. Someone deserves the grand prize for persuading David Bowie to participate in this minor drama, in which the adolescent Owen (Bill Switzer) has to deal with his own mortality. Mr. Bowie's presence adds a layer of creepiness to a project that feels like an after-school special from the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation with some youthful swearing thrown in â€” a more serious version of "South Park."

Besides the chance to see Mr. Bowie, "Mr. Rice's Secret," which opens today at the Two Boots Pioneer Theater, hasn't much to offer. Owen is a boy suffering from Hodgkin's disease at an age when even the smallest difference can subject children to humiliation. He has a bunch of geek friends who are only slightly less marginalized than he. Still, Owen's deepest fear is being seen with another boy (Richard de Klerk) whose Hodgkin's has become leukemia. "Mr. Rice's Secret" wants to clear away all the misunderstandings and show Owen making sense of his own terrors about death.

The movie means well, which is perhaps why Mr. Bowie decided to become a part of it. He shows up just for the flashbacks, advising Owen as the kind, understanding neighbor Mr. Rice. Though he is in the film for only a short time, he is given star billing for obvious reasons. (The brevity of his turn brings to mind his spoken admonition at the beginning of "Modern Love": "I know when to go out. I know when to stay in. Get things done.")

To some, though, his choice of this material fits perfectly with an acting career that includes "The Man Who Fell to Earth," "The Hunger" and "Labyrinth," roles that have no rhyme or reason. His work here is smooth and has weight. Mr. Bowie has always displayed a sneaky power in small, supporting roles. He pops right out of the screen, and as the gentle and slightly otherworldly Mr. Rice, he suggests more than just the guy next door in a flannel shirt and chinos.

It's almost worth the price of admission to watch him rake leaves. Mr. Bowie employing a garden implement brings to mind something Jerry Hall once said about her ex, Mick Jagger: it's hard to imagine him carrying the groceries out of the station wagon.

In the leading role, Mr. Switzer is fine as Owen, especially given that he has to spend a great deal of time talking to himself.

Because of the subject, your heart goes out to "Mr. Rice's Secret." But despite some entertaining components â€” including a dig for buried treasure in an unusual place (Mr. Rice's coffin) â€” the movie is bland and ordinary. Even the secret itself is unsurprising, probably because Mr. Bowie's presence promises a lot more.

MR. RICE'S SECRET
Directed by Nicholas Kendall; written by J. H. Wyman; director of photography, Gregory Middleton; edited by Ron E. Yoshida; music by Simon Kendall and Al Rodger; production designer, Jillian Scott; produced by Colleen Nystedt; released by Panorama Entertainment. At the Two Boots Pioneer Theater, 155 East Third Street, East Village. Running time: 93 minutes. This film is not rated.

WITH: David Bowie (Mr. Rice), Bill Switzer (Owen Walters), Teryl Rothery (Marilyn Walters), Garwin Sanford (Stan Walters), Zachary Lipovsky (Funnel Head), Jason Anderson (Veg) and Richard de Klerk (Simon).
Mr. Rice's Secret:TV Guide.com's review

TV Guide.com's article

Aimed at youngsters, this odd mix of fantasy and disease-of-the-week conventions doesn't really gel, though its ambitions are laudable. Adolescent Owen Walters (Bill Switzer) has Hodgkin's disease, and his well-meaning parents (Teryl Rothery, Garwin Sanford) don't want him to dwell on thoughts of death. So they forbid him to attend the funeral of the eccentric Mr. Rice (David Bowie), who befriended Owen and knew full well that Owen thinks of death constantly. He has nightmares about coffins and obsesses about the dark blue suit he's convinced his mother bought to bury him in. He's even mean to Simon (Richard de Klerk), a sicker child, because he sees his own future in Simon's ever-worsening condition and can't cope with the fear it inspires. Partly to satisfy his own morbid curiosity and partly to impress friends Veg (Jason Anderson), Funnel Head (Zachary Lipovsky) and Gilbert (Tyler Thompson), Owen sneaks into Mr. Rice's funeral service and secretly tapes it. The boys later break into Mr. Rice's house, intending to creep themselves out by watching the tape there. Instead, they find a puzzling photo â€” it must be Mr. Rice's father, since he looks exactly like Mr. Rice but is wearing turn-of-the-century garb â€” and an envelope containing a coded message for Owen. After deciphering it with the ring Mr. Rice gave him, Owen is swept into a search for a mysterious something that will change his life. The movie's message, that what matters is how you live, not how long, is a fine one. But it's somewhat undermined by the titular secret â€” a magical, life-prolonging elixir â€” which also seems oddly out of place in such a resolutely unmagical film. That Bowie, who isn't actually in the film much (since the late Mr. Rice appears only in flashbacks), brings some conviction to the airy-fairy platitudes scripted for Mr. Rice is a tribute to his professionalism. --Maitland McDonagh