"A story that can’t help but touch your heartstrings. The dog is cute and loveable, but 9 year old Opal's ingenuous personality brightens all the lonely people. I loved it." Tony Medley TONYMEDLEY.COM "A wonderful smiling sheepdog steals this heartwarming movie from its human actors." Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "It has old-fashioned and heartwarming written all over it, in heavy black Magic Marker." Anita Gates THE NEW YORK TIMES "A touching story about a young girl and her dog, Because of Winn-Dixie is quintessentially cute." Jeff Strickler MINNEAPOLIS STAR TRIBUNE "A spiritually uplifting old-fashioned shaggy-dog tale that is without guile." Dennis Schwartz OZUS' WORLD MOVIE REVIEWS

"The movie offers a loving but strikingly tempered assessment of family and town life that one seldom finds in today’s raucous family films." Thomas Peyser STYLE WEEKLY RICHMOND VA "A whimsical family film about longing and belonging told with gentle humanity." Claudia Puig USA TODAY "Because is proof positive that nostalgia and dogs go together like Winn and Dixie." Roger Moore ORLANDO SENTINEL "This is a movie to take your kids to." Tom Long DETROIT NEWS "It’s all very sweet, the acting is excellent, especially Tyson and young Ms. Robb. The dog is very good too." Eric Lurio GREENWICH VILLAGE GAZETTE

The Inside Story

"I left the theater with joy in my heart. And it's all because of Winn-Dixie." Linda Cook KWQC-TV

Kate DiCamillo’s first book "Because Of Winn-Dixie" was "the result of my own longings," she says. "I’m from Central Florida, where the winters are mild, but found myself living in Minneapolis during the worst winter on record. And it was the first time in my life that I didn’t have a dog. I was desperate for the companionship of a dog. So the book was born out of my homesickness and dog-sickness." It quicly grabbed the hearts of Americans as it made the New York Times bestseller list after receiving huge critical acclaim. It went on to receive the prestigious Newbery Honor in 2001; Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books Blue Ribbon; was placed on the New York Public Library 100 Books for Reading and Sharing list; was a Parents' Choice Gold Award Winner; a Publishers Weekly Best Book Of The Year and a School Library Journal Best Book Of The Year. Now thanks to Producer and screenwriter Joan Singleton cinemagoers all over the world, including those who too, always longed for a dog as a pet, can discover the magic and fun of Winn-Dixie. For Director Wayne Wang, "Because Of Winn-Dixie" marks the fourth occassion he has worked on a film based on a well-known book or story. Those previous occassions were "The Joy Luck Club", "Anywhere But Here" and finally "Smoke", which was based on the short story "Auggie Wren’s Christmas Story". One thing that truly stands out about this film is that it is pure as the driven snow and like those Walt Disney family films of old, that will prove a welcome relief for many parents. The journey to the big screen began when Singleton purchased a "purchased a handful of books for her younger daughter, Elizabeth, then 9, to read on vacation." "Because Of Winn-Dixie" was one of those books and Singleton soon discovered, as did her nine year old daughter and eighty year old father, it was a book she too, could not put down. "Kate DiCamillo's magical and lyrical writing touched me, too," she recalls, noting "I knew I couldn't rest until I had made this into a movie." As in the film, there appears to be magic in the book that translates into real life. Director Wang credits the book with helping through a difficult time when his father passed away. "Because of Winn-Dixie helped me through a very difficult period in my life,"Wang says. "And in another way, my difficulties helped me absorb the deeper aspects of the book." So what is it about DiCamillo's book that makes it so appealing, and healing? "The best stories, like this one, have lightness and darkness, naïve innocence and a textural depth," says Producer Trevor Albert. "As the father of two young girls, I’m constantly surprised at the threshold they have for comprehending and processing danger and fear, and wanting to know about life’s mysteries. They are curious about things beyond their life experience. The best literature mixes both the joy and the sadness of life." But what about that famous quote about working with animals and children? "Working with kids and animals presents a daily unpredictability," says Wang. "Sometimes, the going is slow. But, then, suddenly something magical happens that you couldn’t possibly have planned or anticipated." The two most magical components of the film are young actress AnnaSophia Robb who makes her feature film debut after appearing in the short film "Daddy’s Day" and of course that loveable doggie, 'Winn-Dixie'. There's quite a tale behind the finding of both the major cast members. In the case of casting Opal, some 650 young hopefuls tried out for the part. The production team watched all 650 videotaped auditions and then made a short list of the most promising applicant who they would interview in person. Finally it came down to just three young girls. From these AnnaSophia Robb got the nod. "I knew AnnaSophia was very bright and intuitive," says Wang. "When I asked her to try a lot of different approaches to a scene, she was always happy to jump right into it and explore those new territories. She always came up with fresh and lively ways of playing the scenes. She was afraid of nothing." Those who take in "Because Of Winn-Dixie" will echo the thoughts of Wang. It's a critical aspect of the film because Opal is in every scene. So how did the fresh-faced little nine year old sum up her character? "Opal has a lot of love in her heart and she just wants to give it to people," says AnnaSophia. "She’s just at the beginning of her life, but after moving to a new town she feels lonely, like it’s almost the end of her life. She needs somebody to love, and Winn-Dixie does, too. Then he teaches her not to judge people by what they look like when you first meet them." I am sure everyone will love 'Winn-Dixie' the 'star of the film. He has a look and style that just makes you want to love and fuss over him. But finding the right dog presented a lot of problems for the production team, and Wayne Wang "wanted a lovable mutt, like the one pictured on the book’s cover." And what were the problems they faced? "The problem was," as Wang explains, "that when we found suitable candidates, they were one of a kind originals and we were unable to locate a few look-alikes to serve as back-up. The picture’s insurers insisted we have several understudies because the dog is in virtually every scene. If he got sick or disappeared or suddenly didn’t feel like working one day we would have to shut down the picture." Then Wang and veteran Head Animal Trainer Mark Forbes came across a breed from France. That breed is the Picardy shepherd. Though the Picardy is a noble breed, it has the likable look of a mutt. He looks like a dog with a sense of humor, a sense of mischief, a curiosity and goodness," says Wang. This meant that the dog and several stand-ins had to be brought to Louisiana from France "and given a crash course on acting," says Wang. "Only when we decided on the Picardy did we learn how very rare the breed is,"says Forbes. "We found only two or three in all of California. We located only about 12 breeders in Europe, mostly in France. And no dog we found had any acting experience. We had to bring them over from France and cram 16 weeks of training into about 10 weeks. We only had about a week and a half to get AnnaSophia and the dog acquainted. These dogs definitely need to be properly i ntroduced to people. They don’t particularly take to new humans quickly. But, as planned, she became a safety area for Winn-Dixie." Young Annasophia descibes her co-star as "really big, with a huge nose, perky ears outlined in black and thick hair that is reddish, grayish, brownish and orange-ish. And the sweetest eyes I ever saw." When it came to getting the support cast together there were no such problems. Why? "It was easy to get the cream of the acting crop," Producer Trevor Albert says. "They all expressed a real desire to work with Wayne because of his wonderful body of work." The support cast includes: Academy ® Award winning actress Eva Marie Saint; well known musician Dave Matthews who admits to having done "some acting in Virginia, small theatre stuff, before music stole most of my time."; Jeff Daniels who had us in stitches in the film "Dumb & Dumber"; Cicely Tyson who was honored with an unprecedented two Emmys® for “The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman"; Courtney Jines as ther bossy, sad Amanda; Elle Fanning as knuckle-chewing, dog obsessed Sweetie Pie; and Nick Price and Luke Benward as the taunting Dewberry brothers, Dunlap and Stevie. Once again I must repeat that at a time when parents are screaming out for family entertainment, "this is a delightful film and an opportunity that shouldn't be missed". Crew Bytes "BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE" was .......
directed by Wayne Wang ["A Man, A Woman, A Killer", "The Joy Luck Club", "Anywhere But Here" and "Maid In Manhattan"]; screenplay by Joan Singleton ["Because Of Winn-Dixie"]; Adapted from the book "Because of Winn-Dixie" by 2004 Newbery Medal winner Kate DiCamillo ["The Greensboro Review", "Nebraska Review", "The Alaska Quarterly Review", "The Tiger Rising" and "The Tale Of Despereaux"]; costume design by Costume Designers Guild Award winner Hope Hanafin ["My Favorite Martian", "Bean", "Faithful", "After Dark, My Sweet" and "A Simple Twist Of Fate"]; production design by Donald Graham Burt ["The Joy Luck Club", "Centre Of The World", "White Oleander" and "Dangerous Minds"]; edited by Deirdre Selvin ["K-PAX", "Cop Land", "Gaudi Afternoon" and "Maid in Manhattan"]; Director of Photography Karl Walter Lindenlaub A.S.E ["The Princess Diaries", "City by the Sea", "The Banger Sisters" and "Maid in Manhattan"]; original music by Academy Award ® Rachel Portman ["The Joy Luck Club", "The Trouble With Charlie", "Chocolat", "The Cider House Rules", "Emma" and "Mona Lisa Smile"] produced by Trevor Albert ["Caddyshack", "Multiplicity", "Bedazzled" and "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen"] and Joan Singleton ["Graveyard Shift" and "First Blood"]. Casting About "BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE" stars .......
Obie ® Award winner Jeff Daniels ["Terms Of Endearment", "Pleasantville", "Radio Days", "Dumb & Dumber", "The Hours" and "Blood Work"]; Academy Award ®, Drama Critics Award and Outer-Circle Critics Award winner Eva Marie Saint ["On The Waterfront", "Exodus", "North By Northwest" and "I Dreamed Of Africa"]; 12 times Image Award Best Actress winner; Emmy ® Award and CableACE Award winner Cicely Tyson ["Sounder", "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter", "A Man Called Adam" and "Fried Green Tomatoes"]; Dave Matthews of the "Dave Matthews Band" and AnnaSophia Robb ["Daddy’s Day"] as Sophia. What It's All About

"A refreshingly old-fashioned family movie that doesn't rely on smart-alecky humor or pop culture references to keep kids in their seats." Timothy Knight REEL.COM

Opal and her father have moved to the small Florida town of Naomi where her father runs the Open Arms Baptist Church in a local convenience store. Opal, who has grown up without a Mum and lives in a trailer park, longs for someone to love. She gets her wish when her father sends her on an errand to the local Winn-Dixie Supermarket. Here Opal comes across a wide-eyed, big-earred, shaggy dog running amok. When the Store Manager calls for the local dogcathers, Opal claims the dog as her own and names him Winn-Dixie. Living in a trailer park does present its problems, especially when the park owner is a cat lover, but eventually Opal gets her way and Winn-Dixie becomes part of the family. Opal and Winn-Dixie become inseparable. It seems Opal is not the only one whose spirit has been lifted by the loveable Winn-Dixie. Opal's dog is having a positive effect on the town and the lives of its residents. Winn-Dixie is spreading magic everywhere they go. The Verdict "Unashamedly a real heart-tugger, "Because Of Winn-Dixie" is a family film that relies only on its cast, location, a cute young girl, a loveable dog and a sweet storyline. There isn't anything in "Because Of Winn-Dixie" that will offend anyone. An enjoyable film in the ilk of those sixties and seventies Walt Disney films that worked so well and provided great family days out at the local picture theatre. Recommended for the kids but adults will find plenty to delight them too. A particularly likeable and captivating film." The Cast

AnnaSophia Robb Jeff Daniels Cicely Tyson Dave Matthews Eva Marie Saint Courtney Jines Nick Price Luke Benward Elle Fanning Marca Price Lenore Banks B J Hopper John McConnell Harland Williams William Arthur Pitts Enid Trotiner Charles A Daigle Clarice H Gauthreaux Guy G Gauthreaux Julia LaShae Darrell Jupiter Lara Grice Becca Lish

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Opal Preacher Gloria Otis Miss Franny Amanda Wilkinson Dunlap Dewberry Stevie Dewberry Sweetie Pie Thomas Mrs Dewberry Mrs Detweller Mr Alfred Store Manager Policeman Churchgoer Churchgoer Churchgoer Churchgoer Churchgoer SPCA Officer SPCA Officer Opal's Mom Gertrude the Parrott's Voice

The Crew Directed by Wayne Wang From the novel by Kate DiCamillo Screenplay by Joan Singleton Produced by Trevor Albert & Joan Singleton Original Music by Rachel Portman Cinematography by Karl Walter Lindenlaub Film Editing by Deirdre Slevin Casting by Todd M Thaler Production Design by Donald Graham Burt Art Direction by Monroe Kelly Costume Design by Hope Hanafin Production Manager Kathleen M Courtney Production Supervisor Crystal Weaver Run 106 Time minutes Rated PG [AUST] Copyright ©2005 - 20th Century Fox - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2005 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved