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"The X Files" The Goldberg Variation (1999)
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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clips"The X Files" The Goldberg Variation (1999)
Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Chris Carter (creator)
Jeffrey Bell (written by)
TV Series:
Original Air Date:
12 December 1999 (Season 7, Episode 6)
Plot:
A man is tossed off the top of a 29 story building by gangsters. Amazingly, he gets up and walks away unscathed... more | add synopsis
User Comments:
My a** broke the fall more (2 total)
Cast
(Episode Cast) (in credits order) | David Duchovny | ... | Fox Mulder |
 | Gillian Anderson | ... | Dana Scully |
 | Willie Garson | ... | Henry Weems |
 | Alyson Reed | ... | Maggie Lupone |
 | Ramy Zada | ... | Joe Cutrona |
 | Tony Longo | ... | Dominic |
 | Shia LaBeouf | ... | Richie Lupone (as Shia La Beouf) |
| Nicholas Worth | ... | Mr. Haas |
| Dom Magwili | ... | Mr. Ng |
 | Marshall Manesh | ... | Mr. Jank |
| Ernie Lee Banks | ... | Maurice Albert |
| Chris Fogleman | ... | Billy (as Chip Fogleman) |
| Episode Crew |
Directed by | |||
| Thomas J. Wright | |||
Writing credits | ||
| Chris Carter | (creator) | |
| Jeffrey Bell | (written by) | |
Produced by | |||
| David Amann | .... | co-producer | |
| Chris Carter | .... | executive producer | |
| Bernadette Caulfield | .... | producer | |
| Vince Gilligan | .... | co-executive producer | |
| Kim Manners | .... | supervising producer | |
| Paul Rabwin | .... | producer | |
| Daniel Sackheim | .... | consulting producer | |
| John Shiban | .... | supervising producer | |
| Frank Spotnitz | .... | executive producer | |
| Michael W. Watkins | .... | co-executive producer (as Michael Watkins) | |
Original Music by | |||
| Mark Snow | |||
Cinematography by | |||
| Bill Roe | (director of photography) | ||
Film Editing by | |||
| Lynne Willingham | |||
Casting by | |||
| Rick Millikan | |||
Art Direction by | |||
| Phil Dagort | |||
| Sandy Getzler | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Timothy Stepeck | (as Tim Stepeck) | ||
Makeup Department | |||
| Laverne Basham | .... | hair stylist: Mr. Duchovny and Ms. Anderson | |
| Laverne Basham | .... | makeup artist: Mr. Duchovny and Ms. Anderson | |
| Dena Green | .... | hair department head | |
| Cheri Montesanto-Medcalf | .... | makeup department head | |
| Gary Yee | .... | moldshop supervisor | |
Production Management | |||
| Harry V. Bring | .... | unit production manager | |
| Gina Lamar | .... | post-production supervisor | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Julie Herrin | .... | second assistant director | |
| Robert D. Nellans | .... | first assistant director: second unit (as Robert Dillon Nellans) | |
| Rick Tunell | .... | first assistant director | |
Art Department | |||
| Dawn Ascher-Trevino | .... | art department coordinator (as Dawn Ascher) | |
| Tom Day | .... | property master | |
| John French | .... | paint foreman | |
| Lisa Goldsmith | .... | buyer | |
| Erik Grasteit | .... | set master | |
| Duke Tomasick | .... | construction coordinator | |
| David Napoli | .... | leadman (uncredited) | |
Sound Department | |||
| Harry Andronis | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| Steve Cantamessa | .... | sound mixer | |
| Thierry J. Couturier | .... | supervising sound editor | |
| Ray O'Reilly | .... | sound re-recording mixer | |
| David John West | .... | sound designer | |
Special Effects by | |||
| Kelly Kerby | .... | special effects | |
| David Peterson | .... | special effects coordinator | |
| Scott D. Mattson | .... | special effects office coordinator (uncredited) | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Deena Burkett | .... | visual effects supervisor | |
| Monique Klauer | .... | visual effects coordinator | |
| Bill Millar | .... | visual effects producer | |
| Jason Bond | .... | lead color compositor: Cerulean Fx (uncredited) | |
Stunts | |||
| Danny Weselis | .... | stunt coordinator | |
Camera and Electrical Department | |||
| Brian Cwiakala | .... | lighting technician: second unit | |
| Tom Doherty | .... | key grip | |
| Kenneth Estes | .... | computer and video playback operator | |
| James Etheridge | .... | camera operator (as Jim Etheridge) | |
| James Jermyn | .... | film loader | |
| Jono Kouzouyan | .... | gaffer | |
| Robert LaBonge | .... | director of photography: second unit | |
| Richard J. Lee Jr. | .... | assistant chief lighting technician: second unit | |
| David Luckenbach | .... | Steadicam operator (as Dave Lückenbach) | |
| Rob Lueker | .... | electrician | |
Casting Department | |||
| Kimberly Nordlinger | .... | casting associate: Los Angeles | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Nancy Collini | .... | costumer: Mr. Duchovny and Ms. Anderson | |
| Tony Velasco | .... | costume supervisor | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Jeff Cahn | .... | assistant editor | |
| Marilyn Moore | .... | assistant editor (as Marilyn R. Moore) | |
| Anthony R. Smith | .... | colorist: DaVinci | |
Music Department | |||
| Jeff Charbonneau | .... | music editor | |
| Larold Rebhun | .... | score mixer | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Steve Duncan | .... | transportation coordinator | |
| Chris Ferrence | .... | dispatcher | |
| Tim Sisson | .... | transportation co-captain | |
Other crew | |||
| Mary Astadourian | .... | vice president: Ten Thirteen | |
| Amir Attaie | .... | assistant to producers | |
| Carol Banker | .... | script supervisor | |
| Kimberley Barnhart | .... | production assistant | |
| Jeffrey Bell | .... | story editor | |
| Katrina Cabrera | .... | researcher | |
| James Castle | .... | title designer | |
| Michele Clark | .... | assistant to producers (as Michele-Nicole Clark) | |
| Nanci Etchells | .... | production accountant | |
| Alison Gallant | .... | assistant to producers | |
| Elizabeth Harrison | .... | assistant to producers | |
| Paul Harrison | .... | key assistant location manager | |
| Ilt Jones | .... | location manager | |
| Michelle Latham | .... | assistant location manager | |
| Daniel Mosley | .... | assistant to producer | |
| Barbara Nance | .... | script coordinator | |
| Leslie Perlow | .... | production coordinator (as Leslie Perlow Burakoff) | |
| Annette Encinas | .... | payroll accountant (uncredited) | |
| Series Crew These people are regular crew members. Were they in this episode? |
Writing credits(in alphabetical order) | ||
| Chris Carter | creator | |
Original Music by | |||
| Ken Tamplin | |||
Film Editing by | |||
| Christopher Cooke | |||
Set Decoration by | |||
| Hamish Purdy | |||
Costume Design by | |||
| Jenni Gullett | (1995-1998) | ||
Makeup Department | |||
| Mark Alfrey | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Jane Aull | .... | makeup artist | |
| Ken Culver | .... | foam technician | |
| Fionagh Cush | .... | makeup artist | |
| Gabriel De Cunto | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Mike Fields | .... | assistant special makeup effects artist | |
| Kevin Haney | .... | makeup artist | |
| Camille Henderson | .... | makeup artist | |
| Glenn Hetrick | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Matthew Jorgensen | .... | sculptor/painter: Tech Optic Nerve | |
| Steve LaPorte | .... | makeup artist | |
| Norma Lee | .... | hair stylist | |
| Shauna Magrath | .... | assistant makeup artist | |
| Shauna Magrath | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Rodd Matsui | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Robert Maverick | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Ryan Nicholson | .... | special makeup effects artist | |
| Thomas Opitz | .... | additional hair stylist | |
| Leanne Rae Podavin | .... | special makeup effects artist: multiple episodes seasons 4 & 5 | |
| Craig Reardon | .... | makeup artist | |
| Mark Shostrom | .... | makeup artist | |
| Perri Sorel | .... | makeup artist | |
| Rick Stratton | .... | makeup artist | |
| Bill Terezakis | .... | flukeman designer | |
| Julie Travis-Socash | .... | makeup artist (as Julie Socash) | |
| Jeanne Van Phue | .... | makeup artist | |
| Patricia Vecchio | .... | assistant hair stylist | |
| Patricia Vecchio | .... | hair stylist | |
| John Wheaton | .... | makeup artist | |
| Kim M. Ferry | .... | hair stylist (uncredited) | |
| Frederick London | .... | assistant hair stylist (uncredited) | |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director | |||
| Velvet Andrews-Smith | .... | dga trainee (1999) | |
| Tom Braidwood | .... | first assistant director (episode "Gethsemany") (episode "Post-Mortem Prometheus, The") | |
| Lynn K. D'Angona | .... | first assistant director (final season) | |
| Suzan Derkson | .... | third assistant director | |
| Pierre Henry | .... | first assistant director: second unit | |
| Alexis Hinde | .... | trainee assistant director: second unit (1996-1998) | |
| Jeffrey Hunt | .... | dga trainee | |
| Bill Millar | .... | second unit director | |
| Kevin Parks | .... | first assistant director: second unit (season 5) | |
| Canyon Prince | .... | first assistant director: splinter unit (as Ryan Prince) | |
| Brent Stanton | .... | second second assistant director (day player) | |
| Patrick Stark | .... | trainee assistant director (season 5) | |
| Dan Tohill | .... | first assistant director | |
Visual Effects by | |||
| Brian Bell | .... | digital artist | |
| Christian Boudman | .... | digital compositor | |
| Steward Burris | .... | computer graphic artist: North West Imaging & FX | |
| Jennifer Champagne | .... | digital artist (episode "Syncrony") | |
| Christopher Chen | .... | digital effects producer (season 3) | |
| John Decker | .... | digital artist | |
| Roger Dorney | .... | visual effects supervisor | |
| Larry Ewing | .... | visual effects producer: View Studios | |
| Simon Holden | .... | digital compositor | |
| Jeremy Hunt | .... | digital effects artist: The Sixth Extinction | |
| Mark Kochinski | .... | 3D artist | |
| Craig Kuehne | .... | visual effects | |
| Al Magliochetti | .... | visual effects | |
| Todd Perry | .... | digital artist (episode "Syncrony") | |
| Christine Petrov | .... | compositor | |
| Paul Patrick Quinn | .... | visual effects producer | |
| Tom Raycove | .... | visual effects | |
| Steven Joseph Rogers | .... | digital artist: The Sixth Extinction | |
| Thomas Schelesny | .... | computer graphics artist | |
| Scott Shields | .... | visual effects coordinator | |
| Siouxsie Stewart | .... | visual effects coordinator: Encore Visual Effects | |
| Michael Vaglienty | .... | Flame artist | |
| Martin Wells | .... | colourist (season 3) | |
| Bob Williamson | .... | digital compositor | |
| Niel Wray | .... | digital effects artist | |
| Bernice Kenton | .... | visual effects vendor producer (uncredited) | |
| Jim O'Hagan | .... | digital artist: Editel (uncredited) | |
Casting Department | |||
| Andy Henry | .... | casting assistant (1998) | |
| Kit Mallet | .... | extras casting assistant | |
| Scott Muller | .... | casting assistant: Los Angeles (2000-) | |
| Patrick Stark | .... | extras casting assistant (season 1) | |
| Camille St. Cyr | .... | casting assistant (1998) | |
Costume and Wardrobe Department | |||
| Vanessa Anderson | .... | assistant dresser (as Vanessa Oepkes) | |
| Candace Cruikshank | .... | costume set supervisor: second unit | |
| Sam Greenmun | .... | promotional alien costume fabricator | |
| Philip Maldonado | .... | costumer | |
| Gail L. Smith | .... | set costumer (1993-1994) | |
| Lee Sollenberger | .... | set costumer | |
Editorial Department | |||
| Louis Eske | .... | assistant editor: title sequence | |
| Shannon Leigh Olds | .... | assistant editor | |
| Robert P. Schneider | .... | on-line editor: opening sequence | |
Music Department | |||
| Lolita Ritmanis | .... | orchestrator | |
| John Rodd | .... | orchestral scoring recordist | |
| Jonathan Sacks | .... | orchestrator | |
Transportation Department | |||
| Michael Avallon | .... | driver | |
| Howard Bachrach | .... | transportation captain (seasons 6-10) | |
| Barry Shelton | .... | driver | |
- DeAgostini Japan (2006) (Japan) (DVD)
- Fox Network (1999) (USA) (TV) (original airing)
- Pro 7 (2000) (Germany) (TV)
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
60 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
1.78 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Certification:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Mulder and Scully enter the basement about seven and a half minutes in, Mulder says the line: "No technically falling 300 hundred feet and surviving isn't a crime", and his mouth is clearly seen closed, not moving. more
Quotes:
Mulder: [to a crime-scene photographer while looking up at a man hanging in a fan in the roof by his shoe laces] So, do you get many of these? more
Movie Connections:
References Fast and Furry-ous (1949) more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (2 total)
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*** This comment may contain spoilers ***
The Goldberg Variation is about a very large a complex "Golberg" machine of life. I think its interesting how much thought and double meaning goes into the titles of some of these episodes and I think that understanding the titles help us to really see what the author was trying to get across. The obvious connection here is to Rube Goldberg who created the "Mouse Trap" type machines to represent cause and effect. All kinds of seemingly random individual acts come together so that we can see the chain of events. When I think of goldberg machines I always think of the giant one that is all over the ceiling of my local planetarium and takes forever to carry out its full course. The other reference in the title is to The Golberg Variations written by Bach as a means of teaching his students how to play the piano. I'm not sure what the connection is but I believe there is one intended.
The main character in this episode is a man who seems to have tapped into dumb luck. No matter what happens, the universe seems to be conspiring in his favor. He wins amazingly at poker with a straight flush and survives being tossed off a 30 story building by falling into a laundry crate. His luck appears to be taking its toll on those around him however as the balance issues cause very unfortunate things to happen to those around him whenever he takes advantage of his ability. This is seen with the kid who gets hit by the truck after stealing the lotto ticket, his neighbor played by Shia LeBeouf having liver disease and such a rare blood type that the chances of finding a donor are nil, and overall in the demise of the mobster and his gang. It is fun to watch how the events of the episode all conspire together and eventually lead to the death of the mobster who just happens to have a perfect match of liver for the sick boy.
A couple personal things I liked about the episode. I enjoy some of the humor of the episode and Mulder and Scully's playful nature. I like when Mulder falls through the floor and says his a** broke the fall. I think its great that Shia LeBeouf shows up in this episode which was way back before anyone knew who he was. Sometimes when I watch The X-Files now years after the episodes aired its almost like watching "Before They Were Stars" or something. So many actors did their earliest work on this show. Also, I can't quite pin it down but for some reason the mom in this episode reminds me of my own mom and for this reason I feel a very close personal attachment to her character and every time I see her get kidnapped it affects me emotionally probably a lot more than it should. For those of you who are familiar with the show Freaks and Geeks, I tend to have the same kind of emotional attachment to the mother on that show. I don't know what it is about them. Anyway, this is definitely one of the better episodes from season 7 in my opinion although not one of the better ones of the series. I enjoy this one every time I see it so I will give it an 8 out of 10.