Genre: Dramas
Starring: Jane Adams, Jennifer Beals, Phoebe Cates, Alan Cumming, John Benjamin Hickey
As first film, it suffers from problems of most movies directed by actors: Big emotional scenes and indulgent acting. But it has moments of truth, with waves of recognition flowing between the thesps onscreen and viewers offsceen who know showbiz.
...because Cumming and Leigh avoid most (though not all) of the easy choices common to first-time writers and directors, the movie stays on the right side of entertaining.
... it's fascinating to search for these characters' hearts under the layers of makeup, denial, disguise, excuses, fantasies, and ego.
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Intenso e fascinante, o filme se apóia inteiramente no imenso talento de seu elenco e é recompensado com atuações absolutamente irretocáveis – e é claro que a dupla de diretores merece créditos por isto.
Lo que hicieron Leigh y Cumming fue reunir a un grupo de amigos actores, y disparar algunas acideces sobre comportamientos más bien frívolos que generalmente esconden costados más amargos del ser humano.
A raw yet relaxed film buff’s film... a wittier, recast version of one of your own dinner parties, with enough high drama to keep the guests talking for quite a while.
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Co-directors Jason Leigh and Cummings have delivered an uncharacteristically smart comedy with surprising dramatic turns and excellent performances across the board.
Focusing on the relationship between Sally and Joe ... The Anniversary Party reveals itself as a devastating parable about love, unfolding much like a stage play.
Unfortunately, more often than not it settles for the bright Yuppie banter ... you would expect of this bunch of characters.
An encouraging sign, both for the potential of low-budget, digital video movie-making and for the potential of talented actors to bring fresh ideas to the other side of the camera.
It feels like watered-down Robert Altman when it is intended to be a bitter, stiff drink.
Everyone gets their own moment to shine -- Paltrow and Adams are particularly funny -- but all too often we laugh at these people, not with them...
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