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The Anniversary Party (2001)
Runtime: 1 hr 55 mins
Synopsis: To celebrate their sixth anniversary, successful novelist Joe Therrian (Alan Cumming) and his wife, famous Hollywood actress Sally (Jennifer Jason Leigh), invite their friends over for a party. Sally and Joe have only recently reconciled after a separation, and the strain in their... To celebrate their sixth anniversary, successful novelist Joe Therrian (Alan Cumming) and his wife, famous Hollywood actress Sally (Jennifer Jason Leigh), invite their friends over for a party. Sally and Joe have only recently reconciled after a separation, and the strain in their relationship reveals itself as the party progresses. An especially difficult topic is Joe's casting of trendy young actress Skye Davidson (Gwyneth Paltrow) in a film based on his latest novel--a role that might have gone to Sally. Also present are the Therrians's neurotic friends: the insecure director Mac (John C. Reilly) and his neurotic wife Clair (Jane Adams), movie star Cal Gold (Kevin Kline) and his wife Sophia (Phoebe Cates)--who has given up her career to support their children, and the next door neighbors, who have their own problems. The result is truly a night to remember. Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming cowrote and codirected THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY, casting their friends in the lead roles, and shooting on digital video to give the film more intimacy and freedom than mainstream Hollywood dramas. Featuring fresh, honest acting from its ensemble and brilliant performances from Leigh and Cumming, THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY is a hilarious look at life and love. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Jane Adams, Jennifer Beals, Phoebe Cates, Alan Cumming, John Benjamin Hickey
Screenwriter: Alan Cumming, Jennifer Jason Leigh
Producer: Alan Cumming, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joanne Sellar
Composer: Michael Penn
Reviews
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.
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.
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.
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