The Anniversary Party (2001)

Directors:

Alan Cumming
Jennifer Jason Leigh

Writers:

Jennifer Jason Leigh (written by) &
Alan Cumming (written by)

Release Date:

24 June 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

It's not a party until something gets broken.

Plot:

Love is complex and relationships deteriorate.

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Aging | Abortion | Film Business | Housemaid

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Alan Cumming	...	Joe Therrian
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Sally Nash
Steven Freedman	...	Yoga Instructor
Otis	...	Himself (as Otis the dog)
Norizzela Monterroso	...	America
Clara Demedrano	...	Rosa
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Jerry Adams
Parker Posey	...	Judy Adams
Phoebe Cates	...	Sophia Gold
Kevin Kline	...	Cal Gold
Owen Kline	...	Jack Gold
Greta Kline	...	Evie Gold
Denis O'Hare	...	Ryan Rose
Mina Badie	...	Monica Rose
Jane Adams	...	Clair Forsyth

MPAA:

Rated R for language, drug use and nudity.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | Australia:MA | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fine Line Features

Trivia:

The film was written by Leigh and Cumming for their friends, and shot in 19 days using SONY DSR-500 digital video cameras.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Judy throws the diving sticks into the pool, several guests jump in, including a shirtless Joe. In the next shot, Joe is on the grass, wearing his shirt and dry.

Quotes:

Mac Forsyth: You don't have any clothes on.
Clair Forsyth: How nice for everyone.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Anatomy of a Scene: The Aniversary Party" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Moanin'

I saw this movie advertised in France before it opened in the US.

I guess that every once in a while, there has to be a movie about people's relationships about to blow up in everyone's faces - especially if it's about Hollywood. "The Anniversary Party" is one such movie. It has Joe Therrian (Alan Cummings) and Sally Nash (Jennifer Jason Leigh) throwing a party in their Hollywood Hills house and inviting various friends. As the party continues, it begins more and more to look like everything is about to collapse.

This was an okay, if routine, flick. The aspect that really stands out (for me at least) is that real-life couple Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates co-star with their real-life son and daughter. Other cast members include John C. Reilly, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Parker Posey. Nothing significant in cinema history, but acceptable.