The Anniversary Party
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Movie Reviews of The Anniversary Party
Movie Review: Absolutely brilliant!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming wrote, directed and star in this riveting, engrossing, and believable study of marriage. Taking place over the course of one night, "The Anniversary Party" is a serio-comic, sometimes scathing inspection of a group of friends. Joe and Sally Therrian (Leigh and Cumming) have a party to celebrate several important junctures in their marriage: their sixth anniversary, their decision to start a family and their reconciliation after a yearlong separation. They have invited their closest friends, their past and current temptations, and (to avoid a lawsuit) their contentious neighbors. An unexpected gift sends the party spiraling out of control and unleashes an explosion of painful confessions. The celebration becomes a scorching dissection of a marriage on the brink. Leigh and Cumming wrote the movie for their friends to star in; it was shot in 19 days in one location, using digital video cameras. "The Anniversary Party" was clearly conceived to be an actor's movie, an opportunity for Leigh and Cumming's circle of friends to stretch out, dig in and show what they can do, and every performer rises to the occasion. The picture has the relaxed feel of an actors' exercise, but one that's interesting every moment. There are slack patches in the writing here and there, but the players whisk you through them so artfully that you barely notice them. It's rare to see an ensemble so consistently on the mark: Even when they aren't doing much, they're a joy to watch. Cumming plays a British novelist with a few hits under his belt; he's about to take a shot at directing his first movie. Leigh is his wife, a high-strung but respected film actress. The couple have just reconciled after a yearlong separation, and they've decided to celebrate their sixth anniversary with a party at their glamorously austere Los Angeles home; they're also trying to conceive a child. That simple premise sets the stage for the latent conflicts between Cumming and Leigh to rush to the surface. It also allows for the gradual unfurling of the multitentacled relationships each of them has with the guests at the party -- many of them other couples. One couple, Parker Posey and John Benjamin Hickey, are the pair's tense business managers, overtly anxious about Cumming and Leigh's shaky finances and subconsciously anxious about their own wobbly marriage.
John C. Reilly is a successful, respected film director -- Leigh is starring in his latest movie and, it appears, simply phoning in the performance, much to his frustration. Reilly's wife, Jane Adams, is a nervous, birdlike actress who has just given birth to the couple's first child and is trying to keep her career going nonetheless. Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates play married actors who are also busy raising a family; Kline is still working (starring opposite Leigh in Reilly's film), but Cates, who is Leigh's best friend, has retired from acting to raise the couple's two children.
The other party guests include Gwyneth Paltrow (wonderful), a big star who has agreed to star in Cumming's movie, which is a grand coup for him; Denis O'Hare and Mina Badie as the couple's meddling, lawsuit-happy neighbors; Jennifer Beals as an old friend of Cumming's of whom Leigh is bitterly jealous; and Michael Panes as one of the couple's random pals, a gifted violinist and self-acknowledged Peter Sellers look-alike.
The all-star cast and crisp, bright dialogue alone make "The Anniversary Party" a "trip" worth taking. It is brilliant every step of the way.
Movie Review: The Story of Sally & Joe (and One Really Good Party!)
Summary: 5 Stars
"The Anniversary Party" is one of those small, enjoyable, indie films, that you can watch over and over again and with each repeated viewing find new details, plot points and lines of witty dialogue, that come to the viewer's attention.
In this comedy/drama, we meet Joe (Alan Cumming) and Sally (Jennifer Jason Leigh), who are celebrating their sixth wedding anniversary with a party held in their beautiful, modern, LA home. At first, they seem like the perfect celebrity couple. Sally is a famous Hollywood actress with a distinguished career. Joe is a renown author, who has just gotten the studio greenlight to direct his first movie, based on one of his novels.
The party begins and little by little, we start to meet the guests, who are mostly in the arts or the Hollywood film industry. Everyone has their own professional and personal connections to Sally and Joe, that are slowly revealed. Like most friends and acquaintances, they bring to the party, their own quirky personalities, neuroses and agendas. As the evening gets going, liquor starts flowing easily and ectasy is passed around. This leads to folks opening up and revelations being made about the hosts. We begin to find out, that this 'picture perfect' Hollywood couple has more than their share of marital problems. The couple has recently spent time apart. There have been past problems with both infidelity and drugs. While the celebration of their wedding anniversary was suppose to be a new begining for the couple, it really just serves as a catalyst to bring their problems to the forefront and reveal just how much trouble the relationship truely is in.
This is one of those small movies, where just everything comes together. The film was written and directed by actors, Alan Cummings and Jennifer Jason Leigh. Its' conversational, witty dialogue, keeps you interested and wanting more. The film gives you a real 'fly on the wall' feeling of attending an intimate Hollywood party in a beautiful, LA home.
In addition, the film has a wonderful, ensemble cast, which includes Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Beals, Parker Posey, John C. Reilly and Jane Adams. These actors have created a really interesting variety of characters, who can be both likable or not. With an interesting cast of character actors such as this, how can you not want to hang around at the party and hope, that it lasts just a little bit longer? Highly recommended!
Movie Review: A party not to be missed
Summary: 5 Stars
What a treat to see Hollywood, blemishes and all. The setting is an anniversary party. Jennifer Jason Leigh's and Alan Cumming's neigbors and celebrities friends arrive to celebrate the re-uniting of the couple. The scenes are shot so naturally we are not just voyeurs but immensely amused participants on the set. The stage is set as the household gets ready for the guests. They wanders on and off the sets as the action goes from room to room. Tempers rise and fall and the party goers reveal their character bit by bit until we are either laughing or crying. Why do they behave like that - I wouldn't. But, that's the beauty of the show. Everyone behaves as they do - they just do it - and it is fascinating. I must admit I only saw this movie twice and ordered the DVD only once. It you don't see this movie you are missing one of the greatest slices of life ever available on the celluloid. There is another movie with a similar premise titled "Don's Party." I believe it is available on video. This Australian gem came out years ago and takes place during a party where the participants wait for the outcome of the Prime Minister election.Movie Review: A Great Rental
Summary: 5 Stars
I enjoyed this immensely. While not famous, self-involved actors, I could picture my friends all gathered at a party and tossing all our traumas and dramas together all at once.
With that said, many things in this movie could make it not for everyone, but if you love movies that are character-driven, succinct in action, no body count, introspective, and with an ambiguous 'life goes on' ending, you'll love this movie.
I do have to say. I don't like any of the characters. I never thought I could still like a movie if that were the case! You will literally cringe from some of the things they do or say. Oh, the neighbor guy! And the scene where they all play a game is the most truly telling situation of the movie where at least one character shows his true colors... wow.
The performances are spectacularly real and honest. Jennifer Beals! Whodda thunk it! She's great. And who doesn't truly worship Parker Posey! I never had a doubt that Jennifer Jason Leigh is one of the most talented actors I've ever seen, but this movie really proves it. She's different than you've ever seen her before.
Movie Review: this little masterpiece doesn't put one foot wrong
Summary: 5 Stars
I have read the varied reviews and am again reminded how very different we all are.
I have seen this film several times now and it simply continues getting better, despite the fact that it knocked me out when I first saw it. I regret that I cannot find the words to describe how deeply the film affects me.
For me, the film is actually almost perfect on all levels: the script, the camera work, the editing, the acting, charactisations, the music score; not to mention the understanding of the human condition and the loving lightness of its approach. In fact, try as I would, I cannot find a thing to critisize and I'm said to be extremely judgemental.
I absolutely loved this film and find it remarkable that it didn't receive the attention and accolades when it was released that it deserved. I am convinced that it will be re-discovered at some point for being the gem that it is.
It manages that what Woody Allen has been attempting to achieve during his entire career and just didn't quite manage.