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| LOVELY
& AMAZING
Lovely & Amazing is a wonderfully written,
perfectly acted film. The characters are real. The issues are real.
Eric Fromm notes that, “Most people see the problem of love
primarily as that of being loved, rather than that of loving…”
And it is when the women in this film come to understand this concept
that they are able to engage in meaningful relationships, and are
able to truly connect with others.
Review by Simon Remark |
Lovely & Amazing
(2002)
This page was created on August 20, , 2002
This page was last updated on
January 8, 2005
Review -click here
Trailers, Photos -click here
About this Film -click here
Spiritual Connections -click
here
Forum -click
here
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| CREDITS |
| Directed
by Nicole Holofcener
Written
by Nicole Holofcener
Catherine Keener .... Michelle Marks
Brenda Blethyn .... Jane Marks
Emily Mortimer .... Elizabeth Marks
Raven Goodwin .... Annie Marks
Aunjanue Ellis .... Lorraine
Clark Gregg .... Bill
Jake Gyllenhaal .... Jordan
James LeGros .... Paul
Michael Nouri .... Dr. Crane
Dermot Mulroney .... Kevin McCabe
Ashlynn Rose .... Maddy
Dreya Weber .... Donna
Ivy Strohaimer .... Jessie
Spencer Garrett .... Willy
Christine Mourad .... Cindy
Troy Ruptash .... Photographer
Ileen Getz .... Saleswoman
Kristen Dalton .... Saleswoman
Brooke Allison .... Pool Administrator
Jennifer Zehnder .... Teased Girl
Mariah O'Brien .... Kevin's TV Co-Star
Jeanne McCarthy .... Casting Director
Evan Miranda .... Director
Brandon Williams .... Teenage Boy
Nate Richert .... Other Teenage Boy
Cory Joffe .... Customer
Dawn Saucier .... Bartender
Stacy Jorgensen .... Lorraine's Pool Friend
Tennison Hightower .... Baldasaro Salesgirl
Lee Garlington .... Jordan's Mom
John Srednicki .... Premiere Guest
Jeremy Kramer .... Premiere Photographer
Madeline Moskowitz .... Premiere Guest
Eric Winzenried .... Parking Attendant
Mark Beltzman .... Premiere Guest
Greer Goodman .... ER Doctor
Jerome Butler .... Policeman
Scott Adsit .... Young Man at Phone
Ryan Wolfe .... McDonald's Clerk
Alan Naggar .... McDonald's Customer
Elayn Taylor .... Jane's Nurse
rest of cast listed alphabetically
Romy Rosemont .... Debbie Waldman
Produced by
Anthony Bregman .... producer
Michael Escott .... co-executive producer
Debra Grieco .... co-producer
Ted Hope .... producer
Michael Kafka .... executive producer
Jason Kliot .... executive producer
Charles J. Rusbasan .... co-executive producer
Joana Vicente .... executive producer
Judith Zarin .... co-executive producer
Eric d'Arbeloff .... producer
Original music by Craig Richey
Cinematography by Harlan Bosmajian
Film Editing by Robert Frazen
MPAA:
Rated R for language and nudity.
For rating reasons, go to FILMRATINGS.COM,
and MPAA.ORG.
Parents, please refer to PARENTALGUIDE.ORG
|
| TRAILERS
AND CLIPS |
| Trailers,
Photos -click here
|
| CD
SOUNDTRACK |
Lovely
& Amazing
|
| POSTER |
No
available poster as of August 20, 2002 |
| |
| AVAILABILITY
ON VIDEO AND DVD |
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|
|
| SYNOPSIS
If
you're hoping for the perfect family don't hold your breath. |
| Academy-Award
nominated actresses Catherine Keener ("Being
John Malkovich") and Brenda Blethyn ("Secrets & Lies") star
in Nicole Holofcener's follow-up feature to her critically acclaimed
debut "Walking and Talking." A finely observed comedy, LOVELY
& AMAZING is an intimate family portrait of four hapless
but resilient women and the bittersweet lessons they learn in keeping
up with the hectic demands of their individual neuroses.
Jane Marks (Blethyn) is the matriarch of a confused trio of daughters
that seems to have nothing in common, except for a peculiar sort
of idealism -- a heady brew of vanity, insecurity and humor. Former
homecoming queen Michelle (Keener), the eldest daughter, is in a
loveless marriage with a spouse who does not appreciate her decidedly
obscure artistic endeavors. Younger sister Elizabeth (Emily Mortimer),
an insecure actress whose career is beginning to take off, compulsively
takes home stray dogs, saving them whether or not they need to be
saved.
Only
the youngest sister, Annie, an adopted African American eight-year
old, seems to stand a chance at rising above the family's legacy.
But on the threshold of what promises to be a confusing adolescence,
Annie has developed a preoccupation with her appearance -- natural
enough for a pre-teen-- but given her adoptive family's history,
quite possibly a hint of what's to come.
Each
of the women seeks redemption in her own haphazard way, but whatever
salvation they find is illusory and shortlived. |
 Review
by
SIMON REMARK
simon_remark@hotmail.com
Film Reviewer
Simon
graduated from Trinity Western University where he studied film
under prolific screenwriter Ned Vankevich. He prefers independent
and lower-budget films.
|
The
unity achieved in productive work is not interpersonal; the unity
achieved in orgiastic fusion is transitory; the unity achieved by
conformity is only pseudo-unity. Hence, they are only partial answers
to the problem of existence. The full answer lies in the achievement
of interpersonal union, of fusion with another person, in love.
--Erich Fromm
The Art of Loving  Lovely
& Amazing looks at the lives of a mother and her three daughters—two
are in their mid-thirties, the youngest is an eight-year-old African
American who was adopted, her biological mother was a crack addict.
It is a film about the insecurities and imperfections of its characters,
showing us that in spite of their many inadequacies they are lovely
and amazing people. It is a sweet, tender picture about the human
need for love and relationship.
|
 “The
unity achieved in productive work is not interpersonal…”
Elizabeth is a struggling actress seeking love and acceptance in a
phony business. She auditions for a part in a movie calling for someone
sexy to play opposite the leading hunk—it is an attempt to improve
her self-image and self-worth, to feel sexy or attractive. Elizabeth's
insecurity and inability to let herself go sabotage any chance at
meaningful relationship or connection. |
 “The
unity achieved in orgiastic fusion is transitory…” Michelle
is mother to a beautiful young girl, wife to a detached, disinterested
husband. Her attempt at relationship is with a kind-hearted 17-year-old
who runs the one-hour photo where she works. He takes an interest
in her and shows her the empathy she longs for. She knows it could
never work but still enjoys being able to talk with someone who is
actually listening. |
 “The
unity achieved by conformity is only pseudo-unity…” Jane
and her adopted daughter Annie attempt to find love by changing who
they are. Jane is a little overweight and thinks liposuction might
make her more appealing. She has a crush on her handsome doctor and
clumsily flirts with him, never really connecting. Annie also tries
to change her appearance to gain acceptance—she’s a confused
youngster who realizes she’s not quite like the rest of her
family. |
 Lovely
& Amazing is a wonderfully written, perfectly acted film. What
I love most about it is how real it is. The characters are real. The
issues are real. And there are no real answers. But there are many
warm, beautiful and funny moments, as we share in this family’s
sadness and joy. Fromm notes that, “Most people see the problem
of love primarily as that of being loved, rather than that of loving…”
And it is when the women in this film come to understand this concept
that they are able to engage in meaningful relationships, and are
able to truly connect with others.
Spiritual Connections -click
here |
| PHOTOS |
|
Review
-click here
Trailers, Photos -click here
About this Film -click here
Spiritual Connections -click
here
Forum -click
here |
| COMMENT
ON THIS FILM |
| BULLETIN
BOARD (Rules)
Post
your thoughts in the forum
View or post comments -click
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Your
Private Comments.
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What are your personal thoughts? I also welcome your spiritual
concerns and prayer needs. I will correspond with you, usually
within two weeks.
Click here |
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