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David BruceTOWN AND COUNTRY
A warning against infidelity to the boomer generation. An unhumorous comedy with a message is all too familiar and painful. The bottom line is what it does to children.
-Review by David Bruce

T
OWN AND COUNTRY
(1999)

Click to enlargeDirected by Peter Chelsom
Written by Michael Laughlin and Buck Henry

Warren Beatty .... Porter Stoddard
Diane Keaton .... Ellie Stoddard
Goldie Hawn .... Mona
Garry Shandling .... Griffin
Andie MacDowell
Jenna Elfman
Nastassja Kinski
Kris Andersson .... Dancer
Patrik Boman .... Himself
Marc Casabani .... Omar

Click to enlargeProduced by Michael De Luca (executive producer), Simon Fields (producer), Lynn Harris (executive producer), Andrew S. Karsch (producer), Sidney Kimmel (executive producer), Fred Roos (producer), Cyrus I. Yavneh (co-producer)
Original music by J.J. Holiday (song "Preachin' The Blues") and Rolfe Kent
Cinematography by William A. Fraker
Film Editing by David Moritz and Claire Simpson

MPAA: Rated R for sexuality and language.

ABOUT THE STORY
Town and CountryIn the film, Porter Stoddard (Beatty) is a well-known New York architect who is at a crossroads; a nexus where twists and turns lead to a myriad of missteps — some with his wife Ellie (Diane Keaton), others with longtime friends Mona (Goldie Hawn) and her husband Griffin (Garry Shandling). Deciding which direction to take often leads to unexpected encounters with consequences in this comedy about life, love, friendship and the sometimes blistering nature of marital bliss.
ABOUT WARREN BEATTY
Warren BeattyWarren Beatty received an Oscar® for Best Director for his work on Reds and has been nominated for 13 Academy Awards® in four categories: as an actor, director, writer and producer on both Heaven Can Wait and Reds, an honor shared only by Orson Welles for Citizen Kane. His notable credits include Bonnie and Clyde, Shampoo, Dick Tracy and Bugsy and Bulworth, which he directed, produced, co-wrote and starred in.
ABOUT DIANE KEATON
Diane KeatonDiane Keaton received an Academy Award® for Best Actress for Annie Hall and garnered Best Actress nominations for her performances in Marvin’s Room and Reds. Her numerous credits include The Godfather (Parts I, II and III), Woody Allen’s Sleeper and Manhattan, Baby Boom, Father of the Bride (and its sequel), The First Wives Club, The Other Sister and Hanging Up. She made her feature directorial debut on Unstrung Heroes.
ABOUT GOLDIE HAWN
Goldie HawnGoldie Hawn received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar® for Cactus Flower and was nominated for a Best Actress Academy Award® for Private Benjamin. Her many credits include Shampoo, Foul Play, Woody Allen’s Everybody Says I Love You, The First Wives Club, The Out-of-Towners and Hanging Up. Hawn made her directorial debut with "Hope," a television movie for TNToriginal.
ABOUT ANDIE MacDOWELL
Andie MacDowellAndie MacDowell first received wide critical acclaim,
including the Los Angeles Critics’ Best Actress Award and Golden Globe nomination, for Sex, Lies and Videotape, a film which received top honors at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival. Her varied credits include her feature debut in Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Green Card, Groundhog Day, Unstrung Heroes, The Player, Shadrach, Scalpers and Albert Brooks’ The Muse.
ABOUT GARRY SHANDLING
Gary ShandlingGarry Shandling recently completed production on the award-winning HBO series "The Larry Sanders Show" on which he served as the creator, writer, executive producer and star. His film credits include Love Affair, Mixed Nuts, Hurlyburly and What Planet AreYou From?
Review by DAVID BRUCE

Click to enlarge
HAPPILY MARRIED

BUT...

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HAPPILY HAVING AFFAIRS...

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LOTS OF AFFAIRS...
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...EVEN WITH HIS BEST FRIEND'S WIFE
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AND, HIS BEST FRIEND IS ALSO...
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MESSING AROUND

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HAPPY COUPLES WITH LOTS OF SECRETS

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TRUTH IS REVEALED
PAIN FOLLOWS

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BOOMER ADDICTION TO SLEEPING AROUND AND FREE LOVE COMES FACE TO FACE...

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...WITH PAINFUL REALITIES

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This is an 80 million dollar Hollywood movie that warns against infidelity. It is a comedy that is not humorous. Its message to the boomer generation is all too familiar and painful. The bottom line is what it does to children.

SOME THOUGHTS ON MARRIAGE AND FIDELITY

Of the delights of this world man cares most for sexual intercourse. He will go any length for it?risk fortune, character, reputation, life itself. And what do you think he has done? In a thousand years you would never guess?he has left it out of his heaven! Prayer takes its place.
-MARK TWAIN (1835?1910)

Sex is the ersatz or substitute religion of the twentieth century.
-MALCOLM MUGGERIDGE (1903?1990)

The orgasm has replaced the cross as the focus of longing and the image of fulfillment.
-MALCOLM MUGGERIDGE (1903?1990)

Civilization varies with the family, and the family with civilization. Its highest and most complete realization is found where enlightened Christianity prevails; where woman is exalted to her true and lofty place as equal with the man; where husband and wife are one in honor, influence, and affection, and where children are a common bond of care and love. This is the idea of a perfect family.
-WILLIAM AIKMAN (1682?1731)

Infidelity and marital conflict are cancers that gnaw on the soul of mankind, twisting and warping innocent family members who can only stand and watch.
-JAMES C. DOBSON (1936? )

There is no getting away from it: the old Christian rule is ?Either marriage, with complete faithfulness to your partner, or else total abstinence.? Chastity is the most unpopular of our Christian virtues.
-C. S. LEWIS (1898?1963)

OFFICIAL SITE
Town and Country © 1999 New Line Cinema. All Rights Reserved.