The Anniversary Party Movie Review 2001

Leigh and Cumming co-write, co-direct, and star as the central couple in this impressive ensemble comedy-drama about a group of Hollywood friends celebrating said couple's sixth anniversary. Amid much career and personal angst, drug use, and sometimes nasty air-clearing, most of the characters are fleshed out nicely and the dialogue remains sharp throughout. The air is thick with genuine personal dread and interpersonal tension. Among the uniformly excellent performances, two especially stand out: Leigh as the aging actress on the cusp of career oblivion, and Cates as a former actress who's given up her career to focus on being a wife (to just-beyond-leading-man-status hubby Kline) and mother. Filmed in digital video in 19 days under the Dogme 95 guidelines.

Distribution

New Line Home Video, 116 N. Robertson Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, Phone: (310)854-5811, Fax: (310)854-1824, URL: http://www.newline.com, Remarks: Does not handle retail queries from consumers; contact your local video distributor.

Available on VHS, DVD
Running time 117 minutes.
Originally from United States.

Cast and Crew

Genres

Comedy Drama, L.A., Drug Use & Abuse, Showbiz Dramas, Party Hell, Up All Night, Marriage

Screenplay

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming

Cast

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming, Gwyneth Paltrow, Kevin Kline, Phoebe Cates, John C. Reilly, Jane Adams, John Benjamin Hickey, Parker Posey, Denis O'Hare, Jennifer Beals, Mina (Badiyi) Badie, Michael Panes

Cinematography

John Bailey

Director

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming

Music

Michael Penn

Other

David MacMillan, Robin Urdang, Carol Littleton, Suzanne Spangler, Christopher Lawrence

Producer

Jennifer Jason Leigh, Joanne Sellar, Alan Cumming, Pas de Quoi, Fine Line Features