The Anniversary Party | | Cast : | Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming | | Director : | Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alan Cumming | | Studio : | New Line Home Entertainment | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned | | Released Date : | June 24, 2001 | | DVD Released Date : | January 15, 2002 | | Language : | English (Dubbed) | | Audience Rating : | R (Restricted) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | March 29, 2005 | | Summary | So Boring, So Dumb | Content
 | What was the point of this film? There is no lesson learned, no story to tell, no entertainment factor even associated with it. I guess it was an excuse for Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming to try to prove that they have no imagination and get their Hollywood buddies together for 2 hours of nonsense. |
| Rating | | | Date | March 13, 2005 | | Summary | "slice of life"? | Content
| I've seen the phrase "slice of life" used many times to describe this movie, which makes me wonder - whose life is this a slice of? Certainly not mine, and not most people's. The Anniversary Party is a slice of the lives of a group of people who are extremely vain, self-absorbed, jaded and rich beyond most people's wildest fits of imagination. Worse, there isn't much of a hint that the filmmakers were aware that most people, or at least most people who are fun to be around, don't act the way these characters do.
Good films can be made about Hollywood - in "Mulholland Drive" it's kind of a dream world, both in the sense that it's hazy and ambiguous and in the sense that one of its characters dreams of being a bigger part of it; in "State and Main," the self-absorption of many of the characters is offered for our amusement. "The Anniversary Party" is presented as if most viewers will be sympathetic with the characters, but I can't imagine them elicting much sympathy from anyone who isn't also a bored rich prick. If this is truly a "slice of life" for the Hollywood set, it is no wonder that so many films produced in Hollywood are so cynical and shallow. |
| Rating | | | Date | February 24, 2005 | | Summary | does anybody know? | Content
| Does anybody know the soundtrack well enough to say who does the song at the outset of the ecstasy party - sung in a foreign language, with rather an operatic sound? Many thanks if you can help with any info. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 27, 2005 | | Summary | Did you like Larry Sanders? Curb Your Enthusiasm...? | Content
| If you like those two tv shows then you will probably like this movie. The film shares a lot of the same sensibilities (comedic and otherwise) of the above mentioned shows. The plot, simply, is that Jennifer Jason Leigh's character (Sally) and Alan Cummings character (Joe), having just recently reconciled an extended separation, throw themselves a sixth anniversary party, to which they invite many of their Hollywood insider type friends.
This movie, to me, is the difinition of comedy/drama. It succeeds well with both, but the drama, espoecially towards the end, certainly overshadows the comedy (not that this is a bad thing,) During the evening their will be terrible secrets revealed, tears shed, skinny dips, dolphins, and emotions absolutely laid bare. The emotion is so raw and.. real, that you may well be transfixed by how human these fictional characters seem. The overwhelming impression I got from the film is that while we as a culture tend to deify celebrities, their lives can be just as emotionally destroyed as everyone else's. My buddy could seriously relate to one screaming match that went down between Joe and Sally towards the end.
But, again, this is a comedy/drama, and their are some pretty good laughs in the flick as well.
Furthermore, I certainly agree with one of the above reviewers that the scene where Kevin Kline and his real life daughter share a dance is absolutely stunning. I was moved to tears. Excellent film if your into this kindof thing. |
| Rating | | | Date | January 06, 2005 | | Summary | A Peek Into Hollywood Lives | Content
| The party assembles a mixed group of mixed-up people to celebrate an anniversary of a troubled marriage.
Their self-congratulatory behavior deteriorates as drink and drugs blur their thinking and undermine their judgement. It put my husband to sleep, but I kept watching to the end. I am still trying to think of some purpose for this film.
Some of the other reviews tout it as an actor's training tool. I'd hate for future actors to think this was the way they should conduct their lives. Rather a sad movie in which sad, but glittery people's lives spin out of control.
If this movie is a fair representation of how Hollywood types (writers, actors, directors) interact and think, then it is no wonder some of the movies today are such a mess. |
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