Walking and Talking (1996)

Things have been tough lately for Amelia. Her best friend moved out of the apartment, her cat got cancer, and now her best friend, Laura, is getting married. She copes with things, from the... See full summary »

Director:

Nicole Holofcener

Writer:

Nicole Holofcener

Stars:

Amy Braverman, Miranda Rhyne, Catherine Keener

7 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Amy Braverman	...	Young Amelia
Miranda Rhyne	...	Young Laura
Catherine Keener	...	Amelia
Anne Heche	...	Laura
Randall Batinkoff	...	Peter
Brenda Denmark	...	The Vet (as Brenda Thomas Denmark)
Vincent Pastore	...	Laura's Devil-Seeing Patient
Liev Schreiber	...	Andrew
Todd Field	...	Frank
Kevin Corrigan	...	Bill
Joseph Siravo	...	Amelia's Therapist
Rafael Alvarez	...	Laura's Sexy Patient
Ritamarie Kelly	...	Ellen
Steve Cohen	...	Actor In Play
Jordan Levinson	...	Peter's Friend

Storyline

Things have been tough lately for Amelia. Her best friend moved out of the apartment, her cat got cancer, and now her best friend, Laura, is getting married. She copes with things, from the help of Andrew, Frank, Laura, and a brief romance with Bill "The Ugly Guy"

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Plot Keywords:

friend | cat | cancer | briefs | beer | 

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Taglines:

A movie for everyone who wants to get married and stay single at the same time.

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Genres:

Drama | Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexuality, language and brief drug use

Details

Country:

UK USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 July 1996 (USA)

Also Known As:

Confidencias

Filming Locations:

New Jersey, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$63,412 (USA) (19 July 1996)

Gross:

$1,277,257 (USA) (27 September 1996)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Channel Four Films, Electric, Good Machine

Technical Specs

Runtime:

86 min

Sound Mix:

Ultra Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Allison Janney has a cameo appearance as Amelia's neighbor.

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Goofs

When Laura is trying on wedding dresses, you can see her face in the mirror chewing gum but you hear her say, "I'm farting."

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Quotes

Andrew: I hope he calls back.
Amelia: I don't.
Andrew: What do you mean? I thought that's what I needed to be here for. Those sickos are the loneliest slimiest... hello cookies... hmm... I like.

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Connections

References Dumb & Dumber (1994)

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Soundtracks

"The Summer"
Performed by Yo La Tengo
Written by Georgia Hubley and Ira Kaplan
Published by aoshhashaina Music (BMI)
Courtesy of Bar None Records
By Arrangement with Ocean Park Music Group

User Reviews

How to Win Friends and Influence People (Not)

Catherine Keener (as Amelia) spends the opening scenes putting down everyone in her life. She doesn't like best friend Anne Heche (as Laura)'s engagement ring. She calls video store geek Kevin Corrigan (as Bill), who wants to date her, "The Ugly Guy". She repeatedly calls ex-boyfriend-turned-friend Liev Schreiber (as Andrew) an ass----, for enjoying telephone sex. Her cat has cancer. And, her kitchen sponge stinks.

Intriguing character study, from writer/director Nicole Holofcener. Ms. Keener's "Amelia" seems to have a lot going for her; she is funny and attractive, and, she manages to keep friendships while being excessively judgmental. Things may have started going wrong for her when roommate Heche moved in with boyfriend Todd Field (as Frank). Mr. Field becomes another supportive friend, however. Although Keener is cranky throughout, she eventually proves to be an interesting, supportive friend.

The performances are all terrific. Mr. Corrigan may be most memorable, as the horror movie geek Keener labels "The Ugly Guy"; watch for an outstanding scene as he overhears a message on Keener telephone answering machine. Some back-hair might have helped him look more ugly, though. Then, again, hairier Rafael Alvarez does seem prove excessive hair isn't so ugly. Wonderfully ironic to see Randall Batinkoff (as Peter) play a waiter so well, and an actor so poorly. "Walking and Talking" manages to be a story about meaningful friendship without being terribly meaningful.

****** Walking and Talking (1996) Nicole Holofcener ~ Catherine Keener, Anne Heche, Kevin Corrigan