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 and Frank are at the restaurant, Frank puts his menu away twice.

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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 Basket Case (1982)

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Soundtracks

"2 AM"
Performed by Kerry P. Brown, Catherine
Written by Kerry P. Brown, Jerome Brown, Cliff Fox, Neil Jordan and Mark Rew
Published by Chrysallis Music (ASCAP)
Courtesy of TVT Records

User Reviews

So much better than "Friends with Money" or trite romantic comedy....

this is what audiences need to see more of. Good characterization, realistic dialog (no slap-stick cheap tricks, farce etc.) and capable actors.

I have seen "Friends With Money" which was a disappointment compared to this and "Lovely and Amazing". This film succeeds because we care about the characters, Anne Heche as the therapist, trying to control her wedding, Catherine Keener as confused and disappointed single again friend. Andrew and Laura (Schreiber and Keener), Frank and Amelia,(Ann Heche and Todd Field) two couples just trying to make things work. They have to find humor in minor things. Kevin Corrigan adds humor as Keener's sometime date, who finds out he is referred to as the "ugly guy".

Liev Schreiber adds a good element to the film. Keener's former boyfriend, he is there for her, even as she pursues Corrigan who works at a video store:..."Jeez look at him...I thought I could relax for once"... Keener says as she wonders why he has rejected her.

This has been compared to "Sex and the City", but there really is no comparison. A one hour TV show vs. film; this film has resonance; we will remember and want to see these characters again, they are not cardboard cut-out characterizations. TV has to be more polarized, due to the medium and time limits, hence the characters are more superficial and obvious.(Could we picture Kim Catrall in this film, I don't think so). I am surprised Nicole Holfcener has not surmised this, and realized the casting mistake in "Friends with Money"; if someone has a too-TV persona, they do not necessarily translate to film. That was one of the problems with FWM.

Also the performances in this film were not preceded by the personalities. Heche is believable, amusing and sympathetic. Catherine Keener is quirky, interesting and multi-layered. Liev Schreiber is funny, a good friend and we want to see more of him. Please, Ms. Holofcener, for your next film use film actors, not people who had a high "TV Q" or were married to a film celebrity for a brief period. It makes a great deal of difference, and the finished product proves this to be so. 9/10