Sliding Doors (1998)

A London woman's love life and career both hinge, unknown to her, on whether or not she catches a train. We see it both ways, in parallel.

Director:

Peter Howitt

Writer:

Peter Howitt

Stars:

Gwyneth Paltrow, John Hannah, John Lynch

7 wins & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Helen
John Hannah	...	James
John Lynch	...	Gerry
Jeanne Tripplehorn	...	Lydia
Zara Turner	...	Anna
Douglas McFerran	...	Russell
Paul Brightwell	...	Clive
Nina Young	...	Claudia
Virginia McKenna	...	James's Mother
Kevin McNally	...	Paul
Terry English	...	Kind Cabbie
Paul Stacey	...	Man on Tube
Peter Howitt	...	Cheeky Bloke
Joanna Roth	...	Suspicious Girl
Neil Stuke	...	Defensive Bloke

Storyline

Young Helen is fired from her job at a PR company, and when the sliding doors of the tube car close on her, we start to see what would have happened if she'd made the train, and if she hadn't.

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Plot Keywords:

train | cheating | shower | waitress | hospital | 

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Taglines:

What if one split second sent your life in two completely different directions?.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance | Sci-Fi

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some sexuality and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 April 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dos vidas en un instante

Filming Locations:

Waterloo & City Line, London Underground, London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$9,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

£1,134,641 (UK) (1 May 1998)

Gross:

$11,883,495 (USA) (28 August 1998)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Intermedia Films, Mirage Enterprises, Miramax Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Minnie Driver was originally offered the leading role ahead of Gwyneth Paltrow

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Goofs

When Gerry and Helen enter the pub, Gerry orders them a drink with ice but the drinks come neat (no ice). Later as the are getting a table, ice appears in both glasses.

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Quotes

Helen: So who are you on the rebound from?
James: A girl called Pamela. My who life pivots around Pam and I breaking up.
Helen: When was that?
James: 1973, we were eight. I bloody loved that woman! No warning just up, gone, left me for someone else.
Helen: Who?
James: Gary Glitter! Gary Glitter for cryin' out loud! I mean all my friends were being left for Donny Osmond or David Cassidy, I could have come to terms with that given time, but Gary oooooh she wanted to touch him there yeeaah...

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Connections

References Jeopardy! (1984)

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Soundtracks

"Amateur"
Performed by Aimee Mann

User Reviews

A Delightful Romance, With a Wonderful Screenplay

In London, the public relation Helen (Gwyneth Paltrow) is fired from her position in a PR company. While returning home, she does not catch the train in the subway. But in another possibility of her life, she catches the train in the subway. The story shows two parallel lives of Helen: in one life, she stays with her boyfriend Gerry (John Lynch), and in the other life, she finds that Gerry cheats her with Lydia (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and falls in love with James Hammerton (John Hannah).

"Sliding Doors" is a delightful romance, with a wonderful screenplay. There are excellent lines, and the chemistry between Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah is marvelous. John Lynch is a good actor, but is completely miscast in the role of a man disputed by two gorgeous women. I have just watched this movie for the third time, and I still love it. It is very interesting that in 1998, two movies presented similar concepts of different situations depending on a minor event: "Sliding Doors" and "Lola Rennt". This theme is fascinating, but there are many unfair reviews of this film in IMDb, which is one of my favorite movie. My vote is ten.

Title (Brazil): "De Caso com o Acaso" ("Having an Affair With Fortune")