The Misadventures of Margaret (1998)

Director:

Brian Skeet

Writers:

Cathleen Schine (novel)
Brian Skeet (writer)

Release Date:

23 December 1998 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Plot:

A timid, insecure popular author with an overly-attentive professor husband decide to write an erotic novel...

Plot Keywords:

Nun | Sushi | Writer Director | Cigarette Smoking | Philosophy

Cast

Parker Posey	...	Margaret Nathan
Jeremy Northam	...	Edward Nathan
Craig Chester	...	Richard Lane
Elizabeth McGovern	...	Till Turner
Brooke Shields	...	Lily
Corbin Bernsen	...	Art Turner
Justine Waddell	...	Young Girl
Patrick Bruel	...	Martin
Stéphane Freiss	...	The Philosopher
Amy Phillips	...	Sarah From Brighton
Alexis Denisof	...	Dr. Lipi
Sylvie Testud	...	Young Nun
Al Mackenzie	...	Richard's Boyfriend
Kerry Shale	...	Librarian
Jeff Harding	...	Man at Party

Also Known As:

Les folies de Margaret (France)

Runtime:

105 min | Germany:85 min (25 fps) (TV version) | Germany:89 min | USA:80 min (TV version)

Country:

France | UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:L | France:U | Germany:12 | Singapore:R(A)

Filming Locations:

Ealing Studios, Ealing, London, England, UK

Company:

Mandarin Films

Trivia:

The original soundtrack was fully composed by Saint Etienne, the distributor's wanted a more typical sound. So many of Saint Etienne's tracks are cut or barely audible.

Quotes:

Margaret Nathan: Divorce Lawyers should be on call like Doctors!

Movie Connections:

References Theodora Goes Wild (1936)

Soundtrack:

Find Me a Boy

An absolute gem of a movie!

I first saw this movie at a screen room with Brian Skeet, Ian Benson, Craig Chester, Brooke Shields and fellow guest Illeana Douglas. I expected it to be entertaining. Even I was agog at how much and how hard I laughed throughout the entire film. (Afterwards Brian and Ian jokingly asked me to attend all future screenings.)

This movie is an absolute gem. It has a little bit of everything without having too much of anything. To me, this is Parker Posey's ultimate role. She shines through the character of Margaret, perhaps because they're not so dissimilar. I found it impossible to take my eyes away from her whenever she was on camera. Craig Chester was given a fairly good role and infused it with enough self-mocking humor to make this a standout performance. Brooke Shields? Although not on screen nearly enough, her character of Lily was so out of her usual screen roles and yet she carries it off with such eclat that one almost wishes for a sequel. The Lackidasicals of Lily?

Elizabeth McGovern was perfect casting as Margaret's sister and she plays off of both Brooke and Parker seamlessly. Even Corbin Bernsen, an actor I don't follow, was lovable in his jerkiness and distinctly memorable.

I just re-watched this film on video, where it runs a pert 86 minutes. At the screening, it was at least a half-hour longer. Interestingly, all the things I remembered from the film the first time were there the second viewing. Which means that evidently the editors and the director took out the extraneous and make this movie a perfect length.

Oh. Have I mentioned that I liked "The Misadventures of Margaret"?