Nurse Betty (2000)

Comedy about a widow's post-traumatic obsession with a soap star.

Director:

Neil LaBute

Writers:

John C. Richards (story), John C. Richards (screenplay),

Stars:

Morgan Freeman, Renée Zellweger, Chris Rock

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 13 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Morgan Freeman	...	Charlie
Renée Zellweger	...	Betty Sizemore
Chris Rock	...	Wesley
Greg Kinnear	...	Dr. David Ravell
Aaron Eckhart	...	Del Sizemore
Tia Texada	...	Rosa Hernandez
Crispin Glover	...	Roy Ostery
Pruitt Taylor Vince	...	Ballard
Allison Janney	...	Lyla Branch
Kathleen Wilhoite	...	Sue Ann Rogers
Elizabeth Mitchell	...	Chloe Jensen
Susan Barnes	...	Darlene
Harriet Sansom Harris	...	Ellen
Sung Hi Lee	...	Jasmine
Laird Macintosh	...	Dr. Lonnie Walsh

Storyline

A Kansas City waitress with dreams of becoming a nurse becomes delusional after seeing her no-good car salesman husband murdered. Becoming delusional from shock, she becomes convinced that she is the former fiancée of her soap opera idol. What she also believes is that the soap opera is real and goes to LA to find the hospital where he works as a cardiologist. Meanwhile, her husband's murderers are searching for the drugs stolen by her husband and, as luck would have it, they are stored in the trunk of the car she drove off in. Freeman, an aging hit man planning his retirement after this job, also becomes delusional about the woman he is tracking.

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Plot Keywords:

soap opera | drugs | obsession | kansas city | hospital | 

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Taglines:

She's chasing a dream... they're chasing her.

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Genres:

Comedy | Crime | Romance | Thriller

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong violence, pervasive language and a scene of sexuality

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

8 September 2000 (USA)

Also Known As:

Persiguiendo a Betty

Filming Locations:

Durango, Colorado, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$24,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$7,145,950 (USA) (8 September 2000)

Gross:

$25,167,270 (USA) (15 December 2000)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Gramercy Pictures (I), Pacifica Film, Propaganda Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Scenes involving Christopher McDonald as a racist, red-neck truck driver who sells porno to Chris Rock and Morgan Freeman were cut from the final film.

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Goofs

When Betty gets to her friend's house after being questioned at the police station, the blankets covering her in bed change drastically.

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Quotes

[as Dave/George is leaving after talking with Charlie]
Wesley: Actually, there is one more thing. I kinda thought you'd be able to let me have a little talk with Jasmine.
George McCord: Well you thought wrong.
Wesley: [Grabs his arm] Hey man! It's just an autograph, it's not for me.
George McCord: Oh, it never is.
[Wesley slaps him]
Wesley: You need to learn some fucking manners!

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Connections

Referenced in Grey's Anatomy: Save Me (2005)

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Soundtracks

"That Lonesome Moon"
Written by Wayne Perry and Jerry Marcum
Performed by Willow Creek
Courtesy of Zomba Enterprises, Inc.

User Reviews

A Splendid Little Black Comedy.

LaBute's 'Nurse Betty' tells the story of a young housewife (and part-time waitress) in search of the man of her dreams. Sounds like another fluffy romance, no? Not quite! Her adulterous trash of a husband is scalped. Two hit men, a father who's about to retire and his son, are after her (the father happens to be in love with her). The man of her dreams is a character from a soap opera...she travels half the country just to be with him. Little does she know that it's only an illusion. Yes, it is a bizarre little comedy but fun nonetheless. Zellweger proves to be the perfect choice to play Betty. She delivers a very nuanced, comic and moving performance. Has Morgan Freeman ever gone wrong? He's just laugh out loud hilarious. Chris Rock too takes a chance playing the villain and does a fine job. Greg Kinnear and the supporting cast that includes Tia Texado, Allison Janney, Aaron Eckhart, Kathleen Wilhoite and Crispin Glover are all good. the soundtrack is beautiful and very romantic. It just adds to the surreal mood of the film. A lot of the film takes place on the road giving us glimpses of the beautiful American landscape and an adventurous feel. Towards the end, there's a beautiful scene between Morgan Freeman and Renee Zellweger (well I can't say what it's about without giving spoilers) which is the real turning point in Betty's life and the way that scene was presented amidst the chaos in the next room is amazing. 'Nurse Betty' is a sweet film that dares to go against the usual standards of American comedy. There are some very graphic scenes of violence and there's the element of suspense as the father and son track down Betty. Yet, it manages to stand as an adventurous comedy that is uplifting and brings a smile.