Picking Up the Pieces (2000)

Director:

Alfonso Arau

Writer (WGA):

Bill Wilson (written by)

Release Date:

30 August 2000 (France)

Genre:

Comedy | Fantasy

Plot:

A small New Mexican village discovers a severed hand that is considered a miracle of God, when it actually belongs to a murdered spouse with a husband in search of it.

Plot Keywords:

Hand | Miracle | New Mexico | Butcher | Police

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

Woody Allen	...	Tex Cowley
Sharon Stone	...	Candy Cowley
Maria Grazia Cucinotta	...	Desi
Cheech Marin	...	Mayor Machado
David Schwimmer	...	Father Leo Jerome
Kiefer Sutherland	...	Officer Bobo
Alfonso Arau	...	Dr. Amado
Danny De La Paz	...	Lalo Taxi Driver
Andy Dick	...	Father Buñuel
Fran Drescher	...	Sister Frida
Joseph Gordon-Levitt	...	Flaco
Elliott Gould	...	Father LaCage
Eddie Griffin	...	Sediento
Mía Maestro	...	Carla
Lupe Ontiveros	...	Constancia
Lou Diamond Phillips	...	Officer Alfonso
Pepe Serna	...	Florencio
Richard Edson	...	Edsel Farkus
Tony Plana	...	Usher
Richard C. Sarafian	...	Wino (as Richard Sarafian)
Brian Brophy	...	CNN Reporter
Betty Carvalho	...	Juana
Enrique Castillo	...	Grasiento
Jorge Cervera Jr.	...	Unojo
O'Neal Compton	...	Texas John
Marcus Demian	...	Ricardo
Jeannine De La Torre	...	Maria
Darius Grace	...	Paco
Jackie Guerra	...	Meche
Jon Huertas	...	Paulo (as John Huertas)
Kathy Kinney	...	Mrs. Tattler
Miguel Mas	...	Workman
Fritz Mashimo	...	Japanese Pilgrim
Kit McDonough	...	Alabama Tourist
Dyana Ortelli	...	Gaga
Barbara Pilavin	...	Old Miracle Seeker
Andrew Roa	...	Zuni Investor
Valente Rodriguez	...	Cuetero
Angélica Aragón	...	Dolores
Cecilia Tijerina	...	Leticia
Daisy White	...	Conchata Ortiz
Dana Woods	...	Pequeño
Flaco Jiménez	...	Sordo's Band: Sordo
Raul Rubio	...	Sordo's Band: Guitar & Vocals
Ismael Gallegos	...	Sordo's Band: Saxophone
Juan Jiménez	...	Sordo's Band: Guitar
Joey Heredia	...	Sordo's Band: Percussion & Drums
Lazaro Arvizu	...	Aztec Dancer
Juan Diego Ayala	...	Aztec Dancer
Olga Perez	...	Aztec Dancer
Jessica Batres	...	Aztec Dancer
Susan Armijo	...	Aztec Dancer
Gabriel Sória	...	Aztec Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Mark J. Ferreri	...	Citizen Beating Bobo w / broom (uncredited)
Alan Heitz	...	Town Citizen (uncredited)
Jan Pessano	...	Nurse Margaret (uncredited)
Dayna Price	...	Eva (uncredited)
Scott Sandler	...	Tatoo (uncredited)

Directed by
Alfonso Arau

Writing credits (WGA)
Bill Wilson		(written by)

Produced by
Alfonso Arau	....	executive producer
Mimi Polk Gitlin	....	executive producer
Donald Kushner	....	executive producer
Peter Locke	....	executive producer
Paul Sandberg	....	producer (as Paul L. Sandberg)
Rony Yacov	....	line producer
Tamar Yacov	....	assistant line producer

Original Music by
Ruy Folguera

Cinematography by
Vittorio Storaro

Film Editing by
Michael R. Miller

Casting by
Mary Gail Artz
Barbara Cohen

Production Design by
Denise Pizzini

Art Direction by
Seth Reed

Set Decoration by
Kelly Berry

Costume Design by
Marilyn Matthews

Makeup Department
Lilly Benyair-Gart	....	additional makeup artist (as Lily Gart)
Howard Berger	....	special makeup effects supervisor
Michèle Burke	....	makeup artist: Ms. Stone (as Michele Burke)
Raqueli Dahan	....	key makeup artist
Garrett Immel	....	makeup project coordinator
Moni Mansano	....	key makeup artist (as Monet Mansano)
Paul Anthony Morris	....	key hair stylist (as Paul Anthony-Morris)
Greg Nelson	....	additional on-set makeup
Gregory Nicotero	....	special makeup effects supervisor (as Greg Nicotero)
Robert Ramos	....	hair stylist: Miss Stone
Larry Waggoner	....	assistant hair stylist

Production Management
Susan V. McConnell	....	production supervisor
Michael Tinger	....	post-production supervisor
Rony Yacov	....	unit production manager
Frank Hildebrand	....	executive in charge of production (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matthew J. Clark	....	first assistant director (as Matthew Clark)
Kelly Frazier	....	second second assistant director
Amy Hughes	....	additional second assistant director
Amy Hughes	....	second assistant director: second unit
Bradley Morris	....	second second assistant director
Albert M. Shapiro	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Albert Shapiro)
Angela C. Tortu	....	first assistant director (as Angela Tortu)

Art Department
Laine Abramson	....	assistant property master
Laine Abramson	....	property master: second unit
Ben Baca	....	propmaker
Alan Baptiste	....	set dresser
Chris Barnes	....	muralist
Sabrina Brown	....	set painter
Raymond Coker	....	laborer
Michael D'Imperio	....	assistant property master (as Michael Dimperia)
Richard Donatian	....	laborer
Tyler Dupuy	....	propmaker
Coby Elder	....	laborer
Hector Fernandez	....	set painter
Connie Gage	....	sign painter
Javier Garza	....	laborer
Marc Gillson	....	lead set painter (as Marco Gillson)
Jonathan R. Hodges	....	property master (as Jonathan Hodges)
Courtney Jackson	....	property master
Wendy Jerde	....	set painter
Jeff Khachadoorian	....	propmaker
Robert Louden	....	greensman (as Robert Louder)
Robert Lucas	....	lead man
Juliana Lukowiecki	....	art department coordinator
Adam Markey	....	set painter
Ray Maxwell	....	construction coordinator
Robert McKelvey	....	propmaker
George Meldrum	....	propmaker
Andy Mentzer	....	muralist
Michael George Miller	....	set dresser (as Michael G. Miller)
Robert Raineri	....	propmaker
Robert Ralmeri	....	propmaker
Glenn H. Roberts	....	set dresser (as Glenn Roberts)
David Ronan	....	on-set dresser
Mark Schouten	....	foreman (as Mark 'Shark' Schouten)
Danielle Simpson	....	set dresser
Dave Stuart	....	propmaker
Pedro V. Suchite	....	set painter (as Pedro Suchite)
Alessandra Taddei	....	set dresser
Alex Thompson	....	set painter
Javier Tuñon	....	muralist
Bob West	....	graphic designer
John Youngblood	....	assistant property master (as Johnny Youngblood)
Dana MacDuff	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Mark Allen	....	dialogue editor
Troy Allen	....	dialogue editor
Dorian Cheah	....	sound supervisor
Lawrence L. Commans	....	boom operator (as Larry Commans)
Doug Davey	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matt Dubin	....	digital transfer engineer
Chris Elam	....	sound recordist
Brent Ellingwood	....	sound
Lisle Engle	....	sound effects editor
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
Robert Getty	....	assistant sound editor
David Grant	....	supervising dialogue editor
Chris Haire	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Christopher Haire)
Kevin Hamilton	....	dialogue editor
Gregg Harris	....	boom operator
Bill Henderson	....	sound re-recording engineer
Chato Hill	....	assistant sound editor
C.W. Jones	....	foley mixer
Craig Jurkiewicz	....	foley editor
Ossama Khuluki	....	foley artist
Itzhak Magal	....	sound mixer: second unit (as Itzhak 'Ike' Magal)
Richard L. Morrison	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Mullane	....	sound effects editor
William Munroe	....	utility sound technician
Thomas Pinney	....	boom operator
Susan Shin	....	adr supervisor
Anne Slack	....	foley editor
Anne Slack	....	sound editor
Sarah Smith	....	foley editor
Christopher Sposa	....	boom operator: second unit
Dean St. John	....	adr mixer
Johanna Turner	....	digital transfer engineer
Stephan von Hase	....	sound mixer (as Stephan Von Hase)
Trevor Ward	....	stereo sound consultant: Dolby
Aaron D. Weisblatt	....	sound effects editor (as Aaron Weisblatt)
Kevin Hamilton	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chad Atkins	....	laboratory technician
Chris Cera	....	laboratory technician
Jason Collins	....	laboratory technician
Justin Ditter	....	laboratory technician
Josh Hakian	....	special effects assistant
Steve Hartman	....	laboratory technician
Chiz Hasegawa	....	coordinator: K.N.B. EFX Group Inc. (as Chizuru Hasegawa)
Louis Kiss	....	laboratory technician
Frank Murgia	....	coordinator: K.N.B. EFX Group Inc.
David Perteet	....	laboratory technician
Brian Rae	....	laboratory technician
John Roth	....	special effects assistant
Eddie Surkin	....	special effects coordinator
Alan Tuskes	....	laboratory technician

Visual Effects by
Penny Anderson	....	visual effects artist
Robin Trickett	....	visual effects coordinator
Wayne Trickett	....	visual effects supervisor
Greg Astles	....	digital effects artist (uncredited)
Scott Burton	....	effects animator (uncredited)
Doug Campbell	....	digital effects supervisor/compositor (uncredited)
Stevie Ramone	....	digital effects artist/coordinator (uncredited)

Stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Tim Gilbert	....	stunts
Troy Gilbert	....	stunts
Steve Griffin	....	stunts
Armando Guerrero	....	stunts (as Mando Guerrero)
Rosine 'Ace' Hatem	....	stunts (as Ace Hatem)
Gary Morgan	....	stunts
Ernie F. Orsatti	....	stunt coordinator (as Ernie Orsatti)
Noon Orsatti	....	stunts
Chad Stahelski	....	stunts (as Chad Staheiski)
Eddie Yansick	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Laurent Basset	....	camera operator: documentary segment
Randy Berrett	....	dolly grip: second unit (as Randy Barrett)
Mike Boggs	....	best boy grip: second unit
Mark Broneau	....	best boy grip
Fabio Cafolla	....	lighting consultant
Jeff Case	....	key grip
Pat Christman	....	best boy electric: second unit
Pat Christman	....	lamp operator
Billy Clevenger	....	camera operator
Chris Conahan	....	grip
James M. Cox	....	best boy (as James Cox)
James M. Cox	....	rigging grip (as James Cox)
Chris Cuevas	....	second assistant camera: additional camera
Scott Del Amo	....	still photographer
Mike Fay	....	grip
Mike Fay	....	key grip: second unit
Jeff Ferraro	....	best boy electric: second unit
Megan Forste	....	second assistant camera: second unit (as Megan Forster)
Michael Fuhr	....	camera loader
Geoffrey Haley	....	video operator (as Geoff Haley)
Dennis Hammermeister	....	video assist operator
Robert Ikeda	....	dolly grip: second unit (as Bobby Ikeda)
Susan Jarvis	....	second assistant camera
Joe Kraft	....	dolly grip
Richie Maldonado	....	dimmer board operator: second unit (as Rich Maldonado)
Richie Maldonado	....	lamp operator
Kal Manning	....	gaffer: second unit (as Wright 'Kal' Manning)
George Marsala	....	grip
Art Martin	....	first assistant camera
George Masala	....	grip
Dan Mattson	....	best boy grip: second unit
Annie McEveety	....	first assistant camera: second unit
James M. McEwen	....	gaffer: second unit (as James McEwen)
Dave Neil	....	lamp operator: second unit
Rob Nelson	....	video operator
Ron Nicholls	....	grip
Bob Okida	....	dolly grip: second unit
Ross Richardson	....	gaffer: second unit
Gregory Romero	....	grip (as Greg Romero)
Ralph Sanders	....	best boy electric: second unit
Ralph Sanders	....	lamp operator
Jerry Shore	....	generator operator
Bryan Sweezey	....	lamp operator: second unit
Gary Tandrow	....	gaffer
Kirk Terry	....	video assist operator: second unit
Jack Wallner	....	cinematographer: second unit
Andrew Bikichky	....	additional second assistant camera (uncredited)
Moshe Levin	....	camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Maureen Whalen	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Shawn Barry	....	costumer
Charles Drayman	....	costumer: Mr. Allen
Terry Gordon	....	costumer: second unit
Oda Groeschel	....	costumer: Sharon Stone
Mary C. Lane	....	costume supervisor (as Mary Catherine Lane)
Lizz Wolf	....	set costumer

Editorial Department
Teresa Garber	....	director of post-production
Dale E. Grahn	....	color timer (as Dale Grahn)
Debra Weinfeld	....	assistant editor
Bob Wenokur	....	executive in charge of post-production

Music Department
Gustavo Borner	....	scoring mixer
Maria Entraigues	....	assistant to composer
Ruy Folguera	....	conductor
Ruy Folguera	....	musician: keyboards and theremin
Ruy Folguera	....	orchestrator
David Franco	....	music supervisor
Ismael Gallegos	....	musician: accordion
Joey Heredia	....	musician: drums
Danny Jacob	....	musician: guitars
Mack MacKinlay	....	assistant scoring mixer (as Mack Mackinlay)
George A. Martin	....	music editor
Jeff Rona	....	conductor
Adam Milo Smalley	....	music editor (as Adam Smalley)
Toshi Yanagi	....	musician: guitars
Scott Rouse	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Troy Alarcon	....	driver: cast
Adam Andews	....	driver
Mike Bruhn	....	driver
Mike Buenfil	....	driver: camera truck
Jeremy Cassells	....	driver
Alex Connaughton	....	driver: honeywagon
Eric Dalquist Jr.	....	picture vehicles
Mike J. Dawson	....	driver (as Mike Dawson)
Nick Duron	....	driver
Daniel Elu	....	picture vehicles
Suzanne Henri	....	driver: director
David F. Hoiseck	....	fuel truck driver (as Dave Hoisek)
Stacy Jones	....	picture vehicles
R.J. Joseph	....	driver: cast
Jeff Kay	....	driver: cast
Jim Sgrignoli	....	driver
Michael Jon Sparks	....	driver (as Mike Sparks)
Linda Swick	....	picture vehicles
Russ Tolliver	....	transportation captain
Steve Zerwick	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Doris Alaimo	....	set supervisor
Art Altounian	....	production coordinator
Tania Araiz	....	assistant: Mr. Arau
Chad Atkins	....	laboratory technician
Elizabeth S. Barton	....	script supervisor (as Liz Barton)
Rachel Beers	....	set production assistant
Mary Bellucco	....	supplier: film stock
Kip Bickel	....	creative entertainment services
Kamar Bitar	....	office manager
Denise Blasor	....	adr loop group
Lisa M. Bock	....	set production assistant (as Lisa Bock)
Roy Bodner	....	unit publicist
Joe Bravo	....	additional craft service
Candy Brock	....	video coordinator
Perri Allen Byrne	....	provider: Woody Allen's car
Chris Cera	....	laboratory technician
Alicia Coash	....	representative: Hero Product Placement
Jason Collins	....	laboratory technician
Steve Crosby	....	provider: cellular service
Eric Dalquist Jr.	....	provider: Alfonsau Arau's car, The Vista Group
Susan Davis	....	provider: sunglasses and water, The Catalyst Group
Matilda de Cagny	....	animal trainer (as Mathilda DeCagny)
Joe Dickman	....	supplier: cigars
Justin Ditter	....	laboratory technician
Robert L. Dohan	....	location manager (as Rob Dohan)
Jim Dunlap	....	assistant accountant
Terry Dunn	....	production accountant
Danny Elu	....	marketing: UPP Entertainment Marketing
Tony Engedal	....	supplier: soft drinks, Premiere Entertainment Services
Jeff Franks	....	product placement
Maurice 'Moe' Freeman	....	set production assistant
Elise Ganz	....	studio teacher
Daniel Hall	....	craft service
Jeff Hanks	....	representative: Davie-Brown Entertainment Services
Tera Hans	....	representative: Davie-Brown Entertainment Services
Steve Hartman	....	laboratory technician
Don Henderson	....	supplier: film stock
Nancy Himmel	....	creative entertainment services: The Catalyst Group
Rod Jackson	....	second assistant accountant
Bridgette Kelley	....	script supervisor
Rick Keppler	....	representative: Keppler Entertainment
Smith Ketchum	....	cast physicals (as Dr. Smith Ketchum)
Louis Kiss	....	laboratory technician
Alex Kivlen	....	assistant location manager
Elizabeth Kring	....	provider: cellular service
Michelle Kristal	....	office production assistant
Sharon Kupchin	....	marketing: UPP Entertainment Marketing
Lisanne Lapointe	....	representative: Bragman Nyman Cafaralli
Larry Madrid	....	animal trainer
Julie Mall	....	provider: paging services
Ramsey Malouky	....	electronic press kit producer
Karen Marins	....	marketing: UPP Entertainment Marketing
Jay May	....	representative: Feature This!
Mike McClure	....	provider: cellular phones
Michael J. McKelvey	....	medic (as Michael McKeivey)
John Mendez	....	provider: cellular service
Gerald Michaelson	....	cast physicals (as Dr. Gerald Michaelson)
Steve Minkom	....	provider: paging services
Michael Nusinow	....	supplier: soft drinks, Premiere Entertainment Services
Monica Ovando	....	assistant: Mr. Arau
David Perteet	....	laboratory technician
Steven Porch	....	assistant: Mr. Storaro
Jeff 'Doc' Porter	....	medic (as Jeff Porter)
Denise Quartermaine	....	provider: computers and sunglasses, Rogers & Cowan
Brian Rae	....	laboratory technician
Karrie Ralston	....	purchasing
Bret Rogolf	....	representative: Bragman Nyman Cafaralli
Dan Romanski	....	office production assistant
Dar Romanski	....	office production assistant
David Schultz	....	assistant production coordinator
Julie Shack	....	set production assistant
Carol Sonheim	....	animal trainer: goats and horses
Jessica Stewart	....	office intern
Paul Studabaker	....	provider: cellular phones
Linda Swick	....	international promotions
Tanna Thompson	....	assistant: Mr. Polk Gitlin
Scott Tibbets	....	provider: cellular service
Alan Tuskes	....	laboratory technician
Sarah Voigt	....	office production assistant (as Sarah Curran Voigt)
Julie Weinhouse	....	product placement: Hero
Julie Wilson	....	representative: Nora Marshal & Associates
Tamar Yacov	....	assistant to line producer
Tamar Yacov	....	script coordinator
Alan Abrams	....	legal consultant (uncredited)
Taylor Boyd	....	location staff assistant (uncredited)
Gail Gomez	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Mary Holliday	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ted Shred	....	fire breather (uncredited)
Chris Stiles	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Daniel Veluzat	....	location liaison (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Comala Films Productions
• Kushner-Locke Company, The
• Ostensible Productions

Distributors

• Cinemax (USA)
• Divisa Home Video (2011) (Spain) (DVD)
• EuroVideo
• Kinowelt Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)
• Knipp-Film
• Kushner-Locke Company, The
• Metropolitan Filmexport (France)
• Miraculous Hand Productions Inc.
• RCV Film Distribution (Belgium)
• RCV Film Distribution (Luxembourg)
• RCV Film Distribution (Netherlands)
• Sociedad General de Derechos Audiovisuales (SOGEDASA) (Spain)
• WMA Independent

Special Effects

• K.N.B. Effects Group
• Sundog Films

Other Companies

• AT&T Wireless Services  cellular service
• Aerocrane USA  cranes
• American Eagle Outfitters  wardrobe
• Anheuser Busch  beverages
• Avalon  water
• Birds & Animals Unlimited  animals
• Bodner-Simmrin Communication  publicity
• Buick Motor Division  picture vehicles
• Cadillac Motor Division  picture vehicles
• Cast & Crew Payroll Services  payroll
• Cenex Casting  extras casting
• Central Casting  extras casting
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Clairmont Camera  camera equipment provided by
• Coca-Cola Company, The  soft drinks
• Comerica Bank of California  banking services
• Digital Sound and Picture  post-production sound and re-recording
• E=mc²  video playback
• Eastman Kodak Company  film stock supplied by
• Entertainment Partners  payroll services
• Film Finances  completion bond
• Fuente & Newman  cigars
• Giorgio Armani  sunglasses
• Hollywood Rental Company  grip equipment
• International Business Machines (IBM)  computers
• Iride  lighting equipment
• John Pearce Research  script clearances
• La Pera  wardrobe
• Lexus  picture vehicles
• Magic Film and Video Works  negative cutting
• Mercedes Benz of North America  vehicles
• Metrocall Paging  paging services
• Nokia  cellular phones
• Pacific Title  titles and opticals
• Papa's Catering  catering
• Persol  sunglasses
• Ray-Ban  sunglasses
• SAAB Cars USA  picture vehicles
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Toyota Motor Sales  picture vehicles
• USI Entertainment Insurance Services  insurance
• Worldwide Entertainment Services Inc.  security

Also Known As:

"Virgin Hand" - Japan (English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality and language

Runtime:

95 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.00 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

France:U | Germany:16 | Spain:13 | UK:15 | USA:R | Finland:K-15 | Iceland:12 | South Korea:15

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Company:

Comala Films Productions

Trivia:

Cheech Marin said this is the worst film he's done.

Quotes:

Tex Cowley:She had a boyfriend before me who was in with the mob, and she testified against him and, you know, he didn't take it too kindly... So we came out to Texas, eh, primarily for the air... Actually, we, eh, we wanted to keep breathing it...

In Defense of Woody...

I am a big Woody Allen fan and greatly admire his early films, up to and including Annie Hall. The only two post A.H. films I have enjoyed are "Curse of the Jade Scorpion", and this one, "Picking Up the Pieces". There are moments of the old Woody here that have been missing in many of his more recent efforts. He should venture out of his "New York City comfort zone" more often. The movie is not perfect, and could / will offend some. I really liked the neon lighting, which in no small way reminds me of "Vamp". Do not let the one star ratings steer you away from "Picking Up the Pieces", because it is well worth a peek, and especially for those W.A. fans who yearn for the 1970s Woody. - MERK