Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)

A British woman is determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a personal diary.

Director:

Sharon Maguire

Writers:

Helen Fielding (novel), Helen Fielding (screenplay),

Stars:

Renée Zellweger, Gemma Jones, Colin Firth

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 8 wins & 30 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Renée Zellweger	...	Bridget Jones
Gemma Jones	...	Bridget's Mum
Celia Imrie	...	Una Alconbury
James Faulkner	...	Uncle Geoffrey
Jim Broadbent	...	Bridget's Dad
Colin Firth	...	Mark Darcy
Charmian May	...	Mrs. Darcy
Hugh Grant	...	Daniel Cleaver
Paul Brooke	...	Mr. Fitzherbert
Felicity Montagu	...	Perpetua
Shirley Henderson	...	Jude
Sally Phillips	...	Shazza
James Callis	...	Tom
Charlie Caine	...	Handsome Stranger
Gareth Marks	...	Simon in Marketing

Storyline

Bridget Jones is an average woman struggling against her age, her weight, her job, her lack of a man, and her many imperfections. As a New Year's Resolution, Bridget decides to take control of her life, starting by keeping a diary in which she will always tell the complete truth. The fireworks begin when her charming though disreputable boss takes an interest in the quirky Miss Jones. Thrown into the mix are Bridget's band of slightly eccentric friends and a rather disagreeable acquaintance who Bridget cannot seem to stop running into or help finding quietly attractive.

---

Plot Keywords:

boss | diary | love | single | friend | 

---

Taglines:

Uninhibited. Uncensored. Unmarried.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and some strong sexuality

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA UK Ireland France

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 2001 (USA)

Also Known As:

El diario de Bridget Jones

Filming Locations:

Shepperton Studios, Shepperton, Surrey, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$26,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$2,140,040 (Italy) (19 October 2001)

Gross:

$149,761,366 (Europe) (30 November 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax Films, Universal Pictures, StudioCanal

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

SDDS Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Aside from bearing a resemblance to Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice", the film also features a number of veterans of Austen film adaptations. Writer Andrew Davies wrote the screenplay for Pride and Prejudice, which starred Colin Firth and Crispin Bonham-Carter. Hugh Grant and Gemma Jones both appeared in Sense and Sensibility. Embeth Davidtz can be seen in Mansfield Park.

---

Goofs

At the married couple's dinner party, the level of wine in Bridget's glass changes. When she first picks it up it is half full, in the next shot it is full and in the next shot, it is half full again (without her having time to have consumed that much).

---

Quotes

Bridget: Wait a minute... nice boys don't kiss like that.
Mark Darcy: Oh, yes, they fucking do.

---

Crazy Credits

During the end credits, we see footage of a home movie taken during a birthday party, which also happens to be the birthday party that both Bridget and Mark are at that is referred to several times during the movie.

---

Connections

Featured in Friday Night with Jonathan Ross: Episode #13.13 (2007)

---

Soundtracks

"Love"
Written by Rosey and Swann
Performed by Rosey
Licensed courtesy of The Island Def Jam Music Group

User Reviews

Quality!

What made this film work? What made this film break the usual British romantic conventional route? One actress! Her name is Renee Zellwegger, seriously, if the actress was British, this film would've been -'been there, done that'. Instead, this clever casting has made Bridget Jones a wonderful little picture.

Renee Zellwegger is an actress who changed to suit the screenplay, now that is ACTING! Her mannerisms, her weight, her enthusiasm and cutesy style are a wonder to behold.

Colin Firth does a great job, he plays his role well, a future James Bond perhaps? Hugh Grant finally gives us something different, he was actually quite funny at times.

Maguire as the director handles the proceedings extremely well, this is her debut and I think she will become quite successful with small films. The Super35 wide-screen frame is used well, bravo! The screenplay is lightweight, but written well, plenty of ad-lib and spontaneity transcend the script.

As a male, sit back and have a laugh. Quality!