40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)

User Rating:

5.4/10   

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writer (WGA):

Rob Perez (written by)

Release Date:

1 March 2002 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

One man is about to do the unthinkable. No sex. Whatsoever. For... 40 Days and 40 Nights

Plot:

After a brutal breakup, a young man vows to stay celibate during the 40 days of Lent, but finds the girl of his dreams and is unable to do anything about it.

Plot Keywords:

Lent | Sex | Masturbation | Dream | Love

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Josh Hartnett	...	Matt Sullivan
Shannyn Sossamon	...	Erica Sutton
Paulo Costanzo	...	Ryan
Adam Trese	...	John Sullivan
Emmanuelle Vaugier	...	Susie
Lorin Heath	...	Diana
Aaron Trainor	...	Kellner
Glenn Fitzgerald	...	Chris
Monet Mazur	...	Candy
Christine Chatelain	...	Andie
Keegan Connor Tracy	...	Mandy
Michael C. Maronna	...	Bagel Boy (as Michael Maronna)
Vinessa Shaw	...	Nicole
Stefanie von Pfetten	...	Girl in Chinatown
Stanley Anderson	...	Father Maher
Griffin Dunne	...	Jerry Anderson
Jarrad Paul	...	Duncan
Terry Chen	...	Neil
Kai Lennox	...	Nick
Chris Gauthier	...	Mikey (as Christopher Gauthier)
Barry Newman	...	Walter Sullivan
Mary Gross	...	Bev Sullivan
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Sam
Alan Draven	...	Computerfreak
Dylan Neal	...	David Brokaw
Michelle Harrison	...	Maureen
Rueben Grundy	...	Computerfreak
Jason Low	...	Merj
Tracy Kyser	...	Business Woman
Nicole Wilder	...	Anastasia
Natassia Malthe	...	Girl in Bed (as Lina Teal)
Susan Bain	...	Ms. Willow
Chiara Zanni	...	Nun
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Theresa Alexandria	...	Pretty Girl 2 (uncredited)
Gina DeVettori	...	Blonde Delivery Girl (uncredited)
Angie Ruiz	...	Girl Eating Banana (uncredited)
Amanda Welles	...	Fantasy Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Lehmann

Writing credits (WGA)
Rob Perez		(written by) (as Robert Perez)

Produced by
Stuart M. Besser	....	co-producer
Tim Bevan	....	producer
Liza Chasin	....	executive producer
Eric Fellner	....	producer
Debra Hayward	....	executive producer
Michael London	....	producer
Jennifer J. Thomas	....	line producer: additional unit, San Francisco (as Jennifer Thomas)

Original Music by
Rolfe Kent

Cinematography by
Elliot Davis		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Nicholas C. Smith

Casting by
Joseph Middleton

Production Design by
Sharon Seymour

Art Direction by
Yvonne J. Hurst		(as Yvonne Hurst)

Set Decoration by
Lesley Beale

Costume Design by
Jill M. Ohanneson		(as Jill Ohanneson)

Makeup Department
Kathrine Gordon	....	hair stylist
Jana Hudson	....	second assistant makeup artist (as Tanya Hudson)
Howard Leonard	....	hair stylist assistant: San Francisco (as Butch Leonard)
Thom MacIntyre	....	first assistant hair stylist (as Thom McIntyre)
Lisa Taylor Roberts	....	makeup artist (as L. Taylor Roberts)
Tone Rorvik	....	first assistant makeup artist
Gina Sherritt	....	first assistant hair stylist
Jenny-King Turko	....	makeup artist: San Francisco (as Jenny King Turko)
Gretchen Davis	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Miia Kovero	....	hair stylist: Josh Hartnett, additional photography (uncredited)

Production Management
Stuart M. Besser	....	unit production manager: US (as Stuart Besser)
David Crockett	....	unit production manager: San Francisco
Ruth Hasty	....	post-production supervisor
Barbara Kelly	....	production manager: Canada
Michelle Wright	....	executive in charge of production: Working Title Films

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Chris Baillie	....	trainee assistant director
Blake Banbury	....	trainee assistant director
Penny Charter	....	second assistant director
Chris Ferguson	....	third assistant director
Walter Gasparovic	....	first assistant director
Rebecca Greeley	....	second assistant director: San Francisco
Kevin McNamara	....	second second assistant director: San Francisco
Lope Yap Jr.	....	first assistant director: additional San Francisco unit (as Lope Yap)
David Hakim	....	second assistant director: additional San Francisco unit (uncredited)

Art Department
Vaughan V. Baker	....	paint coordinator (as Vaughan Baker)
Christine Barr	....	art department production assistant: San Francisco
Claudia Bestor	....	on-set product placement
Craig Brisker	....	construction foreman
William Glenn Burdett	....	lead carpenter (as Glenn Burdett)
William Glenn Burdett	....	lead painter (as William Burdett)
Noel Burke-Gaffney	....	paint foreman
John Burke	....	art department coordinator
Susie Cowley	....	sign painter (as Sue Cowley)
Tom Ehline	....	construction coordinator: San Francisco
Jerry Frigault	....	lead carpenter
Stephen J. Gardner	....	property master: San Francisco (as Steve Gardner)
Don Halton	....	set designer
Haida Harper	....	assistant property master (as Haida G. Harper)
Gail Irvine	....	property buyer
Kristen Johnson	....	assistant art director
Bryan Korenberg	....	property master
Kitty Laflamme	....	scenic artist
Geoffrey Lake	....	greensperson: San Francisco (as Geoff Lake)
Bill Lammers	....	maintenance person
Franklin Leibel	....	lead painter
Jeremy Lew	....	scenic carpenter
Francis Mallette	....	scenic artist (as Frances Mallette)
Greg McDonald	....	lead carpenter
Bill McGirr	....	assistant props: San Francisco
Nicholas Meeks	....	on-set dresser: San Francisco
Barbara Munch	....	set decorator: San Francisco
Diane Nachlik	....	leadman (as Diana Nachlik)
Nanci Noblett	....	art director: San Francisco
Ryan Ostiguy	....	scenic artist
Geoff Phillips	....	lead laborer
David Pirrie	....	scenic artist
Doug Poetker	....	scenic helper
Jim Poynter	....	lead man: San Francisco (as James Poynter)
Steve Reintjes	....	lead painter (as Steve Reinties)
Tom Richardson	....	lead scenic artist: San Francisco
Marlee Siemens	....	set painter
Martin Sigmund	....	lead carpenter
Mark Spence	....	scenic carpenter
Anneke Van Oort	....	draftsperson
Glenn Woodruff	....	props (as Glenn 'Woody' Woorduff)
M. Danica Ban	....	set dresser daily (uncredited)
Laurie Edmundson	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Paul Jenkinson	....	leadman (uncredited)
Ocea Ringrose	....	set dresser (uncredited)
Sandy Walker	....	set buyer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Chris Barron	....	digital sound transferer (as Christopher Barron)
Rick Bold	....	boom operator
Karen Brocco	....	supervising assistant sound editor (as Karen A. Brocco)
Tim Burby	....	digital sound transferer
Brian Chumney	....	digital editorial services
John Countryman	....	digital sound transferer
Edwin Dunkley	....	video services (as Ed Dunkley)
Jonathan Greber	....	digital sound transferer
Lora Hirschberg	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Hunter	....	digital editorial services
David Husby	....	sound mixer
Noah Katz	....	digital editorial services
Brian Magerkurth	....	sound mix technician
Michael Meiser	....	cableman: San Francisco
Marnie Moore	....	foley artist
Tom Myers	....	sound re-recording mixer
Margie O'Malley	....	foley artist
Frank Rinella	....	foley recording engineer
Gary Rizzo	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Fred Runner	....	boom operator: San Francisco
Jurgen Scharpf	....	sound mix technician
Robert Shoup	....	supervising sound editor
Kent Sparling	....	sound mix technician
Nelson Stoll	....	sound mixer: San Francisco
Erich Stratmann	....	assistant sound editor
John Torrijos	....	video services (as John 'J.T.' Torrijos)
Viet Tran	....	foley recording assistant
Wayne Williams	....	sound assistant
Karen G. Wilson	....	adr editor (as Karen Wilson)
Marshall Winn	....	dialogue editor
Sean England	....	machine room operator (uncredited)
Jeff Gomillion	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Brandon Proctor	....	sound mix technician (uncredited)
Philip Rogers	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Walter Shemley	....	special effects coordinator
James Kozier	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Sean Afshar	....	visual effects editor: Stargate Digital
Jon Craig	....	compositor: Stargate Digital
Adam Ealovega	....	visual effects supervisor: Stargate Digital
Eric Grenaudier	....	visual effects supervisor: Stargate Digital
Kenya Hadley	....	visual effects editor: Stargate Digital
Rob Konuch	....	compositor: Stargate Digital
Frank Lawas	....	visual effects I/O supervisor: Stargate Digital
Sam Nicholson	....	visual effects producer: Stargate Digital
Sean O'Brien	....	visual effects coordinator: Stargate Digital
Anthony Ocampo	....	CGI artist: Stargate Digital (as Tony O'Campo)
Valeri Pfahning	....	compositor: Stargate Digital (as Val Pfahning)
Victor Scalise	....	visual effects post-production supervisor: Stargate Digital
Jaison Stritch	....	CGI supervisor: Stargate Digital
Peter V. Ware	....	visual effects producer: Stargate Digital (as Peter Ware)
Scott Williston	....	CGI artist: Stargate Digital
Arlene Bogna	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Corey Bramall	....	digital artist (uncredited)
Dan Brittain	....	digital artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Duane Dickinson	....	stunts: waiter
David Jacox	....	stunt coordinator
Heath Stevenson	....	stunt double: Matt
Jim Dunn	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Carlos Avila	....	rigging grip
David Bouillez	....	electrician: San Francisco
Fred Boyd	....	gaffer
Marty Brenneis	....	video playback operator: San Francisco
John Buckley	....	gaffer: San Francisco
Dave Childers	....	key grip: San Francisco (as David Childers)
Dino Corti	....	grip: San Francisco
Kenn Ferro	....	Steadicam operator: San Francisco (as Ken Ferro)
Kenn Ferro	....	camera operator: San Francisco (as Ken Ferro)
Lenny Fisher	....	lamp operator
David Galbraith	....	first assistant camera
Gary Gill	....	dolly grip: San Francisco
Jeff Gilliam	....	best boy: San Francisco (as Jeffrey Gilliam)
Richard Gill	....	electrician: San Francisco
Charlie Guttman	....	rigging grip (as Charlie Guttmann)
Lisa Harper	....	grip: San Francisco
Robert Harvey	....	lamp operator
Steve Holland	....	generator operator
John Johnson	....	still photographer: San Francisco
Dennis Jones	....	rigging gaffer
Gene Keigher	....	rigging key grip
Chris Large	....	still photographer
Richard Mall	....	key grip
Patrick McArdle	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, San Francisco (as Patric McArdle)
Starrs McBurney	....	camera loader: San Francisco
Shawn McLaughlin	....	lamp operator
Chris McMullin	....	camera operator
Randal W. Morton	....	second assistant camera (as Randy Morton)
Chuck Reid	....	best boy electric
Jan Ruona	....	second assistant camera: San Francisco
Jay Rupert	....	grip
Don Matthew Smith	....	director of photography: additional San Francisco unit (as Don M. Smith)
Rick Stadder	....	dolly grip
Charles Stanyan	....	electrician: San Francisco
John Taylor	....	grip
Daniel Volonino	....	camera trainee
Tony Whiteside	....	key grip: Canada
Neil Wildman	....	lamp operator
Gary J. Williams	....	grip (as Gary Williams)
James J. Williams	....	best boy grip (as James Williams)
Sheila Greene	....	set electrician: San Francisco (uncredited)
Chris McMullin	....	Steadicam operator (uncredited)
Max Torroba	....	playback operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Stuart Aikins	....	casting: Canada
Dena Berman	....	casting assistant
Sean Cossey	....	casting associate: Canada
Nancy Hayes	....	casting: San Francisco, Nancy Hayes Casting
Michelle Levitt	....	casting assistant: San Francisco
Annette McCaffrey	....	extras casting
Michelle Morris	....	casting associate (as Michelle Morris Gertz)
Sonia Henkel	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)
Cheri Larsen	....	extras casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michelle Baines	....	costume set supervisor
Cathy Darby	....	costumer: prep
Ruth Elke	....	set costumer
Mellisa Glass	....	additional costumer: San Francisco
Jana MacDonald	....	assistant costume designer
Daniela Moore	....	costumer: San Francisco

Editorial Department
Megan B. Agosto	....	second assistant editor: US
Melody Gehrman	....	apprentice editor: Canada
Caroline Hardon	....	first assistant editor: Canada
Vivian Hengsteler	....	negative cutter: Vivkim
Richard Long	....	second assistant editor: Canada
Mike Milliken	....	color timer (as Mike Millikin)
Nicole Smith	....	first assistant editor: US
Roy Waldspurger	....	assistant editor: avid, US

Music Department
Tony Blondal	....	orchestrator
Robert Fernandez	....	scoring mixer (as Bobby Fernandez)
Bonnie Greenberg	....	music supervisor (as Bonnie Greenberg-Goodman)
Daryl B. Kell	....	music editor: temp music (as Daryl Kell)
Suzan Mann	....	music clearances
Kathy Nelson	....	executive in charge of music: Universal
Randall Poster	....	music consultant
David Sabee	....	musician contractor (as David Saybee)
Nick South	....	music editor
Randy Spendlove	....	executive in charge of music: Miramax
William T. Stromberg	....	conductor (as William Stromberg)
Kerry Wikstrom	....	additional orchestrator
Karen Bennett	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Steven Gizicki	....	music consultant (uncredited)
Annette Kudrak	....	music editor (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Peter Borkent	....	driver
Sandy Broadfoot	....	driver
Barry Bryant	....	driver
Harry Carlson	....	driver
Ian Doiuglass	....	driver
Thomas Dwyer	....	driver (as Tom Dwyer)
Shawn Henter	....	driver
Dan Irwine	....	driver (as Dan Irwin)
Donald Kasich	....	transportation captain: San Francisco (as Don Kasich)
Ken Meier	....	driver
R.G. Miller	....	driver
Rory Moffatt	....	driver: camera truck
Rory Moffatt	....	transportation co-captain
David Pappas	....	transportation coordinator: San Francisco
Les Peters	....	transportation captain
Mike Porohowski	....	driver
Ed Robertson	....	driver
Bret A.W. Smith	....	driver
Don Steele	....	driver
Ian Thompson	....	unit driver
Bob Thorner	....	transportation coordinator
Mark Tyrrell	....	driver
Ian 'Moss' Urquhart	....	transportation coordinator

Other crew
Tom Amundsen	....	adr voice
Jeffrey Andersen	....	office production assistant (as Jeff Anderson)
Melanie Aron	....	assistant: Mr. Lehmann
Courtney Atinsky	....	office production assistant: San Francisco
Craig Bankey	....	unit publicist
Bob Bedard	....	catering head chef
Tim Bennett	....	on-set production assistant
Fanny Bessette	....	stand-in: female utility
Jackie Bissley	....	accounting clerk
Rich Brown	....	payroll accountant
Peter Camilleri	....	assistant chef
Mitch Carter	....	adr voice
James Chandler	....	craft service: San Francisco
Katie Cooper	....	assistant: Mr. Bevan, Working Title Films
Emily Coutts	....	craft service
Emily Coutts	....	first aid
Sara Curran	....	head of legal and business affairs: Working Title Films
Tony Davis	....	production coordinator: Working Title Films
Derek Delost	....	on-set production assistant
Debbie Derkach	....	craft service (as Debra Derkach)
Debbie Derkach	....	first aid (as Debra Derkach)
Moosie Drier	....	adr voice
Lara P. Fox	....	script supervisor (as Lara Fox)
Shefali Ghosh	....	chief financial officer: Working Title Films
Kelli Gillam	....	payroll: San Francisco
Trista Gormley	....	production coordinator: San Francisco (as Trista Paige Gormley)
Brad Greer	....	dailies runner: San Francisco
Marcy Guiragossian	....	key office production assistant: San Francisco
Michelle Harris	....	on-set production assistant
Sarah Harvey	....	assistant: Los Angeles, Working Title Films
Sonia Henkel	....	extras wrangler
Carol Hocking	....	first assistant accountant
Andrea Hughes	....	extras wrangler
Aliza James	....	assistant: Mr. Fellner, Working Title Films
Saisie M. Jang	....	location assistant: San Francisco
Petra Janopaul	....	set production assistant: San Francisco
Andrew Keilty	....	stand-in: Ryan
Shelly Kennedy	....	craft service
Shelly Kennedy	....	first aid
Mary Kwan	....	body double: Erica
Matthew Laborteaux	....	adr voice (as Matthew Labyorteaux)
Mike Lane	....	client services
Andrea Larsen	....	production accountant: San Francisco
Shane Lennox	....	key location production assistant
Judith Linn	....	set production assistant: San Francisco
Sandra Louie	....	location assistant: San Francisco (as Sandy Louie)
Jennifer Lung	....	key assistant location manager: San Francisco
Christina Ma	....	adr voice
Erica Maletz	....	production coordinator
Adam Marcus	....	on-set production assistant
Karen McCullough	....	first assistant production coordinator
Jonathan Mecenas	....	office production assistant: San Francisco
Susanne Milka	....	on-set production assistant (as Susie Milka)
Edie Mirman	....	adr voice
Stephanie K. Mitchell	....	assistant: Mr. Besser (as Stephanie Mitchell)
Angela Morrison	....	chief operating officer: Working Title Films
Don Munro	....	second assistant production coordinator
Eva Napolean	....	client services
Gordon Ng	....	client services
Tammy Nielsen	....	on-set production assistant
Laura Obenaus	....	assistant: Mr. London, Vancouver
Cy Peck	....	on-set production assistant
Gracle Poletti	....	adr voice (as Gracie Moore Poletti)
Joyce Quan	....	production coordinator: additional San Francisco unit
Mavis Quek	....	trainee assistant location manager
Matt Riley	....	stand-in: Matt
Renee Russo	....	client services
S. Steven Sach	....	location manager (as Steve Sach)
Baljeet Samra	....	stand-in: Erica
Steve Sangster	....	assistant location manager (as Stephen Sangster)
Nina Saxon	....	title designer: Nina Saxon Film Design
Sheeraz Shah	....	vice president legal and business affairs: Working Title Films
Mark Simone	....	production assistant: Los Angeles
Rose Solomon	....	assistant production coordinator: San Francisco
Gail Stempler	....	location manager: San Francisco (as Gail Stempler Lake)
David Tamkin	....	key location production assistant
Janice Tetlock	....	location scout
Kelly Tindal	....	assistant chef
Scott Trimble	....	location assistant: San Francisco
Claudette Wells	....	adr voice
Ping Wu	....	adr voice
George Young	....	production associate: San Francisco
Steve Bannatyne	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Brian Dettor	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jerrold McKinley Ivery	....	accounting clerk (uncredited)
Randee Lynne Jensen	....	creative assistant (uncredited)
Kimie Kimura-Heaney	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Ian Alexander Martin	....	photo double: Mr. Dunne (uncredited)
Brittney Nance	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Laura Obenaus	....	clearance (uncredited)
Darren Robertson	....	playback coordinator (uncredited)
Victor Scalise	....	title designer (uncredited)
Adam Schardein	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Daniel Shepherd	....	assistant to producers (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Miramax Films
• Milo Productions
• Studio Canal
• Universal Pictures
• Working Title Films

Distributors

• Miramax Films (2002) (USA) (theatrical) (North America)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• Miramax Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Universal Studios (2002) (Non-USA) (all media)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Finland) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• East West (Russia)
• Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (2007) (Finland) (TV)
• SubTV (2005) (Finland) (TV)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2002) (Finland) (DVD)
• Universal Pictures Finland Oy (2002) (Finland) (VHS)
• Universal Pictures Video (200?) (Netherlands) (video)
• Universal Pictures (2002) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Stargate Digital (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• AON/Albert G. Ruben Insurance Services  insurance (as AON/Albert G. Ruben)
• Adobe Systems  thanks
• Apple Computer  thanks
• Bridge Studios, The  thanks
• Col This Music  music copyist
• Columbia Records  thanks
• Davis and Company  legal services (as Davis & Company)
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color (as Deluxe)
• Frankfurt, Garbus, Kurnit, Klein & Selz  legal services
• International Business Machines (IBM)  thanks
• Miramax Films  thanks
• Nancy Hayes Casting  casting: San Francisco
• Nina Saxon Film Design  main and end titles designed by
• PS Production Services  thanks
• Pacific Title  opticals
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Panavision  thanks
• R.C. Baral & Co.  post-production accounting
• Skywalker Sound  post-production sound services
• Viv Kim Negative Cutting Service  negative cutting (as Vivkim)
• West Media Film and Post  computer playback
• Zocalo Catering  catering: San Francisco

Also Known As:

40 jours et 40 nuits (France)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity and language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA | UK | France

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #38351) | France:U | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Singapore:R(A) (cut) | Philippines:R-18 | Argentina:16 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:13+ (Quebec) | Canada:14A (British Columbia) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) (re-rating on appeal) | Canada:18A (Alberta) | Canada:18 (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Canada:PA (Manitoba) | Finland:K-15 | Germany:12 | Hong Kong:IIB | Iceland:12 | Malaysia:(Banned) | Netherlands:12 | Norway:15 | Portugal:M/12 | South Korea:18 | Spain:13 | Sweden:11 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:16 (canton of the Grisons) | UK:15

Filming Locations:

San Francisco, California, USA

Company:

Miramax Films

Trivia:

Ashton Kutcher and Katie Holmes were originally set to play the roles of Matt and Erica. They both dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: The cameraman is reflected in the window of the bus as they sit in the back seat.

Quotes:

Walter Sullivan: They're grown men they're old enough to know that their mother's machine is still running.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: Ypalliloi en drasei!" (2009)

Soundtrack:

Space to Share

Holding out for the One...

Michael Lehman's "40 Days and 40 Nights" is a surprisingly funny, smart, edgy romantic comedy with an amazing sweetness to it. This is a feat given some of the graphic dialog, and outrageous sight gags. Credit the star power of Josh Hartnett, the skillful direction of Michael Lehman, and a brisk and "in your face" screenplay by Rob Perez. The movie intends to offend, and we give it permission to do so-- the effect is a fun time at the movies.

Josh Hartnett plays young Dot Commer, Matt, who is suffering since his break up 6 months ago from Nicole (a viciously good Vinessa Shaw). Matt has visions of a Black Hole fissuring from the ceiling whenever he is having sex with women which is very often-- poor guy. Matt confides in his brother, John (Adam Trese), a priest completing his probationary period. John is not the tower of strength and inspiration that Matt is looking for. Then by design, divine intervention, or sheer insanity, Matt chooses abstinence for 40 days and nights until Lent. And this is extreme-- no fondling and... no masturbation. No one believes Matt will last 40 days, much less a week. Among the faithless is Matt's roommate, Ryan (Paulo Costanzo), who betrays Matt confidence and tells his co-workers at Matt's Internet company. They start a pool on a website predicting Matt's demise. In the meantime, Matt pursues a relationship with a great girl, Erica (a beautiful Shannyn Sossamon), who he met at the local laundromat. Also by design it just happens that Erica has a history of dating weirdos, and she works for Cyber Nanny, a company that safeguards against porn-sites. Matt also finds out that Nicole is back from Europe and now engaged, and she will not let him forget this. What makes the movie special is that Matt really falls in love with Erica without sleeping with her, and that he remains abstinent, because he said so... This is refreshing. Josh Hartnett is great here. His Matt is a good-looking, charming guy who makes an insane choice and lives with it. Hartnett also comes across as empathetic, as a man thrust in an almost impossible situation where everyone is betting on his failure. He has a quiet strength about him, is very funny, and totally believable. Shannyn Sossamon is stunning-- you can see why Matt falls for her. And when she wonders if Matt is gay, this is hilarious. Sossamon's Erica is smart and compassionate with great humanity. Playing a woman wondering why the guy she is attracted to doesn't want to have sex with her is not an easy role... or natural.

The humor in "40 Days" is raw, though enjoy the ride. Afterall it is a romance, managed well by Lehman, Harnett, and Sossamon. And we don't mind being offended as long as it is done smartly with style, and that we are ultimately touched.