Uptown Girls (2003)

Director:

Boaz Yakin

Writers:

Allison Jacobs (story)
Julia Dahl (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

15 August 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

They're about to teach each other how to act their age.

Plot:

A grown-up woman, who kept her childish instincts and behavior, start working as a nanny of a 8-year-old girl, who actually acts like an adult. But in the end everything turns to its right places

Plot Keywords:

Girl | Nanny | New York City | Birthday | Inheritance

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Brittany Murphy	...	Molly
Dakota Fanning	...	Ray
Marley Shelton	...	Ingrid
Donald Faison	...	Huey
Jesse Spencer	...	Neal
Austin Pendleton	...	Mr. McConkey
Heather Locklear	...	Roma Schleine
Will Toale	...	Briefs Model
Marceline Hugot	...	Nurse
Pell James	...	Julie
Quddus	...	Party Guy (as Benjamin Quddus Philippe)
Russell Steinberg	...	Party Guy
Fisher Stevens	...	Fisher Stevens
Susanna Frazer	...	Ballet Teacher
Wynter Kullman	...	Holly
Amy Korb	...	Kelli
Geraldine Bartlett	...	Woman
Mark McGrath	...	Rock Star
Dave Navarro	...	Rock Star
Peter James Kelsch	...	Auction Hippie
Edmund Genest	...	Auctioneer (as Edmond Genest)
Greg Baglia	...	Burly Man
Angelina Hong	...	Cashier
Rocco Musacchia	...	Hot Dog Vendor
Edward Hibbert	...	Christies' Rep
David Wells	...	Celebrity Date
Ramsey Faragallah	...	Limo Driver
Tania Deighton	...	Elke
Tom Reilly	...	Executive
Reed Birney	...	Executive
Polly Adams	...	Executive
Laurine Towler	...	Admissions Counselor
Martin Shakar	...	Mr. Feldman
Valentina McKenzie	...	Housemaid
Wayne Gurman	...	Moving Man
Susan Willis	...	Old Lady
A.D. Miles	...	Phone Rep
Maria Finglas	...	Store Manager
Philip Levy	...	Street Sweeper
Anthony J. Ribustello	...	Tony - Doorman
Brian Friedman	...	Celebrity
Nas	...	Celebrity (as Nasir Jones)
Carmen Electra	...	Celebrity
Duncan Sheik	...	Celebrity
Dana Klein	...	Screaming Teen
Samantha Toohey	...	Screaming Teen
Jeremy Petardi	...	$2500 Man
Ilia Jessica Castro	...	Music Video Dancer
D. Foster	...	Music Video Dancer
Michelle Hammar	...	Music Video Dancer
Kerrin Hubbard	...	Music Video Dancer
Stephanie Landwehr	...	Music Video Dancer
Jennifer Leigh Schwerer	...	Music Video Dancer (as Jennifer Schwerer)
Ojela Burkhard	...	Ballet Dancer
Emily Cardea	...	Ballet Dancer
Lara-Michelle Georgi	...	Ballet Dancer
Kara Gibson	...	Ballet Dancer
Lauren Jenkins	...	Ballet Dancer
Lindsey Laggan	...	Ballet Dancer
Karen Lam	...	Ballet Dancer
Christa Sousa	...	Ballet Dancer
Vania Sousa	...	Ballet Dancer
Flora Wildes	...	Ballet Dancer
Madeleine Armstrong	...	Ballet Dancer
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Nicholas J. Coleman	...	Ballerina Parent (uncredited)
Tony Devon	...	Limo Driver (uncredited)
Bill Kotsatos	...	Bar Patron (uncredited)
Alex McCord	...	Molly's Girlfriend (uncredited)
Melisa McGregor	...	Yoga Girl (uncredited)
Andrew Saxe	...	Medical Technician (uncredited)
Michael Urie	...	Pig Walker (uncredited)

Directed by
Boaz Yakin

Writing credits
Allison Jacobs		(story)
Julia Dahl		(screenplay) and
Mo Ogrodnik		(screenplay) and
Lisa Davidowitz		(screenplay)

Produced by
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	executive producer (as Joe Caracciolo Jr.)
Vicki Cherkas	....	co-executive producer
Allison Jacobs	....	producer
John Penotti	....	producer
Fisher Stevens	....	producer
Tim Williams	....	executive producer
Gary Winick	....	co-executive producer
Boaz Yakin	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Joel McNeely

Cinematography by
Michael Ballhaus		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Ray		(edited by)

Casting by
Ali Farrell
Laura Rosenthal

Production Design by
Kalina Ivanov

Art Direction by
Frank White III

Set Decoration by
Pamela Roy-Stasney		(as Pamela Roy)

Costume Design by
Sarah Edwards

Makeup Department
LuAnn Claps	....	key makeup artist
Jacques Stephane Lempire	....	key hair stylist (as Stephane Lempire)
Robert Ramos	....	hair stylist: Brittany Murphy
Tricia Sawyer	....	makeup artist: Brittany Murphy
Michael Alsondo	....	co-hair stylist (uncredited)

Production Management
Joseph M. Caracciolo Jr.	....	unit production manager (as Joe Caracciolo Jr.)
Miles Ferguson	....	post-production supervisor
Buzz Koenig	....	production supervisor (as Scott Koenig)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Shawn Griffith	....	second assistant director
Deanna Leslie	....	second second assistant director (as Deanna Leslie Kelly)
Thomas A. Reilly	....	first assistant director (as Thomas Reilly)
Shannon Von Ronne	....	dga trainee

Art Department
JoAnn Atwood	....	on-set dresser
Toni Barton	....	assistant art director
Frank Didio	....	head carpenter (as Frank Di Dio)
Harvey Goldberg	....	set dressing foreman
Anduin Havens	....	model maker
Vinny Mazzarella	....	assistant property master
James Mazzola	....	property master (as Jim Mazzola)
Timothy Metzger	....	lead man (as Tim Metzger)
Lyvan A. Munlyn	....	scenic foreman (as Lyvan Munlyn)
Ron Petagna	....	construction coordinator (as Ronald Petagna)
Robert Topol	....	master scenic artist (as Bob Topol)
M. Tony Trotta	....	camera scenic artist
Alyson Wellins	....	art department coordinator
Kate Yatsko	....	assistant set decorator
Stephen Caldwell	....	scenic artist (uncredited)
Vincent Guarriello	....	key construction grip (uncredited)
Joseph S. Patire	....	shop craftsman (uncredited)
Ronnie Petagna	....	carpenter (uncredited)

Sound Department
Brian Bowles	....	dialogue editor
Rich Breen	....	sound mixer
Rich Breen	....	sound recordist
Nancy Cabrera	....	foley walker
Robert Carr	....	recordist (as Rob Carr)
Krissopher Chevannes	....	adr recordist
Ryan Collison	....	foley recordist
Chris David	....	re-recording sound mixer
David Esparza	....	additional sound editor
Marshall Garlington	....	re-recording sound mixer
Robert Hein	....	supervising sound editor (as Bob Hein)
Ruth Hernandez	....	adr editor
Bobby Johanson	....	adr engineer
Clarissa Keller	....	mix facility coordinator
Rich Mader	....	recordist
Kim Maitland	....	recordist
Tod A. Maitland	....	production sound mixer (as Tod Maitland)
Sylvia Menno	....	dialogue editor
Todd Milner	....	foley editor
Michael A. Morongell	....	engineer
Glenfield Payne	....	effects editor
Mary Ellen Porto	....	adr editor (as Mary Ellen)
Paul Rodriguez	....	mix facility coordinator
Michael Scott	....	boom operator (as Mike Scott)
Steve F.B. Smith	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Dominick Tavella	....	temp mixer
Ken Teaney	....	re-recording sound mixer
David Wahnon	....	sound editor
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Chris Navarro	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Brian Rader	....	adr recordist (uncredited)

Special Effects by
John Stifanich	....	special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Richard Eberhardt	....	digital lineup: Howard Anderson Company
Steven Fagerquist	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company (as Steve Fagerquist)
David Feinner	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
David Fiske	....	digital effects coordinator: Howard Anderson Company (as Dave Fiske)
Christopher Grandel	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company (as Christopher Grandell)
Michael L. Griffin	....	digital lineup: Howard Anderson Company (as Mike Griffin)
Peter Koczera	....	lead digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Derek Ledbetter	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Shannon Noble	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Brian Smallwood	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Ken D. Smith	....	digital effects producer: Howard Anderson Company
Johnny Wilson	....	digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
Randall Balsmeyer	....	visual effects (uncredited)
J. John Corbett	....	visual effects (uncredited)
Jon Maichel Thomas	....	visual effects artist (uncredited)

Stunts
Danny Aiello III	....	stunt coordinator
Chris Barnes	....	stunts
Stacy Courtney	....	stunts
Don Hewitt	....	stunts (as Don Hewitt Sr.)
Jery Hewitt	....	stunts
Sarah Anderson	....	stunt debutante 2 (uncredited)
Diane DeNoble	....	stunt performer (uncredited)
Rose Sias	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
K.C. Bailey	....	still photographer
Caesar S. Carnevale	....	second assistant camera
Andy Day	....	chief lighting technician
Brian Fitzsimons	....	second company grip
Anthony Gamiello	....	rigging second company grip
Dennis Gamiello	....	key grip
Charlie Grubbs	....	rigging chief lighting technician (as Charles Grubbs)
William Hines	....	stage chief lighting technician
Jim McConkey	....	camera operator/steadicam
Ed Nessen	....	loader
Heather Norton	....	first assistant camera
Rocco Palmieri	....	assistant lighting technician
Louis Petraglia	....	key rigging grip (as Lou Petraglia)
Michael Lee Reed	....	rigging assistant lighting technician
Louis Sabat	....	dolly grip (as Lou Sabat)
Kelly Britt	....	lighting console operator (uncredited)
Jim Galvin	....	dimmer technician (uncredited)
Timothy Healy	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael Kotschi	....	camera intern (uncredited)
Kevin Lowry	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Jon W. Rosenbloom	....	grip (uncredited)
Lowell Schulman	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Krista Bogetich	....	casting assistant
Lee Genick	....	extras casting associate: Sylvia Fay Casting
David H. Kramer	....	adr voice casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jill E. Anderson	....	wardrobe supervisor
Kate Edwards	....	wardrobe supervisor
Jessica T. Sinoway	....	assistant costume designer (as Jessica Sinoway)
Barnaby Smith	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Alex Jablonski	....	apprentice editor
John F. Lyons	....	first assistant editor (as John Lyons)
Carrie Petri	....	post-production coordinator
Amanda Pollack	....	associate editor
Chris Regan	....	color timer
Pierre P. Verna Jr.	....	editorial consultant: Egyptian Cotton Music Video
Steve Calalang	....	dailies colorist (uncredited)

Music Department
Maureen Crowe	....	music supervisor
Samuel S. Davis	....	musician
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Michael Jay	....	music editor
Lisa Matricardi	....	musician
Sandra Park	....	musician
Thomas Rosenthal	....	musician
Nan Schwartz	....	orchestrator
Sara J. Seiver	....	musician (as Sarah J. Seiver)
Booker White	....	music preparation
Stewart Lerman	....	music producer (uncredited)
Frank Macchia	....	music preparation (uncredited)
Larry Mah	....	digital score recordist (uncredited)
Keram Malicki-Sánchez	....	songs (uncredited)
Keram Malicki-Sánchez	....	soundtrack (uncredited)
Bryan Pezzone	....	musician: piano (uncredited)
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor (uncredited)
Matthew Rush Sullivan	....	music coordinator (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Joseph Buonocore	....	transportation co-captain (as Joseph J. Buonocore Jr.)
James Patrick Whalen Jr.	....	transportation captain (as James P. Whalen Jr.)
Timothy Paustian	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Lucio Amadio	....	assistant: Fisher Stevens
Daniela Barbosa	....	key set production assistant (as Daniela Tomc-Barbosa)
Rebecca Bond	....	office production assistant
Jan Cerwonka	....	teacher
Davey Cutler	....	set production assistant
Sally Douglass	....	payroll accountant
Johnny Egan	....	set production assistant (as John J. Egan III)
Frances Fiore	....	unit publicist
Heather Garfinkle	....	set production assistant
Jared Goldman	....	assistant: Tim Williams
Alexes Hargrove	....	office production assistant
Arlene Hellerman	....	clearance coordinator
JoAnn Fregalette Jansen	....	choreographer (as JoAnn Jansen)
Daedra Kaehler	....	assistant choreographer (as Daedra N. Kaehler)
Diana E. Latham	....	production coordinator
Mary Lawless	....	assistant: Vicki Cherkas
Lori Lazar	....	assistant: John Penotti
Chris Leonidas	....	office production assistant
Jessica Lichtner	....	script supervisor
Pamela S. Marshall	....	assistant production coordinator
Nick McAuliff	....	animal trainer
Steve McAuliff	....	animal trainer
Charles Mcdonald	....	title designer: Howard Anderson Company (as Charles McDonald)
James McKenna	....	optical film out: Egyptian Cotton Music Video
A. Lee Morris	....	assistant: Joe Caracciolo Jr.
Kellie Morrison	....	assistant location manager
Meredith Murphy	....	assistant: Brittany Murphy
Ben Murray	....	optical film out: Egyptian Cotton Music Video
Corey O'Neill Hanson	....	assistant: Boaz Yakin
Kelly Perkins	....	animal trainer
Sara Pollack	....	assistant: Fisher Stevens
Olimpia T. Rinaldi	....	first assistant accountant (as Olympia Rinaldi-Iodice)
Andrew Saxe	....	location manager
Mason Steinberg	....	set production assistant
Sheilah Sullivan	....	production accountant
José Tejada	....	parking coordinator (as Jose Tejada)
Victor Valencia	....	post production accountant
Kate Wilson	....	dialect coach
Khalid Yates	....	security (as Charles Khalid Yates)
Karlena Barbosa	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Danielle Blumstein	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Dave Ginsberg	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Michael Hartel	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Michael Hartel	....	location scout (uncredited)
Joseph Helmreich	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeff Lomaglio	....	shop craftsmen (uncredited)
Clare Lord	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Sean Oliver	....	adr loop group (uncredited)
David Penotti	....	assistant to producer (uncredited)
Olimpia T. Rinaldi	....	post-production accountant (uncredited)
Apollo Smile	....	photo double: Britney Murphy (uncredited)
Andrew Vona	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Caroline Wells	....	production secretary (uncredited)

Thanks
Ian Falconer	....	the producers wish to thank
David Wells	....	special thanks (as David 'Boomer' Wells)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures) (presented by)
• GreeneStreet Films

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2003-) (worldwide) (all media)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2003) (USA) (theatrical) (as Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Co.)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2004) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2004) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2004) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2004) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2003) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2004) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Centfox Film (2004) (Austria) (theatrical)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2004) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Gemini Film (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (2004) (Spain) (theatrical)
• UGC-Fox Distribution (UFD) (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (DVD)
• FS Film Oy (2004) (Finland) (VHS)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (VHS)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (Germany) (DVD)
• MGM Home Entertainment (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• RTL Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (TV) (RTL5) (first national airing)
• SubTV (2006) (Finland) (TV)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)

Other Companies

• American Humane Association, The  monitored the animal action: no animal was harmed in the making of this film (AHA 00352) (as American Humane Association)
• Animal Actors  animals supplied by (as Animal Actors Inc.)
• Bo Concepts  the producers wish to thank
• Camera Service Center  lighting equipment supplied by
• Capezio Shoes/Ballet Makers Inc.  the producers wish to thank (as Capezio Balletmakers)
• City of New York  the producers wish to thank
• Ethan Allen  the producers wish to thank
• Griptek  grip equipment and cranes supplied by (as Grip Tech)
• Henri Bendel  the producers wish to thank (as Bendel's)
• Howard Anderson Company, The  titles and opticals by (as Howard Anderson Company)
• Lightnin' Production Rentals  transportation equipment (uncredited)
• Lumetta  the producers wish to thank
• MAC Cosmetics  the producers wish to thank
• MGM Clip + Still  clip: from "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" courtesy of
• Mattel Toys  the producers wish to thank (as Mattel)
• Mayor's Office for Film, Theater and Broadcasting  the producers wish to thank
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures  is the author and creator of this motion picture for purpose of copyright and other laws in all countries throughout the world
• NT Audio Visual  optical sound negative (as N.T. Audio)
• Negative People  negative cutting
• Nettwerk Records  soundtrack available on
• Postworks New York  offline avid and technical support
• Premiere Catering  catering (as Premiere Caterers Inc.)
• See Through Films  post-production facility: Egyptian Cotton music video
• Simon and Schuster  the producers wish to thank
• Sony Scoring Stage  recorded at
• Sound One Corporation  post production facility (as Sound One Corp.)
• Sylvia Fay Casting  extras casting
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting (uncredited)
• Thomson Bros. Craft Services  craft service (as Thomson Bros. Craft Service)
• Warner Bros  Looney Tunes characters, names and all related Indicia are trademarks of
• Warner Bros. Animation  cartoon clips courtesy of
• Wilshire Stages, The  digital sound recording and re-recording (as Wilshire Stages, Los Angeles, CA)
• Yamaha Corporation of America  the producers wish to thank

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and language

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Australia:PG (original rating) | Canada:PG | Netherlands:AL | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Sweden:Btl | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39314) | Germany:o.Al. | Iceland:L | Finland:K-3 | South Korea:12

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The "music video" credits show it to be directed by Boaz Yakin, who was the actual director for this movie.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Ingrid comes into the apartment after Neal has left, Ingrid says that Molly has 98 messages, but when she picks up the phone she says it is dead, so how could she know that she has 98 messages if she doesn't have any power, plus the phone is dead.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Ray:[narration] Some fairy tales are true, most of there stories we make up to help us deal with real life; it all depends on your point of view, but here are the facts... there was once a princess, who lived in a castle, high above the streets of an enchanted kingdom. The king and queen were long gone but they left her with a treasure, that she would stay a princess forever. On the eve of her 22nd birthday a great celebration was planned...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Office: Safety Training (#3.19)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Sexiest Man in Jamaica

Not a bad rental

Altogether, it's an amusing film, but its overbearing sentimentality prevents it from really taking off. Basically, if you've seen previews, you can pretty much predict the whole plot of the film. Brittany Murphy is an irresponsible girl who suddenly has to face up to reality when she's evicted from her home, has to get a job babysitting a pampered rich girl (Dakota Fanning) who also has to face up to reality, and by the end Murphy becomes a responsible, mature person and Fanning loosens up and acts more like her age. Blah, blah, blah. There are moments of truth that work, despite spawning from cinematic contrivances. There are in fact a lot of spoiled girls like Fanning's character, who get whatever they want simply because the mothers or fathers don't want to deal with them. That's also why I wish the film could've developed Heather Locklear's character more thoroughly, since she's the reason why her daughter acts the way she does. But the film does have a lot of contrivances that are corny and predictable, which is why I give it merely an above-average rating. Plus, Fanning's snooty sarcasm gets terribly annoying at times. I always hated watching that moment in all the previews where she'd say "News-fe-lash!" All in all, "Uptown Girls" is a fluffy, superficial feel-good comedy that doesn't fail to entertain, and I will recommend it for a rental.

My score: 6 (out of 10)