If Only (2004)

Director:

Gil Junger

Writer (WGA):

Christina Welsh (written by)

Release Date:

15 July 2004 (Lebanon)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Romance

Tagline:

His love for her forced fate to change.

Plot:

It takes a tragedy to teach the young businessman Ian to put love ahead of work and open up to his musician girlfriend Samantha.

Plot Keywords:

Heavy Rain | Singing | Death Of Girlfriend | Concert Hall | Holding Hands

Cast

Jennifer Love Hewitt	...	Samantha Andrews
Paul Nicholls	...	Ian Wyndham
Tom Wilkinson	...	Taxi Driver
Diana Hardcastle	...	Claire
Lucy Davenport	...	Lottie
Roy Sampson	...	Dunbar
Kevin Moore	...	Hotel Employee
Neville Phillips	...	Concert MC
Ben Ridgeway	...	Teenage Boy
Teo-Wa Vuong	...	Enniko
Terence Harvey	...	Trahem
Al Wilde	...	Oliver
Danny Babington	...	Nigel
Stewart Wright	...	Mike
Graham Turner	...	Richard
David Groves	...	Teacher No. 1
Pippa Haywood	...	Lavinia
Anthony Milner	...	Paddy
Richard Saade	...	Tom
Susie Fairfax	...	Teacher No. 2
Jessica Claire	...	Barmaid
Oscar James	...	Superintendent
Glynis Brooks	...	Landlady
Marc Finn	...	Hitch
Nelson Fletcher	...	Frankie
Susan Parkes	...	Melinda Walters
Robert Ziegler	...	Conductor

Directed by
Gil Junger

Writing credits (WGA)
Christina Welsh		(written by)

Produced by
Laurie Borg	....	co-producer (as Laurence Borg)
Moritz Borman	....	executive producer
Jill Gilbert	....	producer
Jeffrey Graup	....	co-executive producer
Jennifer Love Hewitt	....	producer
Basil Iwanyk	....	executive producer
Gil Junger	....	producer
Gub Neal	....	executive producer
Robert F. Newmyer	....	producer (as Bobby Newmyer)
Jeffrey Silver	....	producer
Scott Strauss	....	co-producer

Original Music by
Adrian Johnston

Cinematography by
Giles Nuttgens		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
William M. Anderson		(as William Anderson)
Padraic McKinley

Casting by
Victoria Burrows		(casting director: US)
Priscilla John

Production Design by
Joseph Bennett

Art Direction by
Mark Raggett

Set Decoration by
Rebecca du Pont de Bie

Costume Design by
Odile Dicks-Mireaux		(as Odile Dicks-Mireauz)

Makeup Department
Ameneh Mahloudji	....	hair stylist
Ameneh Mahloudji	....	makeup artist
Veronica McAleer	....	key hair designer (as Veronica Brebner)
Veronica McAleer	....	key makeup artist (as Veronica Brebner)
Tamara Mills	....	makeup trainee
Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou	....	hair stylist
Elizabeth Yianni-Georgiou	....	makeup artist

Production Management
Steve Gaub	....	production supervisor
Rachel Neale	....	unit production manager
Emma Zee	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Henry Forsyth	....	third assistant director
Olivia Lloyd	....	second unit director
Andrew McEwan	....	co-second assistant director
Deborah Saban	....	first assistant director
Rhys Summerhayes	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Grant Armstrong	....	stand-by art director
Gary Gleeson	....	head of department painter
Maxie McDonald	....	property master
Harry Metcalfe	....	construction manager
Neil Murrum	....	chargehand props
Hattie Storey	....	art department assistant
Sarah Stuart	....	assistant art director

Sound Department
Ben Barker	....	assistant sound editor
John Brady	....	second boom operator
Colin Cooper	....	foley recordist
Arthur Fenn	....	boom operator (as Arthur Turner)
Nick Foley	....	adr recordist
Jamie Gambell	....	second boom operator
Matthew Gough	....	sound re-recording mixer
Ben Greaves	....	second boom operator
Simon Hayes	....	production sound mixer
Max Hoskins	....	supervising sound editor
Robin Johnson	....	sound assistant
Mike Prestwood Smith	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Seddon	....	dolby consultant
Ruth Sullivan	....	foley artist
Ted Swanscott	....	adr mixer

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects coordinator
Mark Haddenham	....	special effects senior technician
Graham Hills	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Brian Jennings	....	visual effects supervisor
Mitch Paulson	....	digital preview colorist
Chuck Toussieng	....	visual effects

Stunts
Ray De-Haan	....	stunt driver
Jim Dowdall	....	stunt driver
Steve Griffin	....	stunt driver
Paul Heasman	....	stunt driver
Derek Lea	....	stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Sonny Burdis	....	best boy
Ian Clark	....	focus puller
Adam Dale	....	aerial director of photography
Brandon Evans	....	rigging gaffer
John Ellis Evans	....	clapper loader
Avelino Fernandez	....	electrician
Scott Holland	....	video operator
Henry Landgrebe	....	clapper loader
Gavin MacArthur	....	video playback assistant
Vince McGahon	....	Steadicam operator
Luke Myslowski	....	grip
Peter Myslowski	....	key grip
David Smith	....	gaffer
Alf Tramontin	....	Steadicam operator
J. Glyn Williams	....	first assistant camera: aerial unit (uncredited)

Casting Department
Faith Allbeson	....	casting assistant
Orla Maxwell	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annie Crawford	....	wardrobe supervisor
Dave Croucher	....	costumes

Editorial Department
Conor Mackey	....	assistant editor
Mark Sanger	....	first assistant editor
Jason Wheeler	....	negative cutter
Christopher Womack	....	first assistant editor

Music Department
Sophie Cornet	....	music editor: temp music
Terry Davies	....	conductor
Terry Davies	....	orchestrator
Paul Englishby	....	musical director
Adrian Johnston	....	orchestrator
Tony Lewis	....	music editor
Steve Parr	....	music mixer
Steve Parr	....	music recordist
Maggie Rodford	....	music supervisor
Alison Wright	....	music supervisor
Paul Kegg	....	musician: cello (uncredited)
Dom Kelly	....	musician: oboe (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Gary Birmingham	....	unit transportation manager
Martin Birmingham	....	driver: paul nicholls
John Hollywood	....	driver: jennifer love hewit
Lee Isgar	....	driver: Gil Junger

Other crew
Linda Benjamin	....	executive
Glen Campbell	....	unit nurse
Gavin Charlton	....	sous chef
Melanie Claus	....	production coordinator
Sue Field	....	script supervisor
David House	....	stand-in: Paul Nicholls
Jim Jaffe	....	product placement
Martin Joy	....	assistant location manager
Charlie Lemmer	....	stand-in: Jennifer Love Hewitt
Marc Lieberman	....	assistant: Bobby Newmyer
Alice Lusher	....	assistant: Gub Neal
Simon Marsden	....	location manager
Maggie Moran	....	assistant to producer
Chris Morgan	....	location scout
Victoria Morgan	....	assistant production coordinator
Geraldine Patten	....	assistant: Gil Junger
Lee Robertson	....	assistant location manager
Matthew Sanders	....	unit publicist
Keleigh Slaight	....	assistant: Basil Iwanyk

Production Companies

• Intermedia Films (presents)
• Outlaw Productions (I) (as Outlaw)
• Love Spell Entertainment (as Love Spell)
• Box Film (in association with)
• Bondesen-Graup
• If Only Production Services Ltd.
• Tapestry Films

Distributors

• Quasar Films (2005) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• SND (2004) (France) (theatrical)
• Videocine (2005) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• Boulevard Entertainment (2008) (UK) (DVD)
• Gateno Films (2006) (Peru) (all media)
• Imagem Filmes (2005) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Net5 (2008) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Paradise Group (2004) (Russia) (all media)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2005) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Sony Pictures Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Star Entertainment (2005) (India) (all media)
• TV3 (2007) (Estonia) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bangladesh) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Bhutan) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (India) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Maldives) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Nepal) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Pakistan) (TV)
• Tanweer Films (2011) (Sri Lanka) (TV)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cine Image Film Opticals (digital effects) (opticals) (end titles)

Other Companies

• Shepperton Studios  movie studio
• AFM Lighting  lighting
• De Lane Lea  sound post-production
• Flying Pictures  aerial filming services provided by
• Jason Wheeler Film Services  negative cutting
• Kodak  motion picture film supplied by
• Mobile Mouthful  catering (UK)
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by
• Sky Media Travel  travel agent

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual material

Runtime:

92 min | Argentina:93 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:Livre | Iceland:LH | Finland:K-7 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Germany:6 | Mexico:B | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:15 | USA:PG-13 | Philippines:PG-13 | South Africa:PG

Filming Locations:

England, UK

Company:

Intermedia Films

Trivia:

Jennifer Love Hewitt wrote the two songs she performs in the movie.

Quotes:

Samantha Andrews:Read one word and I'll kill you!
Ian Wyndham:[looks at her, scared to death] AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
Samantha Andrews:I was just kidding! I was just kidding!

Movie Connections:

References A Clockwork Orange (1971)

Soundtrack:

Love Will Show You Everything

A moving, well crafted romance with standout performances

I attended the Sarasota Film Festival recently. "If Only" was the opening night film there, but I passed on the initial screening. However, it generated great buzz from those who saw it, so I caught the second screening of the film at the festival, and I must say I was stunned at how good this film was.

Emily (Jennifer Love Hewitt) and Peter (Paul Nicholls, British newcomer) are a young couple living together in London. Peter is a British businessman, Emily, an American, is an aspiring singer. The film opens with some sweet, light hearted comedy as we are introduced to the couple. However, when the two have issues many young couples deal with, they are left on a bad note when suddenly tragedy strikes and their relationship is ended. It is very hard to get in to more detail without giving away too much of the film, but let's just say, we are treated to a touching dramatic story of a romance as we see what a unique opportunity could bring and how we should never take for granted what we say or do in relationships because of what can happen in life.

When you run in to a film of this nature, you always wonder about whether the film will try too hard to pull the heart strings to manipulate an emotional reaction, but the movie is so great at avoiding that. The film is genuinely touching with outstanding, intelligent writing, moving and serious with nice sprinkles of humor when appropriate, and very well paced direction. The acting, to me though, is the biggest shocker. I'd never heard of Paul Nicholls before, but he is a very charming presence. Another reviewer mentioned Hugh Grant, and that is spot on. He is a very charismatic young actor and could develop in to a star down the road. Tom Wilkinson, a staple in very strong independent films ("In the Bedroom" being his favorite of mine though "The Full Monty" has always been near the top of my list as well), graces the movie with another good performance in a supporting role. The biggest standout to me though has to be Jennifer Love Hewitt. I've seen a few of her films, and while she was attractive and charismatic at times, I was fairly unimpressed with her ability as she was usually glossy and two dimensional. I had major doubts about her ability to actually be a lead in a good dramatic film, which is why I skipped this before the great festival buzz, but I have to say, she was perfect. Her physical attributes are more subdued in this film, sure she is pretty, but she has to actually carry this film on her skills as an actress and she pulls it off. She shows range, nails some very emotional scenes, and does something that is the key to pulling off this type of role, which is make you care about what happens to her character. Her happiness comes across as genuine, as does her excitement at a major event that occurs in the film, as does her pain. The performances by Hewitt and Nicholls are what make the climax of the film so dramatic and emotional. This film should advance Hewitt's career beyond the type of run of the mill Hollywood fare that she has based her movie career on so far. She shows great potential as a good leading lady in more serious films which, frankly, is the last thing I expected going in to this film.

"If Only" is independently produced, it is not a studio film, which is why it was showing at the festival as it is making the rounds looking for U.S. distribution. As is often the case, these types of films allow the discove ry of great newcomers (Nicholls) and the chance for more established actors to stretch themselves outside their previous mainstream work (Hewitt) in hopes of making a small film that beats out the major studio work with quality in writing, acting and directing and this film has accomplished that goal. I hope that this film finds the success it deserves down the road; it was the surprise, and treat, of the festival for me and many others in attendance. It is a beautiful love story and an extremely effective film at keeping you involved in the development of the characters for the full two hours. Thumbs up from me and keep an eye out for it.