The Family Stone (2005)

Director:

Thomas Bezucha

Writer (WGA):

Thomas Bezucha (written by)

Release Date:

16 December 2005 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Feel The Love.

Plot:

An uptight, conservative, businesswoman accompanies her boyfriend to his eccentric and outgoing family's annual Christmas celebration and finds that she's a fish out of water in their free-spirited way of life.

Plot Keywords:

Christmas | Secret | Deaf | Tension | Ring

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Claire Danes	...	Julie Morton
Diane Keaton	...	Sybil Stone
Rachel McAdams	...	Amy Stone
Dermot Mulroney	...	Everett Stone
Craig T. Nelson	...	Kelly Stone
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Meredith Morton
Luke Wilson	...	Ben Stone
Tyrone Giordano	...	Thad Stone (as Ty Giordano)
Brian White	...	Patrick Thomas
Elizabeth Reaser	...	Susannah Stone Trousdale
Paul Schneider	...	Brad Stevenson
Savannah Stehlin	...	Elizabeth Trousdale
Jamie Kaler	...	John Trousdale
Robert Dioguardi	...	David Silver
Carol Locatell	...	Jeweler
Ginna Carter	...	Jittery Cashier
Gus Buktenica	...	Bartender
Michael Pemberton	...	Bus Driver One
Ron Wall	...	Bus Driver Two
Christopher Parker	...	Inn Receptionist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Judy Garland	...	Esther Smith in "Meet Me in St. Louis" (archive footage) (uncredited)
Choice Patton	...	Church-goer (uncredited)

Directed by
Thomas Bezucha

Writing credits (WGA)
Thomas Bezucha		(written by)

Produced by
Khristina Kravas	....	associate producer
Michael London	....	producer
Mindy Marin	....	co-producer
Jennifer Ogden	....	executive producer
Melissa Strickland	....	special guest producer

Original Music by
Michael Giacchino

Cinematography by
Jonathan Brown		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Jeffrey Ford

Casting by
Mindy Marin

Production Design by
Jane Ann Stewart

Art Direction by
T.K. Kirkpatrick		(as Timothy 'TK' Kirkpatrick)

Set Decoration by
Matt Callahan

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Fríða Aradóttir	....	hair stylist: Diane Keaton (as Frida Aradottir)
Mustaque M. Ashrafi	....	key makeup artist (as Mustaq Ashrafi)
Judy Chin	....	makeup artist: Sarah Jessica Parker
Victor DeNicola	....	hair stylist: New York (as Victor DeNicola Jr.)
David Forrest	....	makeup department head (as David Craig Forrest)
Kelcey Fry	....	makeup artist: Diane Keaton
Jonathan Gale	....	hair color: Diane Keaton
Mandy Lyons	....	hair stylist: Sarah Jessica Parker
Jacklin Masteran	....	key hair stylist
Matthew W. Mungle	....	special makeup effects artist
Carla White	....	makeup artist: New York
Michael White	....	hair department head

Production Management
Buddy Enright	....	production supervisor
Jennifer Ogden	....	unit production manager
Diana Schmidt	....	unit production manager
Charlie Davis	....	post-production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Joe Camp III	....	first assistant director
Polly Ann Mattson	....	second assistant director (as Polly Ann Mattson-Bock)
Shawn Pipkin	....	second second assistant director
Gary S. Rake	....	second second assistant director: New York
JoAnne Lowrie	....	day player trainee assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Lori Agostino	....	assistant art director
Ronald S. Baratie	....	greens foreman (as Ron Baratie)
Treven Bedwell	....	assistant property master
Lawson Brown	....	set dresser
Jeremy Crane	....	art department coordinator: New York
Shannon Curfman	....	lead person (as Shannon Curfman-Dayan)
Roderick Curry	....	labor foreman
Michael Diersing	....	construction coordinator
William Durnin	....	set dresser: New York
Mariano Fernandez	....	gangboss
David Garcia	....	set dresser (as Dave Garcia)
Emily Gaunt	....	charge scenic: New York
Gary Geddry	....	plaster foreman
Robert Griffon Jr.	....	property master: New York (as Robert Griffon)
Daniel K. Grosso	....	lead person: New York
Jim Halsband	....	propmaker
Richard Hebrank	....	construction coordinator: New York
Derrick Hinman	....	property master
Greg Hoyt	....	propmaker
Eric Knight	....	stand-by painter (as Eric Ellison Knight)
Leslie 'Tinker' Linville	....	buyer (as Tinker Linville)
Nancy Lowry	....	set dresser
John McDonnell	....	property master: New York (as John B. McDonnell)
Frank McEldowney	....	greens foreman
Gregory Morell	....	assistant props: New York (as Greg Morell)
Jeffrey M. O'Brien	....	property master
Celia Parker	....	camera scenic: New York (as Celia A. Parker)
Cynthia C. Rebman	....	on-set dresser
Regana Redd	....	set dresser
Brent Regan	....	propmaker gangboss
Jon Reynolds	....	art department production assistant
Steve Rice	....	greensman stand-by (as Steven Rice Jr.)
Jeff Shewbert	....	general foreman
Andrew Smith	....	drapery
Daniel Vincent Smith	....	props: Los Angeles
Gregg Szabo	....	set dresser
Sally Thornton	....	set designer
Mario Ventenilla	....	art director: New York (as Mario R. Ventenilla)
Ron von Blomberg	....	set decorator: New York
Kathleen Walker	....	art department coordinator
Craig Zumbroegel	....	propmaker
Erin Fite	....	set decoration buyer (uncredited)
David Keir	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Robert E. Knight	....	head paint foreman (uncredited)
Fred O'Connor	....	propmaker (uncredited)
Bruce Richter	....	carpenter (uncredited)
Nathan A. Smith	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
David Betancourt	....	foley mixer
James Bolt	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Jim Bolt)
Laurel Bridges	....	boom operator: New York (as Laurel Ann Bridges)
Ted Caplan	....	sound effects editor
Derek Casari	....	adr engineer
Derek Casari	....	foley engineer
Don Coufal	....	boom operator
Susan Dawes	....	supervising sound editor (as Susan Shackelford Dawes)
Dawn Fintor	....	foley artist
Craig Heath	....	sound recordist (as Craig 'Pup' Heath)
Warren Hendriks	....	first assistant sound editor
Jeffrey A. Humphreys	....	boom operator (as Jeff Humphreys)
Mildred Iatrou	....	dialogue editor (as Mildred Iatrou Morgan)
David Lucarelli	....	adr recordist
John Murray	....	foley supervisor (as John M. Murray)
Matt Patterson	....	sound recordist
Paul Pavelka	....	sound stage engineer
Mathew Price	....	sound mixer: New York
Steve F. Price	....	foley editor
Charleen Richards	....	adr mixer (as Charleen Steeves)
Timothia Sellers	....	sound utility: New York
Alicia Stevenson	....	foley artist
Elliot Tyson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jeff Wexler	....	sound mixer
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York (uncredited)
Erin Michael Rettig	....	sound engineer (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Chris Bailey	....	special effects coordinator
Connie Brink	....	special effects: New York
Joseph Livolsi	....	special effects technician
James Bomalick	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Mark Sawicki	....	digital colorist
Ryan Beadle	....	digital I/O (uncredited)
Mark Dornfeld	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Scott Dougherty	....	visual effects executive producer: Furious FX (uncredited)
Michele Ferrone	....	visual effects producer (uncredited)
R.J. Harbour	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Shaina Holmes	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Shaina Holmes	....	digital coordinator (uncredited)
Nicholas Kim	....	digital compositor (uncredited)
Nicholas Kim	....	title designer (uncredited)
Jeremy Lang	....	head of information technology: Custom Film Effects (uncredited)
David Lingenfelser	....	visual effects supervisor: Furious FX (uncredited)
Thomas Mathai	....	data manager (uncredited)
Karen M. Murphy	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)
Alejandro Perez	....	dustbuster (uncredited)
Stephanie Rogers	....	digital compositor: Furious FX (uncredited)
Tiffany Smith	....	visual effects producer: Furious FX (uncredited)
Amani Williams	....	digital compositor (uncredited)

Stunts
Peter Bucossi	....	stunt coordinator
Don Hewitt	....	stunts
Janet Paparazzo	....	stunts
Darrin Prescott	....	stunt coordinator
Scott Rogers	....	stunts
Mam Smith	....	stunts
Clark Tucker	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Russell Ayer	....	lamp operator
Jennifer Bell	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera (as Jennifer K. Bell)
Kirk Bloom	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera (as Kirk L. Bloom)
Erik L. Brown	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, New York
Michael Cambria	....	second assistant camera: "b" camera, New York
Paul Candrilli	....	rigging grip: New York
Caesar S. Carnevale	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera, New York (as Caesar Carnevale)
William Coleman	....	camera operator: "b" camera, New York (as Bill Coleman)
R. Michael De Chellis	....	best boy electric
David E. Diano	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Devin Donegan	....	video playback technician
Tulio Duenas	....	film loader (as Tulio Dueñas)
Richie Ford	....	rigging gaffer: New York
Raymond Gonzales	....	best boy electric
Raymond Gonzales	....	rigging gaffer
Joseph Grimaldi	....	best boy electric: New York (as Joe Grimaldi)
Gerald Harris	....	rigging best boy grip (as Gerald 'Craig' Harris)
John Hatchitt	....	key grip
Jerry Holway	....	camera operator: "a" camera, New York
Jerry Holway	....	steadicam operator: New York
Steele Hunter	....	key rigging grip
Amy Albano Jachyra	....	camera loader: New York
Mark Jackson	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Lonnie Leslie	....	best boy grip
Charlie Marroquin	....	best boy grip: New York
Brien McDonald	....	company grip
Niles McElroy	....	lamp operator
Billy Miller	....	key grip: New York (as William Miller)
Bill O'Leary	....	gaffer: New York
James Plannette	....	gaffer
Zade Rosenthal	....	still photographer
Michael Rudolph	....	electrician
Thomas J. Ruffner	....	dolly grip (as Tom Ruffner)
Eric Sagot	....	lamp operator
Brett Santucci	....	company grip (as Brett M. Santucci)
Bryce Shields	....	video assist operator
Eric Swanek	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, New York
Stephen Wong	....	first assistant camera: "b' camera
Erik Bernstein	....	rigging electric best boy (uncredited)
Andrew Cheung	....	best boy grip (uncredited)
Lamont Crawford	....	grip: New York (uncredited)
Jim Galvin	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
George Harrington	....	electrician (uncredited)
George Hines	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Jendra Jarnagin	....	electrician: New York (uncredited)
Damon Marcellino	....	set lighting technician (uncredited)
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip (uncredited)
Thomas McGrath Woods	....	grip (uncredited)
Paul C. McKenna	....	crane technician: Technocrane (uncredited)
Louis Petraglia	....	rigging best boy (uncredited)
Louis Petraglia	....	rigging electric best boy (uncredited)
Landon Ruddel	....	grip (uncredited)
Lance Shepherd	....	rigging electrician (uncredited)
Andrew Sweeney	....	dolly grip: "b" camera, New York (uncredited)
Bobby Vercruse	....	electrician (uncredited)
Robert Vuolo	....	electrician: New York (uncredited)

Casting Department
Johnny Gidcomb	....	group adr casting
Meredith Jacobson	....	extras casting: New York (as Meredith Jacobson Marciano)
Kara Lipson	....	casting associate
Ember Truesdell	....	casting associate
Laura Verbeke	....	location background casting (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Agnes	....	wardrobe supervisor: New York
Linda S. Cormany	....	costumer: Diane Keaton (as Linda Cormany)
Ira M. Hammons-Glass	....	set costumer
Lori Harris	....	costumer: Sarah Jessica Parker (as Lori D. Harris)
Lydia Jakubowski	....	seamstress
Jessica Jorde	....	wardrobe production assistant
Fionnuala M. Lynch	....	set costumer: New York
Amy Elise Roberts	....	set costumer
Narciso Rodríguez	....	wardrobe: Sarah Jessica Parker
Wendy Stefanelli	....	costume assistant: New York
Lori Stilson	....	wardrobe supervisor (as Lori Stilson-Armstrong)
Tim Wegman	....	set costumer (as Timothy George Wegman)
Rebecca Hofherr	....	costume assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Steve Bowen	....	color timer
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Ben Estrada	....	digital intermediate colorist assist: EFilm
Esther Lee	....	digital intermediate assistant producer: EFilm
Devon Miller	....	digital intermediate editor: EFilm
Sandra Nash	....	assistant editor
William Paley	....	editorial production assistant
Jim Passon	....	color timer
Robb Porter	....	post-production assistant: Modern VideoFilm
Lorene Simpson	....	digital intermediate producer: EFilm
Craig Tanner	....	associate editor
Adriaan van Zyl	....	editorial production assistant: New York
Marisa Clayton	....	post-production coordinator: Modern VideoFilm (uncredited)
Lonnie A. Mathes	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)
Eric Putz	....	telecine colorist: dailies (uncredited)

Music Department
Adam Cohen	....	orchestrator
Stephen M. Davis	....	music editor
Michael Giacchino	....	orchestrator
Jennifer Hammond	....	orchestrator
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator
Alex Levy	....	music editor
Jason Lloyd	....	scoring stage manager
Frank Macchia	....	music preparation
Maria Newman	....	musician
Adam Olmsted	....	score mixing assistant (as Adam Olmstead)
Peter Rotter	....	orchestra contractor
Alan Schlaifer	....	assistant music editor
Chad Seiter	....	score assistant
Tim Simonec	....	conductor
Tim Simonec	....	orchestrator
Christine Sirois	....	score recordist
Tom Steel	....	scoring stage manager
Bill Talbott	....	scoring engineer
Chris Tilton	....	orchestrator
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer (as Danny Wallin)
Dan Wallin	....	score recordist (as Danny Wallin)
Booker White	....	music preparation
Mark Jan Wlodarkiewicz	....	music editor: temp (as Mark Wlodarkiewicz)
Michael Aarvold	....	score engineer assistant (uncredited)
Melissa Orquiza	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Victor Anderson	....	transportation coordinator (as Vic Anderson)
Joseph Fay	....	teamster co-captain: New York
Patrick Hogan	....	driver
Robert K. Johnson	....	transportation captain (as Rob Johnson)
Mel Langford	....	driver
James Leavey	....	teamster captain: New York (as Jim Leavey)
Neil Marshall	....	driver
Steve Polon	....	driver

Other crew
Steve Alterman	....	voice actor
Daniel Myers Boone	....	payroll accountant (as Dan Boone)
Michael Boonstra	....	production coordinator: New York
Maurice Cabrera	....	parking coordinator: New York (as Maurice R. Cabrera)
Jean Chien	....	assistant location manager: New York
Kenneth Chu	....	office production assistant: New York
Tony Cypres	....	first assistant accountant: New York
Giampaolo Debole	....	production coordinator
Juliana Farrell	....	assistant: Michael London (as Juliana E. Farrell)
John Fedynich	....	location manager: New York (as John P. Fedynich)
Kathleen Fellegara	....	on-set medic: New York (as Kathy Fellegara)
Rich Fellegara	....	on-set medic: New York
Derek Ferguson	....	office production assistant
Stephanie Feyne	....	interpreter: Ty Giordano, New York
Anthony Ficalora	....	assistant accountant: UK
Elise Ganz	....	studio teacher
Johnny Gidcomb	....	voice actor (as John Gidcomb)
Carla Hacken	....	studio executive
Julie Harry	....	office production assistant (as Julie Denise Harry)
Joe Hartwick Jr.	....	production accountant (as Joseph Hartwick Jr.)
Stephanie Heaton	....	assistant: Diane Keaton
Maria C. Hernandez	....	assistant chef
Michael E. Hernandez	....	caterer: New York, Premiere Catering (as Mike Hernandez)
Mark D. Houston	....	assistant post-production accountant
Jack Jason	....	sign language consultant
Richard Keeshan	....	office production assistant: New York (as Richard P. Keeshan)
Susan Leslie	....	voice actor
Hope Levy	....	voice actor
Cody Lutz	....	assistant: Thomas Bezucha and Jennifer Ogden
Martha Magnuson	....	assistant: Thomas Bezucha and Jennifer Ogden
Emilie Maison	....	press attache france
Stephen Mapel	....	location manager (as Steve Mapel)
Tracy E. Maurer	....	assistant production coordinator
Charles McDonald	....	set production assistant: first team, New York
Randall Montgomery	....	voice actor
George Nannas	....	caterer: New York (as George P. Nannas)
Leda Nornang	....	assistant production coordinator: New York
Alison Norod	....	key set production assistant: New York
Kyle O'Brien	....	production accountant: New York
Tony Phillippe	....	set production assistant: New York
Claire Raskind	....	unit publicist
Paul Rathburn	....	chef
Melinda Relyea	....	assistant: Sarah Jessica Parker
Jill Remez	....	voice actor
Wilson Rivas	....	craft service: New York
Rebecca Robertson	....	script supervisor (as Rebecca Robertson-Szwaja)
Eddie Ruotolo	....	set production assistant: New York (as Addy Ruotolo)
Grant Saltarelli	....	set production assistant
Benjamin Scissors	....	key set production assistant (as Ben Scissors)
Helen Sideris	....	second assistant accountant
Siri Sirishambhand	....	craft service (as Siri S. Sirisambhand)
Valerie Aikman Smith	....	food stylist (as Valerie Aikman-Smith)
Julie Ann Snow	....	first assistant accountant (as Julie Snow)
Lee Tucker	....	preview engineer
Suzanne Van Dyke	....	medic (as Suzie Van Dyke)
Lore Wilhelm	....	craft service
Liz Williams	....	talent production assistant: New York
Brooke Bowden	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jeffrey A. Brown	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Paul Cabbad	....	production assistant: New York (uncredited)
Erin Forrest	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jason Hariton	....	studio stage manager (uncredited)
Jessie Henderson	....	assistant: Thomas Bezucha and Jennifer Ogden, New York (uncredited)
Darren Maynard	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Lori C. Miller	....	title designer (uncredited)
Eric Persons	....	set location manager (uncredited)
Thomas R. Polleri	....	location assistant (uncredited)
Jennifer Quesenbery	....	location scout (uncredited)
Howard R. Schuster	....	financing (uncredited)
Daniel Tresca	....	location assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Nathan Folks	....	special thanks
Andrew Nagel	....	thanks

Production Companies

• The Family Stone
• Fox 2000 Pictures
• Michael London Productions
• Pan Productions

Distributors

• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2005) (worldwide) (all media)
• Fox 2000 Pictures (2005) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Australia (2006) (Australia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2005) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2005) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2005) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2006) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2005-2006) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Odeon (2005) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Twentieth Century Fox (2005) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2006) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Film1 (2013) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2006) (Argentina) (VHS)
• ION Television (2010) (USA) (TV)
• Odeon (2006) (Greece) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment Germany (2006) (Germany) (DVD)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Custom Film Effects (visual effects and digital opticals)
• Furious FX (digital effects)

Other Companies

• 20th Century Fox Studios  post-production facilities (as Twentieth Century Fox Studios)
• Apple Computer  soundtrack (as Apple iTunes Music Store)
• Camera Service Center  camera cranes and dollies (as CSC)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  remote camera systems
• Custom Film Effects  digital opticals
• DeLuxe Laboratories  color and prints
• Deluxe Motion Picture Catering  catering
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• EFilm  digital intermediate
• IVC  post-production facilities (digital mastering)
• J.L. Fisher  camera cranes and dollies
• Loop de Loop  voice casting
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Movie Movers  transportation
• Newman Scoring Stage, Twentieth Century Fox Studios, The  score recorded at (as The Newman Stage, Twentieth Century Fox)
• O'Henry Sound Studios  score mixed at (as O'Henry Studios)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Premiere Catering  catering: New York
• Right Lobe Design Group  title design
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• Smith & Webster-Davis Casting  extras casting
• Twentieth Century-Fox Studios, Hollywood  post-production facilities (as Twentieth Century Fox Studios)
• Varèse Sarabande  soundtrack

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some sexual content including dialogue, and drug references

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | American Sign Language

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | UK:PG | Ireland:PG | Netherlands:MG6 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Finland:K-3 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Taiwan:GP | Sweden:Btl | Mexico:B | Sweden:7 | Argentina:Atp | Brazil:12 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | Hungary:14 | Australia:M | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:6 | South Korea:15 | Spain:13

Filming Locations:

Connecticut, USA

Company:

The Family Stone

Trivia:

Billy Crudup and Johnny Knoxville were expected to play the roles of Everett and Ben Stone before dropping out. The part later went to Luke Wilson. Aaron Eckhart was first cast in the role of Everett but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: Over Amy by the window while the family is gawking at Meredith outside when they first arrive.

Quotes:

Patrick Thomas:[Signing] That's beautiful.
Thad Stone:[Signing] So are you.

Movie Connections:

References The Bride Wore Black (1968)

Soundtrack:

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Family Value

Thomas Bezucha's 'The Family Stone' surprised me. I expected a catty WASPish family satire – that, at least, was the impression given in most reviews. I liked this a great deal. The discomfort felt by Sarah Jessica Parker's uptight career girl as she spends Christmas with her partner's close-knit New England liberal family is used to good effect, but as much awkwardness is felt as a result of their jibes as by her tactlessness, so she's not marked out solely as a stooge. Dermot Mulroney, Rachel McAdams (the best thing in Wes Craven's 'Red Eye'), Luke Wilson (a much better actor than brother Owen) and Diane Keaton also give fine turns, and Craig T. Nelson - another much underrated character actor – is perfectly cast Keaton's husband. It's occasionally sentimental, as certain family secrets are revealed, but never in a sickly manner, and works principally because it's that rare Hollywood beast, a genuinely well written ensemble piece. Good work Mr Bezucha. Worth a look.