I Heart Huckabees (2004)

Director:

David O. Russell

Writers (WGA):

David O. Russell (written by) &
Jeff Baena (written by)

Release Date:

22 October 2004 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

An existential comedy

Plot:

A husband-and-wife team play detective, but not in the traditional sense. Instead, the happy duo helps others solve their existential issues, the kind that keep you up at night, wondering what it all means.

Plot Keywords:

Coincidence | Water Skiing | Model | Meditation | Fantasy Sequence

Awards:

2 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Jason Schwartzman	...	Albert Markovski
Isabelle Huppert	...	Caterine Vauban
Dustin Hoffman	...	Bernard
Lily Tomlin	...	Vivian
Jude Law	...	Brad Stand
Mark Wahlberg	...	Tommy Corn
Naomi Watts	...	Dawn Campbell
Angela Grillo	...	Angela Franco
Ger Duany	...	Mr. Stephen Nimieri
Darlene Hunt	...	Darlene
Kevin Dunn	...	Marty
Benny Hernandez	...	Davy
Richard Appel	...	Josh
Benjamin Nurick	...	Harrison
Jake Muxworthy	...	Tim
Pablo Davanzo	...	Bobby
Matthew Muzio	...	Construction Worker
Shawn Patrick	...	Fireman
Patrick M. Walsh	...	Fireman (as Patrick Walsh)
Tippi Hedren	...	Mary Jane Hutchinson
Ashley Fondrevay	...	Frosh Girl (as Ashley A. Fondrevay)
Lisa Guzman	...	Frosh Girl
Scott Wannberg	...	Bik Schottinger
Altagracia Guzman	...	Mrs. Echevarria
Saïd Taghmaoui	...	Translator
Jean Smart	...	Mrs. Hooten
Sydney Zarp	...	Cricket
Jonah Hill	...	Bret
Denis Hayes	...	Orrin Spence
Matthew Antonio Grillo Russell	...	Boy at Mancala Hour (as Matthew Grillo-Russell)
Janet Grillo	...	Boy's Mother
Adam Clinton	...	Security Guard
Antonio Evans	...	Security Guard
Robert K. Lambert	...	Daryl (as Robert Lambert)
Isla Fisher	...	Heather
Kimberly Cutter	...	Corporate Board
John Rothman	...	Corporate Board
Talia Shire	...	Mrs. Silver
Bob Gunton	...	Mr. Silver
Kamala Lopez	...	Molly Corn (as Kamala Lopez-Dawson)
Saige Ryan Campbell	...	Caitlin Corn
Kaied Hussan	...	Turkish Man
Chuck Saftler	...	Dexicorp Attorney
James J. McCoy	...	Medic (as James J. Mccoy)
Shania Twain	...	Herself
George Meyer	...	Formal Couple
Maria Semple	...	Formal Couple
Jerry Schumacher	...	Corporate Man
Julie Ann Johnson	...	Lady in Gown
Jeannie Epper	...	Lady in Gown (as Jeannie Epper-Kimack)
K.K. Barrett	...	Maitre'd (as Keith Barrett)
Jake Hoffman	...	Valet
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Stacey Annette	...	Elevator Cellist (uncredited)
Andrew Cohen	...	Boy walking dog (uncredited)
Chuck Ford	...	Brad's Brother (uncredited)
Jay Giannone	...	Construction worker (uncredited)
Lisa Anne Hillman	...	Kelly Coulter (uncredited)
Meredith Hines	...	Girl in Elevator (uncredited)
Richard Jenkins	...	Mr. Hooten (uncredited)
Michael Lovan	...	Fireman #6 (uncredited)
Anthony Thomas	...	Waiting room man (uncredited)
Jamal Weathers	...	Fireman (uncredited)

Directed by
David O. Russell

Writing credits (WGA)
David O. Russell		(written by) &
Jeff Baena		(written by)

Produced by
Gregory Goodman	....	producer
Michael Kuhn	....	executive producer
Scott Rudin	....	producer
David O. Russell	....	producer
Dara Weintraub	....	co-producer (as Dara L. Weintraub)

Original Music by
Jon Brion

Cinematography by
Peter Deming		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Robert K. Lambert

Casting by
Mary Vernieu

Production Design by
K.K. Barrett

Art Direction by
Seth Reed

Set Decoration by
Gene Serdena

Costume Design by
Mark Bridges

Makeup Department
Howard Berger	....	prosthetics
David DeLeon	....	assistant makeup artist (as David De Leon)
Felicia Linsky	....	key makeup artist
Gail Rowell-Ryan	....	department head hair (as Gail Ryan)
Laurel Van Dyke	....	additional hair stylist
Marlene D. Williams	....	key hair stylist (as Marlene Williams)
Debbie Zoller	....	department head makeup
René Dashiell Kerby	....	key makeup artist: reshoots (uncredited)
Stephanie A. Fowler	....	makeup artist (uncredited)
Teressa Hill	....	hair stylist (uncredited)
David Williams	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Tim Pedegana	....	post-production supervisor
Kimberly Rach	....	production supervisor (as Kimberly L. Rach)
Dara Weintraub	....	unit production manager (as Dara L. Weintraub)
Mark Wolfe	....	executive in charge of production: N1

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sally Sue Beisel	....	second assistant director (as Sally Sue Beisel-Lander)
Jodi Lowry	....	second second assistant director (as Jodi Lowry-Tisher)
Mary Ellen Woods	....	first assistant director
Lyda Blank	....	second assistant director: additional photography (uncredited)
Lisa C. Satriano	....	first assistant director: reshoots (uncredited)
Susan E. Walter	....	second second assistant director: additional photography (uncredited)

Art Department
Eddie Acuña	....	labor foreman
Jess Anscott	....	greensman
Gregory Paul Austin	....	propmaker
Mike Boudreau	....	swing gang
Karen Bruck	....	assistant property master
Lynn Christopher	....	set designer
Amelia Drake	....	assistant property master
William Eliscu	....	graphic designer
James A. Fleming	....	swing gang (as Jamie Fleming)
Chris Forster	....	construction coordinator
Paulette Fox	....	painter decorator
Dave Fulton	....	construction medic
J. Michael Glynn	....	swing gang (as Michael Glynn)
Scott Head	....	propmaker
Manuel Hernandez	....	laborer
Christian Kastner	....	on-set dresser
Jeanne Kukor	....	assistant property master (as Jeanne Marie Kukor)
Phil Laymon	....	propmaker
Chris Lee	....	gangboss
Sean Mannion	....	property master
Noel McCarthy	....	assistant property master (as Noel Mccarthy)
Alejandro Poli	....	paint laborer
Bobby Pollard	....	swing gang
Eric Reichardt	....	lead painter
Lee Ross	....	on-set painter (as Lee Steven Ross)
Anders Rundblad	....	construction foreman
Grant Samson	....	leadman
Kip Sawyer	....	paint foreman
Porfirio Silva	....	greensman
Daron Smith	....	gangboss
Robert Stover	....	buyer (as Robert L. Stover)
Cale Wilbanks	....	art department production assistant
Kat Wilson	....	art department coordinator (as Katherine Wilson)

Sound Department
Albert Aquino	....	boom operator
Rick Ash	....	sound re-recording mixer
James Bailey	....	foley artist
Courtney Bishop	....	adr recordist: Pop Sound
Victor Ray Ennis	....	supervising sound assistant
Julie Feiner	....	adr editor
Chris Fitzgerald	....	adr recordist: Todd AO
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	sound assistant
George Flores	....	cable operator
Laura R. Harris	....	dialogue editor (as Laura Harris)
Mark Harris	....	mix technician: Todd AO
Chris Hogan	....	dialogue editor
Adam Jenkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Kamper	....	sound designer
Jay Keiser	....	adr editor
Tim Kimmel	....	dialogue editor
Michael McNerney	....	foley recordist (as Michael Mcnerney)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer: Pop Sound (as Michael S. Miller)
Kelly Oxford	....	supervising sound editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer: Todd AO
Edward Tise	....	production sound recordist
Tim Walston	....	sound designer
Wendy Czajkowsky	....	adr mixer (uncredited)
Doug Mountain	....	supervising sound engineer (uncredited)
Todd Niesen	....	dialogue denoising (uncredited)
Margit Pfeiffer	....	foley editor (uncredited)
Louise Sinclair	....	sound re-recording mixer (uncredited)
John Soukup	....	sound transfer (uncredited)
Daniel Tharp	....	sound engineer: 35 mm magnetic dailies (uncredited)

Special Effects by
Jeff Bresin	....	special effects foreman
Martin Bresin	....	special effects coordinator (as Marty Bresin)
Dale Ettema	....	special effects foreman
Gary D'Amico	....	special effects coordinator: additional photography (uncredited)
Grady Holder	....	dental prosthetics (uncredited)
Chris Jones	....	special effects technician (uncredited)
Jake Valdez	....	special effects technician (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Russell Barrett	....	visual effects supervisor
Bobby Bell	....	executive producer: Howard Anderson Company
Hector Bitar	....	senior staff: Howard Anderson Company
Richard Eberhardt	....	line-up and editorial: Howard Anderson Company
Steven Fagerquist	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company (as Steve Fagerquist)
David Feinner	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company (as Dave Feinner)
Christopher Grandel	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company
Michael L. Griffin	....	line-up and editorial: Howard Anderson Company (as Mike Griffin)
Fred Jimenez	....	data manager: Howard Anderson Company
Joe F. Kastely	....	lead visual effects artist (as Joe Kastely)
Peter Koczera	....	senior digital artist: Howard Anderson Company (as Peter C. Koczera)
Derek Ledbetter	....	compositing artist: Howard Anderson Company
Charles Mcdonald	....	title artist: Howard Anderson Company
Bob Micheletti	....	supervisor of technology: Howard Anderson Company
Shannon Noble	....	lead digital artist: Howard Anderson Company
John Payne	....	scanning and recording technician: Howard Anderson Company
Scott Puckett	....	visual effects producer
Manny Sida	....	production coordinator: Howard Anderson Company
Jonathan Stern	....	visual effects producer: Howard Anderson Company
Ray Giarratana	....	visual effects supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
Joey Box	....	stunt player
Ben Bray	....	stunt coordinator
Ann Chatterton	....	stunt player (as Anne Chatterton)
Thomas Dewier	....	stunt player (as Tom Dewier)
Danny Downey	....	stunt player
Sean Graham	....	stunt player
Ray Siegle	....	stunt player
Damien Bray	....	stunt safety (uncredited)
Keenen Bray	....	stunt safety (uncredited)
Manny Perry	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Torres	....	utility stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Tyler Allison	....	assistant camera
Michelle Baker	....	loader
Claudette Barius	....	still photographer
Henry Cline	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Tim Collins	....	dolly grip (as Timothy Collins)
David Deever	....	video engineer (as Dave Deever)
Doug Dole	....	grip (as Douglas Dole)
Greg Etheredge	....	electrician (as Greg Etherridge)
David Eubank	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Lisa K. Ferguson	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator
Michael Jenkins	....	electrician
Kyle Jewell	....	camera intern
Eugene B. Kerry	....	grip (as Gene B. Kerry)
Richard Kuhn	....	grip
Dennis M. Kuneff	....	grip (as Dennis Kuneff)
Michael LaViolette	....	gaffer (as Michael La Violette)
Gary Louzon	....	grip
Paul Postal	....	electrician
Scott Andrew Ressler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Scott Ressler)
Eric Sandlin	....	best boy electric
Philip Sloan	....	key grip (as Philip M. Sloan)
Cliff Sperry	....	grip
Chris Squires	....	Steadicam operator
Ken Sylvester	....	electrician
Paul Tilden	....	loader
Amy Vincent	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Mark Vollmer	....	grip
Lou Weinert	....	camera operator
Paul Wilkowsky	....	best boy grip
Eric Budlong	....	grip (uncredited)
Damon Liebowitz	....	electrician (uncredited)
Todd Liggitt	....	rigging grip (uncredited)
Justin G. Maguire	....	video assistant: second unit (uncredited)
Pat O'Mara	....	unit grip (uncredited)
David Schmalz	....	video assist operator: second unit (uncredited)
David Youel	....	dimmer board operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Sande Alessi	....	extras casting
Venus Kanani	....	casting assistant
Caitlin McKenna-Wilkinson	....	adr voice casting (as Caitlin Mckenna)
Shalimar Reodica	....	casting associate
Mohammed Hassan	....	extras casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Nancy Collini	....	on-set costumer
Holly Davis	....	key costumer
Lisa A. Doyle	....	on-set costumer
Sabine Huber	....	costumer
Anne Laoparadonchai	....	on-set costumer (as Annie Laoparadonchai)
Paul Lopez	....	costume supervisor (as Paul H. Lopez)
Michael Tereschuk	....	cutter/fitter
Michael Tereschuk	....	tailor
Thao T. Vu	....	wardrobe office coordinator
Sherry Walsh	....	wardrobe production assistant
Thao T. Vu	....	costume coordinator (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Mark Bourgeois	....	additional editor
Darwin Green	....	editorial assistant
Justin C. Green	....	assistant editor
Steve Harrow	....	post-production consultant: N1
Mo Henry	....	negative cutter
Pamela March	....	additional editor
Mato	....	color timer (as Mateos Deravanessian)
Hillary Murray	....	digital color timer (as Hilary Murray)
Ronald White	....	assistant editor
Tracy Barroga	....	post-production assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Christine Bergren	....	music consultant
Tom Biller	....	score mixer
Tom Biller	....	score recordist
Jon Brion	....	musician: all other instruments
Eric Cadieux	....	additional score engineer
Daphne Chen	....	musician: string quartet
Debbi Datz-Pyle	....	musician contractor
Richard Dodd	....	musician: string quartet
Eric Gorfaine	....	musician: string quartet
Jonathan Karp	....	music editor
Jonathan Karp	....	score collages
Leah Katz	....	musician: string quartet
Katie Kirkpatrick	....	musician: harp
Dan Monti	....	assistant score engineer
Bill Reichenbach	....	musician: euphonium
Sebastian Steinberg	....	musician: upright bass
James Walker	....	musician: flutes (as Jim Walker)
Ian Herzon	....	assistant music editor (uncredited)
Ronald J. Webb	....	music editor: temp (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Keith D. Fisher	....	transportation captain (as Keith Fisher)
Aaron Skalka	....	transportation coordinator
Ken Farnell	....	driver (uncredited)
Chris Ferrence	....	dot supervisor (uncredited)
J. Armin Garza II	....	driver: camera car (uncredited)
Jason Cooper Hall	....	driver: Jason Schwartzman, re-shoots (uncredited)
Bill Lopez-Arjona	....	transportation (uncredited)

Other crew
Anthony Allegre	....	accounting clerk
Alexandra Arlango	....	assistant: Michael Kuhn, Qwerty Films
Brad Baena	....	assistant: David O. Russell
Bobbie Blyle	....	assistant: Lily Tomlin
Chamonix Bosch	....	set production assistant
Michael Brewer	....	location scout
Richards Butler	....	legal counsel: U.K.
Dustin Thomas Cartmill	....	assistant: David O. Russell
Kaiser Clark	....	assistant: Naomi Watts
Kathryn Craig	....	head of legal affairs: Qwerty Films
Paulette Dauber	....	unit publicist
Brad Davis	....	production accountant (as R. Bradley Davis)
Steve Demko	....	assistant: Dustin Hoffman
Jules Eggli	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Tyler Elliott	....	location scout
Antonio Evans	....	set medic
Eric L. Fersten	....	assistant: Dara L. Weintraub
Nicholas Fitzgerald	....	set production assistant
Austin Formato	....	assistant: Isabelle Huppert
Alex Fratar	....	executive assistant: Scott Rudin
Karen Golden	....	script supervisor
Cory Hall	....	set production assistant
Quentin Halliday	....	location scout
Andrew Hildebrand	....	head of commercial and business affairs: Qwerty Films
Ben Howe	....	executive assistant: Scott Rudin
Brandon Howe	....	office production assistant
Michael Hubert	....	production coordinator (as Mike Hubert)
Ben Jackson	....	assistant: Jude Law
Fallon Johnson	....	set production assistant
Merritt Johnson	....	assistant: Jason Schwartzman
Jennifer Kern	....	assistant coordinator
Ashley Kravitz	....	clearance coordinator
Robert Lane	....	first assistant accountant
Mike Larocca	....	executive assistant: Scott Rudin
John Ledwon	....	supplier: Mighty Wurlitzer courtesy of
Suzanne Lehfeldt	....	production secretary
Alex Leimone	....	key set production assistant
Annaliese Levy	....	assistant: Naomi Watts
Michael C. Lund	....	assistant: Jude Law (as Mike Lund)
Amy L. Lyddy	....	office production assistant (as Amy Lyddy)
Peter Lüke	....	production executive: N1
James R. Maceo	....	location manager (as Jim Maceo)
Peter Martorano	....	key assistant location manager
Jonas C. Matz	....	construction medic (as Jonas Matz)
Nick Mestrundrea	....	craft service (as Nick Mestrandrea)
Carla Meyer	....	dialect coach
Guy Morrison	....	assistant location manager
Aimee Nance	....	assistant: Dustin Hoffman
Cindy Nevins	....	payroll accountant
Jona Newhall	....	assistant: Isabelle Huppert (as Jonathan Newhall)
Sarah Nuttall	....	production assistant: Qwerty Films
Terry Lee Painovich	....	craft service assistant (as Terry Painovich)
Richard Philipps	....	legal counsel: U.K.
Connor Price	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Benjamin Rigaud	....	assistant: Jude Law
Malcolm Ritchie	....	production executive: N1 and Qwerty Films
Michael Rooney	....	choreographer
Jon Silk	....	assistant: Scott Rudin
Chris Sloan	....	office production assistant
Paul Stenerson	....	set production assistant (as Paulie Stenerson)
Kim Stretch	....	second assistant accountant (as Kimberli Strecth)
Jill Tandy	....	production executive: N1 and Qwerty Films
Jaime Trujillo	....	chef: Mario's Catering
Lee Tucker	....	preview engineer
Eddie Vellanoweth Jr.	....	security coordinator: Cast Security
Dmitri Vigneswaren	....	production secretary
Eric Weinstein	....	assistant: Mark Wahlberg
Mark Woolley	....	chief financial officer: Qwerty Films
Russell Barrett	....	assistant: David O. Russell (uncredited)
Kofi Burke	....	production accountant: Qwerty Films (uncredited)
Jeff Castelluccio	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Deborah J. Chesebro	....	assistant accountant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Brett Cody	....	24 frame supervisor (uncredited)
Julie Cummings	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Josh Geller	....	set production assistant (uncredited)
Jason Cooper Hall	....	assistant: Jason Schwartzman, re-shoots (uncredited)
Michael Heithaus	....	double: J. Schwartzman (uncredited)
Michael Heithaus	....	stand-in: J. Schwartzman (uncredited)
James Henderson	....	stand-in: Jude Law (uncredited)
Andrew S. Kahn	....	assistant: Scott Rudin (uncredited)
Rob Kalmbach	....	production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Boyd Kelly	....	stand-in: Jude Law (uncredited)
Nathan Kimball	....	set production assistant: re-shoots (uncredited)
Robert W. Morgenroth	....	24 frame supervisor (uncredited)
Andrew Pellegrino	....	assistant: David O. Russell (uncredited)
Diogo Picchi	....	body double: Jason Schwartzman (uncredited)
Cory Poccia	....	production office intern (uncredited)
Jurgen Proschinger	....	finance manager: Qwerty Films (uncredited)
Richard Rowntree	....	assistant: Steve Harrow (uncredited)
Billy Slaughter	....	stand-in: Dustin Hoffman (uncredited)
Anne Marie Wilson	....	production assistant (uncredited)

Thanks
Luke Bourgeois	....	the producers wish to thank
Pablo Davanzo	....	the producers wish to thank
Alan Dressler	....	the producers wish to thank
Ari Emanuel	....	the producers wish to thank
Chad Griffin	....	the producers wish to thank
Janet Grillo	....	the producers wish to thank
Kevin Kelly	....	the producers wish to thank
John Lesher	....	the producers wish to thank
Peter Levine	....	the producers wish to thank
Adam McKay	....	the producers wish to thank (as Adam Mckay)
Alexander Payne	....	the producers wish to thank
Kim Pierce	....	the producers wish to thank
Shira Piven	....	the producers wish to thank
Bruce M. Ramer	....	the producers wish to thank
Randy Schnitman	....	the producers wish to thank
Robert Thurman	....	the producers wish to thank
Shania Twain	....	the producers wish to thank
Diane Upson	....	the producers wish to thank

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Qwerty Films (in association with)
• Kanzeon
• Scott Rudin Productions
• N1 European Film Produktions GmbH & Co. KG
• Huckabee's (uncredited)

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2004) (USA) (theatrical) (North America) (A News Corporation Company)
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (2004) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2005) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Fox-Warner (2005) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Herald Film Company (2005) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Brazil) (all media)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2005) (Italy) (all media)
• 20th Century Fox (2005) (Sweden) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2005) (Argentina) (all media)
• 20th Television (????) (USA) (TV)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Gativideo (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Icon Entertainment International (sales)
• Sandrews (2007) (Sweden) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Howard Anderson Company, The (additional visual effects)
• E=mc² (visual effects) (uncredited)

Other Companies

• Achilles  the producers wish to thank
• Act One Script Clearance  script research (uncredited)
• CMG Worldwide  trademarks: © 2004 Family of Babe Ruth and the Babe Ruth League
• California Film Commission  the producers wish to thank
• Cast Security  security
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Christian Louboutin  the producers wish to thank
• City of Hermosa Beach  the producers wish to thank
• City of Torrance  the producers wish to thank
• Corbis  stock photography provided by (as Corbis Images)
• Creative License  music supervision
• Creative Media Marketing  the producers wish to thank
• Crème de la Mer  the producers wish to thank
• D. Bassett & Associates  negative cutting
• Direct Tools & Fasteners  expendables
• Elvis Presley Enterprises (EPE)  Elvis Presley image and likeness courtesy of
• Film Finances  completion guarantor
• Fintage House  collection account management
• FotoKem Laboratory  dailies by (as Fotokem)
• J.L. Fisher  cranes and dollies
• Kai  the producers wish to thank
• Lantana  the producers wish to thank
• Los Angeles County Film Office  the producers wish to thank (as Eidc Los Angeles Film Office)
• Lost Boys Foundation, The  the producers wish to thank
• Mario's Catering  catering
• Milan Records  soundtrack published by (uncredited)
• Movie Movers  cast trailers (uncredited)
• POP Film  adr recorded and mixed at
• Paskal Lighting  lighting equipment
• Pivotal Post  Avid editing equipment provided by (uncredited)
• Poole Cosmetics  the producers wish to thank (as Poole)
• Prada  the producers wish to thank
• R.C. Baral & Company  post-production accounting
• Soundelux  sound editing
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  sound re-recording (as Todd AO Studios West)
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment
• Village Recorder, The  score recorded at

Also Known As:

"I Love Huckabees" - USA (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a sex scene

Runtime:

107 min

Country:

USA | UK | Germany

Language:

English | French | Spanish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:M | Canada:14A | Finland:K-11 | Germany:12 | Ireland:15 | Singapore:M18 | UK:15 | USA:R | Argentina:13 | Brazil:18 | Indonesia:Dewasa | Netherlands:AL | Iceland:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:13 | South Korea:15 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | South Africa:13LS

Filming Locations:

777 S. Figueroa Street, Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Many theater managers mistakenly wrote the film's title on marquees and in showtime listings as "I Love Huckabees". This is most likely because on all promotional material and in the film itself the title is written with a heart symbol instead of the word "heart".

Goofs:

Continuity: When Brad and Albert enter the elevator near the end of the film, Brad's shirt is completely soaked down to his elbows. After the elevator doors close and a brief discussion between Brad and Albert, Brad's shirt is completely dry up to his shoulders.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Albert Markovski:Motherfucking cocksucker motherfucking shit fucker what am I doing? What am I doing? I don't know what I'm doing. I'm doing the best that I can. I know that's all I can ask of myself. Is that good enough? Is my work doing any good? Is anybody paying attention? Is it hopeless to try and change things? The African guy is a sign, right? Because if he isn't, than nothing in this world makes any sense to me. I'm fucked! Maybe I should quit. Don't quit! Maybe I should just fucking quit. Don't fucking quit! I don't know what the fuck I'm supposed to fucking do anymore! Fucker! Fuck shit!

Movie Connections:

References The Mask (1994)

Soundtrack:

I Get What It's About

Being (silly) and nothingness...

Giving credence to the phrase "everything old is new again." I HEART HUCKABEES is a pleasing throwback to the 1960's. Not unlike Mike Myers's pop-edelic Austin Powers sagas, HUCKABEES is as much a taste of nostalgia as it is a pleasurable respite from the blood-soaked Quentin Tarantino legacy of the 1990's (which fittingly enough is little more than a dirtied up version of the tough-guy B-movies of the 1950's).

At any rate, HUCKABEES is a clear descendant of films like MORGAN!, LORD LOVE A DUCK, YOU'RE A BIG BOY NOW, HAROLD AND MAUDE, not to mention THE GRADUATE and a variety of other films that feature disillusioned young men trying to find meaning to life and purpose in existence in a world of absurdity. Not surprisingly, I suppose, once again America is in a troubled war, political protest is almost tiresomely routine and society is defined by extreme political, social and ethical differences. At a time when we are bombarded from an untold number of sources about how we should talk, think and act (left-wing politically correct conformity strangely mirroring the right-wing cold war conformity of the 1950's), HUCKABEES turns to a radically old-fashioned concept: Go figure it out for yourself.

In a press release for HUCKABEES, director David O. Russell writes "Philosophy interests me only insofar as it is practical and makes people feel more alive and open -- not closed." As such HUCKABEES doesn't seem so much aimed at presenting Russell's personal philosophy so much as musing over some of the possibilities. The film revolves around Albert Markovski (played by Jason Schwartzman, as sort of Russell's surrogate), a not-particularly-successful environmentalist. Albert has a rivalry with/ friendship to /hatred of /crush on Brad Strand (Jude Law), a corporate cog who works for Huckabees, a Wal-Mart-like chain wanting to place a new store on a plot of landscape that Albert is doing a rather poor job of protecting. For different reasons, they both turn to "existential detectives" Bernard and Vivian Jaffe, (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin), who presumably investigate/stalk their clients to figure out what makes them tick. Basically, Bernard and Vivian are a conscience for hire. Hot on Bernard and Vivian's heels is Caterine Vauban (Isabell Huppert), an ex-pupil turned rival, who is bent on spreading the word that life is meaningless and valueless.

In battling for Albert's psyche, if not his soul, the two factions offer conflicting views of the world. Bernard argues that life is a blanket, one interconnecting fabric of existence where all things are related. Caterine offers a world of random chaos where values are arbitrary. Being versus nothingness. Responsibility versus indifference. Hope versus despair. Light versus dark. Good versus evil.

As philosophy, it is probably pretty simplistic, but philosophy isn't the point so much as the absurdity of life which makes it so difficult to keep one's bearings. If Albert (and Russell) never quite cut through the chaos and ultimately only find peace through compromise, that is probably the best anyone can really hope for. But like any movie (or mystery or therapy) the ending is possibly not necessarily as important as the journey getting there. Which is a good thing for HUCKABEES because the film gradually peters out, but it is an unpredictable ride, shared with oddball characters, while it lasts.

And it is something of a sentimental journey. I doubt it is entirely a coincidence that Schartzman bears more than a passing resemblance to a youthful Hoffman (in a Beatles' haircut, no less), whose performance in THE GRADUATE will forever grant him iconic status as a symbol of the 1960's. HUCKABEES echoes many of the themes from that 1968 landmark film: the questioning of prevailing values, battling consumerism, searching for identity and, last but not least, seduction by an older woman.

Though not entirely successful, there is something just so wonderfully refreshing about I HEART HUCKABEES. It is a film that tries to be about ideas, without being self-consciously pretentious, like Woody Allen. It flirts with the sweetness of a Spielberg film, but in the humanistic style of a Robert Altman, but without his souring streak of cynicism. But most of all it stays miles away from the cold-blooded nihilism of Scorsese, Tarantino and the bunch. This is a film without villains, only comrades who, to one degree or another, are searching for peace of mind.