Gray Matters (2006/I)

Director:

Sue Kramer

Writer (WGA):

Sue Kramer (written by)

Release Date:

13 July 2007 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

A romantic comedy about a brother, a sister and the girl of their dreams.

Plot:

They finish each other's sentences, dance like Fred and Ginger, and share the same downtown loft--the perfect couple? Not exactly. Gray and Sam, are a sister and brother so compatible and inseparable that people actually assume they are dating. Mortified, they both agree they must branch out and start searching for love. He'll look for a guy for her and she'll look for a gal for him.

Plot Keywords:

New York City | Advertising Executive | Lesbian Interest | Brother Sister Relationship | Gay Interest

Cast

Heather Graham	...	Gray Baldwin
Bridget Moynahan	...	Charlie Kelsey
Tom Cavanagh	...	Sam Baldwin
Molly Shannon	...	Carrie
Rachel Shelley	...	Julia Barlett
Bill Mondy	...	Jordan Phillips
Don Ackerman	...	Conrad Spring
Warren Christie	...	Trevor Brown
Alan Cumming	...	Gordy
Sissy Spacek	...	Dr. Sydney
Campbell Lane	...	Harry
Samantha Ferris	...	Elaine
Timothy Paul Perez	...	Roberto
Benjamin Ratner	...	Derek
April Telek	...	Lana Valentine (as April Amber Telek)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for some mature thematic material, sexual content and language.

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Philippines:R-13 | South Korea:15 | Argentina:16 | Finland:K-7 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Archer Entertainment

Goofs:

Continuity: When Gray is drinking tea, she keeps changing her grip on the yellow mug.

Quotes:

Sam: What are you doing?
Gray: I want to die right now. I never want to see another human being as long as I live.
Sam: You're just coming out.
Gray: I am never coming out of this elevator.
Sam: This is probably the biggest revelation of your entire life. It's normal to be going nuts. It's normal.
Gray: I don't feel normal. I'm sick and tired of everyone saying it's normal, it's typical, it's ordinary. I don't feel any of those things.
Sam: Well how do you feel?
Gray: Lonely.
Sam: Why?
Gray: Because I'm never going to be able to walk down the street, holding hands with my partner without the rest of the world giving us a look. And me never have the wedding that I once dreamed of and I may never have children. And one day when I die people will never give as much respect to my grieving lover as if she were my husband.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Features Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)

Soundtrack:

I Will Survive

Gray Matters at the Hampton's Film Festival

I went to the Hampton's Film Festival in East Hampton this past weekend and saw a wonderful romantic comedy called Gray Matters. The film's overall look and message had a tone similar to one of my favorite directors, Nora Ephron. There was a delightful air of Harry Met Sally combined with You've Got Mail. The references throughout the movie to the 40's were superb. One of my favorite scenes was the opening shot where the two main characters Gray and Sam (brother and sister) ballroom dance to the tune of Cheek to Cheek, sung by actress Jane Krakowski. The footage of Manattan with Cheek to Cheek playing in the background had a feeling of a Woody Allen film. I thought the dialogue was not only funny but witty and timely. Molly Shannon delivers one of the funniest scenes in the movie referring to Oprah Winfrey and how she would surrogate a baby for Oprah and Steadman because she loves Oprah so much. It had the audience in hysterics. Heather Graham gives the performance of her career as a quirky, can't make up her mind, ad executive who struggles with her sexuality after meeting and falling in love with her brother's fiancée. Miss Graham was born to play to this role. At times she reminded me of a young Goldie Hawn. I stayed for the Q and A after the movie and was amazed to find out that the budget on this film was a 10th of what it appeared to be. If this was Sue Kramer's directorial debut, bravo, I look forward to seeing her next attempt at taking the helm. I would like to recommend this film for audiences of all ages. As I walked out of the theatre in East Hampton, I over heard an elderly woman around the age of 80 say " What a lovely film, I hope my granddaughters get a chance to see it".