Melinda and Melinda (2004)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

29 October 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

One love story. Two versions. Seriously funny.

Plot:

Two alternating stories about Melinda's (Mitchell) attempts to straighten out her life.

Plot Keywords:

Actor | Party | Extramarital Affair | Alcoholism | Actress Playing Multiple Roles

Cast

Chiwetel Ejiofor	...	Ellis Moonsong
Will Ferrell	...	Hobie
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Lee
Radha Mitchell	...	Melinda Robicheaux
Amanda Peet	...	Susan
Chloë Sevigny	...	Laurel
Wallace Shawn	...	Sy
David Aaron Baker	...	Steve Walsh
Arija Bareikis	...	Sally Oliver
Josh Brolin	...	Greg Earlinger
Steve Carell	...	Walt
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Louise
Shalom Harlow	...	Joan
Geoffrey Nauffts	...	Bud Silverglide
Zak Orth	...	Peter

Also Known As:

Melinda & Melinda (USA) (alternative spelling)
Untitled Woody Allen Fall Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for adult situations involving sexuality, and some substance material.

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Hungary:14 | Norway:A | Canada:PG (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | USA:TV-MA (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Canada:14A | Canada:G (Quebec) | Czech Republic:12 | Finland:K-7 | Hong Kong:IIA | Ireland:12A | Netherlands:12 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | UK:12A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #40800) | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

Dune Road, The Hamptons, Long Island, New York, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Winona Ryder was originally cast as Melinda, but was forced to drop out because no agency would insure her due to her famous arrest for shoplifting. Woody Allen stated in the book "Conversations with Woody Allen" that he wanted to cast Ryder, but he couldn't get a bonding on her.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: At the beginning of the movie it is poring with rain and yet not a single car that drives by on the street has its windshield wipers on

Quotes:

Walt Wagner: Maybe you should go back to your shrink... Discuss it.
Hobie: He just recommended Prozac. I think he has stock in the company, honestly.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Knights of Prosperity: Operation: Ralph (#1.5)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

Love Me

Classic Allen

I thought that this film is right out of the classic Woody Allen mode. His theme of having events determined by others -- in this case, the writers -- was reminiscent of his one-act plays, "God" and "Death," and follows the tracks of the worldview he has always explored in his films. It was very well-written and crafted, an enjoyable night at the flicks.

One thing that struck me is that the character played by Will Ferrell is exactly the part that Woody can no longer play because he's too old. It was not long into the film before I discerned that these are lines that Woody had written for himself, the character he'd always played, but a younger man was delivering them for him. And that only added to the charm of the film for me.