Melinda and Melinda (2004)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

29 October 2004 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Life can be a comedy or a tragedy, it all depends on how you look at it.

Plot:

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

Plot Keywords:

Extramarital Affair | Marriage Problems | Alcoholism | Party | Small Talk

Cast

Wallace Shawn	...	Sy
Neil Pepe	...	Al
Stephanie Roth Haberle	...	Louise
Larry Pine	...	Max
Radha Mitchell	...	Melinda Robacheau
Michael J. Farina	...	Man with Dog
Jonny Lee Miller	...	Lee
Chloë Sevigny	...	Laurel
Matt Servitto	...	Jack Oliver
Arija Bareikis	...	Sally Oliver
Brooke Smith	...	Cassie
Zak Orth	...	Peter
Will Ferrell	...	Hobie
Andy Borowitz	...	Doug
Amanda Peet	...	Susan

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:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

Iceland:12 | Hungary:14 | South Korea:15 | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Norway:A | 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 | Germany:o.Al.

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Robert Downey Jr. was cast, but dropped from the film, because the actor's insurance premium was too costly to meet.

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: In one of the beginning scenes for the "drama" version of Melinda's tale the battery pack for her microphone creates a very noticeable bulge in the lower back of her shirt. Whenever she stands up from leaning on the kitchen table the bulge turns into the shape of a square.

Quotes:

Susan: Isn't he charming, and don't tell me he's not gorgeous!
Hobie: If you like perfect features.

Movie Connections:

Features The Black Cat (1934)

Soundtrack:

Don't Get Around Much Anymore

Woody's best in last decade.

I went to see this film a bit skeptical, because Woody's last movies were not his best ones. In the last ten years, he has made funny, entertaining films; some quite interesting, as "Decontructing Harry" or "Sweet and Lowdown", but generally unimportant. But wit "Melinda and Melinda" he has made one of his most brilliant films. As in "Crimes and Misdemeanors", he mixes two different stories -a dramatic one, and a light comedy-. The result ins quite different; this movie is not as critic as that, but is really enjoyable. He mixes a drama -serious, deep, with well-built characters, and really credible- and a delicious comedy -with really funny quotes, and moments that recover his best of the 80's-, with a lot of talent, because the two stories complete each other, the movie doesn't creak.

Radha Mitchell is wonderful as the two Melindas: suggestive and content in the drama; innocent, tender and funny int he comedy. And Will Farrell, who takes the 'Woody Allen role', is the best choice he has done for that purpose ever- because instead of imitating Allen, he creates a new character, human, pleasant and funny. The script is great; with parallelism and second interpretations- And the movie is really entertaining. I hope it will get the attention it deserves; and I expect Woody Allen to keep this new walk in his career. (9/10).