The Last Kiss (2006)

Director:

Tony Goldwyn

Writers (WGA):

Paul Haggis (screenplay)
Gabriele Muccino (motion picture "L'ultimo bacio")

Release Date:

15 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

We all make choices. What's yours?

Plot:

Michael and Jenna, having been a couple for three years, want to get married and start a family. These...

Plot Keywords:

Friend | Marriage | Fear | Wedding | Panties

Awards:

4 nominations

Cast

Zach Braff	...	Michael
Jacinda Barrett	...	Jenna
Casey Affleck	...	Chris
Rachel Bilson	...	Kim
Michael Weston	...	Izzy
Eric Christian Olsen	...	Kenny
Marley Shelton	...	Arianna
Lauren Lee Smith	...	Lisa
Harold Ramis	...	Professor Bowler
Blythe Danner	...	Anna
Tom Wilkinson	...	Stephen
David Haydn-Jones	...	Mark (as David Haydyn-Jones)
Cindy Sampson	...	Danielle
Lisa Hochstein	...	Stripper #1 (as Lisa Mackay)
Patricia Stasiak	...	Stripper #2
Mark Walker	...	Mark's Father
Erika Rosenbaum	...	Eva
Alexis Legault	...	Matty
Olivier Legault	...	Matty
Simon Alain	...	Arianna's Lover
Ian Finlay	...	Architect Partner
Barry Julien	...	Young Architect
Alexandra Ruddy	...	Kim's Friend
Mariah Inger	...	Secretary
Monique Phillips	...	Female Patient
Danny Blanco Hall	...	Bartender
Andrew Shaver	...	Camper Salesman
Danny Wells	...	Izzy's Uncle
Gouchy Boy	...	Michael's Neighbor
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bill Corday	...	Gardener (uncredited)
Chuck Gerena	...	Construction Worker (uncredited)
Jennifer Kreuser	...	Extra (uncredited)
Danette Mackay	...	Mark's Mother (uncredited)

Directed by
Tony Goldwyn

Writing credits (WGA)
Paul Haggis		(screenplay)
Gabriele Muccino		(motion picture "L'ultimo bacio")

Produced by
Andre Lamal	....	producer
Gary Lucchesi	....	producer
Terry McKay	....	executive producer (as Terry A. McKay)
Gabriele Muccino	....	executive producer
Guendalina Ponti	....	co-producer
Eric Reid	....	executive producer
Tom Rosenberg	....	producer
Harley Tannenbaum	....	executive producer
Marcus Viscidi	....	producer

Original Music by
Michael Penn

Cinematography by
Tom Stern		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Lisa Zeno Churgin

Casting by
Deborah Aquila
Jennifer L. Smith
Tricia Wood

Production Design by
Dan Leigh

Art Direction by
Gilles Aird

Set Decoration by
Frédérique Bolté
Claude Leclair

Costume Design by
Odette Gadoury

Makeup Department
Dominique Dupras	....	hairdresser
Christophe Giraud	....	makeup artist
Réjean Goderre	....	key hair stylist
Julie Mignot	....	assistant makeup artist
Micheline Trépanier	....	key makeup artist
Kathy Kelso	....	makeup artist: extras (uncredited)

Production Management
Manon Bougie	....	unit production manager
Marc-André Goyer	....	assistant unit manager
Diana Tauder	....	post-production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Kwame Amoaku	....	additional second assistant director
Fabrice Barrilliet	....	additional third assistant director
Anabelle Berkani	....	additional third assistant director
Peter Etzweiler	....	first assistant director: US
Anna Ferenczi	....	trainee assistant director
Pedro Gandol	....	first assistant director
Carl Kouri	....	third assistant director
Jennifer Loeb	....	second assistant director: US (as Jennifer S. Loeb)
Roxanna Macedo	....	second assistant director (as Roxana Macedo)

Art Department
Serge Archambault	....	head scenic painter
John-Michael Bellamy	....	lead graphic designer
Stephen Craig	....	scenic painter
Chris Klein	....	scenic painter
Alex Touikan	....	set designer

Sound Department
Kim Drummond	....	dialogue editor
Peter Eliuk	....	assistant sound editor
Maxime Ferland	....	boom operator
Peter Germansen	....	sound engineer
David Giammarco	....	sound re-recording mixer
David Giammarco	....	supervising sound editor
Galen Goodpaster	....	assistant sound editor
Wayne Griffin	....	dialogue editor
Robert Hunter	....	foley editor
Robert Hunter	....	foley recordist
Robert Hunter	....	pre-dub foley mixer
Scott A. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Jonathan Klein	....	sound effects editor (as Jonathan A. Klein)
Greg LaPlante	....	digital mastering
Maureen Murphy	....	foley artist
Rupert Nadeau	....	assistant sound editor
Matthew Quast	....	sound mixer: Madison
Joe Schiff	....	first assistant sound editor
D. Chris Smith	....	sound effects editor (as Chris Smith)
Gordon Sproule	....	foley mixer
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Gregory H. Watkins	....	sound re-recording mixer
Greg Zimmerman	....	adr recordist

Special Effects by
Dana Campbell	....	special effects technician
Ryal Cosgrove	....	special effects coordinator (as Ryan Cosgrove)
Marc Reichel	....	special effects technician (as Marc Tristan Reichel)

Visual Effects by
John Campuzano	....	digital optical coordinator: Pacific Title & Art Studio
Alan De Castro	....	digital optical artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (as Alan DeCastro)
Scott Evans	....	digital optical artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio
David Geoghegan	....	digital optical artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (as Dave Geoghegan)
Maureen Healy	....	compositor: Pacific Title & Art Studio
Phillip Hoffman	....	visual effects supervisor: Pacific Title & Art Studio
Anthony 'Max' Ivins	....	visual effects supervisor: LOOK! Effects
Danny S. Kim	....	compositor: LOOK! Effects (as Danny Kim)
Francis Puthanangadi	....	compositor: LOOK! Effects
James Rim	....	digital optical artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio
Gabriel Sanchez	....	flame artist: LOOK! Effects
Matt Seckman	....	digital optical artist: Pacific Title & Art Studio (as Matthew Seckman)

Stunts
Alain Bérard	....	stunt driver
Marc Désourdy	....	stunt coordinator
Ben Gauthier	....	stunts (as Benoit Gauthier)
Karine Lemieux	....	stunt driver

Camera and Electrical Department
Eric Aubin	....	film loader
Alain Bisson Doyal	....	grip
Roch Boucher	....	second assistant camera
Stephen S. Campanelli	....	camera operator
Jean-Yves Denis	....	grip
Gilles Fortier	....	rigging gaffer
Joe Gajewski	....	key grip: Madison
Chris Glomp	....	electrician: Madison
Dan Goyens	....	lighting technician
Stephanie Girard Hamelin	....	video assist operator
John Harris	....	pre-light electrician
Eric Lefèbvre	....	electrician
Nicolas Marion	....	assistant camera: "a" camera
Timothy O'Toole	....	video assist operator: second unit, Madison, WI
Michel Périard	....	key grip
Nic René	....	daily second assistant camera
Jeff Scott	....	best boy electrician
Dean M. Simmon	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera, USA
Jonathan Wenk	....	still photographer
Stephane Boisvert	....	daily generator operator (uncredited)
Jason Storandt	....	dolly grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Vera Miller	....	casting: Canada
Jennifer Ricchiazzi	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annemarie Aird	....	assistant costume stylist (as Anne-Marie Aird)
Rosalie Clermont-Bilodeau	....	costume supervisor
Laurence Lacoste	....	dresser
Steffani Lincecum	....	wardrobe supervisor Madison

Editorial Department
Gena Bleier	....	first assistant editor
Elizabeth Ross	....	assistant editor
Kurt Smith	....	color timer
Patrick J. Smith	....	second assistant editor
Trevor White	....	colorist: dailies

Music Department
Brian McNelis	....	music supervisor
Michael Penn	....	score producer
Lise Richardson	....	music editor
Shie Rozow	....	music editor
Jason Kanakis	....	songs (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Réal Hamel	....	picture car coordinator
Mark Hopping	....	driver
Alexandre Juaneda	....	transportation captain
Daniel Ross	....	transportation coordinator
Jerome Wheeler	....	driver

Other crew
Ilsa Berg	....	assistant: Gary Lucchesi
Melanie Bergeron	....	key medic
Jennifer Bydwell	....	product placement and clearances
Carmen Cardenas	....	assistant: Tony Goldwyn
Irina Cazazaeva	....	receptionist
Chris-Teena Constas	....	location assistant
Rick Cranford	....	script coordinator
Dawn Darfus	....	accountant: Wisconsin
Hervé Desbois	....	stand-in
Yves Desjardins	....	travel coordinator
Chris Devlin	....	stand-in
Cory Fantie	....	stand-in
Kim Gandol Ferenczi	....	stand-in (as Kim Ferenczi)
Ken Franchi	....	assistant: Zach Braff
Jocelyne Gagné	....	key second asst accountant
John Gaskin	....	production auditor
Grant Grabowski	....	production coordinator: USA
Aaron Greyson	....	assistant: Tony Goldwin
Marjorie Hamel	....	assistant script supervisor
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond company representative
Scott Herbst	....	assistant: Gary Lucchesi
Jay Johnson	....	title designer: main titles
Jean-Patrick Joseph	....	special equipment supplier
Elza Kephart	....	assistant: Tony Goldwin
Colleen Kerns	....	production assistant
Elizabeth Lawrence	....	assistant: Tom Rosenberg
Steve Leblanc	....	truck production assistant
Robert A. Levine	....	unit publicist
Adam Loeb	....	assistant: Andre Lamal (as Adam J. Loeb)
Mark Mamalakis	....	location manager
Benoît Mathieu	....	location manager
Nate Matteson	....	production assistant
Nancy-Ann Michaud	....	stand-in
Helene Muller	....	production coordinator
Eric J. Nelson	....	production assistant
Samantha Porteous	....	assistant production coordinator
Hayley Puffer	....	production assistant
Kate Schriver	....	assistant: Tom Rosenberg
Jesse Schroeter	....	production assistant
Beth Smith	....	script supervisor: Madison
Agnieshka Wnorowska	....	stand-in

Thanks
Robert L. Benun	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Robert Benun)
Liz Beyler	....	the producers wish to thank: for their assistance
Jennifer Brooks	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance
Christine Buckley	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance
Lynn Hobensack	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance
David Holmes	....	the producers wish to thank: for their assistance (as Dave Holmes)
Mike Lechner	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance
Virginia Longmuir	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance
Renée Mancuso	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance (as Renee Mancuso)
Robert McMinn	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance
Marc Reid	....	the producers wish to thank for their assistance
Max Smerling	....	the producers wish to thank: for their assistance

Production Companies

• Lakeshore Entertainment

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (2006) (USA) (theatrical)
• Cathay-Keris Films (2006) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Momentum Pictures (2006) (UK) (theatrical)
• Pandasia Entertainment (2006) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
• SND (2006) (France) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (2006) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 01 Distribution (2009) (Italy) (DVD)
• Argentina Video Home (2008) (Argentina) (DVD)
• DreamWorks Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• DreamWorks SKG (2006) (USA) (all media)
• Net5 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Nordisk Film (2007) (Finland) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Cineffects Productions (special effects)
• Pacific Title and Art Studio (visual effects and digital opticals)
• LOOK! Effects (digital visual effects)

Other Companies

• A & R Brochu Construction  construction (as A&R Brochu)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• DBC Sound  foley recorded at
• DBC Sound  pre-dub re-recording facility
• Joan Pearce Research Associates  script clearance
• Lakeshore Records  soundtrack
• Locations Michel Trudel  Chapman camera dollies provided by (as Equipment Michel Trudel)
• Mary Nelson-Fraser & Associates  negative cutting
• Orbit Digital  Avids / HD services
• Pacific Title  main titles (as Pacific Title and Art Studio)
• Panavision  cameras and lenses
• Reel Team, The  adr voice casting
• Technicolor Creative Services  HD dailies services (as Technicolor Creative Services - Montreal)
• Technicolor Creative Services  laboratory services (as Technicolor Creative Services - Montreal)
• Technicolor  color
• Visual Motion  camera trucks and trailers provided by
• Warner Bros. Studio Facilities  sound re-recording

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for sexuality, nudity and language

Runtime:

115 min | USA:104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

SDDS | DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:15 | Australia:MA | Ireland:15A | USA:R (certificate #42461) | Argentina:16 | Singapore:M18 | Germany:12 | South Africa:16 | Brazil:14 | Finland:K-13 | Portugal:M/12 | Peru:14 | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Saint-Lambert, Québec, Canada

Company:

Lakeshore Entertainment

Trivia:

Rachel McAdams was originally cast, but forced to drop out due to other commitments. Jacinda Barrett then stepped in to replace her.

Goofs:

Factual errors: They find out the sex of the baby. Shortly after, she announces she is 3 months. Normally, you cannot find out the sex of the baby until 20 weeks, 5 months.

Quotes:

Arianna's Lover:[Izzy is frantically knocking on Arianna's door] I'm coming.
Izzy:Hurry up! It's your neighbor.! Your, your porch is on fire, man!
[Arianna's Lover opens the door and Izzy punches him in the face]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Siskel & Ebert: Episode dated 9 September 2006" (2006)

Soundtrack:

El Pilon

Better than I expected

I know I saw the 2001 Italian original, but didn't remember much about it until I saw Tony Goldwyn's remake and the scenes and story came back. And it then surprised me how much of the original I managed to remember. That's also possibly because Oscar-winner Paul Haggis' screenplay sticks awfully close to its Italian origins.

I am a fan of Zach Braff's work. "Scrubs," for my dough, is the best half-hour comedy on TV and his directorial debut, "Garden State," was one of the best films of 2004.

"The Last Kiss" is not a romantic comedy by any stretch of the imagination, no matter what advertising campaign the studio launched. This is a well-acted, well-told story about the dumb things we men do to the women we love. And, of course, the consequences.

The film delves deeply into the insecurities of its characters, never offering pat answers or easy resolutions. There are no Richard-Gere-climbing-the-fire-escape-to-get-Julia Roberts moments in the film.

Braff plays Michael, a 30s man facing the harsh reality that the rest of his life has been plotted out and he longs for something different. Despite having a gorgeous fiancée Jenna (the lovely Jacinda Barrett), he finds temptation around the corner.

The film balances its three subplots well. They never interfere with the Michael-Jenna saga, yet add to the complexities of the story.

However, I found it interesting that while in the Italian film, the object of the protagonist's desire was a high-school Lolita, Haggis and Co. opted to make her - in this case, Kim (Rachel Bilson) - a college student. The Italian film tends to be a bit more potent on that level, though Michael's attraction to Kim is believable.

The performances all find the right pitch. Braff is completely believable as the confused young man in search of meaning to his life. Barrett is heartbreakingly good. There also are some terrific supporting performances from Casey Affleck, Blythe Danner and Tom Wilkinson. Then again, when was the last time you saw Wilkinson perform badly?

Couples should see this film. It's a mature, thoughtful, unpretentious, and sometimes even difficult, movie to see. But it is gratifyingly good. Don't go expecting a typical fluffy date movie. This film raises interesting and important questions about couplehood and then lets you figure out the answers. When was the last time a Hollywood film did that?