The Other Woman (2009) Love and Other Impossible Pursuits (original title)

Director:

Don Roos

Writers (WGA):

Don Roos (screenplay)
Ayelet Waldman (novel)

Release Date:

28 October 2010 (Russia)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Love makes everything possible.

Plot:

A drama that details the story of a woman's difficult relationship with her stepson.

Plot Keywords:

Stepmother | Sids | Central Park Manhattan New York City | Ice Skating | Manhattan New York City

Cast

Natalie Portman	...	Emilia Greenleaf
Scott Cohen	...	Jack
Lisa Kudrow	...	Carolyn
Charlie Tahan	...	William
Lauren Ambrose	...	Mindy
Michael Cristofer	...	Sheldon
Debra Monk	...	Laura
Mona Fastvold	...	Sonia (as Mona Lerche)
Anthony Rapp	...	Simon
Kendra Kassebaum	...	Sharlese
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Pia
Mary Joy	...	Marilyn
Maria Dizzia	...	Jaime Brennan
Ira Hawkins	...	Businessman
Laura Odeh	...	Waitress
Nicolette Hart	...	Stripper
Dave Bradford	...	Cabby
Daisy Tahan	...	Emma
Susan Bruce	...	Volunteer Janet
Lisa LeGuillou	...	Organizer
Patrick Goodwin	...	Paramedic
Nikki Renee Daniels	...	Nurse
Jordan Simmons	...	Mother
Leslie Kritzer	...	Paramedic #2
Natalia Volkodaeva	...	Tatiana
Mark Gerrard	...	Ben
Phil McGlaston	...	Organzer #2
Owen Shaw	...	Skating Boy
Susan Hogelin-Black	...	Organizer #3
Doug Williford	...	Carolyn's Dentist
Maureen Flynn	...	Judge
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Gail Bruno	...	Volunteer (uncredited)
Peter Conboy	...	Volunteer Walker (uncredited)
Marcia Miller	...	Danielle (uncredited)
Loukas Papas	...	Luke Party Guest (uncredited)
Elana Simon	...	Girl in Park (uncredited)
Tom Stratford	...	Dad (uncredited)

Directed by
Don Roos

Writing credits (WGA)
Don Roos		(screenplay)
Ayelet Waldman		(novel "Love and Other Impossible Pursuits")

Produced by
Dan Bucatinsky	....	executive producer
Carol Cuddy	....	producer
Cassian Elwes	....	executive producer
Lisa Kudrow	....	executive producer
Marc Platt	....	producer
Natalie Portman	....	executive producer
Joseph P. Reidy	....	co-producer (as Joseph Reidy)
Rena Ronson	....	executive producer
Annette Savitch	....	co-producer
Abby Wolf-Weiss	....	executive producer

Original Music by
John Swihart

Cinematography by
Steve Yedlin		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
David Codron

Casting by
Bernard Telsey

Production Design by
Michael Shaw

Art Direction by
Nithya Shrinivasan

Set Decoration by
Carol Silverman

Costume Design by
Peggy A. Schnitzer		(as Peggy Schnitzer)

Makeup Department
Robin Fredriksz	....	makeup artist: Natalie Portman
Michael Kriston	....	key hair stylist
Nicky Pattison	....	key makeup artist
Lona Vigi	....	hair stylist: Natalie Portman

Production Management
Carol Cuddy	....	unit production manager
David Dresher	....	post-production supervisor
Carla Raij	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Maura Kelly	....	dga trainee
Amy Lauritsen	....	second assistant director
Joseph P. Reidy	....	first assistant director (as Joseph Reidy)
John Silvestri	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
David Boyd	....	charge scenic artist
Diana Burton	....	property master
Bob Feltman	....	on-set dresser
Michael Foster	....	set dresser (as Mike Foster)
Amy Fritz	....	art department coordinator
Ana Lombardo	....	assistant property master
Michele Mayas	....	on-set scenic artist
Heather Prendergast	....	assistant set decorator
Sarah Riggs	....	property assistant
Pierre Rovira	....	construction coordinator
Michael Saccio	....	set dresser
Joanna Tillman	....	art department production assistant
Nick Torelli	....	set dresser
Bryan Walsh	....	leadman
Joel Weaver	....	assistant property master
Liza Handziak	....	lead scenic (uncredited)
Robert Ludemann	....	graphic designer (uncredited)
Joan Winters	....	graphic design (uncredited)

Sound Department
James Bailey	....	foley artist
Wade Barnett	....	adr recordist: Los Angeles
Kyle Billingsley	....	foley mixer
Barney Cabral	....	supervising sound editor
Rich Crescenti	....	adr recordist: New York
Neil Danziger	....	boom operator
Chris David	....	sound re-recording mixer
Mark DeSimone	....	adr mixer: New York
Richard Dwan Jr.	....	sound editor (as Richrd Dwan Jr.)
Marshall Garlington	....	sound re-recording mixer
John Guentner	....	foley mixer
Gary Macheel	....	sound editor
Travis MacKay	....	adr mixer: Los Angeles
Teferra McKenzie	....	sound utility
Cynthia Merrill	....	foley artist
Trevor Metz	....	sound editor
Nick Neutra	....	foley supervisor
Jeff Pullman	....	sound mixer
Perry Robertson	....	supervising sound editor
Scott Sanders	....	sound editor
Gabriel J. Serrano	....	sound mix recordist
James Wright	....	dolby sound consultant (as Jim Wright)
Kevin Zimmerman	....	first assistant sound editor (as Kevin A. Zimmerman)
Jörg Klaussner	....	dubbing mixer (uncredited)
Jan Petrov	....	adr recordist (uncredited)
Phil Rosati	....	sound utility (uncredited)

Visual Effects by
Danny Albano	....	digital visual effects: Technicolor Digital Services
Tom Burton	....	visual effects supervisor: Technicolor Digital Services
Denise Decunzo	....	visual effects producer: Technicolor Digital Services
Trey Freeman	....	digital visual effects: Technicolor Digital Services
Julian MacDougald	....	visual effects producer: Technicolor Digital Services
Aaron Benoit	....	designer (uncredited)

Stunts
Jill Brown	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Angela Bellisio	....	second assistant camera: "a" camera
James Boniece	....	key rigging grip
Kelly Britt	....	best boy electric
Katherine M. Butler	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera (as Kate Butler)
Paul Candrilli	....	best boy grip
Jack Coffen	....	gaffer
Anthony DeFrancesco	....	camera loader
John Gatland	....	company grip
Shahen Guiragossian	....	company grip
Craig Paul Harris	....	company electrician (as Craig Harris)
Chris Henry	....	company electrician
Mitchell Andrew Lillian	....	key grip (as Mitch Lillain)
Kevin Lowry	....	company grip
Kevin Lowry	....	grip
Rick Marroquin	....	dolly grip
Alan J. Mehlbrech	....	camera operator (as Alan Mehlbrech)
Tom Potoskie	....	generator operator
Michael P. Prisco Jr.	....	generator operator
Joel Tishcoff	....	rigging gaffer
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer
Robert White	....	company electrician
Christopher F. Graneto	....	grip (uncredited)
Emily Millay Haddad	....	video playback operator (uncredited)
William MacGhee	....	electrician (uncredited)
Michael A. McFadden	....	best boy rigging grip (uncredited)
Guillaume Renberg	....	remote camera operator (uncredited)

Casting Department
Tiffany Little Canfield	....	casting associate
Barbara Harris	....	adr voice casting
Jennifer Sabel	....	extras casting associate (as Sabel)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Alex Bovaird	....	costume coordinator
Trenee Clayton	....	set costumer
Sandi Figueroa	....	costume supervisor
Rebecca Hofherr	....	assistant costume designer
Brittany Loar	....	costume intern
Vern Malone	....	set costumer
Olivia Mori	....	assistant costume designer
Susan Bakula	....	costume shop supervisor (uncredited)
Natasha Noorvash	....	costume production assistant (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Sam Daley	....	colorist: dailies video
Colby Enders	....	first assistant editor
Aidan Stanford	....	color timer
Joe Violante	....	dailies advisor (as Joey Violante)
Victoria Anderson	....	colorist assistant (uncredited)
Richie Roefaro	....	colorist assistant (uncredited)

Music Department
Michael Baber	....	music editor
Ted Blaisdell	....	music score mixer
Ted Blaisdell	....	music score recording engineer
Danielle Dupre	....	music assistant: Creative Control
Joel C. High	....	music supervisor
Brian H. Kim	....	composer's assistant
Brian H. Kim	....	musician: pianist
Stephanie Kremer	....	general manager: music, Creative Control
María Medina	....	music assistant: Creative Conrol
Tim Perrine	....	music preparation
Rebecca Rienks	....	assistant music supervisor: Creative Control
John Swihart	....	score producer
Hyesu Yang	....	orchestrator

Transportation Department
Ernie Acquavella	....	driver
John Canavan	....	transportation co-captain
Kevin Harrigan	....	driver
Eugene O'Neill	....	transportation captain (as Gene O'Neill)

Other crew
David Arnott	....	background voice
Tamara Bally	....	production accountant
Lloyd A. Bent	....	parking production assistant (as Lloyd Bent)
Michael Braun	....	production secretary
Maurice Cabrera	....	parking coordinator
Anne Carlisle	....	set production assistant
Simon Cassels	....	main title sequence designer
Ellen Athena Catsikeas	....	location manager
Cathy Cavadini	....	background voice (as Catherine Cavadini)
Lyman Creason	....	office production assistant
Ana Cuadra	....	assistant location manager
Vicki Davis	....	background voice
Robert Dawson	....	main title sequence designer
John DeMita	....	background voice
Judi M. Durand	....	background voice (as Judi Durand)
Jonathan Ellis	....	on-set medic
Catherine Feeny	....	set production assistant
Rich Fellegara	....	on-set medic (as Richard Fellegara)
Jeff Fischer	....	background voice (as Jeffery Todd Fischer)
Amy Roos Flemming	....	assistant: Mr. Roos (as Amy Flemming)
Peggy Flood	....	background voice
Heather Gauntt	....	location scout
Laurie Gershon	....	clearance and product placement
Mark Hagerman	....	production coordinator
Molly Hansen	....	executive: Incentive
Barbara Harris	....	background voice (as Barbara Iley)
Ande Hecht-Endewardt	....	post production accountant: Production Accounting Services & Solutions (as Ande Hecht)
Courtenay Johnson	....	assistant: Mr. Roos
Thomas Johnston	....	script supervisor
Larry Kaplan	....	unit publicist
Joey Levy	....	assistant: Mr. Platt
Noel Lohr	....	executive: Incentive
Kool Marder	....	executive: Incentive
Gary Martyn	....	assistant production coordinator
Jeremy Maxwell	....	background voice
Michael McGrail	....	location production assistant
Maria Messina	....	teacher: Charlie Tahan, On Location Education
Susan Muir	....	completion guarantor: Film Finances Incorporated
Sue Murphy	....	post production accountant: Production Accounting Services & Solutions
Levi Nunez	....	background voice
Kelly O'Bier	....	second assistant accountant
Lee Ogle	....	payroll accountant
Jason Pace	....	background voice
Diane Pacheco	....	post production accountant: Production Accounting Services & Solutions
Mark Padilla	....	world sales executive
Paige Pollack	....	background voice
Travis Rehwaldt	....	set production assistant
Virginia Reilly	....	first assistant accountant
Jennessa Rose	....	voices
Brittany Rostron	....	office production assistant
Joe Rynearson	....	set production assistant
Julie Sage	....	location coordinator
Steven Smith	....	executive: Incentive
Allan Stearns	....	caterer: Coast To Coast Catering
Joel Swetow	....	background voice
Greg Wason	....	production assistant
Andreana Weiner	....	background voice
Conor Welch	....	assistant: Mr. Platt
Ruth Zalduondo	....	background voice
Mara Alcaly	....	location scout (uncredited)
Kelley Beaman	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Jessica Hong	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Oliver Horovitz	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Brendan Kehoe	....	location scout (uncredited)
Helena Kincaid	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Ben Pomeroy	....	production supervisor: Incentive Filmed Entertainment (uncredited)
Mike Reiersen	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Carlos David Rivera	....	additional set production assistant (uncredited)
Adam W. Rosen	....	legal services (uncredited)
Kevin Rosenberg	....	assistant: Mr. Platt (uncredited)
Sarah Kathryn Schmitt	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Daryl Sledge	....	additional production assistant (uncredited)
Eugene Stamos	....	craft service: day player (uncredited)
Yorgo Stathopoulos	....	location scout (uncredited)

Thanks
Dara Wedler	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Incentive Filmed Entertainment
• Handsomecharlie Films
• Is or Isn't Entertainment
• Marc Platt Productions

Distributors

• IFC Films (2011) (USA) (theatrical)
• Nikkatsu (2011) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Shaw Organisation (2011) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Home Entertainment (2011) (Germany) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2009) (Taiwan) (all media)
• DeA Planeta Home Entertainment (2011) (Spain) (all media)
• HBO Hungary (2012) (Hungary) (TV)
• IFC Films (2010) (USA) (all media)
• IFC Films (2011) (USA) (video)
• Intercontinental Video (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Intercontinental Video (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Myriad Pictures (2009) (Non-USA) (all media)
• Paco Pictures (2010) (Italy) (DVD)
• Top Film (2010) (Russia) (all media)

Special Effects

• Technicolor Digital Services (digital visual effects and opticals)

Other Companies

• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Coast to Coast Catering  catering
• David Haddad  transportation equipment
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Ear Candy Post  post-production sound services
• EarCandy  sound editorial
• Film Finances  completion guarantor (as Film Finances Incorporated)
• Gallagher Entertainment  insurance (as Arthur J. Gallagher & Co/Gallagher Entertainment)
• Grant Wilfley Casting  extras casting
• Haddad's  transportation equipment
• Marshall/Plumb Research Associates  script research
• On Location Education  teacher: Charlie Tahan
• Post Creations  foley recorded at
• Production Accounting Services & Solutions  post production accounting
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  junxion box rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  walkie rentals
• Rosen, Feig, Golland & Lunn  legal services
• Scarlet Letters  end titles
• Soho Square Productions No. 4  production services
• Soundtrack  ADR Facility
• Walt Disney Studios Negative Cutting  negative cutting
• Wildfire Studios  sound re-recording
• William Morris Independent  domestic sales
• Wilson Rivas Company  craft service (as The Wilson Rivas Company)

Also Known As:

"Love and Other Impossible Pursuits" - USA (original title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language

Runtime:

Canada:119 min (Toronto International Film Festival) | USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45290) | Singapore:M18 | Australia:M | Japan:G | UK:15 (DVD rating)

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Incentive Filmed Entertainment

Trivia:

A song from The Nutcracker is playing when Emelia and William go to the skating rink.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: Williams drawing from the middle of the movie is a different one from the one showed at the end of the movie. You can clearly see that drawn William on the first drawing is more sad than the William in the other drawing.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #1.5" (2011)

Soundtrack:

Hometown Glory

Sympathy For The Other Woman?

Don Roos's 'Happy Endings' and 'The Opposite of Sex' are among my favourite movies and his 'Web Therapy' is one of my favourite series. Thus, I was quite excited about 'Love and Other Impossible Pursuits' despite the negative reviews. Sadly this one does not match up even close to any of Roos's previous works. The major fault lies in the writing, especially the characterization. Portman's Emilia is a cardboard of a woman going through the loss of her child and is bitter towards everyone around her. Cohen's Jack is the typical husband who's holding it together and Kudrow's Carolyne is the clichéd bitchy ex-wife. Because of the lack of dimension in character, it's hard to judge the acting.

However, I'd say the actors did the best with what they're given. The best acting moment is the final sequence between Kudrow and Portman (that takes place in Carolyne's office). Here Kudrow, in a wonderfully subtle way, displays layers of emotions and Portman's reaction is good. The other actors don't get much scope except Charlie Tahan who is quite alright.

The movie has a polished look to it. The cinematography is good but the score is very intrusive and adds a feel of melodrama almost like a fluffy TV movie.

I haven't read the book and so I cannot tell what Roos took from the book. But he is a talented writer and filmmaker so hope his next venture come close to the aforementioned examples.