I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)

A cop turns con man once he comes out of the closet. Once imprisoned, he meets the second love of his life, whom he'll stop at nothing to be with.

Directors:

Glenn Ficarra, John Requa

Writers:

John Requa, Glenn Ficarra,

Stars:

Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jim Carrey	...	Steven Russell
Ewan McGregor	...	Phillip Morris
Leslie Mann	...	Debbie
Rodrigo Santoro	...	Jimmy
Antoni Corone	...	Dan Lindholm
Brennan Brown	...	Larry Birkheim
Michael Mandell	...	Cleavon
Annie Golden	...	Eudora
Marylouise Burke	...	Barbara Bascombe (as Mary Louise Burke)
David Jensen	...	Judge
Dameon Clarke	...	Houston Lawyer
Nicholas Alexander	...	Steven's 11-Year-Old Brother
Clay Chamberlin	...	Cellmate - Arnie
Louis Herthum	...	Doctor
Morgana Shaw	...	Steven's Mom

Storyline

Steven Russell is happily married to Debbie, and a member of the local police force when a car accident provokes a dramatic reassessment of his life. Steven becomes open about his homosexuality and decides to live life to the fullest - even if it means breaking the law. Steven's new, extravagant lifestyle involves cons and fraud and, eventually, a stay in the State Penitentiary where he meets sensitive, soft-spoken Phillip Morris. His devotion to freeing Phillip from jail and building the perfect life together prompts Steven to attempt and often succeed at one impossible con after another.

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Plot Keywords:

fraud | prison | gay | jail | con man | 

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Taglines:

A story so incredible, it could only be true

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content including strong dialogue, and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site (ru)

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 February 2010 (France)

Also Known As:

Una pareja dispareja

Filming Locations:

USA

Box Office

Budget:

$13,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$112,520 (USA) (3 December 2010)

Gross:

$2,035,566 (USA) (8 April 2011)

Company Credits

Production Co:

EuropaCorp, Mad Chance, Consolidated Pictures Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

98 min 102 min (European Film Market)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

While on set in New Orleans and filming at the Orleans Parish Prison, one of the extras dressed as an OPP inmate was arrested by a real OPP Jail guard after leaving the set in costume to put belongings in his personal vehicle.

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Goofs

When Steven is leaving the private care facility the calender shown skips the 14th of the month.

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Quotes

Steven Russell: I love you, Phillip Morris! I love you!

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Crazy Credits

The very end of the credits has a list of Thank Yous. The last two items on the list are Redbull and Xanax.

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Connections

Featured in De wereld draait door: Episode #5.154 (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Dance Hall Days"
Performed by Wang Chung
Written by Nick Feldman, Jack Hues and Darren Costin
Published by Spirit One Music obo ITS Music Publishing BV
Courtesy of Spirit Music Group

User Reviews

Carrey and McGregor shine in superbly crafted comedy

Continuing my MIFF reviews, I saw this last week with a packed house at Greater Union.

Firstly, it has to be said that it's a tragedy that this film's general release has been such a stifled process. The entertainment value of this picture, its expert construction and superb performances cannot be denied.

Carrey turns in what is possibly his best performance in a decade. It's bizarre, the way that his signature antics actually enhance rather than diminish the dramatic aspects of this film, based loosely on real life events. In fact, for me, the movie trumps The Truman Show as Carrey's true coming of age as a performer of depth. Ewan McGregor is equally astonishing as Phillip Morris - you'd swear you were watching the kind of unique romantic chemistry between two actors that arrives very rarely in cinema, and virtually never between two A-listers playing gay lovers; but the love story is only a foundation for what emerges as a kinetic, superbly told comedy-drama about the real life exploits of con man and recidivist prison escapee Steven Jay Russell.

Directors/writers Glenn Ficarra and John Requa expertly handle the tensions of comic and dramatic performance and also prove to have a masterly touch with the frenzied action sequences. Bit parts are cast beautifully. You can see the attention to detail and craft in this movie.

It can only be assumed that the gay context of this film has cost it it's commercial potential in the eyes of distributors, because everything else about it spells box office success. Apparently, it will finally have a limited release in the US in October this year, with the potential of expansion.

Without spoiling any of the twists of the film's detailed series of events, the film succeeds at beautifully hijacking audience expectation time and again. Just when you think you've got the film pinned for being predictable, suddenly it flips on you with a wry smile as if to say, "I knew what you were thinking".

I'm not sure how close the producers stuck to the facts, but it scarcely matters. If 5% of this narrative is true, it would be amazing in itself. I would be happy if the film was complete fiction.

It's a wonderful, assured comedy and deserves wide commercial exploitation.