You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010)

Director:

Woody Allen

Writer (WGA):

Woody Allen (written by)

Release Date:

27 August 2010 (Spain)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Follows a pair of married couples, Alfie (Hopkins) and Helena (Jones), and their daughter Sally (Watts) and husband Roy (Brolin)...

Plot Keywords:

Writer | Fortune Teller | Charlatan | Call Girl | Manuscript

Awards:

2 wins

Cast

Gemma Jones	...	Helena
Pauline Collins	...	Cristal
Anthony Hopkins	...	Alfie
Rupert Frazer	...	Jogging Partner
Kelly Harrison	...	Personal Trainer
Naomi Watts	...	Sally
Josh Brolin	...	Roy
Freida Pinto	...	Dia
Eleanor Gecks	...	Rollerblading Friend
Antonio Banderas	...	Greg
Fenella Woolgar	...	Jane
Ewen Bremner	...	Henry Strangler
Christian McKay	...	Poker Friend
Philip Glenister	...	Poker Friend
Jonathan Ryland	...	Poker Friend
Pearce Quigley	...	Poker Friend
Neil Jackson	...	Alan
Lynda Baron	...	Alfie's Date
Robert Portal	...	Jewelry Shop Salesman
Lucy Punch	...	Charmaine
Jim Piddock	...	Peter Wicklow
Celia Imrie	...	Enid Wicklow
Roger Ashton-Griffiths	...	Jonathan
Anna Friel	...	Iris
Theo James	...	Ray
Christopher Fulford	...	Ray's Friend
Johnny Harris	...	Ray's Friend
Alex Macqueen	...	Malcolm Dodds
Anupam Kher	...	Dia's Parent
Meera Syal	...	Dia's Parent
Joanna David	...	Alan's Parent
Geoffrey Hutchings	...	Alan's Parent
Natalie Walter	...	Alan's Sister
Shaheen Khan	...	Dia's Aunt
Amanda Lawrence	...	Medium
Zak Orth	...	Narrator (voice)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
David Orpheus	...	Passerby (uncredited)

Directed by
Woody Allen

Writing credits (WGA)
Woody Allen		(written by)

Produced by
Letty Aronson	....	producer
Nicky Kentish Barnes	....	co-producer
Mercedes Gamero	....	associate producer
Javier Méndez	....	executive producer
Helen Robin	....	co-producer
Jack Rollins	....	co-executive producer
Jaume Roures	....	producer
Stephen Tenenbaum	....	producer

Cinematography by
Vilmos Zsigmond

Film Editing by
Alisa Lepselter

Casting by
Patricia Kerrigan DiCerto
Gail Stevens
Juliet Taylor

Production Design by
Jim Clay

Art Direction by
Dominic Masters

Set Decoration by
John Bush

Costume Design by
Beatrix Aruna Pasztor

Makeup Department
Francesco Alberico	....	hair stylist
Uxue Laguardia	....	makeup artist
Sharon Martin	....	hair designer
Sharon Martin	....	makeup designer
Sophie Slotover	....	makeup artist
Rachael Speke	....	crowd hair/makeup artist: daily

Production Management
John Crampton	....	unit manager
John David Gunkle	....	unit manager
Tori Parry	....	unit production manager
Helen Robin	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dan Channing-Williams	....	third assistant director
Ben Howarth	....	first assistant director
Olivia Lloyd	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Alan Bailey	....	property master
Stephen Conway	....	dressing props
Mike Cuddy	....	prop storeman
Paul Duff	....	construction manager
Veronica Falzon	....	researcher
Gill Farr	....	production buyer
Dave Fisher	....	chargehand standby props
Dean Fisher	....	standby props
Natasha Jones	....	art department assistant
Heather Pollington	....	graphic designer
Richard Selway	....	standby art director
Tim Timmington	....	painter

Sound Department
Jorge Adrados	....	second boom operator
Ryan Collison	....	foley engineer
Lee Dichter	....	sound re-recording mixer
Peter Glossop	....	production sound mixer
Matthew Haasch	....	foley supervisor
Alan MacFeely	....	sound assistant
Shaun Mills	....	boom operator
Jay Peck	....	foley artist
David Wahnon	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Stuart Brisdon	....	special effects supervisor
Graham Hills	....	senior special effects technician
Tez Palmer	....	special effects technician (as Terry Palmer)
Nigel Wilkinson	....	special effects technician

Stunts
Lee Sheward	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
George Bird	....	electrician
Pete Cavaciuti	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Pete Cavaciuti	....	steadicam operator
Kevin Edland	....	best boy
Keith Hamshere	....	still photographer
John Higgins	....	gaffer
Sacha Jones	....	second assistant camera
Wayne Leach	....	rigging gaffer
Susan MacDonald	....	camera trainee
Genki McClure	....	electrician
Danny McGee	....	practical electrician
Sol Saihati	....	lighting technician: dailies
Alex Stevenson	....	electrician

Casting Department
Colin Jones	....	casting associate
Toby Spigel	....	casting assistant

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Caroline Hickman	....	costume assistant
Rachel Lilley	....	costume trainee
Katie Nolff	....	costume production assistant
Kevin Pratten	....	principal dresser
Clare Spragge	....	costume supervisor

Editorial Department
Kate Rose Itzkowitz	....	assistant editor
Morgan Neville	....	first assistant editor
Mark Wright	....	negative cutter
Simon Harris	....	assistant editor (london) (uncredited)

Music Department
Stefan Karrer	....	soundtrack album producer

Transportation Department
Paul Howitt	....	facilities driver
Lee Isgar	....	driver: Naomi Watts
Graeme Main	....	camera car driver
Piotr Walczak	....	transport facilities manager

Other crew
Deborah Alexander	....	assistant to producer
Kim Armitage	....	script supervisor
Lauren Barnhart	....	assistant: Naomi Watts
Catherine Booton	....	assistant production coordinator trainee
Damon Crane	....	location assistant
Ben Curran	....	set-runner
Christian De-vos	....	head of security
Francesca Dowd	....	production coordinator
Ellie Downham	....	cashier
Amy Draughn	....	assistant: Mr. Brolin
Marisa Fernández Armenteros	....	production coordinator
Jo Gallagher	....	assistant production coordinator
Itamar Gelbman	....	security: Mr. Hopkins
Richard George	....	location scout
Anna Gonzálvez Ortuño	....	press
Michael J. Harker	....	completion bond representative
Michael Harm	....	location manager
Rebecca Hawkes	....	technical services: worldwide, Schedule 2
Jon Hills	....	location security/support
Scott Kordish	....	production coordinator
Philip Lobban	....	location scouting
Pietro Lorino Jr.	....	production accountant: ny
Josey McNamara	....	floor runner
Louise O'Malley	....	production accountant
Alex Paterakis	....	floor runner
Kate Penlington	....	clearances
Diana Perko	....	unit nurse
Emma Pindar	....	technical services: worldwide, Schedule 2
Angelika Schierz	....	production assistant
Asha Sharma	....	assistant location manager
Tom Stourton	....	assistant location manager
Pippa Suren	....	location coordinator
Melissa Tomjanovich	....	assistant: Woody Allen
Mariia Viita	....	floor runner
David Wilcock	....	first assistant accountant
Emma Woodcock	....	location scout
Luis Elías García	....	production runner (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Mediapro (presents)
• Versátil Cinema (presents)
• Gravier Productions (presents)
• Antena 3 Films (in association with)
• Antena 3 Televisión (as Antena 3 TV) (in association with)
• Dippermouth

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2011) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership Ukraine (2010) (Belarus) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership Ukraine (2010) (Georgia) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership Ukraine (2010) (Kazakhstan) (theatrical)
• Central Partnership Ukraine (2010) (Ukraine) (theatrical)
• Concorde Filmverleih (2010) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Frenetic Films (2010) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Longride (2012) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2010) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Mongrel Media (2010) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2010) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Paradiso (2010) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Paradiso (2011) (Luxembourg) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2010) (Denmark) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2010) (Iceland) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2010) (Norway) (theatrical)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2010) (Sweden) (theatrical)
• Sony Pictures Classics (2010) (USA) (theatrical)
• Sun Distribution (2010) (Bolivia) (theatrical) (Latin America)
• Sun Distribution (2010) (Cuba) (theatrical) (Latin America)
• Sun Distribution (2010) (Mexico) (theatrical) (Latin America)
• Sun Distribution (2010) (Peru) (theatrical) (Latin America)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Village Films (2010) (Greece) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2010) (France) (theatrical)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2010) (Portugal) (theatrical)
• Alta Films (2010) (Spain) (all media)
• CatchPlay (2010) (Taiwan) (all media)
• Film1 (2011) (Netherlands) (TV) (limited)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD)
• Panorama Distributions (2011) (Hong Kong) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2011) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paris Filmes (2010) (Brazil) (all media)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2010) (Romania) (all media)
• Scanbox Entertainment (2010) (Finland) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2011) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (DVD)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (TV)
• Umbrella Entertainment (2012) (Australia) (video) (VOD)
• Zon Lusomundo Audiovisuais (2011) (Portugal) (all media)

Other Companies

• Arion Facilities  HD dailies telecine transfer
• Casting Collective  extras casting
• Dolby Laboratories  sound mix
• Kodak  motion picture film supplier
• Malde & Co.  auditors
• Milan Records  soundtrack
• Movie Lot, The  security
• Panalux  lighting equipment provided by
• Panavision UK  camera equipment provided by
• Production Copier Company  production equipment and services
• Rightway Film Services  negative cutting
• West Trend Apartments  accommodation agent

Also Known As:

MPAA:

Rated R for some language

Runtime:

USA:98 min

Country:

USA | Spain

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital (Mono)

Certification:

USA:R (certificate #45757) | Malaysia:18 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-3 | Sweden:Btl | Germany:o.Al. | Brazil:12 | Portugal:M/12 (Qualidade) | Argentina:13 | Ireland:12A | UK:12A | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:6 | Japan:G

Filming Locations:

Albion Riverside, Battersea, London, England, UK

Company:

Mediapro

Trivia:

First feature film directed by Woody Allen that is not produced by Charles H. Joffe. Joffe, who had worked with Allen for nearly 40 years, died in July 2008.

Goofs:

Continuity: The napkin in front of Alfie (Anthony Hopkins) when at lunch with Helena. He unfolds it, then it's again perfectly folded.

Quotes:

Helena Shebritch:Another life. I just have to shed the old one and try again.

Movie Connections:

Featured in "De wereld draait door: Episode #6.73" (2010)

Soundtrack:

Laser Luxe

You Will See A Great, Smart Comedy

Woody Allen's hilarious, inspired new romantic comedy is probably the funniest film to come out in many a month. The film's structure, however, plays out more like a Shakespearian tragedy. The nameless, bodiless narrator even quotes Macbeth to sum up the events of movie. The characters that are on a one way course to destruction, however, is classic Allen, and he creates awkward and hilarious plot-lines that all lead to a free fall of fantastic comedy.

The Grand Hotel-esque plot follows different stories of an extended family living in England. An aging, arguing couple, the wife's recently divorced parents, and all the people they end up—you guessed it—having affairs with. Some of these "affairs" stay in the character's mind, while others break up weddings, but everyone is constantly in love with someone else.

The all star cast works wonders with Woody Allen's tight, smart script— which may be the best so far this year. Josh Brolin and Naomi Watts are a couple who are having increasing marital troubles. Brolin has a PhD in medicine, but gave up working so he could become a writer—except his past three books have sucked. Watts gave up her career as an artist and works at an art gallery to support her husband until he (hopefully) makes it big. Watt's mother who is having a lot of trouble adjusting to the divorce is played fantastically by Grema Jones. Her only consolation is going to a fortune teller who continuously says things are going to get better. Anthony Hopkins is arguably the best part of the film, playing an old man who is trying to relive his glory days of being a hip young man—but it's not going so well. Antonio Banderas, Lucy Punch, and Freida Pinto are all fantastic as outside love interests, making for a marvelously ridiculous movie.

This comedy touches on a lot of subjects, particularly aging and how life can seem like it's slipping away from you one moment, then completely collapsing on top of you the next. All the characters are panicking one way or another because they feel that they are getting too old for life. These parts of the movie will fly over younger viewers' heads (such as this reviewer), but nearly everyone knows how it feels to see the cracks starting to spread in one's life. By the time Hopkins' character realizes his bimbo new wife has taken all of his money and he still loves his ex, she has moved on. Also, according to her fortune teller, she has lived many times before. When Brolin has a grand idea to publish a book, the dead almost literally come back to haunt him.

Woody Allen creates a smart, deep comedy that encompasses a lot of uncertainties of life. Maybe the fortune teller is a fraud, but that doesn't stop her from being right for most of the film. The movie pokes fun at the idea of reincarnation, but at the same time, it just as easily supports the concept. As with all Allen movies, the actions of moral-less people in a moral-less world come back to bite them by some moral thing, whatever you choose to think that is.

The characters are upper class, like in many of Woody Allen's movies. They are well off and have good jobs and obviously a decent supply of money, and should really have nothing to complain about. The couple would be able to pay rent if they didn't live in such a huge apartment. Regardless, they manage to screw everything up as thoroughly as the rest of us, and it is hilarious every step of the way. The film ends more of a mess than it began, and what a glorious mess it is.

http://thatguythatlikesmovies.blogspot.com