What is it like to attend a party with famous people in Hollywood? `The Anniversary Party' will answer that question and take you into the personal lives of a famous actress and her husband, a famous novelist that just got the green light to direct his first movie. Jennifer Jason Leigh is Sally Nash and Alan Cummings is her husband, Joe Therrian. Sally and Joe have recently reconciled their relationship, and it's their 6th wedding anniversary, and they celebrate by having their friends over to their home in the Hollywood hills. What transpires is funny, sad, and just plain interesting. Cummings and Leigh show us that the rich and famous are just like everyone else. Everyone has their own set of problems, and there's nothing like alcohol and drugs to bring it all out in front of your friends.
Cummings and Leigh are the writers and directors of the film. Both do a great job acting and directing. They do a great job of making a very intimate feeling movie. It is a low budget, independent movie that is shot with digital cameras, which has become a trend in movie making to save money on film and cameras. This is the type of movie that will give hope to aspiring filmmakers that have a small budget. You don't need special effects and action to make a great movie, just genuine human drama and great acting.
Phoebe Cates (one of my celebrity crushes that I had when I was young see `Fast Times at Ridgemont High') turns up as Sophia Gold, the wife of the Academy Award winning actor Cal Gold, played by her real-life husband, Kevin Kline. She is an actress that stopped working to raise her two kids (similar to her real-life story). Their real-life kids are also in the movie. She is terrific in the role and she still looks good to me.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays, Skye Davidson, a sexy (although I don't think she's that hot) young actress that Joe has chosen to play the lead in his upcoming movie, which is based on his wife, Sally. Skye is star-struck when meeting Joe and Sally. Sally, however, is jealous and angry that Joe would pick such a `stinking, f***ing actress' actress to play her in the movie, and that he invited her to their party.
Jane Adams II is also among the ensemble cast. Adams was a real standout in the Todd Solondz movie `Happiness', and she is terrific playing a neurotic actress that lets herself go during the party.
Parker Posey, John C. Reilly, and Jennifer Beals round out this eclectic cast.
A new actress, Mina Badie (Leigh's real-life half-sister), is a standout as the wife of the `neighbors from hell'.
This is a great first movie for Leigh and Cummings. It makes you wonder how close to autobiographical it may be. For the most part, I really enjoyed going to their party, however there are times when you wish you could leave the party early, then the drugs break out and things heat up. I really liked it. 9 out of 10
Cummings and Leigh are the writers and directors of the film. Both do a great job acting and directing. They do a great job of making a very intimate feeling movie. It is a low budget, independent movie that is shot with digital cameras, which has become a trend in movie making to save money on film and cameras. This is the type of movie that will give hope to aspiring filmmakers that have a small budget. You don't need special effects and action to make a great movie, just genuine human drama and great acting.
Phoebe Cates (one of my celebrity crushes that I had when I was young see `Fast Times at Ridgemont High') turns up as Sophia Gold, the wife of the Academy Award winning actor Cal Gold, played by her real-life husband, Kevin Kline. She is an actress that stopped working to raise her two kids (similar to her real-life story). Their real-life kids are also in the movie. She is terrific in the role and she still looks good to me.
Gwyneth Paltrow plays, Skye Davidson, a sexy (although I don't think she's that hot) young actress that Joe has chosen to play the lead in his upcoming movie, which is based on his wife, Sally. Skye is star-struck when meeting Joe and Sally. Sally, however, is jealous and angry that Joe would pick such a `stinking, f***ing actress' actress to play her in the movie, and that he invited her to their party.
Jane Adams II is also among the ensemble cast. Adams was a real standout in the Todd Solondz movie `Happiness', and she is terrific playing a neurotic actress that lets herself go during the party.
Parker Posey, John C. Reilly, and Jennifer Beals round out this eclectic cast.
A new actress, Mina Badie (Leigh's real-life half-sister), is a standout as the wife of the `neighbors from hell'.
This is a great first movie for Leigh and Cummings. It makes you wonder how close to autobiographical it may be. For the most part, I really enjoyed going to their party, however there are times when you wish you could leave the party early, then the drugs break out and things heat up. I really liked it. 9 out of 10