She's So Lovely (1997)

After being released from a psychiatric institution, a man tries to redeem himself in the eyes of his now-ex wife from the events that led up to his incarceration.

Director:

Nick Cassavetes

Writer:

John Cassavetes

Stars:

Sean Penn, Robin Wright, John Travolta

3 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robin Wright	...	Maureen Murphy Quinn (as Robin Wright Penn)
James Gandolfini	...	Kiefer
Susan Traylor	...	Lucinda
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Tony 'Shorty' Russo
Debi Mazar	...	Georgie
Bobby Cooper	...	Cooper
John Marshall Jones	...	Leonard
Chloe Webb	...	Nancy Swearingen
Sean Penn	...	Eddie Quinn
James Soravilla	...	Avi
Jamie Bozian	...	Intern #1 (as James Bozian)
Paul Johansson	...	Intern #2
Justina Machado	...	Carmen Rodriguez - Lady Ticket Taker
Tito Larriva	...	Lead Singer
Tony Marsico	...	Band Member

Storyline

Maureen is pregnant and her husband Eddie is missing. Nervous, Maureen shares a couple of drinks with neighbor Kiefer, who tries to rape her and then beats her. When Eddie returns and finds his wife bruised, he goes ballistic, shoots a paramedic and is put in a psychiatric institution. Ten years later, Eddie is released and finds that Maureen has divorced him and is remarried with three children, one of whom is his little girl Jeanie. Eddie goes to reclaim his wife.

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Plot Keywords:

ticklishness | rape | protective male | claim in title | half sister | 

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Taglines:

The story of one outrageous woman. Caught between two men. Both of them certain of one thing...

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Miramax

Country:

France USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 August 1997 (USA)

Also Known As:

She's De Lovely

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$18,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$3,036,081, 1 September 1997, Wide Release

Gross USA:

$7,221,836, 5 October 1997

Company Credits

Production Co:

Miramax, Clyde Is Hungry Productions, Sheen/Michaels Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Even though John Cassavetes is credited as the writer the film was heavily re-written by John's son Nick..

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Goofs

Joey gets out of his Cadillac holding his car keys, but the car's warning beeper signifies that the keys are still in the ignition.

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Quotes

Jeanie: Hey Daddy, what are you doing?
Joey: Shut up and drink your beer!

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Alternate Versions

The film was released straight to video in Holland. This version has no strong language whatsoever. Every swearword etc. has been badly replaced with milder versions, probably not by the actors themselves.

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Connections

Referenced in An Actor's Look at John Cassavetes (2000)

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Soundtracks

The Toughest Whore in Babylon
(1997)
Performed and produced by David Baerwald
Written by David Baerwald (as Baerwald), Bill Bottrell (as Bottrell), Roger Hedden (as Hedden) and David Jeffery Ricketts (as Ricketts)
Published by Almo Music Corp. / Zen of Iniquity / Ignorant Music
Recorded and mixed at Palindrome Studios
David Baerwald appears courtesy of EMI Records

User Reviews

One of the Least Appreciated Films of the Decade

She's So Lovely (1997)

**** (out of 4)

Eddie (Sean Penn) literally goes insane with his love for his wife Maurine (Robin Wright) and gets put in an asylum for ten years. When he gets out he learns that his now ex-wife has married another guy (John Travolta) but Eddie still plans on getting her back. I watched this film the first day it was released into theaters and I thought it was one of the best films of the year. Today I still considering it one of the most neglected and overlooked gems of the decade and I know I'm in the minority but I see it as a real masterpiece. I think a lot of people are turned off because of the subject matter and because the three lead characters are all so ugly and do some pretty vile things that they have a hard time connecting or feeling anything for them. For me, I think the film perfectly captures that "love" that these types of people can still feel. I think most people want to see love stories about beautiful people who do beautiful things. They don't want to see love between a bunch of losers like Eddie and Maurine. Nick Cassavetes directs his father's screenplay and I think he perfectly nails the situations, the atmosphere and the all around lifestyle of these two deadbeats. The first half of the film takes place when the two are together, living in filth and the entire situation is certainly one that you'd call unhealthy. The rawness is these scenes is just so real that Cassavetes deserves credit for keeping everything together. The second half of the film gets even stranger when Eddie goes to get his woman and the impact this has on her other family is something that I'm sure will outrage many. Penn gives a terrific performance and it's a real shame this here didn't get him any Oscar consideration. The way he plays Eddie early on is something he could do in his sleep but the real amazing part comes during the mental breakdown sequence and how different the character is in the second half. Penn is basically playing three different people here and he does a marvelous job on each. Wright is also terrific in her part of the conflicted wife and Travolta gives one of his best and funniest performances here. Harry Dean Stanton is terrific in his small bit as is James Gandolfini as a scumbag neighbor. Again, most people are going to be turned off by the material and some of the harsh things that happen but to me SHE'S SO LOVELY features Penn at his greatest and its low story is just so raw and powerful that I can't help but love it.