Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Woody Allen | ... | David Dobel | |
Jason Biggs | ... | Jerry Falk | |
Fisher Stevens | ... | Manager | |
Anthony Arkin | ... | Pip's Comic | |
Danny DeVito | ... | Harvey Wexler | |
Christina Ricci | ... | Amanda | |
KaDee Strickland | ... | Brooke | |
Jimmy Fallon | ... | Bob Stiles | |
Diana Krall | ... | Diana Krall | |
William Hill | ... | Psychiatrist | |
Stockard Channing | ... | Paula Chase | |
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Maurice Sonnenberg | ... | Movie Theater Patron |
Kenneth Edelson | ... | Hotel Desk Clerk | |
David Conrad | ... | Dr. Phil Reed | |
Joseph Lyle Taylor | ... | Bill |
Jerry Falk and David Dobel, who meet at a business meeting, become fast friends. Their commonality is that they are both fledgling New York based comedy writers, largely writing material for stand-ups, are Jewish (although David is an atheist), and are each of bundle of different neuroses. Their big difference is that Jerry is twenty-one, while David is sixty, with forty more years worth of life experience, knowledge and neuroses. While Jerry writes full time - he also working on a novel - David has kept his day job as a public school teacher just in case. In their relationship, David becomes somewhat of Jerry's mentor, providing advice on Jerry's life issues, most which revolve around the fact that Jerry is a product of inertia, he having trouble leaving anyone. That's why Jerry's still with the one and only manager he's ever had, Harvey Wexler. Jerry not only being Harvey's only client (which is a testament to his effectiveness in the job), Harvey also has a 25% take as stipulated ... Written by Huggo
I saw this movie on a plane to Los Angeles. I was smashed. Something in this movie is new. I asked everybody whether they saw the movie but nobody had and I was all by myself to feel "enlightened" by the story. Maybe what I saw that was new in "Anything Else" is not really new to those people who watch movies regularly or who may have seen more of Woody´s movies than I have. I personally was smashed be the clear messages it gave:
Be suspicious! You are scared of life and you cannot change it! The Holocaust can never be forgiven! Prepare for selfdefense! Fight back! Follow your own interests!
and
To me the character played by Woody Allen is the one who is sticking out and will stick out more and more, with pretty much most of the rest of the people who consider them- selves educated not open to simple lines like that.
How sad. And how true.