Purple Violets (2007)

Patti Petalson (Blair) struggles with the pressure of becoming the next important American writer.

Director:

Edward Burns

Writer:

Edward Burns

Stars:

Annette Arnold, Max Baker, Selma Blair

1 win.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Annette Arnold	...	Annette - Bookstore Fan
Max Baker	...	Mark - Nature Writer
Selma Blair	...	Patti Petalson
James Biberi	...	Elevator Operator
Edward Burns	...	Michael Murphy
Dara Coleman	...	Silent Movie Actor
Rosemarie DeWitt	...	Murph's Hampton's Fling
Dennis Farina	...	Glen Gilmore
Spencer Fox	...	High School Kid #2
Heather Goldenhersh	...	Sassy Party-Goer
Bill Hader	...	Bill - Bookstore Fan
Sarah Hudnut Brody	...	Scare-a Sara (as Sarah Hudnut)
Peter Jacobson	...	Monroe
Donal Logue	...	Chazz Coleman
Debra Messing	...	Kate Scott

Storyline

In New York City, thirty-three year old Patti Petalson is unhappy with her life. Her passion is literature, she having published one book of short stories ten years ago, but not having written anything since. Instead to earn a living, she sells real estate, a job and for a boss she hates. And although unspoken, she hates her husband, self-absorbed restaurateur Chazz Coleman, who doesn't listen to her and does whatever he wants regardless of her. While out for dinner, Patti and her BFF, schoolteacher Kate Scott, run into Brian Callahan and Michael Murphy, who were once Patti and Kate's respective boyfriends, the four who used to do everything together while they were in college, with both relationships ending twelve years ago as they were graduating. Kate has never forgiven self-described lowbrow Murph, now a successful lawyer despite his lack of academic smarts, for what she believed was a sexual indiscretion, while Murph outwardly just wants the opportunity to apologize. However, ...

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Plot Keywords:

written and directed by cast member | directed by star | 

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Taglines:

A second chance for a first love.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 February 2009 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Bíbor violák

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$126,897

Company Credits

Production Co:

Wild Ocean Films, Lucky Day Pictures, Marlboro Road Gang Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Purple Violets" became the first feature film to premiere exclusively on iTunes.

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Goofs

When Edward Burns' character, Michael is eating pizza during one of the montages, he's wearing his wedding ring. Burns probably forgot to take it off before shooting the scene.

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Quotes

Patti Petalson: I'm married, Brian.
Brian Callahan: I got a girlfriend. Doesn't that suck?

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: The Mist/This Christmas/August Rush/I'm Not There/Purple Violets (2007)

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Soundtracks

Caught by the River
by Doves

User Reviews

Burns excels again!

There are some purple-people heartstring beaters which are entangled in New York romantic dilemmas that provide the film "Purple Violets" a proper cinematic blossom. The movie is the latest Writer-Director Edward Burns offering. Steady Eddie continues his streak as a master of developing relational narratives on the eccentricities of personal relationships between New Yorkans. The differential quality of "Purple Violets" contrary to most of Burns' past movies is that the central character here is a female. Selma Blair stars as Patti, a real estate agent who is in a quiescent entrapped marriage with an egoistic restaurateur. Patti is also a former author who craves returning to the literary form but lacks the inspiration. That is until she reunites with Brian Callahan, an old flame who also happens to be an acclaimed sleuth mystery writer. Brian's writing song these days is to formulate scribes on other relational themes that strike a writing chord with him. But unfortunately not for his fan base who crave for his detective novels; the book store signing scenes were a comedic delight. Michael "Murph" Murphy is Brian's BFF who morphs his life from an arrogant alcoholic college student to an arrogant non-alcoholic successful lawyer. Murph dated Patti's best friend Kate in college, but cheated her out of a potential nuptial if you get my adulterous drift. However, Murph now wants his Kate back and eat her too. Kate is a strident schoolteacher who does everything in her power to resist the Murphaleous charm. Patrick Wilson had the write stuff as the garrulous Brian and Edward Burns was a scene-stealer as the carefree Murph. And I am not going to even mess with Debra Messing's strong brassy performance as Kate. But the premier acting of "Purple Violets" came in the shape of Selma Blair's delicate but empowering stand-pat work as Patti. "Purple Violets" also had some fine supporting acting tulips as well from Dennis Farina as Patti's preaching boss Gilmore and Donal Logue as her overbearing husband Chazz. But at the end of the day what made these "Purple Violets" grow in out hearts was Burns' ingenious scribe and direction. His artistic message of creating movies for self-enrichment and acting in others for audience satisfaction is delivered wisely in the film. Do not violate your movie pleasure by not nourishing the "Purple Violets". Feed them now with your viewing! ***** Excellent