The Other Woman (2009)

The story of a woman dealing with her daughter's death while trying to keep her marriage and her relationship with her stepson.

Director:

Don Roos

Writers:

Don Roos (screenplay), Ayelet Waldman (novel)

Stars:

Natalie Portman, Scott Cohen, Lisa Kudrow

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Natalie Portman	...	Emilia Greenleaf
Scott Cohen	...	Jack
Lisa Kudrow	...	Carolyn
Charlie Tahan	...	William
Lauren Ambrose	...	Mindy
Michael Cristofer	...	Sheldon
Debra Monk	...	Laura
Mona Fastvold	...	Sonia (as Mona Lerche)
Anthony Rapp	...	Simon
Kendra Kassebaum	...	Sharlese
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Pia
Mary Joy	...	Marilyn
Maria Dizzia	...	Jaime Brennan
Ira Hawkins	...	Businessman
Laura Odeh	...	Waitress

Storyline

The story of a woman dealing with her daughter's death while trying to keep her marriage and her relationship with her stepson.

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Plot Keywords:

stepmother | manhattan new york city | based on novel | woman | united states of america | 

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Taglines:

Love makes everything possible.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

28 October 2010 (Russia)

Also Known As:

17 Photos of Isabel

Filming Locations:

Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$6,224, 6 February 2011, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$20,585, 27 February 2011

Company Credits

Production Co:

Incentive Filmed Entertainment, Handsomecharlie Films, Is or Isn't Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

A song from The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky is playing when Emelia and William go to the skating rink.

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Goofs

When William is piloting the boat at the end of the movie, his hair changes style multiple times. At first it has a part in the bangs, then the part goes away, then the part returns exactly where it was before.

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Connections

Referenced in Conan: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Humor Truck (2011)

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Soundtracks

LEGS AWAY
Written by Ryan Guldemond
Performed by Mother Mother
Published by OLE & LAST GANG PUBLISHING (RED CAPE SONGS ASCAP)
Courtesy of LAST GANG RECORDS

User Reviews

Sympathy For The Other Woman?

Don Roos's 'Happy Endings' and 'The Opposite of Sex' are among my favourite movies and his 'Web Therapy' is one of my favourite series. Thus, I was quite excited about 'Love and Other Impossible Pursuits' despite the negative reviews. Sadly this one does not match up even close to any of Roos's previous works. The major fault lies in the writing, especially the characterization. Portman's Emilia is a cardboard of a woman going through the loss of her child and is bitter towards everyone around her. Cohen's Jack is the typical husband who's holding it together and Kudrow's Carolyne is the clichéd bitchy ex-wife. Because of the lack of dimension in character, it's hard to judge the acting.

However, I'd say the actors did the best with what they're given. The best acting moment is the final sequence between Kudrow and Portman (that takes place in Carolyne's office). Here Kudrow, in a wonderfully subtle way, displays layers of emotions and Portman's reaction is good. The other actors don't get much scope except Charlie Tahan who is quite alright.

The movie has a polished look to it. The cinematography is good but the score is very intrusive and adds a feel of melodrama almost like a fluffy TV movie.

I haven't read the book and so I cannot tell what Roos took from the book. But he is a talented writer and filmmaker so hope his next venture come close to the aforementioned examples.