Another Happy Day (2011)

A wedding at her parents' Annapolis estate hurls high-strung Lynn into the center of touchy family dynamics.

Director:

Sam Levinson

Writer:

Sam Levinson

Stars:

Ellen Barkin, Ezra Miller, Ellen Burstyn

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ellen Barkin	...	Lynn
Ezra Miller	...	Elliot
Ellen Burstyn	...	Doris Baker
Demi Moore	...	Patty
Thomas Haden Church	...	Paul
Kate Bosworth	...	Alice
George Kennedy	...	Joe Baker
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Lee
Daniel Yelsky	...	Ben
Siobhan Fallon Hogan	...	Bonnie
Diana Scarwid	...	Donna
Eamon O'Rourke	...	Brandon
Lola Kirke	...	Charlie
David Hirsch	...	Tommy
Michael Nardelli	...	Dylan

Storyline

A family weekend is fraught with emotional landmines for mercurial and sensitive Lynn (Barkin) as she arrives at her parents' Annapolis estate for the marriage of her estranged eldest son Dylan (Michael Nardelli), accompanied by her three younger children (Ezra Miller, Kate Bosworth, Daniel Yelsky). Lynn's hopes for a joyful reunion are crushed as her wry but troubled middle son Elliot (Ezra Miller) lobs verbal grenades at his mother and her relatives while daughter Alice (Kate Bosworth), a fights valiantly to keep her longtime demons under control. The weekend quickly unravels as Lynn demands to be heard by her aloof, disdainful mother (Ellen Burstyn), ailing, distant father (George Kennedy) and ever-judgmental sisters (Siobhan Fallon, Diana Scarwid), but most especially by her ex-husband Paul (Thomas Hayden Church) and his hot-tempered second wife Patty (Demi Moore). Confronted with the deeply painful, half-buried truths that have given rise to the family's primal web ofresentments ...

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Plot Keywords:

multi generational | female stockinged legs | grey pantyhose | pantyhose | male objectification | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for teen drug/alcohol abuse, pervasive language including sexual references, and brief graphic nudity

Did You Know?

Trivia

French visa # 131930.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Ben: Do you think mom is hot?
Elliot: No, not really.
Ben: Why?
Elliot: I don't know. She's not my type.
Ben: You don't think she's pretty? Even if she wasn't mom.
Elliot: Uh, look, every opinion is objective. You know, maybe she's pretty in a universal sense. Uh, I mean, who the fuck knows? I'm just saying, she doesn't do it for me.
Ben: Do you think other people think she's hot?
Elliot: I don't know, some people fuckin' like McDonalds.
Ben: I like McDonalds.
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: Episode #20.31 (2011)

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Soundtracks

Everything Must Change
Words and Music by Benard Ihgner (as Benard Ighner)
Performed by Nina Simone
Copyright Almo Music Corp. (ASCAP)
Courtesy of Epic Records
By arrangement with Sony Music Entertainment

User Reviews

One of the most underrated films of it's year, and probably an early classic of it's decade.

Devastating no holds barred snapshot of American Family Life (as it IS not as we wish it was) may be TOO honest and wickedly insightful for many people (who prefer a little more sugar coating...a little less hysterically funny battery acid wit....oh well LIFE Ain't SWEET...get over it!!).

Producer Ellen Barkin leads an absolutely astonishing cast...(and both big names and not so big names are stunning..there is not one phony or soft pedaled second in ANYof these performances).

Besides the devastating Barkin (who tackles every emotion like a starving woman with no thought for vanity...every thought for human insight and character clarity)the standouts include Ellen Burstyn as a grandma from hell with Bride Of Frankenstein hair that is the LEAST frightening thing about her character and the stunning young Ezra Miller (who gets more accomplished and electric with every performance.

I am actually having a hard time fathoming how this was NOT granted a major wide release...and I simply do not understand the low ratings many "casual" viewers give it...

Maybe it is a wee bit too challenging and unflinching?

Oh well...stick with your pretty bubblegum fantasy families...

THIS is life...and it may not be beautiful...but it burns with a glorious flame in every frame of this lovely film.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Official site [Japan]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 December 2011 (Greece)

Also Known As:

A Reasonable Bunch

Filming Locations:

Oakland Charter Township, Michigan, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$8,464, 20 November 2011

Gross USA:

$8,464

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$659,937

Company Credits

Production Co:

Charter Management, Cineric, Filmula

Technical Specs

Runtime:

119 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1