Breaking Up (1997)

Director:

Robert Greenwald

Writers (WGA):

Michael Cristofer (play)
Michael Cristofer (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 October 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

When the sex is great. When the passion is intense. When the love is strong. It's time for... breaking up.

Plot:

Monica teaches, Steve's a photographer. They've dated more than two years. They're arguing, and she leaves for her apartment...

Plot Keywords:

Apartment | Anger | Attraction | Gym | Talk To Camera

Cast

Russell Crowe	...	Steve
Salma Hayek	...	Monica
Abraham Alvarez	...	Minister
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Carlo Corazon	...	Gym Trainer (day dream sequence) (uncredited)
Mary Ann Schmidt	...	Dream scene fitness model (uncredited)

Directed by
Robert Greenwald

Writing credits (WGA)
Michael Cristofer		(play "Breaking Up")
Michael Cristofer		(screenplay)

Produced by
Cas Donovan	....	associate producer
Brad Gordon	....	associate producer
Robert Greenwald	....	producer
David Matalon	....	executive producer
Arnon Milchan	....	executive producer
George Moffly	....	producer
Craig Thurman Suttle	....	line producer

Original Music by
Mark Mothersbaugh

Cinematography by
Mauro Fiore

Film Editing by
Suzanne Hines

Casting by
Ronnie Yeskel

Production Design by
Terrence Foster

Set Decoration by
Karen E. Burnett

Costume Design by
Kelly Zitrick

Makeup Department
Ermahn Ospina	....	key hair stylist
Ermahn Ospina	....	key makeup artist
Noelle Thurin	....	makeup artist (as Deborah Noelle Thurin)

Production Management
Andy Clark	....	unit manager: New York
Philip K. Kleinbart	....	executive in charge of production
George Moffly	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Cas Donovan	....	assistant director
Amy Schmidt	....	assistant director

Art Department
Michelle Fort	....	scenic artist
Mark Hurtado	....	storyboard artist
Charles Miller	....	construction foreman
Paul A. Still	....	construction coordinator
Tim Woodruff	....	property master: Los Angeles

Sound Department
Felipe Borrero	....	production sound mixer
Thomas Chan	....	sound post-production coordinator
Dee Dee Davis	....	sound post-production coordinator
Al Decker	....	sound effects editor
Bruce Greenspan	....	dialogue editor
Kurt Kassulke	....	sound re-recording mixer
William Kozy	....	sound recordist: New York
Mark Linden	....	sound effects editor
Paul Ratajczak	....	sound re-recording mixer
Paul Ratajczak	....	supervising sound editor
Paul Tinta	....	foley recordist
Joe White	....	boom operator
Kerri Wilson	....	adr editor
Kerri Wilson	....	adr recordist

Camera and Electrical Department
Steven A. Adelson	....	Steadicam operator
Andrew Blauner	....	best boy electric: New York
Darwin Montana Browne	....	key grip
Al Bruce	....	electrician
Kelly Clear	....	camera operator
Edmundo Gonzales	....	electrician
Marty Granger	....	still photographer
Ted LeHane	....	third grip
Tony Olivieri	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Kevin Sanders	....	best boy
Susanna Virtanen	....	first assistant camera

Casting Department
Joyce Kurtz	....	adr voice casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Michael Castellano	....	costume supervisor
Niamh Murphy	....	costume intern

Editorial Department
Charles Jevremovic	....	editor: video sequence
Steve Johnson	....	colorist
C.L. Monrose	....	editor: video sequence

Music Department
Bruce Young Berman	....	musician: guitar
Marcella Detroit	....	composer: song "You're History"
Marty Flores	....	musician: percussion/drums
Larry Klimas	....	musician: Flute/saxophone
Paul Morin	....	musician: bass
Mark Mothersbaugh	....	musician: keyboards/mallets
Kim Naves	....	music editor
Ralf Rickert	....	musician: trumpet/clarinet
Alex Steyermark	....	music supervisor
Hope Sugarman	....	music supervisor: New Regency

Other crew
Gerard Averill	....	location manager
Andy Clark	....	location manager: New York
Jean Costello	....	production coordinator
Wendy Cutler	....	adr loop group
Dana Eshghi	....	unit production coordinator
Marilyn Frandsen	....	type design
Malcolm Groome	....	adr loop group
Chiemi Karasawa	....	script supervisor: New York
Joyce Kurtz	....	adr loop group
Jason Ninness	....	assistant production coordinator
Paul Pape	....	adr loop group
Deborah Ross	....	title designer
Jill Sprecher	....	production coordinator: New York
Cheryl Starbuck	....	script supervisor
Ken Rudolph	....	title designer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Greenlight Productions
• New Regency Pictures
• Regency Enterprises
• Warner Bros. Pictures

Distributors

• Argentina Video Home (Argentina) (video)
• Warner Bros. Pictures
• Warner Bros. (Argentina)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Singapore:NC-16 | Hungary:14 | Argentina:13 | Finland:S (video premiere) | France:U | Germany:12 | UK:15 | USA:R | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Greenlight Productions

Quotes:

Monica: There used to be reasons for people to be together, like stability, security and maybe even a kid. But you see, I don't need you for the those reasons nowadays. I mean, I can get them on my own now if I wanted to. So... if there are no real reasons for two people to be together, then you are into unreal reasons, fantastic reasons, like happiness, good company and comfort and understanding and emotional support...

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Unprecedented: The 2000 Presidential Election (2002)

Soundtrack:

WHO'S SORRY NOW

A very mature and honest Film

I saw this film a few nights ago on TV and had never even heard of it?To see Selma Hayek and Russel Crow together got me more interested because they are not your typical Hollywood pairing. I read some of the reviews on this film posted here after I saw the film and I am really sorry for you people who trash this film, you are either so spolied and programmed by the fantasy of Hollywood films or just don't get it?. Rarely does film in Hollywood dares to go this deep about two people in a relationship and trial and emotional complexities that don't make any logical sense to any of us who have been in relationships that were hard to let go of.I think this film really appeals to more of a European audience than American, because you the US audience always wants to live in some kind of fantasy world, White Boy meets White Girl they fall in love and live happily ever after. Now, if something different comes along that requires your attention and becomes a little too real then you trash it.

What is even more sad that there is a hardly an audience for this kind of film in the US as it is in Europe. This was originally a play and that is pretty obvious from the fact its based on two people without the side kicks of friends in your usual gimmick movies. Some of the conversations may seem tedious and long at times but for those of you who have been involved in relationships that sometimes don't make sense then you can relate at because you can't make any sense out of human emotions then you would understand it and relate to it. I guess what made this film not as appealing to some like "Harry Met Sally" did is because it didn't have all the little cute scenes that like "Sally" pretending to have a orgasm in a restaurant; that's what sells in a Hollywood film but "Breaking Up" is not such a film and never pretended to be either, it was more honest than any film that deals with relationships than most films ever do in Hollywood and it doesn't have a happy ending either and this is where the US audience needs to GROW UP.

Selma Hayek really gave a great performance in this film, I am not even a fan nor did I ever like any of her films but I really thought she did a great job in this film, and so did Russel Crow. This film would not probably a choice for either of them today but trust me if there was a way to remake this film with two huge stars and add a some side kicks and slap a happy ending to it you, then suddenly people will be raving about it. I think this is a film that only appeals to those who can relate to it and appreciate its for the crazy and insane parts of any intense relationship. There is a line in this film where both characters years later say "..they never really understood why they even broke up?" and I think that was what this film was about; what makes any relationship work? and how do you make any logical sense of it when you are so caught up in it emotionally and how do you come out of it and deal with the pain and misery of loosing someone. Now, if you let go of your expectations then you might be able to appreciate this film for its honesty.