Stepmom (1998)

User Rating:

6.2/10   

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writers (WGA):

Gigi Levangie (story)
Gigi Levangie (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Be there for the joy. Be there for the tears. Be there for each other.

Plot:

A terminally-ill mother has to settle on the new woman in her ex-husband's life, who will be their new stepmother.

Plot Keywords:

Ex Husband | Photographer | Cancer | Divorce | Soccer

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Julia Roberts	...	Isabel Kelly
Susan Sarandon	...	Jackie Harrison
Ed Harris	...	Luke Harrison
Jena Malone	...	Anna Harrison
Liam Aiken	...	Ben Harrison
Lynn Whitfield	...	Dr. P. Sweikert
Darrell Larson	...	Duncan Samuels
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Mrs. Franklin
Andre B. Blake	...	Cooper (as Andre Blake)
Herbert Russell	...	Photo Assistant (as Russel Harper)
Jack Eagle	...	Craft Service Man
Lu Celania Sierra	...	Photo Shoot Model
Lauma Zemzare	...	Photo Shoot Model
Holly Schenck	...	Photo Shoot Model
Michelle Stone	...	Photo Shoot Model

Also Known As:

Class Divided (USA) (working title)
Good Night Moon (USA) (working title)
Untitled New York City Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Iceland:L | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | South Korea:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Bedford, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Chris Columbus's daughter, Eleanor Columbus makes an appearance as the little girl in ballet class (but is uncredited).

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Digital cameras couldn't cycle that fast.

Quotes:

Isabel: You know, I never wanted to be a mom. Sharing it with you... that's one thing. It's another to be looking over my shoulder for the next twenty years, knowing someone else would have done it better... someone else would have done it right.
Jackie Harrison: What do you have that I don't?
Isabel: You're Mother Earth, incarnate.
Jackie Harrison: You're... hip, and fresh.
Isabel: You ride with Anna.
Jackie Harrison: You'll learn.
Isabel: You know every story, every wound, every memory. Their whole life's happiness is wrapped up in you... every single second. Don't you get it? Look down the road to her wedding. I'm in a room alone with her, fixing her veil, fluffing her dress, telling her no woman has ever looked so beautiful. And my fear is she'll be thinking, "I wish my mom was here."
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Il Signor Bruschino

Touching

A sweet and honest movie. It's definitely a family film. I liked the relationship of having to fill someone's shoes in a sense, because people are so attached to them. Sarandon was awesome of course. She carried her part with grace and the feral intensity of a mama bear. Nothing got over on her and I liked that because she wasn't going to be around much longer. It wasn't about sizing up the competition, but making sure she was the right person her kids could grow up with instead of her. It was heartfelt and real. Great film.