The Object of My Affection (1998)

User Rating:

5.9/10   

Director:

Nicholas Hytner

Writers (WGA):

Stephen McCauley (novel)
Wendy Wasserstein (screenplay)

Release Date:

17 April 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

A love story that could only happen between best friends.

Plot:

A pregnant New York social worker begins to develop romantic feelings for her gay best friend, and decides she'd rather raise her child with him, much to the dismay of her overbearing boyfriend.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Interracial Relationship | Gay Interest | Male Female Relationship | Social Worker

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Paul Rudd	...	George Hanson
Kali Rocha	...	Melissa Marx
Jennifer Aniston	...	Nina Borowski
Lena Cardwell	...	Girl at Community Center
Natalie B. Kikkenborg	...	Girl at Community Center
Lauren Pratt	...	Sally Miller
Hayden Panettiere	...	Mermaid
Lauren Chen	...	Violin Player
Liam Aiken	...	Nathan
Alan Alda	...	Sidney Miller
Allison Janney	...	Constance Miller
Tim Daly	...	Dr. Robert Joley
Janet Zarish	...	Dinner Guest
Ellen Tobie	...	Dinner Guest
Virl Andrick	...	Dinner Guest
Robert C. Lee	...	Dinner Guest
Bradley White	...	Stephen Saint
Marilyn Dobrin	...	Mrs. Sarni
Midori Nakamura	...	Nina's Colleague
John Pankow	...	Vince McBride
Joan Copeland	...	Madame Reynolds
Steve Zahn	...	Frank Hanson
Kate Jennings Grant	...	Kennedy
Bruce Altman	...	Dr. Goldstein
Salem Ludwig	...	Mr. Shapiro
Antonia Rey	...	Mrs. Ochoa
Danny Darrow	...	Nina's Dance Partner
Sean Rademaker	...	School Child
Heather Thompson	...	School Child
Mary McIlvaine	...	Nurse
Lisa-Erin Allen	...	Nurse
Samia Shoaib	...	Suni
Doug Wert	...	Father (as Douglas Wert)
Michael Phelan	...	Son
Edward James Hyland	...	Doctor
Gabriel Macht	...	Steve Casillo
John Roland	...	TV Anchor
Rosanna Scotto	...	TV Anchor
Miguel Maldonado	...	Colin Powell
Peter Maloney	...	Desk Clerk
Bette Henritze	...	Mrs. Skinner
Nigel Hawthorne	...	Rodney Fraser
Amo Gulinello	...	Paul James
Iraida Polanco	...	Carmelita
Kevin Carroll	...	Louis Crowley
Sarah Knowlton	...	Caroline Colucci
Steven Ochoa	...	Waiter
Kia Goodwin	...	Juliet (as Kia Joy Goodwin)
Daniel Cosgrove	...	Trotter Bull
Damian Young	...	Romeo & Juliet Director
Rebecca Eichenberger	...	Wedding Guest
Jane Bodle	...	Wedding Guest
Audra McDonald	...	Wedding Singer
Fanni Green	...	Nurse
Sarah Hyland	...	Molly
Paz de la Huerta	...	13-Year-Old Sally
Jeffrey M. Marchetti	...	Parent
Susan Bradford	...	Parent
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sylvia Ader	...	Ballroom Dancer
Carl Burrows	...	Performer (uncredited)
George Gearhart King III	...	School Child (uncredited)
Adrian Lee	...	Theatre Goer (uncredited)
Todd Stockman	...	Dad (uncredited)

Directed by
Nicholas Hytner

Writing credits (WGA)
Stephen McCauley		(novel)
Wendy Wasserstein		(screenplay)

Produced by
Petra Alexandria	....	associate producer
Laurence Mark	....	producer
Diana Pokorny	....	co-producer

Original Music by
George Fenton

Cinematography by
Oliver Stapleton

Film Editing by
Tariq Anwar

Casting by
Daniel Swee

Production Design by
Jane Musky

Art Direction by
Patricia Woodbridge

Set Decoration by
Susan Bode

Costume Design by
John A. Dunn

Makeup Department
Milton Buras	....	assistant hair stylist
Angel De Angelis	....	key hair stylist
Naomi Donne	....	makeup designer
Carla White	....	assistant makeup artist

Production Management
Keri Weisblum	....	post-production supervisor (as Keri Kravitz)
Mari-Jo Winkler	....	unit production manager (as Mari-Jo Winkler-Ioffreda)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Julie A. Bloom	....	second assistant director
Sam Hoffman	....	first assistant director
Jennifer Loeb	....	dga trainee

Art Department
James C. Allen	....	carpenter
Joseph Badalucco Jr.	....	on-set decorator
Jim Bokor Jr.	....	construction grip
James Bokor Sr.	....	construction grip
Arthur F. Boyd	....	construction grip
Ellen Christiansen	....	assistant set decorator
Damian J. Costa	....	set dresser
Ellen Doak	....	scenic artist
John R. Ford	....	assistant property master
Dennis Freeborn	....	set dresser
Andrew Gangloff	....	carpenter (as Andrew 'Cowboy' Gangloff)
Marcial Garlitos	....	carpenter
Gordon Gertsen	....	set dresser
Scott Gertsen	....	carpenter
Robert Griffon Jr.	....	property master (as Robert J. Griffon)
Joseph Grimaldi	....	shop electrician
Daniel K. Grosso	....	set dresser
Denise Gurkas	....	stand-by scenic
Thomas E. Halligan	....	construction grip
Kenneth Hammer	....	carpenter
George Hugel	....	head carpenter
Janice Irwin	....	art department coordinator
Miguel Jimenez	....	shop electrician
Richard Johnson	....	shop production assistant
Robert Keller	....	carpenter
Ed Larkin	....	head construction grip (as Edward T. Larkin)
Eric Lewin	....	set dresser
Brick Mason	....	storyboard artist
John McDonnell	....	assistant property master (as John B. McDonnell)
Darius Menard	....	scenic artist
Fred Merusi	....	construction coordinator
Kay Michaels	....	art department production assistant
Richard Nelson	....	set dresser
Mark Nissenholtz	....	scenic artist
Robert Paquette	....	construction grip
Debra Porto	....	shop person
Louis J. Porzio	....	carpenter
Francesco Sciarrone	....	scenic artist
Richard A. Sirico	....	carpenter
Greg Sullivan	....	scenic artist
Chris Vogt	....	set dresser
Robert Vogt	....	set dresser
Patricia Walker	....	scenic charge
Loren Weeks	....	assistant art director
Dave Weinman	....	lead man

Sound Department
Michael Barosky	....	sound mixer
Michael Barry	....	sound re-recording mixer
Kam Chan	....	foley editor
Benjamin Cheah	....	foley assistant (as Ben Cheah)
Marko A. Costanzo	....	foley artist
Chris Fielder	....	assistant sound editor
Eugene Gearty	....	sound effects editor
Mark Goodermote	....	cable person
Frank Kern	....	foley editor
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor (as Dan Korentis)
Hal Levinsohn	....	adr editor
Adam Lipsius	....	assistant sound editor
Marissa Littlefield	....	adr editor
Linda Murphy	....	boom operator
Anne Pope	....	assistant adr editor
Clete Ritta	....	foley recordist
Fred Rosenberg	....	dialogue supervisor
Philip Stockton	....	supervising sound editor
Magdaline Volaitis	....	dialogue editor
Allan Zaleski	....	apprentice sound editor
Donald Sylvester	....	adr supervisor (uncredited)

Stunts
G.A. Aguilar	....	stunt coordinator
Bob Colletti	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Robert M. Andres	....	key grip
Tony Arnaud	....	company grip
Florian Ballhaus	....	camera operator
Sarah Elspeth Black	....	lamp operator (as Sarah Black)
James Boniece	....	additional grip (as James M. Boniece)
Lamont Crawford	....	company grip
Ralph G. Crowley	....	lamp operator
Andy Day	....	gaffer (as Andrew J. Day)
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: additional principal photography (as David Dunlap)
Michael Fradianni	....	generator operator
Jamie Gallagher	....	generator operator
Nils Johnson	....	24 frame video operator
Lee Kazista	....	camera trainee
Richard C. Kerekes	....	dolly grip (as Richard Kerekes)
Rick Marroquin	....	company grip
Peter Marzulli	....	rigging best boy
Jim McConkey	....	Steadicam operator
Jim Miller	....	rigging key grip
Heather Norton	....	second assistant camera (as Heather MacDonald Norton)
Michael Papadapolous	....	lamp operator
Mike Reed	....	rigging gaffer (as Michael Reed)
Kyle Rudolph	....	Steadicam operator
Chris Skutch	....	best boy grip
Susan Starr	....	first assistant camera
Craig Vaccaro	....	rigging grip (as Craig W. Vaccaro)
John Velez	....	best boy electric (as John G. Velez)
Barry Wetcher	....	still photographer
Bob Becchio	....	first assistant camera (uncredited)
Frederick Elmes	....	additional cinematographer (uncredited)

Casting Department
Kathleen Chopin	....	casting associate
Karen E. Etcoff	....	extras casting
Melody Nichols	....	extras casting assistant
Bill Tripician	....	extras casting assistant
Karen Meisels	....	casting associate (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Mark Burchard	....	wardrobe supervisor
Sharon Globerson	....	wardrobe coordinator
Iris Horta Lemos	....	key costumer
Tim McKelvey	....	key costumer
Laura Jean Shannon	....	assistant costume designer

Editorial Department
Armando Fente	....	second assistant editor
Adam Geiger	....	apprentice editor
William Henry	....	first assistant editor (as Bill Henry)
Noëlle Penraat	....	negative cutter
David Pultz	....	color timer

Music Department
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Simon Chamberlain	....	orchestrator
Emile Charlap	....	music contractor
Emile Charlap	....	music preparation
George Fenton	....	conductor: score
John Richards	....	score mixer
John Richards	....	score recordist
Alex Steyermark	....	music supervisor
Sally Swisher	....	assistant music editor
Earl Rose	....	music arranger: songs (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Richard Holston	....	transportation co-captain
Michael Hyde	....	transportation coordinator
Bobby Marsh	....	driver (uncredited)

Other crew
Sylvia Ader	....	ballroom dancer
Howard Atlee	....	ballroom dancer
Adam Baer	....	location scout
Erica Bamforth	....	set production assistant
Andrew Barr	....	assistant: Mr. Hytner
Erica Beeney	....	production office assistant (as Erica Anise Beeney)
Gene Benus	....	assistant parking coordinator
J.C. Bridges	....	assistant parking coordinator
Noel Bright	....	set production assistant
Jerome Bynder	....	ballroom dancer
Liz Chrystea	....	ballroom dancer
Howard Cutler	....	ballroom dancer
John DeSimone	....	production coordinator
Timothy Donohue	....	key set production assistant
Virginia Emerson	....	ballroom dancer
Kenan Erdogan	....	craft service assistant
Deborah Evans	....	assistant accountant
Eleni Fotinos	....	choreographer
Eleni Fotinos	....	dance instructor
Edward Furs	....	ballroom dancer
Oronde Giddings	....	production secretary
Vernon Gray	....	ballroom dancer
Arthur W. Guenther	....	ballroom dancer
Miriam Hamilton	....	ballroom dancer
Heather Hope	....	assistant: Ms. Aniston
Betty Hudson	....	ballroom dancer
Andrea Isaacs	....	production accountant
Mary Jackson	....	location assistant
June Kawai	....	ballroom dancer
Penelope Kent	....	assistant: Mr. Hytner
Edward Klau	....	set intern
Jennifer Knarich	....	set production assistant
Paul Kramer	....	assistant location manager
Amanda Ladd	....	first assistant accountant
Suzanne Landau	....	assistant production coordinator
Vera Lauer	....	production office intern
Clay Liversidge	....	board operator
Dana Lorge	....	ballroom dancer
Eric Mansur	....	assistant: Mr. Mark
Dave Martin	....	location assistant
Tracy Mercer	....	assistant: Ms. Aniston
Jerry Mitchell	....	principal choreographer
Jodi Moccia	....	assistant choreographer
Solange Monnier	....	craft service assistant
Thomas Moore	....	location scout
Tom Nonnon	....	ballroom dancer (as T. Scott Nonnon)
Matthew Ogens	....	production office assistant
Paula Ohaus	....	theater staging: children
Sheila Paige	....	script supervisor
Sally Parrish	....	ballroom dancer
Paul Pellicoro	....	choreographer
Paul Pellicoro	....	dance instructor
Jamie Polon	....	production office intern
Marsha Robertson	....	unit publicist
Paul Rossman	....	stage manager
Larney Rutledge	....	ballroom dancer
Catherine Saliba	....	ballroom dancer
Kristen Sampsell	....	set production assistant
Lynn Saunders	....	location scout
Ted Shields	....	set production assistant
Marce Sterner	....	location assistant
Michael Stricks	....	location manager
Christi Tidman	....	post-production accountant
Dale C. Todd	....	second assistant accountant
Tom Tumminello	....	parking coordinator
Nancy Beth Orr	....	choreographer (uncredited)
Jonathan Roumie	....	production assistant (uncredited)
Bill Timoney	....	adr voice group (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Distributors

• Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation (1998) (USA) (theatrical)
• Fox Network (2001) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox (Far East)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (Argentina)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (200?) (Germany) (DVD)
• Filmes Castello Lopes (Portugal)
• Gativideo (Argentina) (video)
• Vox (200?) (Germany) (TV)

Other Companies

• Avatar Studios  music mixing
• Avatar Studios  music recording
• C-5  sound editing services
• C5  post-production sound services
• Cecil B. DeMeals  craft service
• Cineric  titles and opticals
• Clinton Recording Studios  music mixing
• Clinton Recording Studios  music recording
• Edison Recording  music mixing
• Edison Recording  music recording
• Hit Factory, The  music mixing
• Hit Factory, The  music recording
• Kee Casting  extras casting
• Manhattan Center Studios  music mixing
• Manhattan Center Studios  music recording
• On Location Education  children's tutoring
• Pangaea Records  soundtrack
• Reel Foods  catering
• Sony Music Studios  music mixing
• Sony Music Studios  music recording
• Sound One Corporation  re-recording facilities
• Speakeasy  background vocals

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language and some sexuality.

Runtime:

111 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Brazil:14 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-12 | France:U | Germany:6 (w) | Mexico:B | Norway:7 | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:M18 (re-rating) | Spain:7 | Sweden:Btl | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Central Park Zoo, Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Trivia:

Stephen Baldwin was replaced by John Pankow after one day of work due to creative differences.

Goofs:

Continuity: When George and Nina are kissing on the bed, Nina unbuttons his shirt, then when he answers the phone his shirt is fastened again. He then gets up and walks away, shirt open.

Quotes:

Nina: Freud didn't know DICK about women.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Will & Grace: Object of My Rejection (#1.22)" (1999)

Soundtrack:

Dancin'

chin up, young person!

They say you can't help who you love, and people have used that line forever to make terrible decisions about romance. This movie explores the idea that while you might not be able to help loving someone, you can still choose how you respond to that feeling. Choosing wisely is the difficult part! :) The characters (and not just the main characters - there are some great sub-plots and well-rounded side characters here) learn a lot about being realistic (and how & why that can be difficult) when it comes to romance. Many aspects of this theme are played out, and in more ways that you'd think just from reading the back of the DVD cover.

I highly recommend this if you like that class of chick flick that goes beyond the obvious to ponder some of the deeper questions about love and the things we do to find it, keep it, and occasionally break our hearts over it. Like other beautiful movies of this kind (eg, While You Were Sleeping, French Kiss) the comedy is fairly subtle and character-based.

All the elements are there: casting, direction, script (story and dialogue) and acting are all good. I hope you enjoy this movie as much as I did!