The Anniversary Party (2001)

Directors:

Alan Cumming
Jennifer Jason Leigh

Writers:

Jennifer Jason Leigh (written by) &
Alan Cumming (written by)

Release Date:

24 June 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy

Tagline:

It's not a party until something gets broken.

Plot:

Love is complex and relationships deteriorate.

Plot Keywords:

Party | Ecstasy | Toast | Ballet | Nudity

Awards:

1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Alan Cumming	...	Joe Therrian
Jennifer Jason Leigh	...	Sally Therrian
Otis	...	Himself (as Otis the Dog)
Steven Freedman	...	Yoga Instructor
Norizzela Monterroso	...	America
Clara Demedrano	...	Rosa
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Jerry Adams
Parker Posey	...	Judy Adams
Phoebe Cates	...	Sophia Gold
Kevin Kline	...	Cal Gold
Owen Kline	...	Jack Gold
Greta Kline	...	Evie Gold
Denis O'Hare	...	Ryan Rose
Mina Badie	...	Monica Rose
Jane Adams	...	Clair Forsyth
John C. Reilly	...	Mac Forsyth
Jennifer Beals	...	Gina Taylor
Matt Malloy	...	Sanford Jewison
Mary Lynn Rajskub	...	Mary-Lynn (as Mary-Lynn Rajskub)
Michael Panes	...	Levi Panes
Gwyneth Paltrow	...	Skye Davidson
Blair Tefkin	...	Astrid
Anouk	...	Herself (as Anouk the Dog)
Karen Kilgariff	...	Karen
Molly Bryant	...	Party Guest
Michael G. Carroll	...	Party Guest
Craig Chester	...	Party Guest
Christopher Lawrence	...	Party Guest
Jessica Queller	...	Party Guest
JR Reed	...	Party Guest (as JR W. Reed)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Sadie Frost	...	Lucy - Joe's Sister (voice) (uncredited)
Matt McGrath	...	Jeffrey (uncredited)

Directed by
Alan Cumming
Jennifer Jason Leigh

Writing credits
Jennifer Jason Leigh		(written by) &
Alan Cumming		(written by)

Produced by
Alan Cumming	....	producer
Andrew Hurwitz	....	executive producer
Jennifer Jason Leigh	....	producer
Michael Nelson	....	co-producer
JoAnne Sellar	....	producer
Lila Yacoub	....	associate producer

Original Music by
Michael Penn

Cinematography by
John Bailey		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Carol Littleton
Suzanne Spangler

Set Decoration by
Emma Fairley

Costume Design by
Christopher Lawrence

Makeup Department
Jorjee Douglas	....	assistant hair stylist (as Jorjee Douglass)
Jorjee Douglas	....	assistant makeup artist (as Jorjee Douglass)
Lori Guidroz	....	key hair stylist
Tina Roesler Kerwin	....	key makeup artist (as Tina Roesler-Kerwin)

Production Management
Joan Kelley Bierman	....	post-production supervisor
Christine White	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Paul Clark	....	first assistant director
Dawn Massaro	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Nick Chavez	....	swing gang
Alan Cumming	....	storyboard illustrator
Doug DuRose	....	property assistant (as Doug Durose)
Simona Ennas	....	assistant to set decorator
Simona Ennas	....	flower arrangements
Simona Ennas	....	sculpture designer
Alan K. Harrison	....	swing gang (as Alan Harrison)
Jeffrey Kies	....	designer: frames, HEE983
Jennifer Jason Leigh	....	designer: book jackets
Paul Linkogle	....	leadman
Eugene McCarthy	....	property master
Chris Vail	....	assistant property master
James Davidson Bennett	....	set dresser (uncredited)

Sound Department
Tim Bindel	....	supervising adr editor
Perry Dodgson	....	boom operator
Matthew T. Duncan	....	sound recordist (as Matt Duncan)
Aleksandr Gruzdev	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Alex Gruzdev)
Joy Gruzdev	....	dialogue editor
Ellen Heuer	....	foley walker
Cindy Jo Hinkleman	....	first assistant sound editor
James P. Lay	....	sound re-recording mixer (as James Lay)
James P. Lay	....	supervising sound editor (as James Lay)
David MacMillan	....	production sound mixer (as David R. B. MacMillan)
Harrison D. Marsh	....	boom operator (as Harrison 'Duke' Marsh)
Michael Miller	....	adr mixer
Richard Partlow	....	foley walker (as Rick Partlow)
Will Riley	....	sound effects editor
Andy Rosenthal	....	sound effects editor
Ron Ruzicka	....	foley recordist (as Ron Ruizicca)
Trevor Ward	....	sound consultant: Dolby
Cindy Jo Hinkleman	....	adr editor (uncredited)

Stunts
Dan Bradley	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Matt Cohen	....	video technician
Mike Connors	....	dolly grip
Gary Dagg	....	key grip
Anette Haellmigk	....	camera operator
Steele Hunter	....	grip
Ian Kelly	....	video engineer
E. Scott Mayhugh	....	best boy grip (as Scott Mayhugh)
Matthew Moriarty	....	first assistant camera (as Matt Moriarty)
John 'Fest' Sandau	....	chief lighting technician
David Scott	....	lamp operator
Cricket Sloat	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Peter Sorel	....	unit still photographer
Zoran Veselic	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Greg Wardell	....	lamp operator
Maryan Zurek	....	underwater assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Virginia D. Patton	....	costumer: New York (as Virginia Patton)
Nomi Shichor	....	costume assistant
Lovelynn Vanderhorst	....	costume supervisor (as Lovelynn A. Vanderhorst)

Editorial Department
Charise E. Angone	....	assistant editor
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Mike Milliken	....	color timer
Mike Sowa	....	digital color timer

Music Department
Nicole Catino	....	music coordinator
Mark Everett	....	musical archivist (as E)
Paul Rabjohns	....	music editor
Robin Urdang	....	music supervisor

Transportation Department
Scott Ayers	....	driver
Jerry Smith	....	transportation coordinator
Jon Tardino	....	driver
Andrew Wooten	....	driver

Other crew
Andrea Adams	....	set intern
Keith Adams	....	stand-in
Pamela Alch	....	script supervisor
Howard Baral	....	post-production accountant
Jerome Blake	....	production attorney
Kristin Borella	....	unit publicist
Maxine Brooks	....	studio teacher
Steven Butensky	....	production accountant
Paul Cafferty	....	post-production accountant
Leah Canino	....	animal trainer
Alison S. Cohen	....	production attorney (as Alison Cohen)
Janet Costner	....	location manager
Sylvia Desrochers	....	unit publicist
Gary C. Ferraro	....	assistant chef (as Gary Ferraro)
Jim Fleckenstein	....	set production assistant
J.J. Geary	....	craft service
Susan Hartmann	....	assistant production coordinator
Todd Helbing	....	assistant: Jennifer Jason Leigh
Laurie A. Hoover	....	assistant accountant (as Laurie Hoover)
Andrew Hurwitz	....	production attorney
Donna Janosik	....	office production assistant
Ed King	....	assistant: Alan Cumming
Jennifer Jason Leigh	....	book jacket designer
Amy Lloyd	....	set intern
Renee Morrison	....	stand-in
Mark Patterson	....	set production assistant
Carlo Pratto	....	assistant: Ms. Leigh & Mr. Cumming
Henry Rivera	....	assistant chef
Eddie Roche	....	assistant: Alan Cumming
Michael Rose	....	office production assistant
Corey Sklov	....	set production assistant
Susan Soh	....	assistant: Jennifer Jason Leigh
Natalie Stevenson	....	assistant: Gwyneth Paltrow
Marc Stoker	....	set medic
Lloyd Thomas	....	chef
Damon Tinker	....	office production assistant
Barbara Turner	....	script consultant
Ana Veselic	....	set intern
Bumble Ward	....	unit publicist

Thanks
Lexie Almeida	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Paul Thomas Anderson	....	special thanks
Jennifer Beals	....	acknowledgment: prop photos by
Claire Best	....	special thanks
Arianna C. Bocco	....	special thanks (as Arianna Bocco)
Tracy Brennan	....	special thanks
Brian Carter	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film, Absolut Vodka LA
Tricia Cooke	....	special thanks (as Trisha Cooke)
Duffy Culligan	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Seamus Culligan	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Sonya Deepak	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Carmen DeForest	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Alison Dickey	....	special thanks
Renee Duryee	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Michelle Feeney	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Mark Flanagan	....	special thanks
Tom Ford	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Kathy Freud	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Sadie Frost	....	special thanks
John Galliano	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Nan Goldin	....	acknowledgment: still photographs of Jennifer Jason Leigh by
Nan Goldin	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Stephanie Hardy	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Ola Itani	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Simon Johnston	....	acknowledgment: "God Bless America" print by
Jennifer Kaufman	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Jamie Kershaw	....	special thanks
Brigitte Lacombe	....	acknowledgment: still photographs of Phoebe Cates & Jennifer Jason Leigh by
Brigitte Lacombe	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Annie Leibovitz	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film (as Annie Leibowitz)
John Lesher	....	special thanks
Clay Lingo	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Michael Lin	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Daniel Lupi	....	very special thanks
Mike Macari	....	special thanks
Doug MacLaren	....	special thanks
Carineh Martin	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Sam Mendes	....	special thanks
Fouad Mezza	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Celeste Miller	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Matthew Mogol	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film (as Matthew Mogul)
Laura Moniz	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Jay Novak	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Mark Ordesky	....	special thanks
Jenni Park	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Mark Peel	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
James Perse	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Jacques Perwin	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Miuccia Prada	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film (as Muicia Prada)
Richard Presser	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Megan Quinn	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Joshua Ravetch	....	special thanks
Karen Reddy Medeiros	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film (as Karen Reddy-Medeiros)
Elaine Rich	....	special thanks
Diane Rosenstein	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Hugh Ross	....	special thanks
Kurt Rother	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Cynthia Rowley	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Gilly Ruben	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Joni Savage	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Jason Schell	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Kanwal Sharma	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Carol Shaw	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Shelby Siegel	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film (as Shelby Segal)
Nancy Silverton	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Tamara Simpson	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Charlotte Sprintess	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Kate Sullivan	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Don Tardino	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Carol Theodorou	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
Rob Thornton	....	thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film, Modern Props (as Robney Thornton)
Barbara Turner	....	an enormous less words thanks to

Production Companies

• Fine Line Features (presents)
• Pas de Quoi (producer)
• Ghoulardi Film Company

Distributors

• Fine Line Features (2001) (USA) (theatrical)
• Aurum Producciones (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Buena Vista International (2001) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• GAGA (2001) (Japan) (theatrical)
• Medusa Distribuzione (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Metropolitan Filmexport (2001) (France) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Rialto Film AG (2001) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Alliance Atlantis Home Video (2002) (Canada) (DVD)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2001) (UK) (all media)
• Entertainment in Video (2004) (UK) (DVD)
• GAGA (2001) (Japan) (all media)
• Laurus Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (rental)
• Laurus Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2003) (Netherlands) (DVD) (retail)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (DVD)
• PlayArte Home Vídeo (Brazil) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Absolut Vodka  thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
• Aesop  cosmetics and hair products donated by
• All-Clad Metalcrafters  furniture and props donated by (as All Clad)
• American Humane Association, The  animal action monitoring (AHA 00044)
• Apple Computer  furniture and props donated by (as Apple, Inc.)
• Aroma Pharmacy  furniture and props donated by
• Artists Rights Society  courtesy of (August Sanders photographs: "Unemployed", 1928 and "Sect Radio Station" © 2000 Die Photographische Sammlung/SK Stiftung Kultur-August Sander Archiv, Cologne) (as ARS, NY)
• Artists Rights Society  courtesy of (untitled Calder prints © 2000 Estate of Alexander Calder) (as Artists Rights Society [ARS], New York)
• BCBG  wardrobe and accessories donated by (as BCBG Maxazria)
• Bumble Ward & Associates  unit publicity
• Calvin Klein  wardrobe and accessories donated by
• Campanile, Los Angeles  furniture and props donated by (as Campanille)
• Cast & Crew Entertainment Services  payroll services provided by (as Cast & Crew)
• Cast Security  security
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera cranes
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chrome Hearts  wardrobe and accessories donated by (as Crome Hearts)
• Cynthia Rowley  wardrobe and accessories donated by
• Deluxe  prints by (as Deluxe®)
• Diva  furniture and props donated by
• EFilm  tape to film transfer facilities
• Earl Jeans  wardrobe and accessories donated by
• Epstein, Levinsohn, Bodine, Hurwitz & Weinstein  production legal services
• Excalibur Rings  furniture and props donated by (as Excaliber Rings)
• Falco Ink.  publicity
• For Stars Express  production catering
• Great Northern Brokerage Services  insurance services provided by (as Great Northern Brokerage Corp.)
• Gucci  wardrobe and accessories donated by
• Hoffman Travel  travel services provided by
• Hugo Boss  wardrobe and accessories donated by
• Illiterature  furniture and props donated by
• Illuminations  furniture and props donated by
• Inter Video  video equipment
• Interlock Studios  post sound re-recording facilities (as Interlock Studios, Burbank)
• International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)  this picture made under the jurisdiction of (as I.A.T.S.E.®)
• Ivy, The  furniture and props donated by
• Jennifer Kaufman  wardrobe and accessories donated by (as www.jenniferkaufman.com)
• John Galliano  wardrobe and accessories donated by (as Galliano)
• Kenneth Cole  furniture and props donated by
• Kiehl's Since 1851  cosmetics and hair products donated by (as Kiehls)
• Kona Cutting  negative cutting
• LORAC Cosmetics  cosmetics and hair products donated by
• La Cienega Studio Cleaners  thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film (as LaCienega Cleaners)
• Laser Pacific Media  on-line mastering facilities (as Laser Pacific)
• Laurent-Perrier Champagne  furniture and props donated by
• Level 3 Post  dailies transfer facilities
• MAC Cosmetics  cosmetics and hair products donated by (as M.A.C. Cosmetics)
• Manhattan Wardrobe Supply  thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
• Mephisto Shoes  wardrobe and accessories donated by (as Mephisto)
• Mercedes Benz USA  furniture and props donated by (as Mercedes Benz)
• Modern Props  thanks: for their huge contribution to the making of this film
• Modernica  furniture and props donated by
• NARS Cosmetics  cosmetics and hair products donated by (as Nars)
• Nikon  furniture and props donated by (as Nikon USA)
• Pacific Title  titles
• Pal TV East  video camera equipment (as Pal Television East)
• Palm  furniture and props donated by (as Palm Pilot)
• Paskal Lighting  grip & electric equipment supplied by
• Phillips Electronics  furniture and props donated by (as Philips Electronics)
• Prada  wardrobe and accessories donated by
• R.C. Baral & Co.  post-production accounting (as R. C. Baral & Company, Inc.)
• Russell Simpson Company  furniture and props donated by (as Russell Simpson)
• Sound Dogs  post sound facility
• Stila Cosmetics  cosmetics and hair products donated by
• Thomson & Thomson  script clearances

MPAA:

Rated R for language, drug use and nudity.

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Portugal:M/16 | South Korea:18 | Canada:14A (Canadian Home Video rating) | Australia:MA | France:U | Germany:12 | Netherlands:12 | Spain:13 | Switzerland:14 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:14 (canton of Vaud) | UK:18 | USA:R (No. 37899) | Iceland:12

Filming Locations:

Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fine Line Features

Trivia:

The film was written by Leigh and Cumming for their friends, and shot in 19 days using SONY DSR-500 digital video cameras.

Goofs:

Continuity: After Judy throws the diving sticks into the pool, several guests jump in, including a shirtless Joe. In the next shot, Joe is on the grass, wearing his shirt and dry.

Quotes:

[On the downside of starting a family]
Sophia Gold: You can't do yourself in! Kids just rob you of that option!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in For Pete's Wake! (2007)

Soundtrack:

Love Is Real

Best of its kind film ever made.

If you like a slow, carefully developed, beautifully acted, funny and articulate piece of parlor theater, complete with a heart-wrenching scene or three demonstrating alienation between neighbors and genuine intimacy among friends, this is for you. If not, not. With its two deaths or near-deaths, this is more than talk, but still if pure conversation strikes you as self-indulgent or tedious, rather than (in this singular case) genius, why not pass?