Kissing Jessica Stein (2001)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Writers (WGA):

Heather Juergensen (written by) &
Jennifer Westfeldt (written by)

Release Date:

21 June 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

When it comes to love, sometimes she just can't think straight.

Plot:

Jessica Stein is a single, straight, sucessful, journalist, part of a bonded Jewish family living in New York City...

Plot Keywords:

Lesbianism | New York City | Lesbian Interest | Homosexual | Interracial Romance

Awards:

8 wins & 3 nominations

Cast

Jennifer Westfeldt	...	Jessica Stein
Heather Juergensen	...	Helen Cooper
Scott Cohen	...	Josh Myers
Jackie Hoffman	...	Joan
Michael Mastro	...	Martin
Carson Elrod	...	Sebastian
David Aaron Baker	...	Dan Stein
Jon Hamm	...	Charles
Tovah Feldshuh	...	Judy Stein
Esther Wurmfeld	...	Grandma Esther
Hillel Friedman	...	Rabbi
Ben Feldman	...	Himself
Robert Ari	...	Sidney Stein
Jennifer Carta	...	Rachel, Dan's Fiancee
Ben Weber	...	Larry
Brian Stepanek	...	Peter
Nick Corley	...	Howard
John Cariani	...	Chuck
Christopher Berger	...	Malaprops Guy (Hugh)
Hayden Adams	...	Weird Smooth Guy (Rod)
Kevin Sussman	...	Calculator Guy (Ned)
Jim J. Bullock	...	Not-Yet-Out Gay Guy (Craig)
Alysia Reiner	...	Schuller Gallery Artist
Tibor Feldman	...	Roland
Michael Showalter	...	Stephen
Michael Ealy	...	Greg
Naomi Sablan	...	Seductive Woman at Gallery
Allen Fitzpatrick	...	Matthew
Julie Lauren	...	Josh's Date
Jimmy Palumbo	...	Cheesy Pickup Guy #1
Thomas L. Bolster	...	Cheesy Pickup Guy #2 (as Thomas Bolster)
Vinny Vella	...	Cab Driver (as Vinnie Vella)
Peter Hirsch	...	Stanley
Idina Menzel	...	Bridesmaid
Adele Reichman	...	Grandma Interrogating Helen
Amy Wilson	...	Bookstore Saleswoman
Ilana Levine	...	Laurie, Helen's New Girlfriend

Directed by
Charles Herman-Wurmfeld

Writing credits (WGA)
Heather Juergensen		(written by) &
Jennifer Westfeldt		(written by)

Produced by
Eduardo Braniff	....	associate producer
Steven Firestone	....	associate producer
Matt Janes	....	line producer
Heather Juergensen	....	co-producer
Doug Liman	....	associate producer
Mark Pincus	....	associate producer
Kaye Popofsky	....	associate producer
Jennifer Westfeldt	....	co-producer
Eden Wurmfeld	....	producer (as Eden H. Wurmfeld)
Brad Zions	....	producer

Original Music by
Marcelo Zarvos

Cinematography by
Lawrence Sher

Film Editing by
Kristy Jacobs Maslin
Greg Tillman		(as Gregory Tillman)

Casting by
Susie Farris

Production Design by
Charlotte Bourke

Art Direction by
Tema Levine

Costume Design by
Melissa Bruning

Makeup Department
Loretta Alston	....	assistant hair stylist
Fiona Distefano	....	assistant makeup artist
Sheri Kornhaber	....	key makeup artist
Stephani Resnick	....	key hair stylist
Stephani Resnick	....	makeup artist: Jennifer Westfeldt

Production Management
Naomi Sablan	....	unit manager
Heidi Tannenbaum	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Stewart Griffin	....	second assistant director
Jeff Huston	....	first assistant director
T. Scott Keiner	....	first assistant director: second unit (as Scott Keiner)
James Mastracco	....	second second assistant director

Art Department
Larry Chen	....	swing
Jim Cook	....	art assistant
Joanna Da Toca	....	artist: Schuller gallery work
Joanna Da Toca	....	assistant art director
Natalie Dierckx	....	art director: second unit
Chloe Garcia-Roberts	....	art assistant
Mary Hawkins	....	graphic designer
Ariel Enriquez Saulog	....	supervising graphic artist
Nini Than	....	prop master
Anthony Titus	....	paintings: Jessica
David Tonn	....	prop assistant
Suzanne Wang	....	off-set decorator
Treva Wurmfeld	....	first look show paintings

Sound Department
Gerald Donlan	....	sound editor
Robert Fernandez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Seth Granger	....	boom operator
Dan Korintus	....	dialogue editor
Angela Organ	....	assistant sound editor
Mike Poppleton	....	assistant sound editor (as Michael G. Poppleton)
Theresa Radka	....	sound mixer
Jacob Ribicoff	....	supervising sound editor
Griffin Richardson	....	boom operator
Alan B. Samuels	....	sound: second unit (as Alan Samuels)
Daniel Ward	....	first assistant sound editor (as Dan Ward)

Visual Effects by
Ramon Ferro	....	optical camera
Louis Goold	....	optical layout (as Lou Goold)
Simon Lund	....	optical layout
Janos Pilenyi	....	opticals supervisor
Adam Wangerin	....	optical camera

Camera and Electrical Department
Heath Allen	....	additional electrician
Antonio Anguilar	....	key grip: second unit
Madison Bellanger	....	second assistant camera: second unit
George Bianchini	....	Steadicam operator
Chris Clarke	....	best boy
Chad Cohlmia	....	best boy electric
Caswell Cooke	....	key grip
Julie Donovan	....	first assistant camera
Anna Gilpatrick	....	additional electrician
Bryan Haigh	....	second assistant camera
David Irwin	....	gaffer
Milly Itzhak	....	camera loader (as Milli Itzhak)
Stu Kaufman	....	best boy electric
Seth Kotok	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Dan Kubicek	....	grip
Evin Lowe	....	additional electrician
Syd Ross	....	grip: second unit
Nick Theodorakis	....	camera loader
Perry Unjang	....	additional grip
Andy Westbrook	....	grip
Hope Wurmfeld	....	still photographer
Stuart Kaufman	....	best boy electric (uncredited)
Matt Schuman	....	electrician (uncredited)
L. Andrew Sigler	....	grip (uncredited)
Justin Whitaker	....	electrician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Byron Crystal	....	background casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Galvelis	....	wardrobe supervisor

Editorial Department
Jason Ensler	....	additional editor
Danny Hack	....	color timer
Julie O'Grady	....	negative cutter
Tina Pacheco	....	assistant editor
Nate Taylor	....	additional editor
Nate Taylor	....	assistant editor
Douglas Weiner	....	assistant editor (as Doug Weiner)
Blaine Hope	....	assistant editor (uncredited)
Lori Machens	....	post-production coordinator (uncredited)
Alexander Serpico	....	second assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Matthew Abbott	....	music supervisor
Jim Black	....	music supervisor
David Cerrutti	....	musician: viola
Gilad	....	musician: percussion
Dorothy Lawson	....	musician: cello
Romero Lubambo	....	musician: guitar
Mary Rowell	....	musician: violin
Harry M. Woods	....	composer: song "What a Little Moonlight Can Do"
Marcelo Zarvos	....	musician: piano

Other crew
Moran Banai	....	office production assistant
Mark L. Beigelman	....	production legal services
Tarra Marie Bercegeay	....	production assistant: first team
Renee Brown	....	craft service
Juan Bryan	....	teamster
Eileen Burke	....	office production assistant
Dana Castro	....	production coordinator: second unit
Jason Chaet	....	creative consultant
Aristotle Dreher	....	key production assistant
Kate Drennen	....	script supervisor
Jason Ensler	....	creative consultant
Ben Feldman	....	production legal services
Todd Hunter	....	assistant location manager
Beth Irizarry	....	production assistant
Wes Jones	....	office production assistant
Daniel Leavy	....	set production assistant
Glenn McQuaid	....	title designer
Keefe Murren	....	set production assistant
William P. Nance	....	location manager
Derek Pastures	....	parking coordinator
Connie Perelson	....	location manager: Guilford
Jon Schroder	....	location scout
Laurie Touma	....	set production assistant
Marie Turkot	....	production assistant
Kevin Vargas	....	accountant
A.J. Khan	....	location translator (uncredited)
Joseph Taylor	....	additional location manager (uncredited)

Thanks
Tom Bolster	....	special thanks
Christina Cabot	....	special thanks
Chip Cooper	....	special thanks
Ted Field	....	special thanks
Jon Hamm	....	special thanks
Alec Holland	....	special thanks
Erica Huggins	....	special thanks
Shirley Juergensen	....	special thanks
Scott Kroopf	....	special thanks
Julie Lauren	....	special thanks
Bill Nisselson	....	thanks
Connie Perelson	....	special thanks
Michael Perelson	....	special thanks
Elinor Reed	....	special thanks
Saul Rubinek	....	special thanks
George Sheanshang	....	special thanks
Daniel Sollinger	....	special thanks
Matthias Visser	....	special thanks
Hope Wurmfeld	....	special thanks

Production Companies

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (presents)
• Brad Zions Films
• Eden Wurmfeld Films
• Cineric
• Michael Alden Productions

Distributors

• Fox Searchlight Pictures (2002) (USA) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2002) (UK) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox of Germany (2002) (Germany) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Netherlands (2002) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox de Argentina (2002) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Italia (2002) (Italy) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2002) (Mexico) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2002) (France) (theatrical)
• Gemini Film (2002) (Russia) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox (2003) (Japan) (theatrical)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (USA) (VHS)
• Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD) (VHS)
• Yorin (2005) (Netherlands) (TV) (first national airing)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (DVD)
• 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS)

Special Effects

• Cineric (special effects)

Other Companies

• Anheuser Busch  product placement
• Axium Payroll Services  production payroll
• Camera Service Center  cameras provided by
• Cineric  titles and opticals
• Coast to Coast Catering  catering
• Coca-Cola Company, The  product placement
• Complex Corporation  production services
• Crew Cuts  post services
• Dansk Inc.  dishware
• Gay Men's Health Crisis  product placement
• General Mills  product placement
• Krispy Kreme  product placement
• MAC Cosmetics  makeup furnished by
• Paris Film Productions  lighting and grip equipment
• Perrier-Jouët  product placement
• Philosophy  makeup furnished by
• Planet 10 Post  sound post-production
• Post Group, The  post services
• Prescriptives  makeup furnished by
• Sound One Corporation  sound post-production
• Sterling National Bank  banking services
• yuki nyc  handbags

Also Known As:

Seeking Same (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for sexual content and language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Finland:K-11 | Iceland:L | South Korea:18 | Philippines:R-18 | USA:TV-MA (cable rating) | USA:R | UK:15 | Canada:18A | Canada:13+ (Quebec)

Filming Locations:

Guilford, Connecticut, USA

Company:

Fox Searchlight Pictures

Trivia:

Some background shots were removed from the film prior to its release because they showed the World Trade Center.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Jessica and Helen are outside on the street and they're eating ice cream and talking about the panhandlers, Jessica's purse disappears between shots.

Quotes:

Jessica: [to Helen] Oh, no offense... no offense. I mean look at you. Who wouldn't want to have sex with you. I mean 'do' you.

Movie Connections:

References Meet the Parents (2000)

Soundtrack:

Lonely Place

A Risky Plot That Plays Beautifully-A Glorious Winner

The mantra of the successful and single career woman in New York City, and undoubtedly elsewhere, seems to have evolved to "All the good men are either married or gay." But still, through singles ads and avocation-based meeting places and just hope they persevere. Few decide that answering an ad in The Village Voice placed by a lesbian or bisexual woman is an antidote to the scarce-available-man dilemma.

That's just what copy editor and hopeful painter "Jessica" (Jennifer Westfeldt) does in "Kissing Jessica Stein" leading to an awkward first encounter, then a close friendship and ultimately an intimate relationship with a stunning, smart and funny art gallery manager, "Helen" (Heather Jurgenson). The film tracks their relationships with each other and with the people in their lives - family, friends, co-workers.

The story could easily have sunk to the level of a zany, fluffy, sex comedy or, perhaps, strived to be a "message" drama. It does neither. What makes it wonderful is that all the characters have whole lives which they live in confusion and compassion, pathos and passion. Superficially, they are familiar Manhattan, affluent stereotypes. In reality, they have all the longings and frailties - and strengths - of people everywhere. The character development is real and affecting without being cloy, cynicism is at a minimum. Helen and Jessica haven't stepped out of a Woody Allen take on Manhattan life.

Is Jessica really coming out for life as a lesbian or is she trolling in unfamiliar waters out of desperation for a friendship that includes intimacy? Has Helen given up myriad lovers of both sexes to settle into a domesticated gay relationship? Are the answers there? Should they be?

If a Lifetime Achievement Oscar for portraying the Jewish mother-in-law is ever awarded Tovah Feldshuh will get it. In this film she hovers dangerously close to a familiar caricature while projecting a warmth and wisdom deeper than the conventional portrait of the hectoring, always worried Jewish mom. The opening scene at a Day of Atonement synagogue service is priceless.

"Kissing Jessica Stein" is an Indie production based on the two leading actresses' collaboration in writing "Lipstick," their 1997 play. These are two very smart and insightful women: I hope more comes from their fertile and caring understanding of human, not just female but human, needs.

This film is very New York with scenes from a number of neighborhoods. I have mixed feelings about the post-11 September premiere decision to delete shots of the World Trade Center and replace them with the midtown skyline. A reviewer noted that audiences at the premiere were distracted by the WTC-dominated panoramas.

In a largely full theater with a number of clearly lesbian couples along with many more single people and (probably) heterosexual couples it was really nice to be part of an audience that burst into frequent laughter not based on sexual orientation but rather together as people enjoying a really clever, funny-and-serious, good film.