Alex & Emma (2003)

Director:

Rob Reiner

Writer (WGA):

Jeremy Leven (written by)

Release Date:

20 June 2003 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Is it love... or are they just imagining things?

Plot:

A writer must turn out a novel in thirty days or face the wrath of loan sharks.

Plot Keywords:

Novel | Writer | Stenographer | Novelist | Paris When It Sizzles

Cast

Luke Wilson	...	Alex Sheldon / Adam Shipley
Chino XL	...	Tony / Flamenco Dancer #2
Lobo Sebastian	...	Bobby / Flamenco Dancer #1
Rob Reiner	...	Wirschafter
Kate Hudson	...	Emma Dinsmore / Ylva / Elsa / Eldora / Anna
Paul Willson	...	Whistling John Shaw
David Paymer	...	John Shaw
Sophie Marceau	...	Polina Delacroix
Alexander Wauthier	...	Andre Delacroix
Leili Kramer	...	Michele Delacroix
Rip Taylor	...	Polina's Father
Gigi Bermingham	...	Madame Blanche
Jordan Lund	...	Claude
François Giroday	...	Croupier
Robert Costanzo	...	Bus Driver
Cloris Leachman	...	Grandmother
Earl Carroll	...	Bernard Pompier
Jordi Caballero	...	Flamenco Dancer #3
Michael St. Michaels	...	Casino Owner (as Michael Rappaport)
Danica Sheridan	...	Receptionist
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Camden Munson	...	Scooter Boy (uncredited)
John H. Tobin	...	Croupier (uncredited)

Directed by
Rob Reiner

Writing credits (WGA)
Jeremy Leven		(written by)

Produced by
Todd Black	....	producer
Jason Blumenthal	....	executive producer
Alan Greisman	....	producer
Peter Guber	....	executive producer
James A. Holt	....	co-producer
Jeremy Leven	....	producer
Joseph Merhi	....	co-producer
Rob Reiner	....	producer
Elie Samaha	....	producer
Adam Scheinman	....	co-producer
Tracee Stanley	....	co-producer
Jeffrey Stott	....	executive producer
Steve Tisch	....	executive producer

Original Music by
Marc Shaiman

Cinematography by
Gavin Finney

Film Editing by
Alan Edward Bell
Robert Leighton

Casting by
Janet Hirshenson
Jane Jenkins

Production Design by
John Larena

Art Direction by
Helen Harwell

Set Decoration by
Andi Brittan

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Jennifer Bell	....	hair department head
Kathryn Blondell	....	hair stylist: Kate Hudson
Carol Collini	....	makeup artist: Ms.Leachman
Renata Helfman	....	makeup artist: Luke Wilson
Pam Phillips	....	makeup artist
Colette Slattery	....	hair stylist
Ronnie Specter	....	makeup artist: Kate Hudson
Rita Troy	....	key hair stylist
Patty York	....	makeup department head
K. Troy Zestos	....	hair stylist: Luke Wilson

Production Management
Alice S. Kim	....	post-production supervisor
Catherine S. McComb	....	production supervisor
Jeffrey Stott	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Melissa V. Barnes	....	second second assistant director
Frank Capra III	....	first assistant director
Todd Y. Murata	....	second assistant director
Brent Stanton	....	second second assistant director (day player)

Art Department
Roger Baer	....	construction foreman
James Davidson Bennett	....	set dresser
Scott Buckwald	....	property master
Martin Charles	....	graphic designer
Camellia Cox	....	intern
Kristrune Jolfsdottir	....	intern
Stephen Lynd	....	art production assistant
Megan Malley	....	buyer
Joe Monaco	....	set dresser
John Pollard	....	on-set dresser
Christopher Schultz	....	gang boss
F. Andrew Scott	....	stand-by painter
Abigail Sheiner	....	art department coordinator
Eric Steinway	....	leadman
Gaston Wurth	....	set dresser

Sound Department
Neal J. Anderson	....	dialogue editor (as Neal Anderson)
Lon Bender	....	supervising sound editor (as Lon E. Bender)
Bob Bowman	....	first assistant sound editor
David Buell	....	adr recordist
Perry Dodgson	....	boom operator
Robert Eber	....	sound mixer
Paul Flinchbaugh	....	digital audio assistant
Nerses Gezalyan	....	foley mixer
Dan Hegeman	....	sound effects editor
Chris Hogan	....	adr editor
J. Stanley Johnston	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Stanley Johnston)
David Kudell	....	assistant sound editor
David Kudell	....	digital audio assistant
Anna MacKenzie	....	adr editor
Mark L. Mangino	....	sound effects editor
Kimberly R. McCord	....	dialogue editor (as Kimberly McCord-Wilson)
James Moriana	....	foley artist
David Raymond	....	utility sound
Melissa Sherwood Hofmann	....	sound re-recording mixer (as Melissa S. Hofmann)
Christopher Sidor	....	sound recordist
Paul P. Soucek	....	adr editor
Greg Steele	....	adr mixer
Karen Vassar	....	sound editor
Jeffrey Wilhoit	....	foley artist

Special Effects by
Bart Dion	....	special effects
Dennis Dion	....	special effects coordinator

Visual Effects by
Michael Caplan	....	visual effects producer
Ron Crabb	....	matte painter
Kirk Douglas	....	visual effects
Josh Hayes	....	storyboard artist (as Joshua Hayes)
Eric Heavens	....	digital compositor
John K. Jenkins	....	head of pre-viz
John Myers	....	visual effects executive producer: Ring of Fire
Michael S. Pryor	....	visual effects producer
Jerry Spivack	....	animation supervisor: main titles
Jerry Spivack	....	visual effects supervisor

Stunts
Donna Evans	....	stunts
Diamond Farnsworth	....	stunt coordinator
Jeremy Fitzgerald	....	stunts
Steve Kelso	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Norman Ash	....	set lighting technician
Paul Birk	....	electrician
Jeff Case	....	key grip
John T. Connor	....	assistant camera
Brandon M. Cox	....	film loader
Scott Crabbe	....	video assist operator
Don Estes	....	grip
Carlos M. Gallardo	....	grip (as Carlos Gallardo)
Bob Gorelick	....	Steadicam operator
Bob Gorelick	....	camera operator
Brendan Keefe	....	electrician: Boston
Scott Kidner	....	assistant chief lighting technician
Bill Pollock	....	best boy
David W. Slodki	....	lighting console programmer
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
Frans Wetterings III	....	gaffer: Boston
Greg Wimer	....	first assistant camera
Eric Komar	....	dolly grip: "a" camera, second unit (uncredited)
Ron Newburn	....	lighting technician (uncredited)

Casting Department
Michelle Lewitt	....	casting associate
Jocelyn E. Thomas	....	casting assistant (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Jennifer Lax	....	costume shopper
Robin Roberts	....	costume supervisor
Candice Sabbah	....	costumer: Ms. Hudson (as Candice Sabbah Dobkousky)

Editorial Department
Gary Burritt	....	negative cutter
Aaron Marshall	....	first assistant editor
David Orr	....	color timer
Tom Scully	....	assistant editor
Jim Towne	....	assistant editor

Music Department
Pete Anthony	....	conductor
Jeff Atmajian	....	orchestrator
Frank Bennett	....	orchestrator
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer
Vincent Cirilli	....	scoring
Jane Antonia Cornish	....	orchestrator
Sandy DeCrescent	....	orchestra contractor
Jon Kull	....	orchestrator
Patrick Russ	....	orchestrator
Carl Rydlund	....	orchestrator
Steven L. Smith	....	music preparation
Scott Stambler	....	music editor
Diana Stata	....	music clearances
Nick Vidar	....	music programmer
Laura Ziffren	....	music supervisor (as Laura Z. Wasserman)

Transportation Department
Adrian Cannon	....	driver: Mr. Reiner
Kelsey Kimes	....	driver
Mike Miliotti	....	driver: production van
Jack Jay Reece	....	driver (as Jay Reece)

Other crew
Nicole Anderson	....	craft service: Boston unit
Michael Wesley Aycock	....	assistant location manager
Bostic Beard	....	set assistant: Mr. Reiner
Tiffany K. Boehmke	....	business affairs executive
Jordi Caballero	....	choreographer
Robert C. Campion	....	production accountant
Bridget Carroll	....	set production assistant
Jeffrey Caruso	....	production secretary
Angie Lee Cobbs	....	assistant: Ms. Hudson
Olivia d'Albis	....	title designer: main titles
David Ducar	....	business and legal affairs
David Falicki	....	set medic
Mark Fitzgerald	....	location manager
Michael Frayeh	....	assistant production accountant
Michael Frayeh	....	post-production accountant
Michael D. Gillis	....	assistant: Mr. Wilson (as Mike Gillis)
Robbie Goldstein	....	location manager
Bill Hardy	....	key set production assistant
Susan Hegarty	....	dialect coach
James Henderson	....	stand-in: Mr. Wilson
Ryce Hetherington	....	production assistant
Lindsay Hudson	....	construction medic
Jerry P. Jacobs	....	production executive
Pam Jones	....	assistant: Mr. Reiner
Alice S. Kim	....	assistant: Mr. Stott
Micki Krimmel	....	production assistant
Keith Lesser	....	assistant: Mr. Greisman
Scott Masterson	....	set production assistant: Boston
Kathleen McCullen	....	stand-in: Kate Hudson
Julie McKinnon	....	stand-in
Kerry Lyn McKissick	....	script supervisor
Dauv McNeely	....	computer and video playback technician
Annette Montalvan	....	set production assistant
Paulette Osorio	....	unit publicist
Nancy Patterson	....	stenographer
Danielle Perry	....	stand-in: Ms. Hudson: Boston
Benjamin R. Reder	....	production counsel
Marci Rosenberg	....	production coordinator
Sabrina Somma	....	rigging medic
Kenny Vasquez	....	set production assistant
Tracy J. Ware	....	masseuse
Ian Watermeier	....	production executive
Troy Waters	....	marine coordinator
Lavinia Zetina	....	payroll accountant

Production Companies

• Epsilon Motion Pictures
• Franchise Pictures
• Reiner-Greisman
• Escape Artists

Distributors

• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (theatrical)
• Warner Home Video (2004) (USA) (DVD)
• Gemini Film (2004) (Russia) (theatrical)
• Quasar Films (2004) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Imagem Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Imagem Filmes (2004) (Brazil) (VHS)
• PlazaVista Entertainment (2004) (Switzerland) (DVD)
• Prorom Media-Trade (2003) (Romania) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2005) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Universum Film (UFA) (2004) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Ring of Fire Studios (visual effects)
• Ring of Fire Studios (main titles animation and production)

Other Companies

• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  camera dollies
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes
• Citoyen  main titles
• Jo Anne Kane Music Services  music preparation (as JoAnn Kane Music Services)
• Movie Movers  cast trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers
• Pacific Title  end titles and opticals
• Panavision  camera equipment provided by
• Producer's Library Service  stock footage (as Producers Library Service)
• Rockbottom Rentals  cell phone rentals
• Rockbottom Rentals  nextel cell phone rentals
• Signet Sound Studio  score mixed at (as Signet Sound)
• Soundelux  post-production sound editorial
• TM Motion Picture Rentals  grip and electric equipment (as TM Motion Picture Equipment)
• Todd-AO Scoring Stage  score recording
• Todd-AO Studios (West)  foley recorded at (as Todd-AO West)
• Todd-AO Studios  adr recorded at
• Todd-AO Studios  sound re-recording services
• Vine Street Studios  sound re-recorded at (as Todd-AO Vine Street)

Also Known As:

Loosely Based on a True Love Story (USA) (working title)
The Gambler (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content and some language.

Runtime:

USA:96 min | Argentina:96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Ireland:15 | Argentina:Atp | Australia:M | Brazil:12 | Chile:TE | Germany:o.Al. | Hong Kong:IIA | Iceland:L | Norway:11 | Peru:PT | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:NC-16 | Singapore:PG (cut) | Spain:7 | UK:12 | USA:PG-13 (certificate #39965) | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Company:

Epsilon Motion Pictures

Trivia:

During the scene when Alex changes the Swedish Au-Pair Ylva to a German Elsa, the German version of the film substitutes a Russian Elsa. When discussing "Russians with edge", it's Joseph Stalin who comes to mind.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Alex and Emma are arguing on the stairway, Alex's mouth does not match his words.

Quotes:

Emma Dinsmore: You're looking for sex, Mr. Shipley. You're barking up the wrong body.
Alex Sheldon: Ms Dinsmore, I have no intention of barking up your body. I'm sure there are men who would be thrilled to find themselves in bed with such a forthright woman. I prefer my women to be more...well less forthright.

Movie Connections:

References Charade (1963)

Soundtrack:

Perpetuum Mobile

Barely worth the time required to watch this silly but cute rom-com.

The critic Ebert has a complete and accurate review, for anyone who wants to know more details. I saw it on VHS from my public library, when we see that Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson are in it, we can pretty well figure out what the ultimate outcome will be. So, the story requires that we witness how. He is an apparently good author who also is a bad gambler, and needs to complete a novel quickly to get out of debt and save his skin. She becomes his stenographer, even though he can't pay her yet, because she has a kind heart. The novelty of this movie is that we see the novel as it is being written, brought to life with Luke Wilson and Kate Hudson, plus a few others, as a movie within this movie. For me that kept my interest moderately high. How good may be the book, or its movie we see, is not the point. The point is the relationship that develops between Wilson and Hudson. Unfortunately for us, there is absolutely nothing particularly new or interesting about their relationship. Not a BAD romantic comedy, just not a particularly good one either.

August 2006 edit - I saw it again, I enjoyed it a bit better, knowing ahead of time how it was constructed.