Because I Said So (2007)

Director:

Michael Lehmann

Writers (WGA):

Karen Leigh Hopkins (written by) &
Jessie Nelson (written by)

Release Date:

2 February 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

She's just your normal, overprotective, overbearing, over-the-top mother.

Plot:

A meddling mother tries to set her daughter up with the right man so her kid won't follow in her footsteps.

Plot Keywords:

Psychologist | Farce | Sister Sister Relationship | Personal Ad | Love Triangle

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Diane Keaton	...	Daphne Wilder
Mandy Moore	...	Milly Wilder
Gabriel Macht	...	Johnny
Tom Everett Scott	...	Jason
Lauren Graham	...	Maggie
Piper Perabo	...	Mae
Stephen Collins	...	Joe
Ty Panitz	...	Lionel
Matt Champagne	...	Eli
Colin Ferguson	...	Derek
Tony Hale	...	Stuart
Sophina Brown	...	Milly's Staff #1 / Matisse
Karen Leigh Hopkins	...	Milly's Staff #2 / Charlie
Emily Maisano	...	Milly's Staff #3
Gerald Downey	...	Cousin Dougy's Friend
Ingrid Sanai Buron	...	Singing Bride
Jennifer Bolton Lee	...	Daphne's Masseuse (as Satya Lee)
Alexis Rhee	...	Maggie's Masseuse
Shu Lan Tuan	...	Milly's Masseuse
Steve Little	...	Bad Teeth Guy
John Ross Bowie	...	Cute Food Spewing Guy
Parvesh Cheena	...	Foreign Guy
Doug Budin	...	Sneezer
Willam Belli	...	Transsexual
Carlo Manchini	...	Arnold (as Carlo Michael Mancini)
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Iris
Judi Barton	...	Jason's Mother
Rudolph Willrich	...	Jason's Father
David Purdham	...	Uncle Philip
P.J. Byrne	...	Photographer
Edith Jefferson	...	Female Senior
Holly Westen	...	Catering Staff
Nate Petre	...	Bleached Teeth Guy
Allison Caetano	...	Roller Blader
Chris Monberg	...	Roller Blader
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Joey Genitempo	...	Potential Date
Curt Clendenin	...	Dinner Party Guest (uncredited)
Zachary Gordon	...	Little Arthur (uncredited)
Garett Maggart	...	Contractor / Carpenter (uncredited)
Michael Q. Schmidt	...	Chubby Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Opender Singh	...	Suitor (uncredited)
Courtenay Taylor	...	Computer Girl (uncredited)

Directed by
Michael Lehmann

Writing credits (WGA)
Karen Leigh Hopkins		(written by) &
Jessie Nelson		(written by)

Produced by
Paul Brooks	....	producer
Michael Flynn	....	executive producer
Karen Leigh Hopkins	....	associate producer
Jessie Nelson	....	producer
Scott Niemeyer	....	executive producer
Wendy Rhoads	....	co-producer
Jonathan Shore	....	associate producer
Norm Waitt	....	executive producer

Original Music by
David Kitay

Cinematography by
Julio Macat

Film Editing by
Paul Seydor
Troy Takaki

Casting by
Eyde Belasco

Production Design by
Sharon Seymour

Art Direction by
Christopher Tandon

Set Decoration by
Maggie Martin

Costume Design by
Shay Cunliffe

Makeup Department
Fríða Aradóttir	....	hair stylist: Ms. Keaton (as Frida Aradottir)
Hayley Cecile	....	additional makeup artist
Ginger Damon	....	assistant hair stylist
Kelcey Fry	....	makeup artist: Ms. Keaton
Zoe Hay	....	additional makeup artist
Julie Hewett	....	makeup department head
Polly Lucke	....	department head hair: additional photography (as Polly Luke)
Beth Miller	....	department head hair
Barbara Olvera	....	hair stylist: Ms. Keaton
Michelle Vittone	....	key makeup artist (as Michellee Vittone-McNeil)

Production Management
Michael Flynn	....	unit production manager
Jeff Levine	....	executive in charge of production: Gold Circle Films
Christa Vausbinder	....	production supervisor

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Keri Bruno	....	second second assistant director
Michael McCue	....	second assistant director
Mike Topoozian	....	first assistant director
Bob Brown	....	second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department
Claudia Bonfe	....	set dressing buyer
Tony Bridgers	....	construction foreman
Gretchen Engel	....	art department coordinator
Maureen Farley	....	property master
Jane Fitts	....	graphic designer
Joey Genitempo	....	stand-by painter
L. David Gordon	....	drapery foreman
Richard Lambert	....	lead man
Curtis Laseter	....	construction coordinator
Joe Monaco	....	set dresser
Mark Moretti	....	storyboard artist
Adam Mull	....	art department assistant
Cynthia C. Rebman	....	on-set dresser
Natalie Richards	....	set designer
John Risso	....	paint supervisor
Scott Schutzki	....	set dresser
Nathan A. Smith	....	set decorating shopper
Nathan A. Smith	....	shopper
Shanna Starzyk	....	art department assistant
Fante Zamora	....	set dresser
Doug Anderson	....	lead plasterer (uncredited)

Sound Department
Douglas Axtell	....	production sound mixer
Gregg Barbanell	....	foley artist
George Berndt	....	adr supervisor
Johnna Chism	....	assistant sound editor
Alan Freedman	....	adr mixer
P.K. Hooker	....	sound effects editor
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Steve LeSieur	....	foley editor
Skip Lievsay	....	sound re-recording mixer
Jérôme Malaize	....	sound intern
James Morioka	....	dialogue editor
Chris Navarro	....	adr mixer
Rob Nokes	....	sound effects field recordist
John A. Pagano	....	assistant sound editor
Jeremy Peirson	....	sound re-recording mixer
Matthew Reale	....	sound mixing recordist
Jerry Ross	....	supervising sound editor
Lucy Sustar	....	foley mixer
Ben Wienert	....	boom operator

Special Effects by
Frank Ceglia	....	special effects coordinator
Matt Kutcher	....	special effects supervisor
Laura Michl	....	production assistant
Rudy Perez	....	special effects
Jennifer M. Sheppard	....	special effects project coordinator

Visual Effects by
Marc Canas	....	scanning/recording
Ozzie Carmona	....	digital compositor
Rick Cortes	....	Inferno artist
David Geoghegan	....	digital optical compositor
Michael Grawert	....	digital effects artist
Cristian A. Kong	....	digital compositor
Jennifer Law-Stump	....	digital effects artist: Pacific Title Digital
Rodney Montague	....	digital intermediate producer
Nichole Moraila	....	billing coordinator
Josh Mossotti	....	visual effects
Tristan Rayos	....	digital I/O
Antonio Torres	....	digital artist: Pacific Title

Stunts
John Ashker	....	stunt driver
Bob Brown	....	stunt coordinator
Troy Lindsay Brown	....	stunt performer
Jon H. Epstein	....	stunt coordinator
Oakley Lehman	....	stunts
Marta Merrifield	....	stunts
Jimmy N. Roberts	....	stunt performer
Ray Siegle	....	stunt driver
Nicole Surels	....	stunt double

Camera and Electrical Department
Steve Barnes	....	first assistant camera: "a" camera
Tom Cantrell	....	electrician
Adam Castro	....	assistant camera
Gary Dagg	....	key grip
Mitch Dubin	....	camera operator: "b" camera
Robert Gagnier	....	first assistant camera: second unit
Johnny E. Jensen	....	additional director of photography
Bob E. Krattiger	....	gaffer
Grg Magidow	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera
Don Muirhead	....	camera operator: "a" camera
Ryan Muirhead	....	film loader
Ray Patrick	....	super technocrane operator
Kenny Schneider	....	electrician
Ian Strang	....	electrician
Suzanne Tenner	....	still photographer
John Trunk	....	video assist operator

Casting Department
Sande Alessi	....	extras casting
Kristan Berona	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Yulia Gershenzon	....	costumer
Valerie Laven-Cooper	....	assistant costume designer
Jennifer Lax	....	key costumer
Meredith J. Murray	....	costumer
Deanna M. Saul	....	daycheck costumer
Katie Saunders	....	costume supervisor
Jennifer Day Young	....	costumer: Ms. Keaton

Editorial Department
Corinne Bogdanowicz	....	digital intermediate colorist
Alanna De Carlo	....	post-production assistant
Adam DesCombes	....	post-production assistant
Patrick Flannery	....	additional editor
Michael Grawert	....	assistant colorist
Kate Kroll	....	post-production coordinator
Shoshanah Tanzer	....	post-production assistant
Amy Tompkins	....	digital intermediate editor
Aisla Webster	....	post-production coordinator

Music Department
Michael Aarvold	....	music scoring mixer
Jane Ashworth	....	assistant music clearances: S.L. Feldman & Associates
Todd Bozung	....	music editor
Artie Butler	....	musician: piano accompanist, Ms. Keaton
Joel Derouin	....	musician: violin solos
Grant Geissman	....	musician: guitar soloist
William Levine	....	orchestrator
Sue Medley	....	guitar class coordinator
Ralph Sall	....	soundtrack album producer
Dana Sano	....	music supervisor
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer
Sarah Webster	....	music clearances: S.L. Feldman & Associates
Jonathan Levi Shanes	....	music preparation (uncredited)

Transportation Department
Oliver Eisenger	....	transportation captain
Steve Luce	....	driver
Jimmy Ray Pickens	....	driver
Dennis M. Steere	....	driver
James Waitkus	....	driver

Other crew
Michael Alexander	....	animal trainer
Lesa Andelson	....	production counsel
Alex Apple	....	key assistant location manager
Carrie Arnold	....	assistant production coordinator
Aynsley Baldwin	....	stock footage coordinator
Cassandra Barbour	....	rights and clearances
Matthew Benson	....	production coordinator: Gold Circle Films
Charles Canzoneri	....	cast assistant: Ms. Moore (as Chuck Canzaneri)
Chris Doss	....	executive in charge of finance
Joshua M. Dragotta	....	assistant location manager
Mikey Eberle	....	production assistant
Chloe Finch	....	production assistant
Manu Gargi	....	assistant production coordinator
Suraj Gohill	....	consultant: financing
David Goodin	....	accounting clerk
Casey Green	....	video/computer playback operator
Jason Hariton	....	studio stage manager: re-shoots
Aaron Jennings Hartnell	....	stand-in
Eric A. Haynes	....	assistant production office coordinator
Stephanie Heaton	....	assistant: Ms. Keaton
Alison Hoberman	....	craft service
Jean Hodges	....	food stylist
Jennifer Hoffman	....	assistant: Mr. Brooks
Cory Johnson	....	production assistant
Heather Joyce	....	marketing executive
Kate Kroll	....	stock footage coordinator
Robert Lamkin	....	caterer
Julien Lemaitre	....	production coordinator
Jill S. Litwin	....	set production assistant
Matt Loatman	....	cast assistant: Ms. Keaton
Max Macat	....	intern loader
Emily Maisano	....	assistant: Ms. Nelson
Kathy McCurdy	....	key assistant location manager
Juan Melendez	....	production coordinator: titles
Ralph B. Meyer	....	key location manager
Shaun O'Banion	....	cast assistant: Ms. Moore
Kimi Porter	....	production assistant (as Kimi A.E. Porter)
Rebecca Robertson	....	script supervisor
Ryan Robertson	....	main title producer
David Schuety	....	production assistant
Wonder Fortune Serra	....	assistant: Mr. Lehmann & Ms. Nelson
Laura Sevier	....	rights and clearances
Kim Siedentopf	....	production assistant
Mary Sunshine	....	key production accountant
Jim Swidarski	....	payroll accountant
Dylan Tarason	....	production executive
Scott L. Treger	....	utility stand-in
Garson Yu	....	title designer
Marc C. Geschwind	....	extras coordinator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Universal Pictures (presents)
• Gold Circle Films (presents)

Distributors

• Alfa Films (2007) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Ascot Elite Entertainment Group (2007) (Switzerland) (theatrical)
• Eagle Pictures (2007) (Italy) (theatrical)
• Entertainment Film Distributors (2007) (UK) (theatrical)
• Golden Village Entertainment (2007) (Singapore) (theatrical)
• Paradiso Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• TVA Films (2007) (Canada) (theatrical)
• Universal Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
• Viva Films (2007) (Philippines) (theatrical)
• Warner Bros. (2007) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Net5 (2009) (Netherlands) (TV)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2007) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paradiso Home Entertainment (2009) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Tohokushinsha Film (2007) (Japan) (all media)
• Transeuropa Video Entertainment (TVE) (2007) (Argentina) (DVD)
• Universal Studios Home Entertainment (2007) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2007) (Germany) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Pacific Title and Art Studio (visual effects)
• Westwind Media (visual effects)

Other Companies

• Bulletproof Recording Company  soundtrack (as Bulletproof Records)
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  dollies
• Chef Robért Catering  catering
• Designer Wardrobe Trailers  wardrobe trailer
• Entertainment Clearances  rights and clearances
• Filmtools  expendables
• Getty Images  stock footage
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music clearances
• S.L. Feldman & Associates  music supervision
• Sessions Payroll Management  extras payroll services
• ShowBiz Enterprises  draperies
• Transportation Resources  transportation equipment
• Widget Post Production  sound post-production
• yU+Co.  titles

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content including dialogue, some mature thematic material and partial nudity.

Runtime:

USA:102 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Mandarin

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

USA:PG-13 | Ireland:15A | Finland:K-7 | Australia:M | Hong Kong:IIA | Singapore:NC-16 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Netherlands:6 | Portugal:M/12 | Switzerland:10 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:10 (canton of Vaud) | Argentina:13 | Germany:o.Al. | South Korea:15 | Malaysia:U (cut) | Taiwan:PG-12

Filming Locations:

Downtown, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Universal Pictures

Trivia:

The names of the daughters, Maggie (Lauren Graham), Milly (Mandy Moore), and Mae (Piper Perabo), come from an e.e. cummings poem that starts "Maggie and Milly and Molly and May went to the beach to play one day."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Milly is leaving guitar class after being rejected by Johnny, she is no longer carrying her guitar.

Quotes:

Maggie: Listen! You're right! I didn't handle this well. And I understand you feel betrayed! But, really, isn't some of this anger a little misplaced?
Milly: No! No, Maggie! It's placed exactly where it should be and there is plenty to go around, so don't worry, mom will be getting hers!

Movie Connections:

References Dr. No (1962)

Soundtrack:

Momma Told Me

A Bad Case of Static Cling

Greetings again from the darkness. It is now official. Diane Keaton has reached the parody of herself stage. She has become a caricature of her character. The loopy, over-the-top 60 yr old female who screams stereotype with each line. It was evident in "Something's Gotta Give" that she had made the turn, but "Because I Said So" time warps her into the level of folly ... similar to Leslie Nielsen (of "Naked Gun" fame) who once was also a respected actor. The difference being, Nielsen is at least funny, Keaton is purely grating and obnoxious. And enough with the turtle necks and ridiculous wardrobe. No one dresses like that ... especially in L.A.

Of course, there is more to this movie than Diane Keaton ... wait, no there really isn't. The only semblance of a bright spot is the glimpse of potential flashed by Mandy Moore. She really has screen charisma and no longer just looks like a big kid. She has 3 films over the next 18 months, so we will see just how she is progressing. Other than that, all we get is "Gilmore Girls" Lauren Graham as the wisest of Keaton's three daughters and Piper Perabo as one of the most nondescript characters of all time. I guess she was cast because she looked decent in underwear for the massage scene.

As for the poor guys in this one ... no not us schmucks who actually paid to watch, I am talking about the actors. Tom Everett Scott is totally miscast as a workaholic architect. Gabriel Macht ("A Love Song for Bobby Long") has little to do but flash his smile and twinkle his eyes. And Stephen Collins is evidently the new Tom Skerritt. You know, the cute older guy in all the chick flicks??? The director of this horrid mess is Michael Lehmann, who in the past has delivered such gems as "Hudson Hawk", "Airheads" and the torturous "40 Days and 40 Nights". When will Hollywood stop giving this guy money to make this worthless fluff? I am sure this weak, no-content film will make money ... simply because real life mothers and daughters will think they should go see it and laugh that someone's relationship is worse than theirs. I say, SAVE YOUR MONEY and rent "Terms of Endearment", which may be the best movie ever about a mother and daughter's struggles to show their love for each other. Just stay away from this one!