USA: AMERICAN FILM PREMIERE OF "THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY" MADE BY AND STARRING JENNIFER JASON LEIGH AND ALAN CUMMING

Record ID: 391506

  • Title: USA: AMERICAN FILM PREMIERE OF "THE ANNIVERSARY PARTY" MADE BY AND STARRING JENNIFER JASON LEIGH AND ALAN CUMMING
  • Date: 7th June 2001
  • Summary: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) SCU (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS/DIRECTOR JENNIFER JASON LEIGH SAYING: "We looked at each other and thought why don't we do that. We're so tired of reading things we don't believe in. It would be nice to make a movie for friends of ours and something that takes place in one night and really do something original and deeply perso
  • Embargoed: 22nd June 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES / VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA41BZJ3RRJ76175TC3OKG8Q5A6
  • Story Text: They met while starring in Cabaret on Broadway, now Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming have made a movie together... and invited their friends to be in it. It's called The Anniversary Party, and it has just received its world premiere in Los Angeles.
    Taking place over the course of one night, "The Anniversary Party" is a serio-comic, sometimes scathing inspection of a group of friends. Joe and Sally Therrian (Cumming and Leigh) have a party to celebrate several important junctures in their marriage: their sixth anniversary, their decision to start a family and their reconciliation after a year-long separation.
    They have invited their closest friends, their past and current temptations, and (to avoid a lawsuit) their contentious neighbours. An unexpected gift sends the party spiralling out of control and unleashes an explosion of painful confessions. The celebration becomes a scorching dissection of a marriage on the brink.
    Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming write, direct and star in this biting and closely observed film about men and women struggling to make sense of their lives and relationships.
    "This film is completely about me and Jennifer's friendship. We could make films individually but this particular film and this story is through our friendship."
    Written specifically for the ensemble cast, the film centres on the precarious relationship of Joe and Sally. Sally (Leigh) is an actress; Joe (Cumming) is a novelist whose career takes off with the movie version of his novel about their marriage that is about to go into production. The film also stars Gwyneth Paltrow as the young and beautiful actress Skye Davidson (Gwyneth is a close friend of Leigh's), who is set to star in the film Joe is directing; Kevin Kline and Phoebe Cates as Cal and Sophia Gold - Cal, an acclaimed actor currently working on a film with Sally, and Sophia, Sally's best friend, who has given up her acting career to raise their children; John C. Reilly as Mac, the director of Sally and Cal's latest film, and Jane Adams as his wife Clair, an actress who has continued working after the recent birth of their son; Parker Posey and John Benjamin Hickey are Judy and Jerry Adams, the Therrian's business managers.
    Sally's best friend Levi Panes is played by Michael Panes and Joe's old friend or flame, Gina Taylor is played by Jennifer Beals. Beals was the star of the hit movie Flashdance, now she returns as a photographer which is true to life. All the pictures she takes in character were kept and treasured among the group of friends, and Beals was able to develop her photography as well as her acting! The Anniversary Party is on limited release at cinemas throughout the United States from 8th June.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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