Lovely & Amazing *** (2001, Brenda Blethyn, Catherine Keener, Emily Mortimer, Raven Goodwin, Dermot Mulroney, James LeGros, Michael Nouri, Jake Gyllenhaal) – Classic Movie Review 11,843

Director Nicole Holofcener’s 2001 American comedy drama film Lovely and Amazing stars Brenda Blethyn, Catherine Keener, Emily Mortimer, Raven Goodwin, Dermot Mulroney, James LeGros, Michael Nouri and Jake Gyllenhaal.

The acting is the main outstanding grace of this generally very decent and amusing bitter-sweet women’s drama, in which Blethyn is remarkable as Jane Marks, the mother of struggling artist Michelle (Keener), aspiring actress Elizabeth (Mortimer) and young adopted Annie (Raven Goodwin), an 8-year-old African American girl with an eating disorder. Actress Jane (Blethyn) faces a minor operation and gets the cynical, older Michelle (Keener) to look after the little girl. Michelle, married to Bill (Clark Gregg), takes a job as a one-hour photo developer and falls for teenage co-worker Jordan (Gyllenhaal).

Director Holofcener’s script is unusual, perceptive and often touching, and its most appealing moments are infused with a wearying sadness, but the performances are what make the movie. It is Blethyn’s show, but, in their own ways, Keener and Mortimer are excellent, too.

Emily Mortimer won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress.

It cost very little – $250,000 – and did well -– a total worldwide box office of $4,695,781.

The cast are Brenda Blethyn as Jane Marks, Catherine Keener as Michelle Marks, Emily Mortimer as Elizabeth Marks, Raven Goodwin as Annie Marks, Jake Gyllenhaal as Jordan, Michael Nouri as Dr Crane, Aunjanue Ellis as Lorraine, Dermot Mulroney as Kevin McCabe, James LeGros as Paul, Clark Gregg as Bill, Spencer Garrett as Willy, Dreya Weber as Donna, Romy Rosemont, Ashlynn Rose, Christine Mourad, Mariah O’Brien, Brandon Williams, Nate Richert, Evan Miranda, and Lee Garlington.

Films written and directed by Nicole Holofcener: Walking and Talking (1996), Lovely & Amazing (2001), Friends with Money (2006), Please Give (2010), Enough Said (2013), The Land of Steady Habits (2018).

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 11,843

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com

© Derek Winnert 2021 Classic Movie Review 

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com