MovieChat Forums > The Anniversary Party (2001) Discussion > Love or Hate

Love or Hate

posted 16 years ago by hugh23
20 replies | jump to latest

Reading through a lot of the posts for this film, the reaction seems to be either love or hate. Reactions such as 'it's like watching elevator security footage', alongside some glowing responses.

Personnally, this is one of my favourites of all time. The screenplay is so tight, all the themes are continually cross referenced throughout. For example, in the opening sequence, while Joe and Sally are going through the yoga routine, they receive two phone calls, one from Joe's sister who 'really needs' to speak to him, and another from the medical centre obviously in relation to pregnancy issues. Sally returns from the second call and tells Joe that she isn't pregnant, and he responds that they will have to go back 'to the plan'. It is not until the arguement scene that we discover that Sally in fact was pregnant two weeks before and had an abortion. The whole pregnancy thing was her attempt to keep Joe interested in the marriage. Sally is 'phoning it in' at work, and the thing she needs to be back on track is to get rid of Joe, and back out of the sale of her LA house.

And then we discover that Joe's sister, REALLY DID, need to speak to him.

The subtext to equally powerful. We know that Joe has form, and that he won't be able to keep his hands off Skye. There is a heavy black cloud hanging over this relationship. Enlightening to consider that Michael Pane's score for the tribute scene, which he performs himself on violin, is titled 'Requiem for Sally and Joe'.

Still, when it counts, Sally is there for him at the end, and the attempt by Jennifer Beals character to dominate the female role is soundly rebuffed.

This is cinema at its best. AAAAAAAAA++++++++++

[–] jondoe888 16 years ago

This film is like watching a beautiful train wreck, being at a party everyone loves being at and watching the Love and Hate that comes with life. I loved everyone in this movie!

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[–] matineeidyll 16 years ago

Jennifer Jason Leigh wrote the film with Alan, yet you don't appear to have any problems with her casting herself in the female lead.

[–] hugh23 16 years ago

Yes, it does stretch credibility with Alan Cumming in the lead. Just a straight case of mis-casting, because he really can act. While we believe him as the bi-sexual author part of this character, the chick magnet is not quite so easy to believe. This is the one major problem with the film.

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[–] matineeidyll 16 years ago

Gravitas up the wazoo! :) Great line from Kevin!

[–] matineeidyll 16 years ago

The Anniversary Party holds a special place in my heart. Don't discredit it simply because it doesn't have the pace and flashy chase/explosion scenes that Hollywood is littered with. This movie has real class and courage.

[–] tay-15 16 years ago

If you have an interest in acting, plus what typically goes on "behind the scenes" ... I don't know how you can resist this film.

I disagree about the casting of Cumming. He's supposed to be sexually ambiguous, and he certainly seems so. As far as being a "chick magnet," does that imply all Hollywood writers and directors are hunks? There are plenty of women attracted to men due to their power, wealth, or fame. Thus the attraction from the neighbor.

Cumming's not supposed to be likable. But he also shows he can flash some charm. And - what a coincidence - he wrote and directed this film (with Leigh). It's not like his character is much of a stretch, and he seems more realistic than whatever fictional character other posters were imagining here.

[–] MidnightConfessions 16 years ago

I agree with you, Tay-15. Cumming is charming as ever in this film. He has made no bones about the fact that he is bisexual. However, in this film it's not the ambiguous gender that gives him his persona. It's the Peter Pan/Boy Wonder qualities about him. In the end, Sally (JJL) can't resist the little boy-grown man's plaintive cry for help and she is there for him.

All in all, great acting, perfect cast, and excellent pairing of Alan C. and Jennifer J-L. Oh, and of course, wonderful writing, directing, producing, etc. at the capable hands of Cumming and Jason-Leigh.

[–] helynw-1 16 years ago

it was self indulgent to the enth degree... love Alan Cummings and he was the only redeeming feature in this dull, dire, undeveloped, overacted movie that should never have made it from the cutting room...

[–] DanceswCats 16 years ago

I love this movie!! Phoebe Cate's character is my favorite, followed by Kevin Kline's (can we say "gravitas"?) then, for some odd reason, the maids....

[–] hugh23 16 years ago

Yes, Phoebe and Kevin are definitely not phoning it in...

You are probably right tay-15, I still love this film despite Joe being slightly weird. But why is Joe so rude to Judy (Parker Posey), when, in my opinion, she is the most gorgeous female in the film?

Another lovely piece of detail. Judy is the wife of Sally's manager, who has just facilitated the sale of the LA house so they can buy Joe's grandfather's house in London. A typically self-indulgent move by Joe. But the LA house is Sally's. Another reason this relationship is headed for the wall.

[–] DanceswCats 16 years ago

But, I thought Joe didn't know Sally had bought the London home??

[–] hotwire_myheart 16 years ago

I loved this movie but I have to admit Alan Cumming playing the lead just didn't work for me. As another poster pointed out, we're supposed to believe that he's some irresistable chick magnet? To begin with, he's CLEARLY gay. I know I know - he and JJL wrote the damn thing so I guess they are entitled to the lead roles. But I felt like I was watching a homosexual man and his fag hag. No offence.

[–] slaphappyboy 16 years ago

He is not clearly gay.

He is British. They all seem a little effete. I think it's the accent.

American Gaydars don't work overseas.

'sides, the character is supposed to be bi.

[–] Manton29 7 years ago

I thought Joe dressed and acted gay (I'm English, so it's not the accent) but he was clearly supposed to be straight - very into women and not men during the ecstasy phase etc. The whole 'previously into guys' / 'sexually ambivalent' thing didn't resolve this for me. Joe reminded me of an English gay man I used to know and Cummings himself is gay... In the end, I didn't quite buy the character despite some great moments from Cummings performance-wise. I guess a case could be made for Joe being a better actor than his wife but somehow he doesn't seem the type to hold back on his true sexuality... over the better part of six years. No, Joe - gay, straight, or bi - doesn't work for me.

Devils advocate against my own arguments: The women Joe was interested in gave him attention and were new to him. The only new man on the scene was the neighbour and you wouldn't have to be that straight to not want to get it on with him even if he was keen. The only other man that appeared potentially availiable as either gay or lonely or both was the Rachmaninov dude and he didn't seem Joe's type at all. So, perhaps Joe was meant to be bi but there was no opportunity to for him to express that at the party ... Nah, I still don't buy it. He could have flirted with the men more during the ecstasy phase all in friendship like he did with his best female friend.

In my opinion, the character was a straight guy who had experimented with men in his past but found it wasn't really his thing but the part was played by a gay man who came across as gay.

Loved the film as a whole but I think Joe's role should have gone to someone else.

If to stand pat means to resist evil then, yes, neighbour, we wish to stand pat.

[–] slimfandango 16 years ago

I ********* loved this movie to death and laughed and nearly died in parts. The acting was superb, the little intercharacter gripes were carried along beautifully. Fab film. I can totally understand why some may hate it though. You need to be ready for a film like this.

[–] marque911 16 years ago

Hate...............................well, you did ask!

[–] OCPRFTILL234 15 years ago

I happened to love the film. Alan co-wrote the movie and he bases things he does (whether acting or writing) on his real life (or of people around him/close to him.) "The Anniversary Party" is one of my most favorite movies.