LOVELY AND AMAZING

Year: 2001
USA: Lions Gate Films
UK: Metrodome Distribution
Cast: Catherine Keener, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Mortimer, Raven Goodwin, Aunjanue Ellis, Clark Gregg, Jake Gyllenhaal, James LeGros, Michael Nouri, Dermot Mulroney, Jerome Butler, Kristen Dalton, Greer Goodman, Scott Adsit, Brooke Allison, Mark Beltzman, Lee Garlington, Spencer Garrett, Ileen Getz, Tennison Hightower, Cory Joffe, Stacy Jorgensen, Jeremy Kramer, Jeanne McCarthy, Evan Miranda, Madeline Moskowitz, Christine Mourad, Alan Naggar, Mariah O'Brien, Nate Richert, Ashlynn Rose, Troy Ruptash, Dawn Saucier, John Srednicki, Ivy Strohaimer, Elayn Taylor, Debbie Waldman, Dreya Weber, Brandon Williams, Eric Winzenried, Ryan Wolfe, Jennifer Zehnder
Director: Nicole Holofcener
Country: USA
USA: 89 mins
UK: 91 mins
USA Rated: R for language and nudity
UK Certificate: 15 contains nudity, sex references and strong language
USA Release Date: 28 June 2002 (Limited Release - Los Angeles and New York)
UK Release Date: 2 August 2002

Synopsis

Academy award nominated actresses Catherine Keener (BEING JOHN MALKOVICH) and Brenda Blethyn (SECRETS AND LIES) star in Nicole Holofcener's follow-up feature to her critically acclaimed debut WALKING AND TALKING. A finely observed comedy, LOVELY AND AMAZING is an intimate family portrait of four hapless but resilient women and the bittersweet lessons they learn keeping up with the hectic demands of their individual neurosis.

Jane Marks (Blethyn) is the matriarch of the confused trio of daughters that seems to have nothing in common, except for a peculiar sort of idealism - a heady brew of vanity, insecurity and humor. Former homecoming queen Michelle (Keener), the eldest daughter, is in a loveless marriage with a spouse who does not appreciate her decidedly obscure artistic endeavours. Younger sister Elizabeth (Emily Mortimer), an insecure actress whose career is beginning to take off, compulsively takes home stray dogs, saving them whether or not they need to be saved.

Only the youngest sister, Annie, an adopted African American eight year-old, seems to stand a chance at rising above the family's legacy. But Annie has developed a preoccupation with her appearance which give her adoptive family's history may give an indication of what's to come.

Each of the women seeks redemption in her own haphazard way, but whatever salvation they find is illusionary and short-lived.