Aniversário de Casamento

"The Anniversary Party" provides you with the perfect opportunity to watch the kind of party you'd want to be invited to, but not necessarily attend.

This was a great film with numerous funny, dramatic, awkward, and stressful moments. It embraced many universal points of conflict in relationships--be it with a spouse, a neighbor, a boss, a co-worker--and allowed you, as a viewer, to watch all of the varying (and often hilarious) perspectives. And then it showed you all of those same perspectives on ecstasy.

The film maintains a large cast of talented people and uses them well. I found myself doubled over in laughter for at least half of the movie--Alan "Uppin" Cumming, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jane Adams, Parker Posey, John Benjamin Hickey, John C. Reilly, Michael Panes, and the entire Cates-Kline family gave a lot of comedy to their characters, complimenting the difficult and trying moments that were weaved throughout the film.

It was shocking to see the number of negative reviews in this index. I think if you are between the ages of 25-49, it would be hard not to relate to the social satire that is portrayed brilliantly in this film. It is thoroughly enjoyable.****

If you like a slow, carefully developed, beautifully acted, funny and articulate piece of parlor theater, complete with a heart-wrenching scene or three demonstrating alienation between neighbors and genuine intimacy among friends, this is for you. If not, not. With its two deaths or near-deaths, this is more than talk, but still if pure conversation strikes you as self-indulgent or tedious, rather than (in this singular case) genius, why not pass?

...but well worth seeing. The digital camerawork was very well done, suggesting there is a future for this technology. The film's style seems to depend on Robert Altman's Seventies' films ("Three Women," "A Wedding," "Nashville"), where plot elements are treated with more or less equal weight.

The pluses: Jennifer Jason Leigh comes into her own as an actress. The affectations that made me walk out of "Mrs. Parker" and "Georgia" are gone, she's just concerned with telling the story here. Kevin Kline, Jennifer Beals and Gwyneth Paltrow are all wonderful, especially Beals, whom I feared was condemned to made-for-TV hell. Alan Cumming seems to struggle with his role; I just didn't see him possessing the gravitas to be an esteemed novelist chosen to direct a film, but he is always interesting to watch.

The minuses: those awful friends and neighbours. Whining, back-biting, jealous, passive-agressive, tiresome people--the Adamses, Forsyths and Roses. Were they inserted into the movie because independent productions need a lot of "color" or just because they're friends of the filmmakers? I hope I never see Jane Adams play a more cartoonish, over-the-top character as Claire Forsyth. I could understand her husband trying to drown in the pool after living with her.

The self-referential nature of the story is irksome. Hollywood's problems concern only those who work there, not us. If that Julia Roberts vehicle, "Notting Hill," told us far more than we wanted to know about the perils of stardom, Cumming and Leigh have not learned the lesson, even though their film breathes some fresher and more passionate air.

What could be better than a Parker Posey movie? The answer...Parker Posey, Jennifer Beals, Phoebe Cates, Gwen Paltow, & Jennifer Jason Leigh all together in on film!!! This movie was amazing! Before you continue to read, let me give a word of advice...if you are the kind of person who is into the "unrealistic-blockbuster-box-office-all about the moneymaker movies, then this is not for you. The story behind this well written film is a couple celebrating their 6th anniversary at their home. He is a director & she is an "aging" actress. Throughout the afternoon their friends begin to show up for the party. Between the fellow friends of the "business" & the (un)friendly neighbors who also show up to discuss Otis (the dog) you have loads of fun...from an outragous game of Charades to later on at night when they decide to try the drug "X". After watching this all-star cast, I would of loved to attend that party! 1-10 (10)

If you like Robert Altman films, you should take a look at this film. It's much like an Altman film, with its use of naturalistic dialogue, subtle humor, and a wide spectrum of characters which feel like real people, in simple, believable situations. But it's tidier than an Altman film. It still could use a little trimming, I think, but in general it doesn't have as many rough edges as a film like "A Wedding".

Here's an excerpt from Roger Ebert's review, which could very well be a comment about an Altman movie: "The appeal of the film is largely voyeuristic. We learn nothing we don't already more or less know, but the material is covered with such authenticity and unforced natural conviction that it plays like a privileged glimpse into the sad lives of the rich and famous. We're like the neighbors who are invited. Leigh and Cumming co-wrote and co-directed, and are confident professionals who don't indulge their material or themselves. This isn't a confessional home movie, but a cool and intelligent look at a lifestyle where smart people are required to lead their lives according to dumb rules."