By Glenn Erickson
Lovely & Amazing
Brief Synopsis
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Jane Marks is the matriarch of a confused trio of daughters -- a heady brew of vanity, insecurity and humor -- that seem to have nothing in common. Former homecoming queen Michelle, the eldest daughter, is in a loveless marriage with a spouse who does not appreciate her decidedly obscure artistic en
Cast & Crew
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Nicole Holofcener
Director
Debbie Waldman
Alan Naggar
Aunjanue Ellis
Stacy Jorgensen
Clark Gregg
Film Details
Also Known As
Lovely and Amazing
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
2001
Distribution Company
Lionsgate
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 31m
Synopsis
Jane Marks is the matriarch of a confused trio of daughters -- a heady brew of vanity, insecurity and humor -- that seem to have nothing in common. Former homecoming queen Michelle, the eldest daughter, is in a loveless marriage with a spouse who does not appreciate her decidedly obscure artistic endeavors. Younger sister Elizabeth, a self-doubting 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 emotionally equipped to stand a chance at rising above the family's legacy. But on the threshold of what already promises to be a confusing adolescence, Annie has developed a preoccupation with her appearance - natural enough for a pre-teen - but given her adoptive family's history, quite possibly a hint of what's to come for the newest member of the Mark's family. Each of the women seeks redemption in her own haphazard way, but whatever salvation they find is illusory and short-lived. When complications from cosmetic surgery threaten Jane's well being, the family of comically self-absorbed women must quickly find room for each other in their lives to offer comfort and strength.
Director
Nicole Holofcener
Director
Cast
Debbie Waldman
Alan Naggar
Aunjanue Ellis
Stacy Jorgensen
Clark Gregg
Spencer Garrett
Eric Wizenreid
Brooke Allison
Jeanne Mccarthy
Jake Gyllenhaal
Michael Nouri
Madeline Moskowitz
James Legros
Scott Adsit
Mark Beltzman
Dermot Mulroney
Kristen Dalton
Jennifer Zehnder
Dreya Weber
David Loitz
Lead Person
Elayn Taylor
Emily Mortimer
Greer Goodman
Jerome Butler
Tray Ruptash
Ileen Getz
Jeremy S Kramer
Lee Garrington
Branden Williams
John Srednicki
Christine Mourad
Catherine Keener
Nate Richert
Mariah O'brien
Dawn Saucier
Ivy Strohaimer
Tennison Hightower
Ryan Wolfe
Cory Joffe
Brenda Blethyn
Evan Miranda
Ashlynn Rose
Raven Goodwin
Crew
Kevin Anderson
Steadicam Operator
Derek Asuan-o'brien
On-Set Dresser
Max Azpiazu
Camera Assistant
Ember Bekofsky
Costume Supervisor
John Berger
Grip
Harlan Bosmajian
Director Of Photography
Anthony Bregman
Producer
Helen M Caldwell
Script Supervisor
George Canaday
Grip
Henry Coccetti
Gaffer
Johnny Culley
Property Master
Sharon Curtis-baltazar
On-Set Dresser
Eric D'arbeloff
Producer
Michael Escott
Co-Executive Producer
Sean D Flynn
Grip
Robert Frazen
Editor
Richard D Galbraith
Electrician
Daniella Gleeson
Assistant Camera
George Gregory
Dolly Grip
Debra Grieco
Coproducer
Sam Hamilton
Grip
Devorah Herbert
Production Designer
Nicole Holofcener
Screenplay
Ted Hope
Producer
Cliff Hsui
Assistant Camera
Rafael Inocencio
Props
Frank Jarnot
Electrician
Michael Kafka
Executive Producer
Jason Kliot
Executive Producer
Brian Linder
Sound Mixer
Chad Marting
Production Supervisor
Eric Mas
Photography
Jeanne Mccarthy
Casting Director
Bret Michel
Electrician
Brad Morrison
Swing Gang
Rory Muirhead
Assistant Camera
Kelly Oxford
Supervising Sound Editor
David Palmieri
Best Boy Grip
Vince Palomino
Key Grip
Missy Parker
Art Director
Praveena Paruchiuri
Electrician
Matt Petosa
Electrician
Alexia Pilat
Photography
Michael Reppert
Best Boy Electric
Craig Richey
Music Composer
Amy Rosen
Music Supervisor
Charles J Rusbasan
Co-Executive Producer
Brett Smith
Electrician
Beth Steffen
On-Set Dresser
Gerard Vernice
Boom Operator
Joana Vicente
Executive Producer
Hanh Vo
On-Set Dresser
Vanessa Vogel
Costume Designer
Michael Weeks
Electrician
Judith Zarin
Assistant Camera
Judith Zarin
Co-Executive Producer
Videos
Movie Clip
Hosted Intro
Film Details
Also Known As
Lovely and Amazing
MPAA Rating
Genre
Comedy
Drama
Release Date
2001
Distribution Company
Lionsgate
Location
Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical Specs
Duration
1h 31m
Articles
Lovely & Amazing -
The representation of women in feature filmmaking has made big advances in the past 20 years. The rise of the Internet and the overall democratization of film has benefitted the cause of women writers and directors as well. Writer-director Nicole Holofcener crafts ensemble comedy-dramas; in 2019, she was nominated for a co-writing Oscar for Can You Forgive Me? Her light comedy approach may initially have been modeled on the films of Woody Allen, as her stepfather Charles H. Joffe was one of Allen's longtime producers. Holofcener's ease with expressive, glib dialogue is a big part of the appeal of Lovely & Amazing (2001), an ensemble film in which chronic insecurity is an inherited trait passed from mother to daughters. None seem to have faith in their essential self-worth. Jane (Brenda Blethlyn) undergoes liposuction and develops an unrealistic crush on her doctor. Daughter Michelle (Catherine Keener) used art craft to escape a dull marriage but now finds herself unwisely dating a teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal). Nervous actress Elizabeth (Emily Mortimer) relates best to dogs and becomes desperate for the approval of a handsome film actor (Dermot Mulroney). And Jane's adopted daughter Annie wants to straighten her hair, but is coached in 'Blackness' by the wise Lorraine (Aunjanue Ellis).Before this comedy, Holofcener was already an accomplished TV director with episodes of Sex and the City and has since split her busy career between TV work and occasional features. She writes about people and situations she knows; she herself has an adopted Black brother. Critics lauded Lovely & Amazing's sometimes rowdy natural humor and insights into how women think, and a featured nude scene in which the insecure Elizabeth asks a lover to criticize her body was singled out for praise.
By Glenn Erickson
By Glenn Erickson
Lovely & Amazing -
The representation of women in feature filmmaking has made big advances in the past 20 years. The rise of the Internet and the overall democratization of film has benefitted the cause of women writers and directors as well. Writer-director Nicole Holofcener crafts ensemble comedy-dramas; in 2019, she was nominated for a co-writing Oscar for Can You Forgive Me? Her light comedy approach may initially have been modeled on the films of Woody Allen, as her stepfather Charles H. Joffe was one of Allen's longtime producers. Holofcener's ease with expressive, glib dialogue is a big part of the appeal of Lovely & Amazing (2001), an ensemble film in which chronic insecurity is an inherited trait passed from mother to daughters. None seem to have faith in their essential self-worth. Jane (Brenda Blethlyn) undergoes liposuction and develops an unrealistic crush on her doctor. Daughter Michelle (Catherine Keener) used art craft to escape a dull marriage but now finds herself unwisely dating a teenager (Jake Gyllenhaal). Nervous actress Elizabeth (Emily Mortimer) relates best to dogs and becomes desperate for the approval of a handsome film actor (Dermot Mulroney). And Jane's adopted daughter Annie wants to straighten her hair, but is coached in 'Blackness' by the wise Lorraine (Aunjanue Ellis).Before this comedy, Holofcener was already an accomplished TV director with episodes of Sex and the City and has since split her busy career between TV work and occasional features. She writes about people and situations she knows; she herself has an adopted Black brother. Critics lauded Lovely & Amazing's sometimes rowdy natural humor and insights into how women think, and a featured nude scene in which the insecure Elizabeth asks a lover to criticize her body was singled out for praise.
By Glenn Erickson
Quotes
Trivia
Miscellaneous Notes
Expanded Release in United States July 12, 2002
Released in United States 2001
Released in United States June 2002
Released in United States May 2002
Released in United States on Video November 26, 2002
Released in United States on Video November 4, 2002
Released in United States September 2001
Released in United States Summer June 28, 2002
Shown at Telluride Film Festival August 31 - September 3, 2001.
Shown at the Los Angeles Film Festival (Opening Night) June 20-29, 2002.
Shown at Toronto International Film Festival September 6-15, 2001.
Shown at Tribeca Film Festival May 8-12, 2002.
Released in United States 2001 (Shown at Telluride Film Festival August 31 - September 3, 2001.)
Released in United States May 2002 (Shown at Tribeca Film Festival May 8-12, 2002.)
Released in United States June 2002 (Shown at the Los Angeles Film Festival (Opening Night) June 20-29, 2002.)
Released in United States Summer June 28, 2002
Expanded Release in United States July 12, 2002
Released in United States September 2001 (Shown at Toronto International Film Festival September 6-15, 2001.)
Released in United States on Video November 4, 2002
Released in United States on Video November 26, 2002
