LOVE AND OTHER DISASTERS

UK, 2006, 90 minutes, Colour.

Brittany Murphy, Matthew Rhys, Catherine Tate, Santiago Cabrera, Elliot Cowan, Stephanie Beecham, Jamie Sives, Will Keen, Michael Lerner, Dawn French, Richard Wilson, Adam Reina, Angus Dayton, Gwyneth Paltrow, Orlando Bloom.

Directed by Alek Keshishian.

It would seem that writer-director Alec Keshishian (who had a 30 year career of doing music videos for such talent is Robbie Brown, Elton John, Madonna, Selena Gomez) had an eye on Richard Curtis’ screenplay for Love, Actually. In fact, there is a clip in this film from his screenplay of Notting Hill. There are also scenes from breakfast at Tiffany’s and replays of Moon River.

There are several stories going on at once in the screenplay, but the principal focus on Jacks, on the staff at Vogue Magazine, supervising fashion photography. She is played with verve by Brittany Murphy (sadly dying three late years later after the release of this film). The other focus of attention is on Peter, gay writer (Matthew Rhys before he went to the US and became prominent on television with The Americans and Perry Mason). Jacks is in a relationship with her former boyfriend and seems unable to get out of it. Peter has relationships in his imagination.

Also in the cast is Catherine Tate, well-known for her television satirical performances. Santiago Cabrera is the leading man. Audiences will be pleased with cameos from a range of character actors including Stephanie Beecham is Catherine Tate’s dominating mother, Michael Lerner is a bombastic Hollywood producer (did the filmmakers have Harvey Weinstein in mind at that time), Dawn French as a therapist who is not unlike her Vicar of Dibley persona, and Richard Wilson, doing an acerbic One Foot in the Grave turn as a marriage registrar.

The film acknowledges the conventions of romantic comedies, opening with screenplay instructions printed on the screen and ending in this way. The Hollywood producer wants big Hollywood style entertainment and romance in the characters remarking at times on what audiences might be expecting if this film were Hollywood romance. And, at the end, with the suggestion that Gwyneth Paltrow and Orlando Bloom could be the main characters, they actually appear at the airport climax!

The film struggles with heterosexual relationships – and there is quite some focus on gay relationships.

1. Title? In relationship to all the characters? To the final screenplay in film?
2. The London settings, flats, businesses and offices, fashion shoots, options, restaurants, hotel lobbies…? Atmosphere? And the musical score (and replaying Moon River)?
3. The variety of characters, situations and interactions? Relationships? Straight relationships? Gay relationships? Tangles?
4. Jacks’ story, her background, London and the US, her accent, her relationship with James, ex-boyfriend, but continued contact, his stands, love for Jacks or not? Her wanting to end the relationship but not succeeding? The work, her friends, the friendship with Tallulah and her eccentricities, her mother, coping with Tallulah? Sharing the flat with Peter, studying together, her encouraging him? Her friendship with Finley, the Gallery? Going to the exhibition of the pork carcasses? Sasha, the photo shoots, his moodiness, encountering Paolo, misinterpreting him, the later conversation, apology, dancing the Tango? Thinking him gay, encouraging Peter?
5. Peter story, gay, journalism, the thwarted interview with the American producer, later meeting him, the screenplay, the producer wanting it very much more Hollywood? The encounter with the man who dropped the parcel, his misinterpretation of the address? Everybody telling David about Peter? Peter always missing him? The encounter with Paolo, the attraction, friendship, Paolo telling him he was straight? Dealing with Tallulah and her tantrums? Finally writing the screenplay?
6. Tallulah, Catherine Tate’s comic style, eccentricities, the relationship with Freedom, his being married? The man on the phone from British Telecom? Her disdain for her mother? Have the auction, meetings of the dress? The collapse, Jacks and Peter looking after her?
7. Tallulah’s mother, fashion, age, finance, the auction?
8. Finley, the Gallery, gay, friendship with Peter?
9. Paolo, Argentina, photography, his portfolio, realistic? Jacks misinterpreting his relationship, is trying to tell the truth and her continually interrupting? Her provocative behaviour with him, thinking he was gay? The encounters with Jacks, her apology, the Tango? His being reported to the authorities, deportation, Jacks proposal, the wedding ceremony, interrupted, Paolo leaving for the airport?
10. Peter telling Jacks the truth, her fear of relationships? Going to the airport, missing Paolo? Her flight to Argentina?
11. David, the encounter with Peter, the misinterpretation of his identity, the meeting with Tom, vain actor, the night with Peter, the chance encounter in the Underground with David, Peter following him, the relationship?
12. The film, Gwyneth Paltrow and Orlando Bloom, everybody watching the film?
13. Jacks pregnant, happy with Paolo, Peter and William, in the final screenplay indications and final shot?