Lovely & Amazing (2002)
84%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 3 wins & 14 nominations
Lovely & Amazing is a film that delicately balances the complexities of adult family relationships with the neuroses of its characters, resulting in a mature story that is both witty and poignant. Director Nicole Holofcener’s ability to capture the messiness of life is matched by the superb acting of Catherine Keener and the rest of the cast, who effortlessly bring their characters to life. The film’s focus on spontaneity and surprise is a refreshing departure from formulaic storytelling, and its bittersweet ending is a testament to the film’s emotional depth. Overall, Lovely & Amazing is a lovely and amazing film that is not to be missed.
Who knew that a movie about a bunch of neurotic women could be so entertaining? Lovely & Amazing is a mature story about relationships and family, but it’s also full of wry observations and surprising moments that keep you engaged. Catherine Keener delivers a stellar performance, and the film is paced just right to allow for reflection without feeling slow. It’s a comedy that acknowledges our neuroses about our bodies and the complexities of adult family relationships, and it exceeded all my expectations. Overall, Lovely & Amazing is a lovely and amazing movie that’s definitely worth a watch!
Production Company(ies)
Distributor
Lionsgate Films
Release Type
Filming Location(s)
Los Angeles, California, USA
MPAA / Certificate
Rated R for language and nudity
Year of Release
2002
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby Digital
-
Aspect ratio:1.85 : 1
-
Runtime:1h 29m
-
Language(s):English
-
Country of origin:United States
-
Release date:Release Date (Theaters): Jun 28, 2002 Original
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 26, 2002
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Catherine Keener, Brenda Blethyn, Emily Mortimer, Raven Goodwin, Aunjanue Ellis, Clark Gregg, Michelle Marks, Jane Marks, Elizabeth Marks, Annie Marks, Lorraine, Bill, directed by Nicole Holofcener, written by Nicole Holofcener, comedy, drama, R rating, box office gross, Lionsgate Films, produced by Anthony Bregman, Eric d’Arbeloff, reviewed by Emma Cochrane, Geoff Andrew, Sara Michelle Fetters, Peter Bradshaw, Tom Dawson, Connie Ogle, Kaleem Aftab, Emanuel Levy, Kelly Kessler, Blake French, Felix Vasquez Jr., Mark Halverson, Sacramento News & Review, family, female character study, neuroses, redemption, bittersweet, intimate portrait, women, relationships, self-absorption, self-esteem, Mike Leigh, TIFF, adopted girl, wry observations, crystalized, heavy subject matter, stellar performance, female issues, comedy gift, Please Give, average
Worldwide gross: $4,677,852
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,758,510
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,042
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 846,075
US/Canada gross: $4,222,923
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $7,003,982
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,713
US/Canada opening weekend: $91,910
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $152,438
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 1,776
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $250,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $414,641
Production budget ranking: 2,121
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $223,284
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): $7,120,586
ROI to date (est.): 1,116%
ROI ranking: 110
Brenda Blethyn – Jane Marks
Emily Mortimer – Elizabeth Marks
Raven Goodwin – Annie Marks
Aunjanue Ellis – Lorraine
Clark Gregg – Bill
Director(s)
Nicole Holofcener
Writer(s)
Nicole Holofcener
Producer(s)
Anthony Bregman, Eric d’Arbeloff
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
3 wins & 14 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (123) | Top Critics (37) | Fresh (106) | Rotten (17)
Who’d have thought spending 90 minutes with a bunch of neurotic women could be such fun? An intelligent, unassuming drama that’s never less than enjoyable.
December 30, 2006 | Rating: 4/5
Emma Cochrane
Empire Magazine
TOP CRITIC
Observed without corny resolutions and paced to allow for reflection, the film is understated but spot on.
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
TOP CRITIC
Michelle isn’t an easy woman to relate to let alone like, yet as the film progresses I was drawn more and more towards her inner warmth and charm discovering pieces of myself in her own persona.
June 19, 2003 | Rating: 3.5/4
Sara Michelle Fetters
MovieFreak.com
TOP CRITIC
Well to the bitter end of the bittersweet spectrum, it labours under a strangely oppressive cloudy sky of emotional discontent.
August 20, 2002 | Rating: 2/4
Peter Bradshaw
Guardian
TOP CRITIC
Holofcener has crafted a comedy which acknowledges not just our neuroses about our bodies, but also the messy, ambivalent complexities of adult family relationships.
July 29, 2002 | Rating: 4/5
Tom Dawson
BBC.com
TOP CRITIC
A film of this sort demands superb, seemingly effortless acting, and Holofcener gets it at every turn.
July 26, 2002 | Rating: 3.5/4
Connie Ogle
Miami Herald
TOP CRITIC
Despite the heavy subject matter, the film is packed full of wry observations that are crystalized by a stellar performance from Catherine Keener.
April 17, 2019 | Rating: 4/5
Kaleem Aftab
The List
January 27, 2013 | Rating: B
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com
Mature story about relationships and family.
January 2, 2011 | Rating: 4/5
Kelly Kessler
Common Sense Media
Seldom do movies create focus through spontaneity, but Lovely & Amazing feeds on surprise
August 2, 2009 | Rating: 4.5/5
Blake French
Filmcritic.com
Exceeded all my expectations.
April 29, 2009
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed
This serio-comic family portrait about self-absorption, self-esteem and family dynamics is excellently acted but more blatantly offbeat than dramatic.
August 7, 2008 | Rating: 3/5
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review…
Plot
The Marks family is a tightly-knit quartet of women. Jane is the affluent matriarch whose 3 daughters seem to have nothing in common except for a peculiar sort of idealism. Setting the tone of vanity and insecurity, Jane is undergoing cosmetic surgery to alter her figure, but serious complications put her health in real danger. Former homecoming queen Michelle, the eldest daughter, has one daughter of her own and an alienated, unsupportive husband. Elizabeth, the middle sister, has an acting career that is beginning to take off, but is timid and insecure, and habitually relieves her trepidation by taking in stray dogs. Only the youngest sister, Annie, an adopted African American 8-year-old, stands a chance of avoiding the family legacy of anxious self-absorption. If only her intelligence and curiosity will see her through what promises to be a confusing adolescence. Each of the women seeks redemption in her own haphazard way.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
The film features a stellar performance from Catherine Keener.
Nicole-Holofcener.jpg
