Anniversary Party (2001)

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I first saw Jennifer Jason Leigh live as the lead in David Auburn's Proof on Broadway, and I was not altogether impressed; I thought she was only so-so in her portrayal of the brilliant yet defensive Catherine, who is so drawn to and yet so afraid of the person she is destined to become. Leigh's performance didn't fully capture the paradoxical dilemma the script called for, so I was a little curious before I began this movie as to whether I was going to like her in it or not. In the film, she and husband Alan Cumming throw an anniversary party to celebrate their 6 year anniversary after they separated and got back together.

The first thing we find out about these people is that they are *stereotypically* LA rich-movie-star-people. Leigh's character is a movie star; her husband, a writer-turned-screenwriter. As the people who attend the party start to flow in, we get inundated with their relationships. Cumming's best friend, Gina, is a photographer, played by the beautiful and talented Jennifer Beals (Leigh's character has a little trouble hiding the fact that she is jealous). The star of his upcoming movie is a young actress, also beautiful and talented (Gwyneth Paltrow), so Leigh is jealous of her as well. (Much of the movie is set up this way--fairly predictable relationships.) We also meet Leigh's best girl friend, who is married to the director of her current flick, and her co-star (Kevin Kline) and his family. The whole first hour is just getting to know these people and trying to figure out who likes who, who hates who, etc...it's a little dry.

By far the most interesting attendants of the party are Mina Badie and Dennis O'Hare, who play the neighbors: a close, stiff little couple whom Leigh and Cumming hate, the most non-L.A.-movie-type people ever. Why were they invited then? Well, business reasons, blah, whatever...but without a doubt the most dynamic shots in this movie are their reactions to the way the people of this fake, Hollywood world treat them. It's great.

The movie as a whole is only so-so, but there are some fantastical moments that I must mention. At one point early in the evening, each guest delivers their toast to the happily (?) reunited couple. Leigh and Cumming, who also wrote and directed the film as well as starred in it (a very impressive feat!) actually had the actors write the toasts themselves, and tried to use as many of the first-take shots as they had to get genuine reactions. The result is beautiful: some really magical shots and reaction shots to some gorgeous speeches. Definitely a highlight.

Another impressive scene, my favorite, is after Mina Badie's character tries ecstasy for the first time. Badie really shows her range here; she's a talented actress and watching her is incredible--going from feeling alienated and defensive to utterly embracing her environment under the effects of the ecstasy is captivating. She easily stole the movie for me.