40 Days and 40 Nights
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40 Days and 40 Nights
Plot
Following memorable roles in the military action-adventures Pearl Harbor (2001) and Black Hawk Down (2001), young actor Josh Hartnett is propelled to romantic leading man status with this semi-autobiographical comedy from screenwriter Rob Perez. Hartnett stars as Matt Sullivan, a young man smarting over the bitter breakup of his most recent relationship. With Lent approaching, Matt decides to observe the 40-day tradition by abstaining from all sexual contact, including self-gratification. Once his odyssey of discipline has begun, he meets the girl of his dreams, while his ex begins campaigning to get him back. Co-starring Shannyn Sossamon, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Vinessa Shaw, 40 Days and 40 Nights inspired another round of controversy between distributor Miramax and the Catholic League, which accused the film of being a "vulgar parody" of Lent. The League previously protested the company's releases of Priest (1994) and Dogma (1999). ~ Karl Williams, RoviReview
"Blasphemous" doesn't begin to describe the marginally church-themed 40 Days and 40 Nights, though its crimes against Catholicism have little to do with that label. In fact, this soulless Josh Hartnett vehicle earns contempt by being so devoid of intellect, worthwhile commentary or even playfully bad taste, it actually validates the complaints of the most reactionary religious types. The crucial mission of this kind of film is to document the simultaneously shallow trappings and sublime pleasures of physical gratification, letting one inform the other to achieve both subtle and bawdy humor. Michael Lehmann's film never finds this admittedly delicate touch, but the small number of times it even comes close is what's truly dispiriting. Its default condition is to poop on all of its characters, even the ones it considers romantic heroes, while moving from one depressingly puerile set piece to the next in halting, anti-climactic fashion. Serving as a kind of Greek chorus for this bottom feeding is no less than a dozen snarky actors most frequently employed as television commercial pitchmen, whose grating attempts to hoard the spotlight should -- but don't -- cancel each other out. Rarely, also, has a movie so awkwardly crammed its setting into each shot; if Hartnett and Shannyn Sossamon need to get into an argument, odds are the Golden Gate Bridge will be looming somewhere in the background. Catholics may be offended that this film thinks so little of their hallowed tradition of self-denial, but how little it respects the good name of sex should shock just about everyone else. ~ Derek Armstrong, RoviCast
- Josh Hartnett - Matt Sullivan
- Shannyn Sossamon - Erica
- Paulo Costanzo - Ryan
Credit
Yvonne J. Hurst - Art Director, Walter Gasparovic - Art Director, Rick Bold - Boom Operator, Joseph Middleton - Casting, Stuart M. Besser - Co-producer, Jill M. Ohanneson - Costume Designer, Nancy Noblett - First Assistant Director, Walter Gasparovic - First Assistant Director, Michael Lehmann - Director, Nicholas C. Smith - Editor, Liza Chasin - Executive Producer, Debra Hayward - Executive Producer, Katherine Gordon - Hair Styles, Rolfe Kent - Composer (Music Score), Bonnie Greenberg - Musical Direction/Supervision, L. Taylor Roberts - Makeup, Chris McMullin - Camera Operator, Sharon Seymour - Production Designer, Elliot Davis - Cinematographer, Barbara Kelly - Production Manager, Tim Bevan - Producer, Eric Fellner - Producer, Michael London - Producer, Lesley Beale - Set Designer, Don Halton - Set Designer, David Husby - Sound Mixer, Nelson Stoll - Sound/Sound Designer, David Husby - Sound/Sound Designer, Duane Dickinson - Stunts, Heath Stevenson - Stunts, David Jacox - Stunts Coordinator, Michelle Baines - Supervisor/Manager, Robert Perez - Screenwriter, Michelle Wright - Executive in Charge of Production, Stargate Digital - Digital Effects, Kathy Nelson - Executive Music Producer, Randy Spendlove - Executive Music Producer, David Galbraith - First Assistant Camera, Patrick McArdle - First Assistant Camera, Fred Boyd - Gaffer, Dennis Jones - Gaffer, John Taylor - Grip, Gary A. Williams - Grip, Jay Rupert - Grip, Richard Mall - Key Grip, Tony Whiteside - Key Grip, Ruth Hasty - Post Production Supervisor, Tony Davis - Production Coordinator, Erica Maletz - Production Coordinator, Bryan Korenberg - Properties Master, Lara P. Fox - Script Supervisor, Penny Charter - Second Assistant Director, Walter Shemly - Special Effects Coordinator, Jerry Ross - Supervising Sound Editor, Robert Shoup - Supervising Sound Editor, Kristen Johnson - Assistant Art Director, Jennifer Lung - Assistant Location Manager, Chuck Reid - Best Boy Electric, James J. Williams - Best Boy Grip, Gail Irvine - Buyer, Rick Stadder - Dolly Grip, Anneke Van Oort - Draftsman, Lenny Fisher - Electrician, Robert Harvey - Electrician, Shawn McLaughlin - Electrician, Neil Wildman - Electrician, Caroline Hardon - First Assistant Editor, Nicole Smith - First Assistant Editor, Diana Nachlik - Leadman, Randy Morton - Second Assistant Camera, Megan B. Agosto - Second Assistant Editor, Richard Long - Second Assistant Editor, Susie Milka - Set Production Assistant, Lesley Beale - Set Decorator, Barbara Munch - Set Decorator, Michael Meiser - Cable Person, Craig Brisker - Construction Foreman, Steve Holland - Generator Operator, Vivian Hengsteler - Negative Cutter, Brad Greer - Runner, Emily Coutts - Set Medic/First Aid, Debra Derkach - Set Medic/First Aid, Shelly Kennedy - Set Medic/First Aid, Christina Ferguson - Third Assistant Director, John Burke - Art Department Coordinator, Roy Waldspurger - Assistant Avid Editor, Jeremy Lew - Scenic Carpenter, Mark Spence - Scenic Carpenter, Jonathan Craig - Compositor, Rob Konuch - Compositor, Val Pfahning - Compositor| 40 Carats (1973 Film), 40 Band/80 Minutes! (Film) | |
| 40 Días (2009 Film), 40 Graves for 40 Guns (1971 Film) |
Wikipedia on Answers.com:
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40 Days and 40 Nights
This article refers to Michael Lehmann's 2002 film. For the 2007 Matthew Chapman book, see 40 Days and 40 Nights (book).
| 40 Days and 40 Nights | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Michael Lehmann |
| Produced by | Tim Bevan Eric Fellner Michael London |
| Written by | Robert Perez |
| Starring | Josh Hartnett Shannyn Sossamon Paulo Costanzo Maggie Gyllenhaal Vinessa Shaw Keegan Connor Tracy |
| Music by | Rolfe Kent |
| Cinematography | Elliot Davis |
| Editing by | Nicholas C. Smith |
| Studio | StudioCanal Working Title Films |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films (USA) Universal Pictures (International) Alliance Atlantis (Canada) |
| Release date(s) |
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| Running time | 96 minutes |
| Country | United States United Kingdom ‹See Tfd› France |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $17 million[citation needed] |
| Box office | $95,146,283[1] |
40 Days and 40 Nights is a 2002 romantic comedy film directed by Michael Lehmann, written by Rob Perez and starring Josh Hartnett, Shannyn Sossamon and Paulo Costanzo. The film depicts the life of Matt Sullivan, who abstains from any sexual contact for the duration of Lent.
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Contents
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Plot
Matt Sullivan (Josh Hartnett) and his roommate, Ryan (Paulo Costanzo), are co-workers at a San Francisco dot-com company. Matt is obsessed with his ex-girlfriend, Nicole (Vinessa Shaw), who has just gotten engaged. He confides to his brother, John (Adam Trese), who is training to become a Catholic priest, that he has sexual problems because of his obsession. Matt vows to go without sexual activities for 40 days and 40 nights for Lent. In this movie it is also implied that Matt does not masturbate or otherwise actively seek orgasm for the same period, since doing so could be considered sexual. John warns Matt that celibacy is not easy; meanwhile, Ryan starts a popular office pool to bet on how long Matt can last.
Matt meets Erica (Shannyn Sossamon), a cyber nanny, and begin to date. They face many challenges in their relationship, including her discovery of his celibacy vow and Matt's continuing feelings for Nicole. Matt's co-workers make many unsuccessful attempts to persuade him to have sex in order to win the pool, and as the days pass Matt's obsession with sex grows. At one point he angrily grabs a pornographic magazine from an office desk and begins to march towards a toilet stall in order to masturbate, but his co-workers stop him and convince him to maintain his pledge.
Despite the range of increasingly powerful cultural incentives to sex and orgasm surrounding Matt — scantily-dressed women, billboards, et cetera — Matt's commitment holds, and begins to frustrate a lot of the people around him who had fully expected him to break it long before he could get close to his goal. In the meantime, Erica and Matt are falling in love, and they plan a special encounter for the 40th night to celebrate him successfully completing his vow. On the 40th day, a newly single Nicole learns of the betting pool, makes a large bet and then rapes Matt while he is asleep.
Erica subsequently believes Matt dishonored his vow and was unfaithful to her, but Matt wins Erica back by reminding her of the special moments they shared during their relationship. The two reconcile in Matt's bedroom for many hours, with his co-workers making a new betting pool on the duration of their stamina.
Cast
- Josh Hartnett as Matt Sullivan
- Shannyn Sossamon as Erica Sutton
- Paulo Costanzo as Ryan
- Maggie Gyllenhaal as Sam
- Vinessa Shaw as Nicole
- Adam Trese as John Sullivan
- Griffin Dunne as Jerry Anderson
- Keegan Connor Tracy as Mandy
- Emmanuelle Vaugier as Susie
- Monet Mazur as Candy
- Christine Chatelain as Andie
- Stanley Anderson as Father Maher
- Lorin Heath as Diana
- Glenn Fitzgerald as Chris
- Jarrad Paul as Duncan
- Terry Chen as Neil
- Kai Lennox as Nick
- Chris Gauthier as Mikey
- Barry Newman as Walter Sullivan
- Mary Gross as Bev Sullivan
- Dylan Neal as David Brokaw
Production
40 Days and 40 Nights was filmed on location at Potrero Hill, San Francisco, California.
Reception
Critical response
The film received mixed reviews, Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a score of 38% based on reviews from 134 critics.[2] Metacritic gives the film a score of 53% based on reviews from 33 critics.[3]
Critic Roger Ebert gives the film 3 out of 4 stars. He praises director Michael Lehmann for raising the film above the level of sexual sitcom through his sympathy for his characters and use of humor to examine human nature. He also credits writer Rob Perez for dialogue about sex with "more complexity and nuance than we expect". Not wanting to reveal too much Ebert explains he was dissatisfied with the ending saying "Nicole's entire participation is offensive and unnecessary, and that there was a sweeter and funnier way to resolve everything."[4]
Box office
The film earned a worldwide total of over $95.0 million.[1]
Awards
In 2005 Empire magazine included the film on its list of Worst Sex Scenes.[5]
References
- ^ a b "40 Days and 40 Nights (2002)". Box Office Mojo. Amazon.com. http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=40daysand40nights.htm.
- ^ 40 Days and 40 Nights Movie Reviews, Pictures. Rotten Tomatoes (Flixster). Retrieved 2009-11-14.
- ^ 40 Days and 40 Nights Reviews, Ratings, Credits. Metacritic. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ^ "40 Days And 40 Nights :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". Chicago Sun-Times. March 1, 2002. http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20020301/REVIEWS/203010301/1023.
- ^ Showgirls clinches worst movie sex scene award. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
External links
- Official website
- 40 Days and 40 Nights at the Internet Movie Database
- 40 Days and 40 Nights at AllRovi
- 40 Days and 40 Nights at Rotten Tomatoes
- 40 Days and 40 Nights at Box Office Mojo
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