Themes: Age Disparity Romance, Dying Young, Opposites Attract
Main Cast: Richard Gere, Winona Ryder, Anthony LaPaglia, Elaine Stritch, Vera Farmiga
Release Year: 2000
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
An man gets an unexpected lesson in love and life from a much younger woman in this romantic drama. Will Keane (Richard Gere) is a wealthy 50-year-old restaurant tycoon who has a knack for wooing beautiful women, but is unable to commit to a lasting relationship. On day Will meets a beautiful woman in her early-20s named Charlotte Fielding (Winona Ryder); he turns on the charm in an effort to impress her, and soon the two are having an affair. But what Will thought would be a brief, casual fling proves to have far deeper repercussions when he learns that Charlotte is suffering from a serious illness and does not have long to live. Autumn in New York was directed by actress-turned-filmmaker Joan Chen and co-stars Anthony LaPaglia, Elaine Stritch, and Jillian Hennessy. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
Sherry Stringfield - Sarah; Jill Hennessy - Lynn; Ranjit Chowdhry - Fakir; Mary Beth Hurt - Dr. Sibley; Robert Plunket - Grubby Man; Steve Randazzo - Alberto; Bill Raymond - Michael (Doorman); Kathleen Goldpaugh - St. Vincent's Nurse; Delores Mitchell - Librarian; Toby Poser - Autumn Woman #1; Sam Trammell - Simon; J.K. Simmons - Dr. Grandy; Kali Rocha - Shannon; Daniella Canterman - Twin; Deanna Canterman - Twin; George Spielvogel III - Netto; Audrey Quock - Eriko; Tawny Cypress - Melissa; Gabriel Portuondo - 458 Waiter; Laurent Schwaar - 458 Waiter; Patrick Price - 458 Waiter; Ted Koch - 458 Bartender; Alvin Einbender - 458 Bartender; Daniella Van Graas - Model At Bar; Rachel Nichols - Model At Bar; Steven Ravid - 458 Customer; Ron Emanuel - 458 Customer; Dan Camins - 458 Customer; John Guidera - 458 Customer; Russell Hunston - 458 Customer; Nik Pjeternikaj - 458 Customer; Paige Handler - Charlotte's Birthday Friend; Liza Lapira - Charlotte's Birthday Friend; Earl Carroll - Will's Driver; David Filippi - Taxi Driver; Becca Lee - Michelle; Estelle Robinson - Old Frail Lady; Brittney Bunkis - Little Girl At Museum; Hatsumi Yoshida - Clown At Halloween Party; Kristi Lee Guinness - 50's Girl At Halloween Party; Luca Waldman - Vanpire At Halloween Party; Harry Burney - Choirmaster; Cheyne M. Hansen - Boy At Rockefeller; Pamela Twyble - Nurse At Cleveland Heart Institute; Iris Flick - Nurse At New Haven Hospital; Sarah Burns - Little Girl At Playground
Credit
Jess Gonchor - Art Director, Marc-Jon Sullivan - Boom Operator, Georgianne Walken - Casting, Sheila Jaffe - Casting, Paul Pellicoro - Choreography, Andre Lamal - Co-producer, Carol Oditz - Costume Designer, Denise Andres - Costume Designer, Tommy Boyer - Costume Designer, Sheila Gentile - Costume Designer, Joseph R. Burns - First Assistant Director, Joan Chen - Director, Ruby Yang - Editor, Ron Bozman - Executive Producer, Ted Tannenbaum - Executive Producer, Lyndell Quiyou - Hair Styles, Katherine Gordon - Hair Styles, Diana Norwood - Location Manager, Gabriel Yared - Composer (Music Score), Peter Afterman - Musical Direction/Supervision, Hallie D'Amore - Makeup, Kathrine James Gibson - Makeup, Phil Oetiker - Camera Operator, Mark Friedberg - Production Designer, Gu Changwei - Cinematographer, Amy Robinson - Producer, Tom Rosenberg - Producer, Gary Lucchesi - Producer, Frank Canonica - Recording, Paul Golding - Recording, Catherine Davis - Set Designer, Christopher Newman - Sound Mixer, Christopher Newman - Sound/Sound Designer, Blaise Corrigan - Stunts, Jodi Michelle Pynn - Stunts Coordinator, Harvey Waldman - Unit Production Manager, Allison Burnett - Screenwriter, Eric Cyphers - Production Assistant, Courtney Engelstein - Production Assistant, Sarah Rae Garrett - Production Assistant, Mark Hagerman - Production Assistant, Greg Jardin - Production Assistant, Jesse Javors - Production Assistant, Samuel B. Molina II - Production Assistant, Jesse Nye - Production Assistant, Mikki Ziska - Production Assistant, Kyrsten Mate Comoglio - Sound Effects Editor, Malcolm Fife - Sound Effects Editor, Bob Shoup - Sound Effects Editor, Julie Kuehndorf - Unit Publicist, Andrew Priestley - First Assistant Camera, Richard Guinness Jr. - Key Grip, Andrew Dorfman - Music Editor, Winnie Cheng - Post Production Coordinator, Sean Fogel - Production Coordinator, Tal Meirson - Production Supervisor, Diana E. Burton - Properties Master, Todd Boekelheide - Re-Recording Mixer, David Parker - Re-Recording Mixer, Dan Olmsted - Re-Recording Mixer, Paul Golding - Re-Recording Mixer, Lisa Katcher - Script Supervisor, Michelle Keiser - Second Assistant Director, Mark Bero - Special Effects Coordinator, Andy Schwartz - Still Photographer, Pat Jackson - Supervising Sound Editor, Eric Thompson - ADR Mixer, Nancy Winters - Assistant Art Director, Mario R. Ventenilla - Assistant Art Director, Thomas Ford - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Robert J. McGavin - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Shannon Bowen - Assistant Location Manager, Evan Perazzo - Assistant Location Manager, David Bausch - Assistant Production Coordinator, Margaret Jacobs - Assistant Production Coordinator, Sandra Joubeaud - Assistant Production Coordinator, Glen Engels - Best Boy Grip, Katharina Eggman - Casting Assistant, Robert Sciretta - Chief Lighting Technician, Tom Costabile - Construction Coordinator, Karen Wilson - Dialogue Editor, Dianna Stripe - Dialogue Editor, Rick R. Marroquin - Dolly Grip, Grant Wilfley Casting Incorporated - Extra Casting, Olimpia T. Rinaldi - First Assistant Accountant, Mike Bruining - First Assistant Editor, Margie O'Malley - Foley Artist, Colleen Nybo - Post Production Accountant, Peter Kwong - Post Production Assistant, Nick Goldfarb - Second Assistant Accountant, Rod Calarco - Second Assistant Camera, Stan Weincko - Second Second Assistant Director, Joann Atwood - Set Dresser, Incorporated XO Digital Arts - Visual Effects, Catherine Davis - Set Decorator
Will Keane, a 48-year old restaurant owner, has a persistent case of commitment-phobia. When he meets Charlotte Fielding, a free-spirited woman half his age, he expects another quick and easy romance. But nothing about their relationship is quick or easy. Instead their encounters are rife with intergenerational clashes, differing philosophies and an urgent sense of sensuality and connection.
Just when Will is tempted to bail out with his usual line about "not promising forever," Charlotte responds with reasons of her own about why she feels this relationship can't last forever: she's dying because she has a heart neuroblastoma.
Although Charlotte's grandma, Dolly is not too keen on their budding relationship, she doesn't express any fears in front of her. But she warns Will to leave her alone on account of the fact that she is "really sick". Her fears though have another dimension to them. She doesn't want her granddaughter to be hurt the same way her daughter was and more so by the same man. When Charlotte comes home one evening soaked in tears, after learning that Will has slept with someone else, Dolly divulges the details of the past about her mom and Will that she had kept from her so far. Charlotte gets angry with her for not trying to "protect" her especially being the only family that she had in the world. Will visits Charlotte seeking forgiveness. Charlotte though angry, forgives Will and they go on to have a short sweet affair.
In the end, she dies and Will is left alone, but later is shown to have a relationship with both his estranged daughter, and newborn grandson.
The film received overwhelmingly negative reviews. It was also a flop at the box office, grossing only $37 million from its $65 million budget. The film was nominated for one Razzie Award, Worst Screen Couple (Richard Gere and Winona Ryder)
