Themes: Ladder to the Top, Big Break, Actor's Life
Main Cast: Bob Balaban, Jennifer Coolidge, Christopher Guest, John Michael Higgins, Eugene Levy, Jane Lynch, Michael McKean, Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, Harry Shearer, Fred Willard
Release Year: 2006
Country: US
Run Time: 86 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG13
Plot
Mockumentary mastermind Christopher Guest turns his satirical eye away from dog shows, small-town theater, and folk music to offer a hilarious take on Hollywood award season in this comedy focusing on trio of actors whose lives are turned upside down when they discover that their performances in an independent film are generating a sizable buzz in the entertainment industry. Jay Berman (Guest) is in the process of directing his first feature film -- an intimate family drama set in the 1940s and detailing the tempestuous reunion of an estranged Jewish family that is reluctantly drawn together to celebrate Purim at the behest of their dying matriarch. The cast soon comes down with an infectious case of award fever when rumors on the Internet claim that "Purim" stars Marilyn Hack (Catherine O' Hara), Victor Allan Miller (Harry Shearer), and Callie Webb (Parker Posey) may be delivering Oscar-caliber performances. When "Hollywood Now" co-anchors Chuck Porter (Fred Willard) and Cindy Martin (Jane Lynch) perpetuate the buzz on national television, the entire film crew starts to see stars in their eyes. Subsequently convinced that they have a sleeper hit on their hands, unit publicist Corey Taft (John Michael Higgins), talent agent Morley Orfkin (Eugene Levy), and producer Whitney Taylor Brown (Jennifer Coolidge) immediately cave to requests from Sunfish Classics president Martin Gibb (Ricky Gervais) to alter the film so that it may appeal to a larger audience. Now, while "Purim" screenwriters Lane Iverson (Michael McKean) and Philip Koontz (Bob Balaban) are forced to watch helplessly as their original screenplay is plundered in order to cash in on the positive buzz, awards season draws near and the production takes a most unexpected turn. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
Review
The recurring motif in all of Christopher Guest's improvised comedies is exposing self-delusional people, whether they be community-theater enthusiasts, dog owners, or musicians. Since there are few places more teeming with self-deception than Hollywood, Guest's satire For Your Consideration could be accused of shooting fish in a barrel. Many of the comedic targets (erudite, ineffectual screenwriters; selfish agents; venal marketing experts) offer little challenge for satirists this talented. Thankfully, the performers -- especially the women -- do a great job of bringing an inner life to their characters, fleshing them out in ways that add an element of tragedy to some of the stinging jokes. You laugh at the ladies, but you may be surprised by how sympathetic they are. Parker Posey captures her character's conflicted feelings about wanting to do good work and wanting adulation by underplaying those emotions, a decision that makes her all the more notable in a film where most of the actors are laying it on thick. Catherine O'Hara's final monologue can best be described as "hysterical," as it encompasses every aspect of that word. She is at the end of her emotional tether, seemingly on the verge of a complete mental collapse, and yet she still manages to get big laughs from the audience. She walks a razor-thin emotional line, and never stumbles. It is a stunning two minutes that disturb and amuse in equal measure. One is left unsure whether to laugh or cry, and this probably expresses the conflicted feelings Christopher Guest has in real life toward his love for his work and the business he disdains, but which he finds himself forced to be a part of in order to do that work. The film has many moments that are screamingly funny, especially the scenes in "Home for Purim," the movie-within-the-movie. These are the first outright scripted scenes in any of Guest's otherwise-improvised films, and they allow the cast to show off more conventional comedy chops. Just seeing Jennifer Coolidge and Ricky Gervais occupy the same frame is momentous enough to make any comedy nerd laugh out of anticipation. While For Your Consideration never reaches the consistent comedic highs of Best in Show or the profound sadness of Waiting for Guffman, it does deliver both of those elements -- often simultaneously -- making it yet another solid film from Guest and his crew. ~ Perry Seibert, All Movie Guide
Jim Piddock - Simon Whitset; Jane Morris - Script Supervisor; Stephen Rannazzisi - Studio Gate Guard; Jordan Black - Whitney's Assistant; Ed Begley, Jr. - Sandy Lane; Paul Dooley - Paper Badge Sergeant; John Krasinski - Paper Badge Officer; Don Lake - Love It Film Critic; Michael Hitchcock - Hate It Film Critic; Lauri Johnson - Morley's Secretary; Simon Helberg - Junior Agent; Rachael Harris - Mary Pat Hooligan; Sandra Oh - Marketing Person; Richard Kind - Marketing Person; Christopher Moynihan - Brian Chubb; Carrie Aizley - Pam Campanella; Ari Graynor - Young PA; Scott Adsit - First AD; Stephanie Courtney - Boom Operator; Suzy Nakamura - First AC; Mary McCormack - Pilgrim Woman; Shawn Christian - Pilgrim Man; Deborah Theaker - Liz Fenneman; Nina Conti - Weather Woman; Scott Williamson - Skip; Sarah Shahi - Sanchez; Steven M. Porter - Floor Manager; Ricky Gervais - Martin Gibb; Larry Miller - Syd Finkleman; Craig Bierko - Talk Show Host; C.J. Vanston - Talk Show Band Leader; Joe Satriani - Talk Show Guitarist; Oneida James - Talk Show Bassist; Curt Bisquera - Talk Show Drums; Anne King - Talk Show Trumpet; Sheila Gonzalez - Talk Show Saxophone; Lance Barber - Dinkie; Skyler Stone - Don; Mark Harelik - Round Table Host; Rick Gonzalez - Chillaxin' Host; Claire Forlani - Claire Forlani; Hart Bochner - Hart Bochner; Kevin Sussman - Commercial Director; Jessica St. Clair - Hula Balls Spokeswoman; Casey Wilson - Young Actress; Kevin Christy - Young Actor; Derek Waters - Even Younger Actor
Credit
Pat Tagliaferro - Art Director, Larry Commans - Boom Operator, Richard Hicks - Casting, David Rubin - Casting, Durinda Wood - Costume Designer, Cas Donovan - First Assistant Director, Christopher Guest - Director, Robert Leighton - Editor, Murray Miller - Location Manager, Jack Richard Tate - Location Manager, C.J. Vanston - Composer (Music Score), Jennifer Lane - Camera Operator, Simon Jayes - Camera Operator, Joseph T. Garrity - Production Designer, Roberto Schaefer - Cinematographer, Karen Murphy - Producer, Tim Gomillion - Recording, Julia Levine - Set Designer, David Chow - Set Designer, Mark Weingarten - Sound Mixer, Hamilton Sterling - Sound/Sound Designer, Chrisann Verges - Unit Production Manager, Christopher Guest - Screenwriter, Eugene Levy - Screenwriter, David Blasucci - Unit Publicist, Paul Bode - First Assistant Camera, James Apted - First Assistant Camera, Tommy Garcia - Grip, Jesse Homan - Grip, Paul Lambiase - Grip, George Palmer - Key Grip, Adria Van Velsen - Music Editor, Gregg Bissonette - Musical Performer, Joe Satriani - Musical Performer, Jerry Goodman - Musical Performer, Christopher Guest - Musical Performer, Dean Parks - Musical Performer, Chris Tedesco - Musical Performer, Anthony Wilson - Musical Performer, Section Quartet - Musical Performer, David Williams - Musical Performer, Norbert Fimpel - Musical Performer, Brian Hall - Post Production Coordinator, Pamela Griner - Post Production Supervisor, Lisa Vijitchanton - Production Coordinator, Dhana R. Gilbert - Production Supervisor, J.P. Jones - Properties Master, Paul Massey - Re-Recording Mixer, David Giammarco - Re-Recording Mixer, Helen McGinn - Script Supervisor, Kristen Ploucha - Second Assistant Director, Robbie Knott - Special Effects Coordinator, The Effects Group - Special Effects Coordinator, Suzanne Tenner - Still Photographer, Kanani Wolf - Costume/Wardrobe, Jennifer Starzyk - Costume/Wardrobe, Jen Ireland - Costume/Wardrobe, Jamelle Flowers - Costume/Wardrobe, Roselee Showe - Costume/Wardrobe, Eric Thompson - ADR Mixer, Travis Mackay - ADR Recordist, Marcy Froelich - Assistant Costumer Designer, Jerry Enright - Assistant Chief Lighting Technician, Arturo Rojas - Assistant Hair, Theraesa Rivers - Assistant Hair, Amy Hinkley - Assistant Hair, Robert Paulsen - Assistant Location Manager, Jennifer Zide - Assistant Makeup, Jenifer Bonisteel - Assistant Production Coordinator, Skip Richard Crank - Assistant Properties, Kim Richey - Assistant Properties, Oscar Mitt - Assistant Sound Editor, Harvey Letson - Best Boy Grip, Robin L. Bursey - Camera Loader, Stephanie Stenta - Casting Assistant, Scott Spencer - Chief Lighting Technician, Mervyn Johnson - Construction Coordinator, Emma Trenchard - Costumes Supervisor, Sergio Gutierrez - Dolly Grip, Anthony Huljev - Electrician, John Rogers - Electrician, Tracy Estes - Electrician, Marc Schultz - Electrician, Lawrence Rake - Electrician, David Bartholomew - Electrician, Thomas Enright - Electrician, Tammy L. Smith - Extra Casting, Dixie Webster-Davis - Extra Casting, Smith & Webster-Davis Casting - Extra Casting, Jackie Saygan - First Assistant Accountant, Dan Miller - First Assistant Editor, Robin Harlan - Foley Artist, Sarah Monat - Foley Artist, Vicki Phillips - Key Hairstylist, Felicia Linsky - Key Make-up, Jonathan Bobbitt - Leadman, Katy S. Fox - Personal Assistant, Louise DeCordoba - Production Accountant, Michael Dennehy - Production Accountant, Kristen Eccker - Second Assistant Camera, Matt Gaumer - Second Assistant Camera, Jennifer Reiss - Second Second Assistant Director, Marc Vena - Storyboard Artist, Rich Bennetti - Transportation Captain, Keith Fisher - Transportation Coordinator, Gray Matter FX - Visual Effects, Handmade Digital Incorporated - Visual Effects, Dena Roth - Set Decorator, Alison Fisher - ADR Supervisor, Mike Sowa - Color Timing, Deluxe Catering, Inc. - Craft Service/Catering, Juan Gonzalez - Craft Service/Catering, David Sanfield - Craft Service/Catering, Paul Rathburn - Craft Service/Catering, Alison Hoberman - Craft Service/Catering, Billy Ramirez - Craft Service/Catering, Seamus Gibson - Craft Service/Catering, Tony Mendez - Craft Service/Catering, Brick Graham - Driver, William Jakubecy - Driver, William Wardlow - Driver, Mary Catanado - Driver, Andee McGuffee - Driver, Thomas McNeal - Driver, Shaun Ryan - Driver, Fredrick Trogdon - Driver, Don Verela - Driver, Chuck Montgomery - Driver, Randy K. Singer - Foley Mixer, John Joseph Thomas - Foley Supervisor, Katherine A. Taylor - Production Secretary, Pom "Jon" Ko - Set Medic/First Aid, Bart Barbuscia - Swing Gang, Louis Terry - Swing Gang, Jennifer La Gura - Swing Gang, David Barker - Video Assist, Corinne Villa - Visual Effects Editor, Tom Quinn - Voice Casting, Stephen Runningen - Graphic Design, Donavan McDougle - Title Design, Debi Shirk-Tagliaferro - Art Department Coordinator, Humberto Jimenez - Properties Maker, Rutilo Jimenez - Properties Maker, Esteban Lascarez - Properties Maker, Edmundo C. Quintero - Properties Maker, Lee "Rod" Roderick - Lead Compositor, Saeed Faridzadeh - Painter (digital)
For Your Consideration is a 2006 comedy film directed by Christopher Guest. It was co-written by Guest and Eugene Levy, both also starring in the film.
The film, titled with a phrase used in trade advertisements to promote films for awards such as the Academy Awards, revolves around three actors (played by Catherine O'Hara, Parker Posey, and Harry Shearer) who learn that their performances in the film Home for Purim, a drama set in the mid-1940s American South, are generating award-season buzz.
O'Hara plays veteran actress Marilyn Hack who, despite having been in the industry for 30 years, is best known for playing a blind prostitute in a film from the late 1980s. Her co-star Victor Allen Miller (Shearer) is also an acting veteran who is known to the public as the hot-dog wearing mascot for a kosher line of frankfurters. Together they are cast as the patriarch and dying matriarch of a Southern U.S. Jewish family in the 1940s.
Posey, as newcomer ingenue Callie Webb, plays their lesbian daughter who has come home along with her girlfriend (Rachael Harris). Rounding out the cast is Christopher Moynihan as actor Brian Chubb, who plays her brother who has returned home from the Navy. The family reunites in time to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Purim.
Home for Purim's cast and crew are in the process of making what appears will be a low-budget melodrama, but a flop nevertheless. The director is constantly adding bizarre camera shots and acting notes. The producer, a diaper service heir, dresses flamboyantly but doesn't seem to know much about managing a film except paying for expenses. The two writers are at odds with the director, yet write a film that mashes together Southern genteel with out-of-place Jewish references and words.
The film-within-a-film's plot centers around the daughter's confession of her lesbianism as her mother gets nearer to death and the family celebrates an awkward Purim. As the filming continues, Oscar buzz begins around all of the cast (with the exception of Chubb). Each of them begins obsessing about the award potential in their own way. Hack pretends not to care while secretly pining for the award. Miller begins to demand a higher salary and more prolific work. Webb breaks up with Chubb (her boyfriend), claiming he is not being supportive and he is virtually left in the dark. The obnoxious entertainment news program Hollywood Now fuels the awards-season buzz, as well as revealing other contenders for the top prizes.
At this point, studio executives butt in and force the writers to make script changes, feeling the film is "too Jewish." Ultimately the film is retitled Home for Thanksgiving. Despite the changes, the Oscar buzz intensifies to the point where Hack, Miller, and Webb are convinced they will be nominated for Academy Awards. They all begin to do major press appearances for the film. These are often embarrassing, both for the actors and the movie audience. In one scene, Miller appears on a hip-hop teen show called Chillaxin' in youthful attire with capped teeth, a tan, and dyed blonde hair. In an attempt to reflect her Oscar-worthy status, Hack gets breast implants and extensive plastic surgery to the point where her face is comically ecstatic. Callie goes on an L.A. shock-jock radio show, only to field questions about topless scenes rather than her performance.
Ultimately the only person nominated for an award is Chubb for Best Supporting Actor, who was the one person for whom there was no buzz at all. (He sleeps in on the morning of the announcement of the nominations.) Miller goes back to auditioning for food commercials and other infomercials for useless products. Webb revives her failed one-woman show, No Penis Intended. Hack (after a drunken, explosive rant on Hollywood Now) becomes an acting teacher and seems uncomfortably at peace with her mediocre career.
