Themes: Mind Games, Infidelity, Battle of the Sexes
Main Cast: Amy Brenneman, Aaron Eckhart, Catherine Keener, Nastassja Kinski, Jason Patric, Ben Stiller
Release Year: 1998
Country: US
Run Time: 99 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
For the follow-up to In the Company of Men, the misogyny-on-parade debut that became an out of nowhere indie hit, auteur Neil LaBute wrote and directed a piece that gives more equal representation to the shortcomings of both genders than his earlier film. Three men stand on one side: Cary (Jason Patrick), a womanizing doctor who rehearses make-out lines and keeps his body almost grotesquely ripped; Jerry (Ben Stiller), a self-obsessed theater instructor who chews over every emotion like a morsel of dessert; and Barry (Aaron Eckhart), a man grown soft in his marriage to a woman who can't satisfy him sexually as well as he can himself. On the other side we have three equally well-defined women: Terri (Catherine Keener), a writer/editor whose prefers to keep words out of the bedroom, much to the chagrin of live-in beau Jerry; Mary (Amy Brenneman), a freelance writer whose attempts to find her own sexual fulfillment with both husband Barry and paramour Jerry meet with a similar lack of success; and Cheri (Nastassja Kinski), an art assistant who meets most of the other characters one by one at a gallery but directs her sylph-like affections in an unexpected direction. The lies, double-crosses, and confrontations between these characters resolve into a sinisterly comic indictment of the very idea of romantic fulfillment. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Review
As Neil LaBute moves his characters about like expertly deployed marionettes, Your Friends and Neighbors focuses painfully on people's inability or unwillingness to truly know each other's inner selves. All six principals prove uniquely suited to their parts, from Nastassja Kinski's childlike body language and ability to lend nuance to the same repeated lines, to Aaron Eckhart's bloated, self-satisfied handsomeness, Amy Brenneman's bruised unfulfillment, and Ben Stiller's pseudo-sensitive naval-gazing. As Cary, the wad of testosterone in a thin shell of humanity, Jason Patric gives the film its convincingly ugly heart. The only character to say -- and take -- what he truly wants, he balances out the brilliantly acerbic Catherine Keener's portrayal of a woman who can only tell others what it is she doesn't want. What all this proves about gender roles, or at least LaBute's conception of them, is best left to the contentious conversations sure to follow any viewing. Just remember not to make this a date movie unless you're sure your relationship can weather the storm. ~ Brian J. Dillard, All Movie Guide
Thomas Cunliffe - Boom Operator, Mali Finn - Casting, Philip Steuer - Co-producer, April Napier - Costume Designer, Albert Cho - First Assistant Director, Neil LaBute - Director, Joel Plotch - Editor, Stephen Pevner - Executive Producer, Alix Madigan-Yorkin - Executive Producer, Janine Rath - Hair Styles, Christopher Trott - Location Manager, Metallica - Composer (Music Score), Frankie Pine - Musical Direction/Supervision, Kristin Glover - Camera Operator, Charles Breen - Production Designer, Nancy Schreiber - Cinematographer, Jason Patric - Producer, Steve Golin - Producer, Jeffrey Kushon - Set Designer, Felipe Borrero - Sound/Sound Designer, Geoffrey G. Rubay - Sound Editor, Todd A. Niesen - Sound Editor, Tim Clawson - Unit Production Manager, Neil LaBute - Screenwriter, Frederick T. King - Production Assistant, Sarah Curran Voigt - Production Assistant, Tim Clawson - Executive in Charge of Production, Andrea Bottigliero - Additional Editing, Dawn Solér - Executive Music Producer, John A. Burke - First Assistant Camera, Jeffrey Cunningham - First Assistant Camera, Jeff Levy - Gaffer, Antonio Aguilar - Grip, Neil Fleischbein - Grip, Richard Kuhn - Key Grip, Ron Finn - Music Editor, Richard E. Chapla Jr. - Production Coordinator, Joel Hatch - Production Supervisor, Glenn Kiser - Production Supervisor, Linda Rae Shamest - Production Supervisor, Roy "Bucky" Moore - Properties Master, Bryan Duff - Properties Master, Chris David - Re-Recording Mixer, Jeffrey Perkins - Re-Recording Mixer, Dea Cantu - Script Supervisor, Todd Y. Murata - Second Assistant Director, David Luckenbach - Steadicam Operator, Bruce Birmelin - Still Photographer, Dane A. Davis - Supervising Sound Editor, Christopher Sheldon - Supervising Sound Editor, Jackson Schwartz - ADR Mixer, Lynette Meyer - Assistant Costumer Designer, Darin Burt - Assistant Location Manager, Geno Escarrega - Assistant Location Manager, Tarra Day - Assistant Makeup, Jeff Gross - Assistant Production Coordinator, Kimberly O. Killgore - Assistant Properties, Barbara Way - Assistant Sound Editor, Bruce Sharp - Best Boy Electric, John Ridenour - Best Boy Grip, Gina Villalobos - Camera Loader, Emily Schweber - Casting Associate, Daniel E. Turk - Construction Coordinator, Tony Willard - Dolly Grip, William Skinner - Electrician, Daniel Hofstad - Electrician, Beau Damon Richards - Electrician, Andy Smith - Electrician, Andrea Larsen - First Assistant Accountant, Keith Brachmann - First Assistant Editor, Joe Sabella - Foley Artist, Zane D. Bruce - Foley Artist, Jackson Schwartz - Foley Artist, Desne Holland - Key Make-up, Erik Polczwartek - Leadman, Karen Chalk Wheeler - Post Production Accountant, Nour Dardari - Production Accountant, Laurie Henricksen - Set Dresser, Rhonda Paynter - Set Dresser, Scott Bauer - Set Production Assistant, Mark Rodriguez - Set Production Assistant, Hilary Russell - Set Production Assistant, Jeff Bova - Transportation Captain, Antonio Molina - Transportation Coordinator, Craig Glaser - Craft Service/Catering, Robert A. Lamkin - Craft Service/Catering, Phil J. Minsky - Craft Service/Catering, Noel Reyes - Craft Service/Catering, Theresa Repola Mohammed - Negative Cutter, Kevin B. Piatt - Set Medic/First Aid, Werner Hoetzinger - Swing Gang, Ken Gutierez - Swing Gang, Melissa Mollo - Art Department Coordinator
The movie is a frank portrayal of intertwining sexual relationships between three upper-class couples in an unnamed city. Much of the film's plot involves various characters expressing sexual dissatisfaction and entering into affairs with each other, including a homosexual liaison. The characters are never named until the end credits, where they are given rhyming names such as "Mary", "Jerry" and "Teri".
The film is a loosely based reflection of the restoration play The Country Wife by playwright William Wycherley. In this movie, the character Jerry (Ben Stiller) is seen directing a scene from this play with his students.
