Miranda July Movies
Director/actor Miranda July had already achieved tremendous success as an artist by the time she made her first big-screen effort. She'd been quoted as saying that by the time she was 23 she was earning a living entirely from her creative efforts and without the help of a day job, and her list of accomplishments certainly reflects this. By the year 2005, she had showed her multi-media art in such venues as the Institute of Contemporary Art in London and The Kitchen in New York, published short stories in publications such as The Paris Review, The Harvard Review, and Zoetrope All Story, and recorded two EPs and two full-length LPs. It was in 2004, however, that she won a spot at the Sundance workshop and developed the film Me and You and Everyone We Know. The quirky and emotional comedy incorporated much of July's own video art. Writing, producing, directing, and staring in the feature film paid off for her in a big way; it won numerous awards including the Caméra d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film also enjoyed a successful wide release, establishing a cult audience that caused the film to border on a sleeper hit. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
- 2004
- R
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A handful of disparate characters, both adults and children, find themselves navigating the tricky waters of intimacy in this award-winning independent comedy drama. Richard (John Hawkes) is a recent divorcé who is alternately exhilarated and terrified with his life and the world around him. While he believes great things are in store for him, he's also become so despondent about his wife's departure that he attempts to set his hand on fire. Richard meets Christine (Miranda July) at the shoe store where he works; Christine likes to paint a picture of herself as a stylish and confident video artist, but in truth she supports herself as a driver with a car service for the elderly, and she'd very much like to meet someone special. As Richard and Christine fumble their way into a relationship, Richard's two sons have issues of their own. Seven-year-old Robby (Brandon Ratcliff) has met someone in an Internet chat room who responds to his naïve and scatological perceptions of sex, while 14-year-old Peter (Miles Thompson) finds himself on the receiving end of unusual and unexpected attention from two girls in his class. Me and You and Everyone We Know was the first feature film written and directed by noted performance artist Miranda July; the picture won prizes in 2005 at the Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Hawkes, Miranda July, (more)
- 2001
- NR
In this digitally shot feature from acclaimed director Wayne Wang) (The Joy Luck Club), the boundaries of sexual relations are put to the test by two individuals. Richard (Peter Sarsgaard) is a dot-com entrepreneur who, despite earning millions of dollars, feels little connection to the outside world. After frequenting a strip club, he offers Florence (Molly Parker), a sometime-stripper who also works as a drummer, $10,000 dollars to accompany him to Las Vegas for a short stay. She makes him a list of rules that must be followed: no kissing on the mouth, no penetration, and each will stay in separate bedrooms and only convene during the hours of 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Staying in adjoining rooms, they stick to the plan as laid out until they develop a fondness for each other -- still, Florence tries to maintain the order of their agreement. Despite Richard's declarations that he is in love with her, she is forced not to let herself get too involved, even when their sexual relationship begins to increase after the arrival of Florence's hooker friend Jerri (Carla Gugino), who after a brutal fight with a man, immerses herself in the sexual lives of Richard and Florence. The film also features Balthazar Getty and Shirley Knight in small supporting roles. ~ Jason Clark, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peter Sarsgaard, Molly Parker, (more)
