''Melinda and Melinda'' is a 2004 American comedy film written and directed by Woody Allen. It premiered at the San Sebastian International Film Festival. The film is set in Manhattan and stars Radha Mitchell as the

protagonist A protagonist () is the main character of a story. The protagonist makes key decisions that affect the plot, primarily influencing the story and propelling it forward, and is often the character who faces the most significant obstacles. If a st ...

Melinda, in two storylines; one comic, one tragic. The film began a

limited release __FORCETOC__ Limited theatrical release is a film distribution strategy of releasing a new film in a few theaters across a country, typically art house theaters in major metropolitan markets. Since 1994, a limited theatrical release in the Unite ...

in the United States on March 18, 2005.

Synopsis

The premise of the film is stated by a group of four writers conversing over dinner at the beginning of the film. The question arises: Is life naturally comic or tragic? One of the four proposes a simple story (a distraught woman knocks on a door and disrupts a dinner party) and the two prominent playwrights in the group begin telling their versions of this story, one being comic and one tragic.

Cast

* Radha Mitchell as Melinda Robicheaux *

Chloë Sevigny Chloë Stevens Sevigny (, born November 18, 1974) is an American actress, model, filmmaker and fashion designer. Known for her work in independent films, often appearing in controversial or experimental features, Sevigny is the recipient of se ...

as Laurel * Jonny Lee Miller as Lee * Will Ferrell as Hobie * Amanda Peet as Susan * Chiwetel Ejiofor as Ellis Moonsong * Wallace Shawn as Sy * Josh Brolin as Greg Earlinger * Vinessa Shaw as Stacey Fox * Steve Carell as Walt * Arija Bareikis as Sally Oliver * Matt Servitto as Jack Oliver * Zak Orth as Peter * Brooke Smith as Cassie * Daniel Sunjata as Billy Wheeler * Larry Pine as Max *

Andy Borowitz Andy Borowitz (born January 4, 1958) is an American writer, comedian, satirist, and actor. Borowitz is a ''The New York Times''-bestselling author who won the first National Press Club award for humor. He is known for creating the NBC sitcom ''Th ...

as Doug Radha Mitchell plays Melinda in both versions.

, Jonny Lee Miller, and Chiwetel Ejiofor star with her in the tragedy, while Will Ferrell and Amanda Peet star with her in the comedy. Steve Carell has a small part as Ferrell's character's friend.

Production

Woody Allen said in ''Conversations with Woody Allen'' that he wanted to cast Winona Ryder in the title role. He had to replace her with Radha Mitchell because no one would insure Ryder due to her arrest for shoplifting – this would have made it impossible to obtain a film completion bond. Allen stated he was sad because he had written the part for Ryder after working with her on '' Celebrity''. In the same interview, he also claimed to have intended Ferrell's part for

Robert Downey, Jr. Robert John Downey Jr. (born April 4, 1965) is an American actor and producer. His career has been characterized by critical and popular success in his youth, followed by a period of substance abuse and legal troubles, before a resurgence of ...

, but, again, insurance got in the way due to Downey's history of arrests and drug abuse. The film also stars Wallace Shawn (alluding to his dinner-philosophy argument in '' My Dinner with Andre'') as the comic playwright, Larry Pine as the tragedian, and Brooke Smith as Cassie. All three had appeared in the 1994 film '' Vanya on 42nd Street,'' directed by Louis Malle.

Critical reception

The film received mixed reviews from critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes lists a 51% positive score, based on 144 reviews. Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 54 out of 100, based on 40 reviews. Leonard Maltin gave the film two stars, calling it "meandering,” with "echoes... of earlier, better Allen movies".

Box office

''Melinda and Melinda'' opened on March 18, 2005, in one New York City cinema, where it grossed $74,238 in its first three days, the 21st highest limited release opening in American history. In weekend two, it expanded to 95 theatres to gross $740,618, seeing its per screen average drop to $7,795. Overseas, it grossed an additional $16,259,545, bringing its worldwide total to $20,085,825.

Soundtrack

Accompanying the movie is its soundtrack, released on March 8, 2005 on Milan Records. It mostly features a selection of

swing music Swing music is a style of jazz that developed in the United States during the late 1920s and early 1930s. It became nationally popular from the mid-1930s. The name derived from its emphasis on the off-beat, or nominally weaker beat. Swing bands ...

and big band tracks, which is typical for Allen's films.

Track listing

References

External links

* * * * *
Woody Allen interview for Melinda And Melinda
{{DEFAULTSORT:Melinda And Melinda 2004 films 2004 comedy-drama films Films directed by Woody Allen Films set in Manhattan Films with screenplays by Woody Allen Films produced by Letty Aronson Fox Searchlight Pictures films Films shot in New York City 2004 comedy films 2004 drama films 2000s English-language films American comedy-drama films