Anywhere but Here (film)
Anywhere but Here is a 1999 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film, based on the novel of the same name by Mona Simpson. The screenplay was written by Alvin Sargent, and the film was directed by Wayne Wang. It was produced by Laurence Mark, Petra Alexandria, and Ginny Nugent. It stars Susan Sarandon, Natalie Portman, and Shawn Hatosy.
| Anywhere but Here | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Wayne Wang |
| Produced by | Laurence Mark |
| Screenplay by | Alvin Sargent |
| Based on | Anywhere but Here by Mona Simpson |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Danny Elfman |
| Cinematography | Roger Deakins |
| Edited by | Nicholas C. Smith |
| Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 114 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $23 million |
| Box office | $23.6 million |
Filming began in late June 1998. The film debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 17, 1999, before being released in the United States on November 12.
Plot
Adele August (Susan Sarandon) is an eccentric woman who, with her reluctant daughter, Ann (Natalie Portman), is anxious to leave their small Wisconsin town and move to Beverly Hills to realize her dreams. However, it becomes apparent that Adele is uncertain of what those dreams are – expressing ideas such as marrying a rich man – and often makes impulsive decisions, such as purchasing a used Mercedes she cannot afford in order to drive to Beverly Hills.
While upset with Adele's decisions, the more practical Ann finds she cannot leave her mother and resents her for leaving her stepfather behind. Also, she still loves her father, who left them when Ann was small.
When living in Beverly Hills, Adele improvises from day to day, often unable to pay the bills. She dates a successful dentist, but learns that he doesn't love her and has dumped her for a younger woman. Things get complicated when Adele has a fight with her brother-in-law Jimmy, and Ann starts dating her crush, Peter.
Forcing her daughter to enroll in Beverly Hills High School, where a lot of rich kids and movie star kids go, Adele hopes that Ann will become an actress and attend UCLA, despite Ann's interest in going away to Brown University. Although Adele fails in many respects, she eventually accepts her daughter's plans and decides to help her.
Cast
- Susan Sarandon as Adele August
- Natalie Portman as Ann August
- Shawn Hatosy as Benny
- Hart Bochner as Josh Spritzer
- Eileen Ryan as Lillian
- Ray Baker as Ted
- John Diehl as Jimmy
- Bonnie Bedelia as Carol
- Faran Tahir as Hisham Badir
- Caroline Aaron as Gail Letterfine
- Corbin Allred as Peter
- Michael Milhoan as a cop
- John Carroll Lynch as Jack Irwin
- Steve Berra as Hal
- Eva Amurri, Susan Sarandon's daughter, cameo appearance as a stude at Beverly Hills High School on Ann's first day.
Reception
Box office
The film opened at #5 at the North American box office and made $5.6 million USD in its opening weekend.
Critical response
The film received positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes it has a score of 64% based on reviews from 89 critics. The website's consensus reads: "The strong chemistry between Susan Sarandon and Natalie Portman as a mother and daughter trying to make a fresh start in L.A. helps to elevate Anywhere But Here above its occasional forays into melodrama."[2]
Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three stars and noted "The movie's interest is not in the plot, which is episodic and 'colorful,' but in the performances. Sarandon bravely makes Adele into a person who is borderline insufferable. Sarandon's role is trickier and more difficult, but Portman's will get the attention. In 'Anywhere But Here,' she gets yanked along by her out of control mother, and her best scenes are when she fights back, not emotionally, but with incisive observations."[3]
Accolades
- Nominated - Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Natalie Portman
- Nominated - Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress - Natalie Portman
Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards
- Nominated - Best Contemporary Hair Styling (Feature) - Paul LeBlanc
Production
Filming locations
- Beverly Hills High School, Beverly Hills, California
- Beverly Hills Hotel & Bungalows, Beverly Hills
- Los Angeles International Airport, Los Angeles, California
- Los Angeles, California
- Westwood Village, Westwood, Los Angeles, California,
Soundtrack
| Anywhere But Here: Music from the Motion Picture | |
|---|---|
| Soundtrack album by Various Artists | |
| Released | November 2, 1999 |
| Genre | Pop |
| Length | 59:25 |
| Label | Atlantic/Wea. |
| Producer | Danny Elfman, Steve Power, Lisa Loeb, Michael Beinhorn, Malcolm Burn, Marius de Vries, Joe Hardy, Jay Joyce, k.d. lang, Pierre Marchand, Rick Nowels, Carmen Rizzo, Glenn Rosenstein, Don Was, Wilbur C. Rimes, Ellen Segal, Pocket Size, Billy Harvey |
| Singles from Anywhere But Here: Music from the Motion Picture | |
| |
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic[5] |   |
A soundtrack to the film was released on November 2, 1999,[6] ten days before the theatrical release. The soundtrack was distributed by Atlantic Records and Wea.
The soundtrack features original music by Lisa Loeb, Danny Elfman and k.d. lang. It also featured tracks by artists such as LeAnn Rimes, Sarah McLachlan, and Pocket Size, as well as other various artists. Rimes' song, "Leaving's Not Leaving", was released as a B-side track with her single, "Big Deal", on September 28, 1999.[4]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Recording artist(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Anywhere But Here" | k.d. lang | 3:45 | |
| 2. | "Walking" | Pocket Size | 4:14 | |
| 3. | "Scream and Shout" | 21st Century Girls | 3:25 | |
| 4. | "Leaving's Not Leaving" (feat. string arrangements by David Campbell) | Diane Warren | LeAnn Rimes | 4:53 |
| 5. | "I Wish" | Lisa Loeb | 2:27 | |
| 6. | "Free" | Marie Wilson | 3:56 | |
| 7. | "Amity" | Carly Simon and Sally Taylor | 3:17 | |
| 8. | "Ice Cream" | Sarah McLachlan | 2:43 | |
| 9. | "Furniture" | Kacy Crowley | 3:29 | |
| 10. | "Twisted Road" | Patty Griffin | 2:48 | |
| 11. | "Strange Wind" | Poe | 3:59 | |
| 12. | "Everything Around Me Is Changing" | Sinéad Lohan | 4:42 | |
| 13. | "Come Here" | Lili Haydn, Rick Boston | 4:22 | |
| 14. | "Chotee" | Bif Naked | 3:50 | |
| 15. | "Anywhere But Here Score Suite" | Danny Elfman | 7:35 | |
| Total length: | 59:25 | |||
References
- "Anywhere but Here". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
- "Anywhere But Here (1999)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. April 18, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2018.
- Ebert, Roger (November 12, 1999). "'Anywhere But Here'". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 18, 2013.
- "Big Deal / Leaving's Not Leaving: Leann Rimes: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
- "Anywhere But Here - Original Soundtrack". Allmusic.com. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
- "Anywhere But Here: Music from the Motion Picture: Danny Elfman: Music". Amazon.com. Retrieved October 25, 2011.
