Life Partners (film)
Life Partners | |
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Directed by | Susanna Fogel |
Produced by |
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Written by |
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Starring | |
Music by | Eric D. Johnson |
Cinematography | Brian Burgoyne |
Edited by | Kiran Pallegadda |
Production company |
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Distributed by | Magnolia Pictures |
Release dates |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $8,265[1] |
Life Partners is a 2014 American comedy film directed by Susanna Fogel and co-written with Joni Lefkowitz. It is Fogel's feature film directorial debut. The film stars Leighton Meester, Gillian Jacobs, Adam Brody, Greer Grammer, Gabourey Sidibe, and Julie White. The film premiered on April 18, 2014 at the Tribeca Film Festival in the Spotlight section.[2][3] The film was released on November 6, 2014 on demand platforms, and in select theaters on December 5, 2014.[4]
Plot
The comedy is about a co-dependent friendship between two very different girls—straight type-A Paige (Jacobs) and lesbian slacker Sasha (Meester)—All is fine until Paige meets Tim (Brody), a young and charming doctor. As the relationship heats up, Paige and Sasha have to learn how to work Tim into their friendship.[5]
Cast
- Gillian Jacobs as Paige
- Leighton Meester as Sasha
- Adam Brody as Tim
- Greer Grammer as Mia
- Gabourey Sidibe as Jen
- Julie White as Deborah
- Abby Elliott as Vanessa
- Kate McKinnon as Trace
- Mark Feuerstein as Casey
- Monte Markham as Ken
- Rosanna DeSoto as woman in car
- Elizabeth Ho as Valerie
- Simone Bailly as Angelica
- Beth Dover as Jenn
- Zee James as Claire
- John Forest
Production
Susanna Fogel and Joni Lefkowitz met in 2002 at a sketch comedy writing class and became friends.[6] Joni Lefkowitz and Susanna Fogel both starred in the 2008 web series Joni & Susanna.[7]
The film is an adaptation of the play Life Partners, written by Lefkowitz and Fogel based on their friendship and similar to the one depicted in Walking and Talking by Nicole Holofcener.[6] In 2011, the play, starring Amanda Walsh and Shannon Woodward,[7] was created and premiered as part of one act play series Unscreened,[6] which develops and produces world-premiere short plays by some of Hollywood’s fastest-rising writers and featuring multi-star casts. In the aftermath of its success, producer Jordana Mallick approached the pair to consider adapting the play into a feature.[6]
Lefkowitz and Fogel first thought about Kristen Bell and Evan Rachel Wood to portray the role of Sasha, but when they both got pregnant, the role was given to Leighton Meester.[7] Magnolia Pictures acquired the US rights to the film on May 16, 2014.[8]
Filming
Set in Minneapolis, Minnesota, principal photography began in April 2013 and lasted 19 days.[6][9] The film was primarily shot in Glendale, California and Eagle Rock, Los Angeles.[6] Some scenes were shot at Griffith Park and at Long Beach, California during the Long Beach Lesbian & Gay Pride.[6][10] Other scenes were also filmed in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Minneapolis skyline and a few Minneapolis landmarks are also shown in the film.
Reception
Life Partners earned $8,265 in North America.[1]
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 64%, based on 29 reviews, with an average rating of 6.1/10. The site's consensus reads "With two appealing leads adrift in a sitcom-worthy plot, Life Partners doesn't do quite enough to earn viewers' commitment."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 57 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[12]
References
- 1 2 "Life Partners (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ↑ Terrero, Nina (April 17, 2014). "Tribeca Film Festival: Leighton Meester has no barriers in 'Life Partners' – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO". Entertainment Weekly. Time. Retrieved May 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Here Are The 31 Films in The Spotlight Section". Tribeca Film Festival. March 6, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.comingsoon.net/films.php?id=103732
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Magnolia Pictures :: Press Kit (download Life Partners production notes)". Magpictures.com. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- 1 2 3 Bendix, Trish (May 8, 2013). "Leighton Meester and Gillian Jacobs are "Life Partners"". AfterEllen.com. Archived from the original on June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 22, 2013.
- ↑ McNary, Dave (16 May 2014). "Leighton Meester-Gillian Jacobs’ ‘Life Partners’ Gets U.S. Distribution". variety.com. Retrieved 17 May 2014.
- ↑ "‘Life Partners’, starring Adam Brody & Leighton Meester, filming in Los Angeles". onlocationvacations.com. April 23, 2013. Retrieved June 19, 2013.
- ↑ Levy, Rachel (May 20, 2013). "Rainbow bright! Leighton Meester goes incognito in funky and colourful ensemble to film gay pride scene for Life Partners". Daily Mail. Retrieved June 21, 2013.
- ↑ "Life Partners (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ↑ "Life Partners". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
External links
- Official website
- Life Partners at the Internet Movie Database
- Life Partners at AllMovie
- Life Partners at Box Office Mojo
- Life Partners at Metacritic
- Life Partners at Rotten Tomatoes
- Unscreened