Gloria (1999 American film)

Last updated
Gloria
Gloria 1999 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Screenplay by Steve Antin
Based on Gloria
by John Cassavetes
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography David Watkin
Edited byTom Swartwout
Music by Howard Shore
Production
companies
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release date
  • January 22, 1999 (1999-01-22)
Running time
108 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million [1]
Box office$4.9 million [1]

Gloria is a 1999 American neo-noir crime thriller film directed by Sidney Lumet from a screenplay by Steve Antin. It is a remake of John Cassavetes' 1980 film of the same name. It stars Sharon Stone in the title role, with Jeremy Northam, Cathy Moriarty, Jean-Luke Figueroa, Mike Starr, and George C. Scott in supporting roles. It follows a mobster's tough ex-mistress who befriends a boy left orphaned by a murderous gunman.

Contents

The film was theatrically released in the United States on January 22, 1999, by Sony Pictures Releasing. It received negative reviews from critics and was a box-office bomb, grossing only $4.9 million worldwide against a $30 million budget. For her performance, Stone was nominated for Worst Actress at the 20th Golden Raspberry Awards.

Plot

Gloria has just gotten out of prison, where she has served three years to save her boyfriend, Kevin. During her stay in prison, she thinks about how Kevin never once visited her. She tells Kevin that the relationship is over and that all she wants is the money he promised her for taking the rap for him. He refuses to give it to her.

Meanwhile, the gang's accountant has tried to protect himself by creating a computer disk with the names of all those involved in the outfit's criminal activities. The plan backfires, and—in trying to get the disk—one of Kevin's trigger-happy henchmen kills the accountant, his wife, his mother-in-law and his daughter. Only his seven-year-old son Nicky escapes, but is quickly caught and brought to Kevin's apartment. It is there that Gloria and Nicky meet. Gloria must decide whether or not to risk her life in order to save the boy.

Gloria begins to feel love for the young boy as his innocence and intelligent nature inspires her. She tells him that she hates kids and that is why she doesn't have kids. She lectures him to get used to this world and to grow up on his own. She then tries to ditch him in a subway, but Nicky comes back. As Gloria and Nicky spend more time together, they both develop feelings for each other. The boy sees news reports of his family being killed by the mob and runs away from the hotel room he and Gloria were staying in. Gloria follows in pursuit and Nicky gets on the train to go back to his family's apartment. Unable to catch Nicky before he gets on the train; Gloria is frantic and tells the cops her kid is on that train heading to 158th Street. After the cops apprehend Nicky, he and Gloria go back to the hotel room and Gloria gives Nicky a bath. Lying awake Gloria hears Nicky wake up. He asks "Did it really happen?"

Later, Nicky and Gloria are separated in a crowd while being chased by Kevin and the gang. Nicky is apprehended. Gloria meets with Ruby at a race track and negotiates an exchange: Nicky for the accountant's disk. Gloria takes Nicky to a boarding school; however, they decide that they would prefer to remain together as a family.

Cast

Production

In April 1997, Sharon Stone was cast as Gloria Swenson, a role that earned Gena Rowlands an Oscar nomination, and the filmmakers began to search for a "boy, age 7–9" to play Nicky. 6-year-old Jean-Luke Figueroa, who impressed the team most, was eventually chosen to play the role. [2]

Scott Kalvert had been assigned to direct the film, but later left the production. In the first weeks of July, Sidney Lumet stepped in as director. Bonnie Bedelia, Cathy Moriarty, and Jeremy Northam joined the cast in August. Though Albert Finney rejected the role of Ruby, George C. Scott accepted it. The rest of the cast was filled out in early September, and rehearsals started on September 8, 1997, then filming began. [2]

Reception

Box office

Gloria grossed $4.1 million in the United States and Canada, and $800,000 in other territories, for a worldwide total of $4.9 million. [1] [3]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 14% of 29 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.2/10. [4] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 26 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [5]

Godfrey Cheshire of Variety stated, "A travesty trying to be a Sharon Stone vehicle, this wooden crime yarn easily qualifies as the most tired, unexciting mob movie in recent memory." [6] Jack Mathews of the Los Angeles Times opined that "the movie exists as an acting exercise for Stone, which turns out--predictably--to be all sweat and no Gloria." [7] Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly described the film as "the Sidney Lumet-directed dud that sprung from the singularly bad idea of remaking John Cassavetes' oddball 1980 character study." [8] Peter Travers of Rolling Stone claimed, "It's early in the year, but I'll bet that Gloria grabs a top spot on any list of the worst movies of 1999." [9]

Stephen Hunter of The Washington Post wrote that "G-L-O-R-I-A is A-W-F-U-L" and "I found myself praying that the film would jam and melt and, well past the halfway point, it did, and I was sprung, 30 minutes early." [10] Desson Thomson of the same newspaper mainly criticized Stone's performance, commenting that "there were animatronic velociraptors in Jurassic Park that displayed more acting chops than Sharon Stone." [11]

On the other hand, Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times gave Gloria a positive review, calling it "a smoother, funnier, more suspenseful and more endearing version of the 1980 John Cassavetes film of the same title" and writing that "Stone, who in one guise or another has always been a treat, turns in a performance that definitely merits the key to Noo Yawk." [12]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2000 20th Golden Raspberry Awards Worst Actress Sharon Stone Nominated
22nd Stinkers Bad Movie Awards Worst ActressNominated
Worst Fake AccentNominated
Worst On-Screen Hairstyle (Female)Nominated
Worst RemakeGloriaNominated
The Remake, Sequel, or Prequel Nobody Was Clamoring ForNominated
Worst Performance by a Child in a Featured RoleJean-Luke FigueroaNominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharon Stone</span> American actress and painter (born 1958)

Sharon Vonne Stone is an American actress and a painter. Known for primarily playing femme fatales and women of mystery on film and television, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1990s. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a nomination for an Academy Award. She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1995 and was named Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in France in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brittany Murphy</span> American actress and singer (1977–2009)

Brittany Anne Murphy-Monjack was an American actress and singer, known for playing Tai Frasier in the teen movie Clueless (1995), Alex Latourno in 8 Mile (2002) and Daisy Randone in Girl, Interrupted (1999).

<i>They Shoot Horses, Dont They?</i> (film) 1969 film by Sydney Pollack

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is a 1969 American psychological drama film directed by Sydney Pollack, from a screenplay written by Robert E. Thompson and James Poe, based on Horace McCoy's 1935 novel of the same name. It stars Jane Fonda, Michael Sarrazin, Susannah York, Gig Young, Bonnie Bedelia, and Red Buttons. It focuses on a disparate group of individuals desperate to win a Depression-era dance marathon and an opportunistic emcee who urges them on.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gena Rowlands</span> American actress

Virginia Cathryn "Gena" Rowlands is an American retired actress, whose career in film, stage, and television has spanned nearly seven decades. A four-time Emmy and two-time Golden Globe winner, she is known for her collaborations with her late actor-director husband John Cassavetes in ten films, including A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Gloria (1980), both of which earned her nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actress. She also won the Silver Bear for Best Actress for Opening Night (1977). She is also known for her performances in Woody Allen's Another Woman (1988), and her son Nick Cassavetes's film, The Notebook (2004). In 2021, Richard Brody of The New Yorker said, “The most important and original movie actor of the past half century-plus is Gena Rowlands.” In November 2015, Rowlands received an Honorary Academy Award in recognition of her unique screen performances.

<i>Gloria</i> (1980 film) 1980 film by John Cassavetes

Gloria is a 1980 American neo-noir crime thriller film written and directed by John Cassavetes. It tells the story of a gangster's former girlfriend who goes on the run with a young boy who is being hunted by the mob for information he may or may not have. It stars Gena Rowlands, Julie Carmen, Buck Henry, and John Adames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Cassavetes</span> American actor, film director, and screenwriter (1929–1989)

John Nicholas Cassavetes was an American actor and filmmaker. He began as a television and film actor before helping to pioneer modern American independent cinema as a director and writer, often financing and distributing his films with his own income. AllMovie called him "an iconoclastic maverick", while The New Yorker suggested in 2013 that he "may be the most influential American director of the last half century."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Northam</span> British actor (born 1961)

Jeremy Philip Northam is an English actor.

<i>Casino</i> (1995 film) 1995 film directed by Martin Scorsese

Casino is a 1995 epic crime film directed by Martin Scorsese, adapted by Scorsese and Nicholas Pileggi from the latter's nonfiction book Casino: Love and Honor in Las Vegas. It stars Robert De Niro, Sharon Stone, Joe Pesci, Don Rickles, Kevin Pollak, and James Woods. The film was the eighth collaboration between director Scorsese and De Niro.

<i>Beyond the Sea</i> (2004 film) 2004 biographical musical drama film by Kevin Spacey

Beyond the Sea is a 2004 American biographical musical drama film based on the life of singer-actor Bobby Darin. Starring in the lead role and using his own singing voice for the musical numbers, Kevin Spacey co-wrote, directed, and co-produced the film, which takes its title from Darin's song of the same name.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonnie Bedelia</span> American actress (born 1948)

Bonnie Bedelia Culkin is an American actress. After beginning her career in theatre in the 1960s, Bedelia starred in the CBS daytime soap opera Love of Life and made her film debut in The Gypsy Moths. Bedelia subsequently appeared in the films They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Lovers and Other Strangers, Heart Like a Wheel, The Prince of Pennsylvania, Die Hard, Presumed Innocent, and Needful Things.

<i>Soapdish</i> 1991 film by Michael Hoffman

Soapdish is a 1991 American comedy film directed by Michael Hoffman, from a screenplay by Robert Harling and Andrew Bergman. The film was produced by Aaron Spelling and Alan Greisman, and executive produced by Herbert Ross.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cathy Moriarty</span> American actress (born 1960)

Cathy Moriarty is an American actress and singer whose career spans over four decades. Born and raised in New York City, she made her acting debut in Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull, for which she received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture, and the British Academy Film Award. It is widely considered to be one of the greatest films ever made.

<i>Last Dance</i> (1996 film) 1996 American film

Last Dance is a 1996 crime drama thriller film directed by Bruce Beresford and starring Sharon Stone, Rob Morrow, Randy Quaid and Peter Gallagher.

Catherine McKevitt Murphy is a British actress. She is known for her television roles as Tilly Watkins in the BBC drama The House of Eliott (1991–1994), Cheryl Barker in the Channel 5 soap opera Family Affairs (2003–2004), and as Julie Perkins in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2010–2011).

<i>Mikey and Nicky</i> 1976 American gangster film

Mikey and Nicky is a 1976 American crime drama film written and directed by Elaine May. It stars John Cassavetes as a desperate small-time mobster and Peter Falk as his longtime, childhood friend. The supporting cast features Ned Beatty, Carol Grace, Rosee Arrick, and noted acting teacher Sanford Meisner.

<i>The Muse</i> (film) 1999 comedy film by Albert Brooks

The Muse is a 1999 comedy film starring Albert Brooks, Sharon Stone, Andie MacDowell and Jeff Bridges. It is the sixth film to be directed by Brooks, from a screenplay co-written with Monica Johnson. Stone portrays the titular muse who is tasked with reviving the career of a once-celebrated Hollywood screenwriter, played by Brooks. The film also features numerous cameos from well-known filmmakers, including Martin Scorsese and James Cameron.

<i>Speechless</i> (1994 film) 1994 film

Speechless is a 1994 American romantic comedy film directed by Ron Underwood. It stars Michael Keaton, Geena Davis, Bonnie Bedelia, Ernie Hudson, and Christopher Reeve.

Kazuko Yanaga was a Japanese actress and voice actress who worked for 81 Produce. She was the wife of fellow voice actor Hōchū Ōtsuka.

Jenny Lumet is an American actress and screenwriter. She is the daughter of director Sidney Lumet and granddaughter of Lena Horne. Lumet is perhaps most known for writing the original screenplay of the 2008 Jonathan Demme film Rachel Getting Married, and her work on the Star Trek franchise.

<i>Casper</i> (film) 1995 film by Brad Silberling

Casper is a 1995 American supernatural comedy-drama film directed by Brad Silberling, in his feature film directorial debut, based on the Harvey Comics cartoon character Casper the Friendly Ghost created by Seymour Reit and Joe Oriolo. The film stars Christina Ricci, Bill Pullman, Cathy Moriarty, and Eric Idle, with voice talents of Joe Nipote, Joe Alaskey, Brad Garrett, and the film introduction of Malachi Pearson in the title role.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Gloria". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Bandon, Alexandra (October 5, 1997). "FILM; Next! The Art and Arduousness of Casting a Movie". The New York Times . Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Gloria". Box Office Mojo . IMDb. Archived from the original on January 12, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Gloria". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  5. ↑ "Gloria". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  6. ↑ Cheshire, Godfrey (January 24, 1999). "Gloria". Variety . Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  7. ↑ Mathews, Jack (January 25, 1999). "Remake of Cassavetes' 'Gloria' Is Mostly an Acting Exercise". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  8. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (February 5, 1999). "Gloria". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  9. ↑ Travers, Peter (February 13, 2001). "Gloria". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on September 29, 2022. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  10. ↑ Hunter, Stephen (January 23, 1999). "'Gloria': Barbie Moll Tressed for Excess". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on September 29, 2000. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  11. ↑ Howe, Desson (January 29, 1999). "A Stone-Cold Awful 'Gloria'". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on September 29, 2000. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
  12. ↑ Van Gelder, Lawrence (January 23, 1999). "FILM REVIEW; Tough Moll With Heart Of Mush". The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 28, 2023. Retrieved October 29, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.