Gray Matters (2006 film)

Last updated
Gray Matters
Gray matters movie poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Sue Kramer
Screenplay bySue Kramer
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography John Bartley
Edited by Wendey Stanzler
Music byAndrew Hollander
Production
companies
  • Bella Films
  • Archer Entertainment [1]
Distributed by
Release dates
Running time
96 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$944,479 [3]

Gray Matters is a 2006 American romantic comedy film directed and written by Sue Kramer, starring Heather Graham, Tom Cavanagh, and Bridget Moynahan. The film premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 21, 2006. It opened in limited release in the United States on February 23, 2007.

Contents

Plot

Gray, a family-oriented and quiet bachelorette, lives a close-knit life with her brother, Sam. Their lifestyle is generally co-dependent, involving them living together, going to dance classes together, etc. Gray and Sam's relationship has never been thought of as strange, but once a dinner party guest mistakes the siblings as a couple, Gray and Sam decide to venture outside of one another. While discussing what they can do about their single lifestyles and how they can "hook each other up" with a significant other, their conversation continues to the park, where Gray spots a possible girlfriend for Sam. Gray introduces herself to Charlie, then to Sam, and the two instantly like each other, agreeing to see each other again.

To Gray's surprise, Sam and Charlie become engaged the morning after their meeting. Charlie and Sam are so madly in love with one another that they plan to go to Las Vegas the following morning and elope there. They invite Gray along. Gray is a little hesitant, but agrees when Charlie says they can have a "mini bachelorette party". Gray agrees and the three make their way to Vegas. While in Vegas, Gray takes Charlie out for a hen night, and after many drinks, the two share a drunken but passionate kiss. The next morning, Charlie does not remember anything, but Gray has not slept the whole night, because of how she felt with Charlie. The situation makes Gray finally realize that not only is she attracted to women, but is falling in love with her sister-in-law.

The events in Vegas force a journey of self-discovery, testing the relationship between two very close siblings, and to finding happiness in lonely Manhattan. When Gray eventually comes out to Sam as a lesbian, he tells her that he has known all along, since they were young kids.

Later, Sam accidentally discloses Gray's sexual orientation to her entire office, which, along with Sam's encouragement, gives her impetus to find her true self, pursue relationships with women, and find her own someone to love.

Cast

Production

Gray Matters was shot on location in New York City in twenty-one days.[ citation needed ] The screenplay was partially inspired by the life of the director's sister, Carolyn. [4]

Release

Gray Matters premiered at the Hamptons International Film Festival, in the Spotlight section, on October 21, 2006. [5] [6] It opened theatrically in limited release in New York and Los Angeles on February 23, 2007. [7]

Home media

The DVD was released in Region 1 by Fox Home Entertainment on June 19, 2007. [8] [9] It was released in Region 2 by Momentum Pictures on August 13, 2007. [10] [11]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 8% of 65 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.8/10.The website's consensus reads: "Gray Matters tries emulating Hollywood screwball classics, but the rapid fire dialogue and witticisms comes off only as a contrived gimmick." [12] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 31 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [13]

Related Research Articles

<i>Leaving Las Vegas</i> 1995 film by Mike Figgis

Leaving Las Vegas is a 1995 American drama film written and directed by Mike Figgis and based on the semi-autobiographical 1990 novel of the same name by John O'Brien. Nicolas Cage stars as a suicidal alcoholic in Los Angeles who, having lost his family and been recently fired, has decided to move to Las Vegas and drink himself to death. He loads a supply of liquor and beer into his BMW and gets drunk as he drives from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Once there, he develops a romantic relationship with a prostitute played by Elisabeth Shue and the film shifts to include her narrative perspective. O'Brien died from suicide after signing away the film rights to the novel.

Las Vegas is an American comedy-drama television series created by Gary Scott Thompson. It was broadcast by NBC from September 22, 2003, to February 15, 2008, airing for five seasons. It focuses on a team of people working at the Montecito, a fictional hotel and casino on the Las Vegas Strip. The employees deal with various issues that arise within the working environment, ranging from casino security to restaurant management and valet parking. Las Vegas starred James Caan, Josh Duhamel, Nikki Cox, James Lesure, Vanessa Marcil, Molly Sims, Marsha Thomason, and eventually Tom Selleck. The series originally centered on Ed Deline (Caan), a strict ex-CIA officer who serves as the president of operations for the Montecito. Former Marine Counterintelligence/HUMINT (CI/HUMINT) officer, Danny McCoy (Duhamel), who is Ed's protégé, later becomes the Montecito's new president.

<i>Ginger Snaps</i> (film) 2000 film by John Fawcett

Ginger Snaps is a 2000 Canadian supernatural horror film directed by John Fawcett and written by Karen Walton, from a story they jointly developed. The film stars Emily Perkins and Katharine Isabelle as Brigitte and Ginger Fitzgerald, two morbid teenage sisters whose relationship is tested when Ginger is attacked and bitten by an unknown animal, and then later, during the next full moon, slowly starts to transform into a werewolf. The supporting cast features Kris Lemche, Jesse Moss, Danielle Hampton, John Bourgeois, Peter Keleghan, and Mimi Rogers.

Tamyra Monica Gray is an American actress, singer and songwriter, who finished fourth place on the first season of the musical reality competition American Idol in 2002. Post American Idol, Gray has begun acting on Broadway and television. She had a recurring role on the third season of the drama series Boston Public in early 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bridget Moynahan</span> American actress and former model (born 1971)

Kathryn Bridget Moynahan is an American actress and former model. She graduated from Longmeadow High School in Massachusetts in 1989 and began pursuing a career in modeling. Moynahan appeared in department-store catalogs and magazines, and after doing television commercials, began taking acting lessons. She made her television debut in a guest appearance in the comedy series Sex and the City in 1999, where she later had a recurring role as Natasha.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sophie Monk</span> Australian TV presenter (born 1979)

Sophie Charlene Akland Monk is an Australian singer, actress, television personality, and model. She was a member of the pop girl group Bardot, winners of the first season of Popstars Australia in 2000, and later released a solo album titled Calendar Girl (2003). She has appeared in various films, including Date Movie (2006), Click (2006), Sex and Death 101 (2007), The Hills Run Red (2009), and Spring Breakdown (2009).

<i>Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason</i> 2004 film by Beeban Kidron

Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason is a 2004 romantic comedy film directed by Beeban Kidron from a screenplay by Andrew Davies, Helen Fielding, Richard Curtis and Adam Brooks. The sequel to Bridget Jones's Diary (2001) and the second installment in the Bridget Jones film series, it is based on the 1999 novel of the same name by Fielding. The film stars Renée Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent and Gemma Jones.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schuyler Fisk</span> American actress and singer-songwriter

Schuyler Elizabeth Fisk is an American actress and singer-songwriter.

<i>The Girls Next Door</i> American reality television series

The Girls Next Door is a reality television series which focuses on the lives of Hugh Hefner's girlfriends who live with him at the Playboy Mansion. The series was created by executive producer Kevin Burns and Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine. The series premiered on the E! cable network on August 7, 2005 and ran for 6 seasons. The first five seasons centered around then-girlfriends, Holly Madison, Bridget Marquardt and Kendra Wilkinson. The sixth and final season premiered on October 11, 2009 and introduced Hefner's new girlfriends, Crystal Harris, who eventually went on to marry Hefner, and twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon.

Wendey Stanzler is an American film editor and television director.

<i>My Blueberry Nights</i> 2007 film by Wong Kar-wai

My Blueberry Nights is a 2007 romantic drama film directed by Wong Kar-wai, his first feature in English. The screenplay by Wong and Lawrence Block is based on a Chinese-language short film written and directed by Wong. My Blueberry Nights stars Norah Jones, Jude Law, David Strathairn, Rachel Weisz, and Natalie Portman.

Alejandro Abellan is a Canadian film and television actor and Cannabis Advocate.

<i>Two Weeks</i> (2006 film) 2006 American film

Two Weeks is a 2006 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Steve Stockman and starring Sally Field. Ensemble cast also includes Ben Chaplin, Julianne Nicholson, Tom Cavanagh, Glenn Howerton and Jenny O'Hara.

<i>Noise</i> (2007 American film) 2007 film

Noise is a 2007 American comedy drama film written and directed by Henry Bean. It stars Tim Robbins and Bridget Moynahan. Robbins plays a successful lawyer in Manhattan named David Owen who is bothered by all the noise in the city, and who resorts to vandalism to put a stop to it, adopting the identity of "The Rectifier". His acts of vandalism provoke the mayor of the city, played by William Hurt.

<i>Prey</i> (2007 film) 2007 South African film

Prey is a 2007 South African adventure thriller horror film written by Jeff Wadlow, Beau Bauman, and Darrell Roodt. The film was directed by Roodt. At a South African game reserve, a woman and her two stepchildren are trapped inside a car by a pride of hungry lions. Prey stars Bridget Moynahan, Peter Weller and Carly Schroeder.

<i>Bachelorette</i> (film) 2012 American film

Bachelorette is a 2012 American comedy film written and directed by Leslye Headland, adapted from her play of the same name. It stars Kirsten Dunst, Lizzy Caplan, and Isla Fisher as three troubled women who reunite for the wedding of a friend who was ridiculed in high school. The play upon which the film is based was originally written as one of Headland's cycle of "Seven Deadly Sins" plays.

<i>Last Vegas</i> 2013 film by Jon Turteltaub

Last Vegas is a 2013 American comedy film directed by Jon Turteltaub, written by Dan Fogelman and starring Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Kevin Kline and Mary Steenburgen. Three retirees travel to Las Vegas to have a bachelor party for their last remaining single friend.

<i>The Bachelorette</i> (American TV series) season 15 15th season of television series

The fifteenth season of The Bachelorette premiered on May 13, 2019. The season featured Hannah Brown, a 24-year-old interior designer from Northport, Alabama. Brown was crowned Miss Alabama USA 2018 and represented Alabama at Miss USA 2018.

<i>The Stand In</i> (2020 film) 2020 US comedy film by Jamie Babbit

The Stand In is a 2020 American romantic comedy film directed by Jamie Babbit, written by Sam Bain, and starring Drew Barrymore, Michael Zegen, T.J. Miller and Holland Taylor. It was released on December 11, 2020.

<i>Crown Vic</i> (film) 2019 film by Joel Souza

Crown Vic is a 2019 American crime thriller film written and directed by Joel Souza, with Alec Baldwin having served as one of the producers, and stars Thomas Jane, Luke Kleintank, Gregg Bello, David Krumholtz, Bridget Moynahan, Scottie Thompson, and Josh Hopkins. The film focuses on the events during a night shift for veteran LAPD officer Ray Mandel and his trainee Nick Holland. The film's title derives from the Ford Crown Victoria, a car widely used by US police, which the main characters also use.

References

  1. Scheib, Ronnie (October 25, 2006). "Gray Matters". Variety . Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  2. "Gray Matters". Freestyle Releasing . 2007. Archived from the original on 2019-02-18. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  3. "Gray Matters". Box Office Mojo . 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  4. Wahrman, Anna (February 11, 2007). "Making "Gray Matters"". AfterEllen . Archived from the original on December 9, 2007.
  5. "14th Annual Hamptons International Film Festival - Screening of 'Gray Matters'". Wire Image . October 21, 2006. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  6. Masone, Marian (December 2, 2006). "Shades of 'Gray'". The Brooklyn Paper . Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  7. Holden, Stephen (February 23, 2007). "Brother and Sister, With Similar Taste in Girls". The New York Times . Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  8. Beierle, Aaron (June 23, 2007). "Gray Matters". DVD Talk . Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  9. "Gray Matters". Amazon . 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  10. DVD Reviewer (August 13, 2007). "Gray Matters (UK)". myreviewer.com. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  11. "Gray Matters". Amazon . 2007. Retrieved 13 January 2019.
  12. "Gray Matters". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  13. "Gray Matters". Metacritic . Retrieved January 26, 2024.