Switch

Authors: Parker
Location: NJ

"Switch”

Produced by Mel Brooks & Woody Allen
Written & Directed by Woody Allen
Music by Randy Newman

Principal Cast:

Baz London - Hugh Jackman
Elon Mankowitz – Woody Allen
Biddy Mankowitz - Sigourney Weaver
Lana Cherry – Catherine Keener
Neal Cherry – Kevin Kline

Tagline: "For two people in a marriage to live together day after day is unquestionably the one miracle the Vatican has overlooked"

Synopsis: Baz London , Australia 's most successful television producer has just been given a contract to produce a new reality television show in the United States . London creates Switch, taking two families, and having the mother switch places for two weeks. London wants an explosive debut so he purposely finds two families that couldn’t be more different. He picks the Mankowitz family from NYC, and the Cherry’s from Indiana . What happens when you take a shrewd business executive and a stay at home farmer mom, and switch them? The results are explosive.

What the press would say:

Woody Allen has created a truly original comedy that shows the absurdity of reality television and how America is addicted to it. Woody has returned to form; this is his best work in years. Hugh Jackman is great in his supporting role as a TV producer who purposely chooses two families that won’t get along. His character has no conscience and you'll love him for it. Woody Allen is terrific as Elon Mankowitz, an out of his mind philosophy professor at NYU who makes life hell for his "switch" wife. Allen hasn’t given a performance this strong since “Annie Hall”. Sigourney Weaver delivers her best comedic work since “Working Girl”. She is brilliant as Biddy Mankowitz, an elitist who doesn’t understand rural life. To pass her two weeks on the farm she self medicates with a healthy dosage of alcohol and pills. She plays flirtatious and drunk well, and in her best scene tries to seduce Neal Cherry, only to be turned down, and instead of being humiliated goes after Neal’s oldest son instead.

The Cherry’s are your all American ideal family. They live on a farm in Indiana and have five sons, ranging from 18 to 3 years old. Catherine Keener is hilarious as Lana, a woman who has never left Indiana before. Keener is at her best when she is arguing with Woody Allen, not many could hold their own with this comedic legend, but miss Keener proved to be a willing opponent. Her character starts off shy and nervous and works her way up to a strong woman towards the end of the movie; the transformation is incredible. Kevin Kline plays farmer Neal Cherry. He tries to make life easy for Biddy Mankowitz, but everything he does seems to be wrong. He was a great choice for this small but important role.

This film will be hard to ignore come nomination time. This boasts a strong ensemble cast and a smart script. Look for nominations in the following categories.

Best Picture
Best Director - Woddy Allen
Best Actor - Woody Allen
Best Actress - Sigourney Weaver
Best Actress - Catherine Keener
Best Supporting Actor - Kevin Kline
Best Supporting Actor - Hugh Jackman
Best Original Screenplay - Woody Allen