Mad-Eyes - Madonna movies - The Next Best Thing

THE NEXT BEST THING

Production - Cast - Trivia - Soundtrack - Release - Synopsis - Rating - Awards - Pictures

The Next Best Thing

"I have something to tell you." - "Is it bigger than a breadbox?" - "Heh, not yet!"

Production

US working title: The Red Curtain
Directed by: John Schlesinger
Screenplay written by: Tom Ropelewski, Leslie Dixon, Mel Bordeaux, Rupert Everett
Produced by: Leslie Dixon, Linne Radmin, Tom Rosenberg
Distributed by: Paramount Pictures
Location: LA
Date of filming: April 1999
Budget: $ 25 million

Cast

Madonna
Rupert Everett
Benjamin Bratt
Illeana Douglas
Michael Vartan
Josef Sommer
Malcolm Stumpf
Lynn Redgrave
Neil Patrick Harris
Mark Valley
Suzanne Krull
Stacy Edwards
John Carroll Lynch
Fran Bennett
Ricki Lopez
Ramiro Fabian
Tiffany Paulsen
Joan Axelrod
George Axelrod
Jack Betts
William Mesnik
Irene Roseen
Gavin Lambert

Abbie Reynolds
Robert Whittaker
Ben Cooper
Elizabeth Ryder
Kevin Lasater
Richard Whittaker
Sam
Helen Whittaker
David
Cardiologist
Annabel
Finn
Abbie's Lawyer
Judge Tracey Bennett
Angel
Flavio
Young Mother
Bel Air Matron
Bel Air Man
Vernon
Ashby
Lena
Ricky

Trivia

On the set, Rupert Everett suggested to Madonna that she'd record her own version of American Pie, the song that's sung during the funeral in the movie. After he had her convinced, he agreed to do backing vocals for the track.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack contains two songs by Madonna.

Metisse - Boom Boom Ba
Manu Chao - Bongo Bong
Christina Aguilera - Don't Make Me Love You ('Till I'm Ready)
Madonna - American Pie
Mandalay - This Life
Groove Armada - If Everybody Looked The Same
Moby - Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?
Olive - I'm Not In Love
Beth Orton - Stars All Seem To Weep
Madonna - Time Stood Still
Solar Twins - Swayambhu
Gabriel Yared - Forever And Always

Release

Released as: The Next Best Thing
Released in theatres: March 3rd, 2000 (worldwide)
Released on DVD: Aug. 29th, 2000 (US)
Runtime: 108 minutes
Genre: Comedy/Drama
MPAA rating: PG-13 for mature thematic elements, sexual content, partial nudity and language.
Box office: $ 15 million (US) / £ 662,000 (UK)

Synopsis

Abbie (Madonna) is in her thirties and unlucky in love. When she sees another boyfriend walking out the door, she decides to get drunk with her best gay friend Robert (Rupert Everett). Soon it turns out that their party night has some sonsequences: Abbie is expecting Robert's child. They decide to raise the child together, as friends. All is going well, until Abbie starts dating Ben (Benjamin Bratt). The once so warm friendship between Abbie and Robert cools down, as they meet in court for a heavy custody battle...

Rating

As can be expected for a comedy-drama like this, the plot is rather simple and sometimes predictable, yet it's not very common and at times even original. Humour and emotions are equally spread over the movie. It's not the tear-jerker that it's sometimes said to be, and that's a good thing, because crying scenes are not Madonna's best. Her acting in the movie is average. Especially in emotional scenes she appears stiff and unnatural. The real-life friendship between Madonna and Rupert pays off on screen though, and his acting pulls hers through. Over all, a nice light comedy: 6,5/10

Awards

2001 GLAAD Media Award: nomination for 'Outstanding Film'
2000 YoungStar Award: nomination for 'Best Young Actor/Performance in a Motion Picture Comedy' (Malcolm Stumpf)
2000 Razzie Awards: award for 'Worst Actress'
2000 Razzie Awards: nomination for 'Worst Director'
2000 Razzie Awards: nomination for 'Worst Picture'
2000 Razzie Awards: nomination for 'Worst Screenplay'
2000 Razzie Awards: nomination for 'Worst Screen Couple' (Madonna & Rupert and Madonna & Bratt)

Pictures