Living Out Loud

Director: Richard LaGravenese Richard LaGravenese

Overview

Noted screenwriter Richard LaGravenese made his directorial debut with this dramatic comedy about two unlikely people who find each other while looking for love. Judith Nelson (Holly Hunter) is suddenly single after discovering her husband of fifteen years, a successful doctor (Martin Donovan), has been having an affair with a younger woman. Judith stews, plans, plots and fantasizes, but she can't decide what to do with her life until she goes out to a night club to see singer Liz Bailey (Queen Latifah), who is full of advice on life and love. While out on the town, Judith is suddenly kissed by a total stranger, which opens her eyes to new possibilities ... which is when she notices Pat (Danny De Vito), the elevator operator in her building. Pat's life is in even worse shape than Judith's; his wife has thrown him out for gambling, he's in debt to loan sharks, he's sleeping on the couch of his more successful brother, and his daughter is dying. At first Pat borrows money from Judith, but when the two start talking, they realize they have more in common than they imagined. LaGravenese based his screenplay on a pair of short stories by Anton Chekhov.

Product Details

Release Date:	01/17/2017
UPC:	0888574462093
Original Release:	1998
Rating:	R
Source:	Warner Archives
Language:	English
Time:	1:40:00

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Holly Hunter	Judith Nelson
Danny DeVito	Pat
Queen Latifah	Liz Bailey
Martin Donovan	Bob
Eddie Cibrian	The Masseur
Elias Koteas	The Kisser
Richard Schiff	Philly
Mariangela Pina	Donna
Clark Anderson	Gary
Suzanne Shepherd	Mary
Mervyn Warren	Composer,Piano
Ellen McElduff	Crying Woman
Ivan Kronenfeld	Angry Boyfriend
Fil Formicola	Santi's Man
Nick Sandow	Santi's Man
Jenette Goldstein	Fanny, Pat's Wife
Lin Shaye	Lisa's Nurse
John F. Donohue	Sid
Fred Scialla	Johnny
Anthony Russell	Mo
Sy Sher	Lou
Sal Jenco	Len
Gina Philips	Lisa
Kate McGregor-Stewart	Female Diner
Tamlyn Tomita	Bob's Wife
Henry Woronicz	Fifth Avenue Parent
Taylor Leigh	Fifth Avenue Parent
Matthew McKane	Andy
Robin McDonald	Heckled Singer
Yolanda Snowball	Jasper's Waitress
Deborah Geffner	Woman with Makeup
Rachael Leigh Cook	Teenage Judith
Christian Hill	Teenage Lover
Ed Fry	Formal Dress Man
Judith Regan	Formal Dress Woman
Sean Dooley	Late Teenager
Terry Rhoads	Across Hall Man
Susan Reno	Across Hall Woman
Claudia Shear	Drunken Fan
Mike G. Moyer	Jeweler
Sybil Azur	Confessional Dancer No. 1
Carmit Bachar	Confessional Dancer No. 2
Monique Chambers	Confessional Dancer No. 3
Donielle Artese	Confessional Dancer No. 4
Aisha Dubone	Confessional Dancer No. 5
Shawnette Heard	Confessional Dancer No. 6
Tanika Ray	Confessional Dancer No. 7
Laurie Sposit	Confessional Dancer No. 8
Adrian Young	Confessional Dancer No. 9
Roger Nehls	Married Couple in Lawyer's Office
Mary Schmidtberger	Married Couple in Lawyer's Office
Lou Richards	Judith's Lawyer
Tom Howard	Bob's Lawyer
Michael Clair Miller	Couple's Lawyer
Willie Garson	Man in Elevator
Ellen Buckley	Pat & Judith's Waitress
Laura Salvato	Neo-Natal AIDS Volunteer
Hattie Winston	Hospital Nurse
Mario Piccirillo	Cousin Louie
Carole Ruggier	Italian Girlfriend
Reggie Hamilton	Bass
Peter Michael Escovedo	Drums
Mark Schulz	Guitar
Michael James	Guitar, Vocals
Gerald Albright	Alto Saxophone
Plas Johnson	Baritone Saxophone
Justo Almario	Tenor Saxophone
Vincent Trombetta Jr.	Tenor Saxophone

Technical Credits

Richard LaGravenese	Director
Steve Davison	Stunts
Danny DeVito	Producer
Michael Shamberg	Producer
Stacey Sher	Producer
Margery Simkin	Casting
John Ziegler	Special Effects

Editorial Reviews

Richard LaGravenese's directorial debut is the sort of film most screenwriters dream of getting the chance to write, much less direct. Emphasizing the interior lives of its characters and using techniques unique to filmmaking to convey the evolution of each, its modest ambitions lead to highly memorable results. A scene in which Holly Hunter reconciles herself to her past and future while dancing in a bar loses power in any attempt to describe it, but on the screen provides a knockout moment. When screenwriters turn filmmakers, the first instinct is usually to rely on an excess of words to tell the story, a trap that LaGravenese -- though certainly no slouch when it comes to memorable dialogue -- skillfully avoids. Of course, the writer/director's good instincts would be nothing without the universally excellent cast he assembled. Holly Hunter, Danny De Vito, and Queen Latifah all turn in powerfully understated performances perfectly suited to a film that never takes the easy way out and never relies on pat resolutions. When the term "slice of life" gets thrown around, it's this film that should be the reference point.

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