Stepmom (1998)

Director:

Chris Columbus

Writers (WGA):

Gigi Levangie (story)
Gigi Levangie (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 December 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Be there for the joy. Be there for the tears. Be there for each other.

Plot:

A terminally-ill mother has to settle on the new woman in her ex-husband's life, who will be their new stepmother.

Plot Keywords:

Ex Husband | Photographer | Cancer | Divorce | Soccer

Awards:

Nominated for Golden Globe. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Julia Roberts	...	Isabel Kelly
Susan Sarandon	...	Jackie Harrison
Ed Harris	...	Luke Harrison
Jena Malone	...	Anna Harrison
Liam Aiken	...	Ben Harrison
Lynn Whitfield	...	Dr. P. Sweikert
Darrell Larson	...	Duncan Samuels
Mary Louise Wilson	...	Mrs. Franklin
Andre B. Blake	...	Cooper (as Andre Blake)
Herbert Russell	...	Photo Assistant (as Russel Harper)
Jack Eagle	...	Craft Service Man
Lu Celania Sierra	...	Photo Shoot Model
Lauma Zemzare	...	Photo Shoot Model
Holly Schenck	...	Photo Shoot Model
Michelle Stone	...	Photo Shoot Model

Also Known As:

Class Divided (USA) (working title)
Good Night Moon (USA) (working title)
Untitled New York City Project (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for language and thematic elements.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

Netherlands:12 | Iceland:L | Philippines:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Finland:K-8 | France:U | Germany:6 | Norway:11 | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | USA:PG-13 | South Korea:12 | Singapore:PG | UK:12

Filming Locations:

Bedford, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures

Trivia:

Each of the leads (Julia Roberts, Susan Sarandon, Ed Harris) was Oscar-nominated for playing real people - Sarandon as Helen Prejean in "Dead Man Walking", Roberts as Erin Brockovich in "Erin Brockovich", and Harris as Jackson Pollock in "Pollock." Roberts and Sarandon both won; Harris lost.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Medical marijuana is not legal in New York, and they actually had lengthy and frequent sentences for possession and distribution of controlled substances until 2001 when Governor Pataki launched a campaign to reform the drug laws.

Quotes:

Jackie Harrison: Just because you can't see something, doesn't mean it isn't there.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Under Pressure

Mediocre fare, at best.

With two of my favorite actresses involved, I still found it to be a very disappointing movie. In the first part, Susan Sarandon was overbearing, demanding, and petty so it was difficult to feel an appropriate response of sympathy when it was called for: I found it difficult to try to care about what happened to her. Julia Roberts was whiney or in tears over every snide remark or slight. The only time I felt emotionally involved was when the two women finally sat down face to face and discussed their views of what a wedding day may bring. Ed Harris was believable as the man in the middle, the son was adorable and the daughter should have had so many time-outs she'd still be in the corner!