Loser (2000)

Director:

Amy Heckerling

Writer (WGA):

Amy Heckerling (written by)

Release Date:

21 July 2000 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Dare to be different

Plot:

A college student, branded a loser by his roommates and booted from the dorm, falls in love with a coed who has eyes for their professor.

Plot Keywords:

Love | College | Loser | Party | New York City

Awards:

1 nomination

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Dec. 29

1:00 AM

BRAVO

Cast

Jason Biggs	...	Paul Tannek
Mena Suvari	...	Dora Diamond
Zak Orth	...	Adam
Thomas Sadoski	...	Chris (as Tom Sadoski)
Jimmi Simpson	...	Noah
Greg Kinnear	...	Prof. Edward Alcott
Dan Aykroyd	...	Dad
Twink Caplan	...	Gena
Bobby Slayton	...	Sal
Robert Miano	...	Victor
Mollie Israel	...	Annie (as Mollee Israel)
Colleen Camp	...	Homeless Woman
Andy Dick	...	Another City Worker
Steven Wright	...	Panty Hose Customer
Brian Backer	...	Doctor
Meredith Scott Lynn	...	Dog Loving Girl
Stuart Cornfeld	...	Foreman
Taylor Negron	...	Photographer
Andrea Martin	...	Professor
Scott Thomson	...	Cell Phone Guy
Kedar Brown	...	Jay
Catherine Black	...	Military Jacket Girl
Rick Demas	...	Bouncer
Sanjay Talwar	...	Convenience Cashier
Tracy Dawson	...	Drug Saleswoman
Carolyn Goff	...	Kristen
Mike Beaver	...	Boy at Concert
Richard Blackburn	...	Security Guard
Billy Otis	...	Prisoner
Jenny Kim	...	Student Worker
Alison Sealy-Smith	...	University Official
Martin Roach	...	Veterinarian
Heidi Weeks	...	Saks Saleswoman
Daniela Olivieri	...	Store Tailor
Kavita Persaud	...	Hi Ro Student
Corwin Hall	...	Hi Ro Student
Andrew Storms	...	Hi Ro Student
Serena Lee	...	Hi Ro Student
Nick Bacon	...	Beer Store Clerk (as Nicholas Michael Bacon)
Valerie Boyle	...	Aunt
Colleen Reynolds	...	Aunt
Jack Jessop	...	Grandfather
Mallory Margel	...	Paul's Sister
Patrick Mark	...	Bloody Nose Guy
Tanja Jacobs	...	Party Goer
Darrin Brown	...	Party Goer
James Barret	...	Guy
Robert Tinkler	...	Bar Patron
Katherine Shekter	...	College Girl
Robinne Fanfair	...	College Girl
Clare Preuss	...	College Girl
Sadie LeBlanc	...	College Girl
Silvana Kane	...	College Girl
Kerri Michalica	...	College Girl
Geoffrey Antoine	...	Coffee Counter Guy
Danny Truelove	...	Dancing Kid
Marc McMulkin	...	Dancing Kid
Jonathon Fernandes	...	Dancing Kid
Tiffany Leonardo	...	Dancing Kid
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Art Alexakis	...	Himself (uncredited)
Alan Cumming	...	Himself / Emcee (uncredited)
Greg Eklund	...	Himself (uncredited)
Erin Hill	...	Dancer / Lulu (uncredited)
Donna 'Chipmunk' McCusker	...	Student (uncredited)
Craig Montoya	...	Himself (uncredited)
Christy Patrick	...	Blond Everclear Fan at Concert (uncredited)
Paul Puzzella	...	T Shirt Seller (uncredited)
David Spade	...	Video Store Clerk (uncredited)
Kasia Vassos	...	High School Student (uncredited)

Directed by
Amy Heckerling

Writing credits (WGA)
Amy Heckerling		(written by)

Produced by
Twink Caplan	....	producer
John M. Eckert	....	executive producer
Amy Heckerling	....	producer

Original Music by
David Kitay

Cinematography by
Rob Hahn

Film Editing by
Debra Chiate

Casting by
Ross Clydesdale
Lynn Kressel

Production Design by
Steven J. Jordan

Art Direction by
Andrew M. Stearn

Set Decoration by
Patricia Cuccia
Beth Kushnick

Costume Design by
Mona May

Makeup Department
Patricia Green	....	key makeup artist
Maureen Mestan	....	hair stylist
Reeve	....	key hair stylist

Production Management
John M. Eckert	....	unit production manager
Pasia Schonberg	....	assistant production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jeff J.J. Authors	....	first assistant director
Darrin Brown	....	third assistant director
Deanna Leslie	....	second second assistant director: New York
Grant Lucibello	....	second assistant director
Janet Zdyb	....	third assistant director

Art Department
Tory Bellingham	....	assistant property master
Janet Cormack	....	scenic artist
Barry Isenor	....	set designer
John Mackenzie	....	construction coordinator
Steve Middlebrook	....	set dresser
Jeff Poulis	....	property master
Jaclyn Shoub	....	set decoration buyer

Sound Department
Michael Barosky	....	sound mixer: New York
Bill Burns	....	assistant sound editor
Greg Chapman	....	sound mixer
Greg Chapman	....	sound recordist
Matt Cluett	....	sound transferer
Paul Drenning	....	adr mixer
Jim Fitzpatrick	....	sound re-recording mixer
Tom Fleischman	....	sound re-recording mixer
Michael Haight	....	adr supervisor
Scott A. Jennings	....	sound effects editor
Pamela Kahn	....	foley artist
Mark Lanza	....	sound effects editor
Cliff Latimer	....	sound editor
Aaron Levy	....	sound recordist
Michael O'Farrell	....	supervising sound editor
Kyle Rochlin	....	foley mixer
Joe Schiff	....	assistant sound editor
Donald Sylvester	....	sound editor

Special Effects by
Brad Larkin	....	special effects supervisor
Martin Malivoire	....	special effects
Dean Stewart	....	special effects office administrator
Leo Wieser	....	special effects technician

Visual Effects by
Benoit Girard	....	visual effects supervisor: Digital Dimension
Jerome Morin	....	visual effects producer: Digital Dimension

Stunts
Mic Jones	....	stunt rigger
Keith Siglinger	....	stunts
John Stoneham Jr.	....	stunt coordinator
Bryan Thomas	....	stunts
Mic Jones	....	fire stunt rigger (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Richard Allen	....	gaffer
Nicole Blanchard	....	second assistant camera
Dave Bouskill	....	rigging best boy electric
David M. Dunlap	....	director of photography: second unit
Gail Harvey	....	still photographer
Robert Johnson	....	key grip
Steve Kolodziej	....	24 frame video operator
Ari Magder	....	camera trainee
Robert McRae	....	gaffer
Marc Purdy	....	best boy grip
Chris Rosen	....	electrician
Paul Collins	....	grip (uncredited)

Casting Department
Brennan Dufresne	....	casting associate
Jane Rogers	....	extras casting

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Cori Burchell	....	costume supervisor
Christina Cattle	....	set costume supervisor
Amy Roth	....	key costumer
Laura Steinman	....	set costumer: New York
Peter White	....	costume supervisor: New York

Editorial Department
Richard Conkling	....	first assistant editor
Lara Johnston	....	first assistant editor
Michael Matzdorff	....	assistant editor
Eric Rigney	....	avid technician
David Tarnawsky	....	second assistant editor
Dale Jones	....	avid technician (uncredited)

Music Department
Benoit Grey	....	music preparation
Elliot Lurie	....	music supervisor
Don Nemitz	....	orchestrator
Jeanette Surga	....	music editor
Dan Wallin	....	music scoring mixer

Other crew
James Blacker	....	production assistant
Rob Dickerson Jr.	....	staff set production assistant
Craig Goodwill	....	assistant to producer and director
Una Hill	....	assistant production coordinator
Christine Holz-Lusita	....	voice-over
Mary Ann Kellogg	....	choreographer
Keith Large	....	location manager
Tali Lipa	....	production accountant
Susan Marucci	....	script supervisor
Mark McFadden	....	assistant location manager
Alex McNaughton	....	assistant location manager
Karen Pidgurski	....	unit publicist
Lauren Schaffel	....	adr artist
Kevin Michael Schembri	....	assistant accountant
Jennifer Stivala	....	assistant accountant
Marsha L. Swinton	....	assistant accountant
Seth Tabor	....	production assistant
Tom Tobin	....	executive assistant to director/producer
Angelo Vacco	....	voice actor
Cassidy Watkins	....	assistant production coordinator
Kris Wood	....	computer playback operator
Rik Walters	....	financing consultant (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Branti Film Productions
• Cockamamie

Distributors

• Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Pictures (2000) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Film (2000) (Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films de Argentina (2001) (Argentina) (all media)
• LK-TEL (2001) (Argentina) (DVD)
• LK-TEL (2001) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar Films de España (2001) (Spain) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Films (200?) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Germany) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment (2001) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (2001) (Netherlands) (VHS)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (DVD)
• Columbia TriStar (Brazil) (VHS)

Other Companies

• Picture Mill, The  main title design
• Sylvia Fay/Lee Genick & Associates Casting  extras casting NY

Also Known As:

The Loser (USA) (alternative title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for drug content, crude sexual material and language.

Runtime:

98 min | Finland:92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | Iceland:L | Malaysia:U | USA:PG-13 (certificate #37232) | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Chile:14 | Germany:6 | Spain:13 | UK:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bryant Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Branti Film Productions

Trivia:

The character of Dora Diamond is in part inspired by Franz Kafka's girlfriend late in his life, Dora Dymant. Kafka is mentioned in the English class scene in the movie.

Goofs:

Plot holes: In the scene where Alcott invites Dora to stay with him, Paul asks if he even knew she was in the hospital. Paul does know that Alcott knows, because the doctor already told him earlier that Alcott did not know Dora when they phoned him.

Quotes:

Professor Edward Alcott: You know, I have this crazy philosophy that your grades should represent your grasp of the material and not your negotiating skills, which are amazing, by the way.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)

Soundtrack:

Mint Car

Predictable, but still very entertaining

Yes, Loser is a very predictable film. Plotwise, it follows most other romantic comedy type movies. But still, there is enough here to make it stand out somewhat. Granted, being better than most teen romantic comedies isn't much of an accomplishment, but Loser is a good movie, even though I knew what was going to happen.

I thought Jason Biggs played his part as Paul very well. He had the loser-like goofiness that inspired quite a few laughs, but you could also tell how much the character loved Mena Suvari's character, Dora. Greg Kinnear is also very good as Professor Alcott, Dora's love interest at the beginning of the movie. When all is said and done, Paul comes out as a winner, not a Loser, because he realizes that you don't have to fit in with everyone else to be "cool." That's what really sets this movie apart from lots of other recent teen movies. It does have a point. Obviously, it's not extremely deep, and it won't change your life or anything, but it's still good, and it makes the movie very worthwhile.

I think that lots of people didn't like this movie because they were expecting something along the lines of American Pie, given that both Biggs and Suvari were in that. If you're looking for American Pie, you will not like Loser. Although billed as a comedy, there are some times when it's downright serious, especially further into the movie. If you want non-stop gross-out humor, Loser is not for you. If, however, you want to see a good romantic film, that's funny at times, but serious at other, just like real life, then I think you will enjoy Loser. Yes, the basic plot is quite familiar, but there's enough extra stuff to keep it interesting and make it stand out from the crowd of bad teen comedies that have been around lately.

Rating: 8/10