Unconditional Love (2002)

Director:

P.J. Hogan

Writers (WGA):

Jocelyn Moorhouse (written by) &
P.J. Hogan (written by)

Release Date:

23 August 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama | Comedy | Musical | Thriller

Plot:

After her husband (Aykroyd) leaves her, a woman (Bates) travels to London for the funeral of the pop star...

Plot Keywords:

Gay Interest | Crossbow | Serial Killer | Airplane | Airport

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Kathy Bates	...	Grace Beasley
Rupert Everett	...	Dirk Simpson
Meredith Eaton	...	Maudey Beasley
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Window Washer
Lynn Redgrave	...	Nola Fox
Stephanie Beacham	...	Harriet Fox-Smith
Richard Briers	...	Barry Moore
Marcia Warren	...	Lynette Fox-Moore
Jack Noseworthy	...	Andrew Beasley
Daniel Wyllie	...	Pete
Dan Aykroyd	...	Max Beasley
Jonathan Pryce	...	Victor Fox
Brenda Pickleman	...	Woman in Red Bra, Jerry Springer guest
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Julie Andrews	...	Herself
Ashley Anne Ayer	...	'Hitchcock Railway' dancer
Tim Bohn	...	TV show producer
Nancy Boykin	...	Homeless
William J. Brookes	...	Homeless
Daniel Campbell	...	Baby Pokey
Michael Campbell	...	Baby Pokey
David Darlow	...	Man in Plane
Gwenllian Davies	...	Woman in Pub
Don Elkins	...	TV Reporter
Mark Finney	...	Business Executive
Pat Finn	...	Keith
Heather Goldenhersh	...	Grace's Daughter
Amo Gulinello	...	T.V. Station Intern
Martin Herdman	...	Drunken Man in Pub
Peggy Kusinski-Kinander	...	TV anchor
Anne Lambton	...	Lady in Plane
Beth Littleford	...	Morning Chicago TV Host
Steve Lyke	...	Businessman
Barry Manilow	...	Himself
Stephen Marcus	...	Thug in Rain
Roddy Maude-Roxby	...	Minister
Rosalee Mayeux	...	Woman #1
Joel McKinnon Miller	...	Bartender
Sia A. Moody	...	TV field reporter (as Sia Moody)
Larry Nazimek	...	Copilot
Bill Noble	...	Homeless
Ian Noble	...	Thug in Rain
Elisabeth Oas	...	Talk Show Guest
Cornelia Hayes O'Herlihy	...	Mother
Laura Orrico	...	Back-Up Singer
Roderick Peeples	...	Man in Gun Shop
Sarah Peirse	...	Florist
Greg Pitts	...	Officer Jones
Eyal Podell	...	Officer Romilly
Sally Jessy Raphael	...	Herself
Rudy Roberson	...	Homeless
David Ryall	...	Funeral Director
Bitty Schram	...	Waitress
Rebekah Louise Smith	...	Nurse Mills
Philippa Stanton	...	Waitress in Tea Room
Kaja Stiglic	...	'Hitchcock Railway' dancer
Gregor Truter	...	Dave
Karen Vaccaro	...	Jerry Springer Guest
Javanley Washington	...	Homeless
Doug Wax	...	Navigator
Lisa Nicole Wilkerson	...	'Hitchcock Railway' dancer

Also Known As:

Who Shot Victor Fox (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, sexual content, brief strong language and some violence.

Runtime:

124 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (DeLuxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

Iceland:LH | Singapore:PG | Denmark:7 | Germany:6 | UK:15 | USA:PG-13 | Argentina:13 | Canada:PG (Ontario)

Filming Locations:

Chicago Studio City - 5660 W. Taylor St., Austin, Chicago, Illinois, USA

Company:

Avery Pix

Trivia:

The china used in the tea house when Kathy Bates, Lynn Redgrave and the other sisters is Royal Albert Old Country Roses. This china is frequently used in movies where tea is being served.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Grace and Dirk toast Victor at the pub, Grace takes a drink from her glass. When she sets it down, it's full again.

Quotes:

Dirk Simpson: I don't believe in unconditional love, I mean, what is it anyway? Cut off my ears, steal my money and I'll love you anyway?
Grace Beasley: Yes, and more.
Dirk Simpson: More?
Grace Beasley: You don't have to love me back.

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Don't Look Now (1973)

Soundtrack:

I Only Want to Be with You

A Pleasant Surprise

This film is so many things: corny, touching, hilarious, weepy, maddening...well, you get it - so many things and a really pleasant surprise. I watched it to see Kathy Bates and I fell in love with her talent. Like the movie, she is also many things and shows the complexity of a relatively simple character type (as "D.S." put it - "an American frump"). Yes, she was very frumpy, but with a twist...she had real balls throughout the film and from the time her husband gives her the bad news she begins to show herself that she really didn't need him for validation; her strength shows with her first impulsive decision to go to England and then the fun begins. My favorite scenes are when the Fox sisters realize that they are sharing tea with a fan and, of course, Victor Fox's televised funeral. The end scene, while meandering and very maudlin, touched me and seemed the perfect end to an unexpected adventure. My favorite character was the daughter-in-law, Maudey. What a woman! I'll never see little people the same way again...she was very Chicago.