Break a Leg (2005)

User Rating:

5.1/10   

Director:

Monika Mitchell

Writers:

Frank Cassini (writer)
John Cassini (writer)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

Beat the competition... literally!

Plot:

A talented, but struggling actor is willing to go to any length to get a job - including "break a leg"... especially those of other actors.

Awards:

4 wins

Cast

John Cassini	...	Max Matteo
Molly Parker	...	Kate
Rene Rivera	...	Detective Sanchez
Jennifer Beals	...	Juliet
Kevin Corrigan	...	J.D.
Frank Cassini	...	Tony Felice
Sandra Oh	...	Young Turk
J.J. Johnston	...	Detective Coyle
Danny Nucci	...	EJ Inglewood
Eric Roberts	...	Michael Richard Lange
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Freddy Andreiuci	...	Freddy
Tony Armatrading	...	Scruples Producer 2
Nadege Auguste	...	Actress (at Class)
Alice Barrett	...	Lisa (Tony's Girlfriend) (as Alice Barrett Mitchell)
Paul Bates	...	Loud Customer
Elizabeth Berridge	...	NY Girl
Joel Bissonnette	...	Not-so-happy Actor
Kevin Breznahan	...	Photo Shop Employee
Dayton Callie	...	Saul Reuben
John Colella	...	Detective Grattola
Ryan Cutrona	...	Marty Lebowski
Michael DeLorenzo	...	Man on cell phone
Joey Diaz	...	Large Producer
Deborah Dir	...	Voice artist
James DiStefano	...	Danny
Scott Forrest	...	2nd A.D.
Rick Foster	...	Disgruntled Moviegoer
Ellen Gerstein	...	Scruples Casting Director
Cathy Giannone	...	Casting Director at Precinct
Joanna Bowers Houghton	...	Girl in Acting Class (as Joanna Houghton)
Kim Marie Johnson	...	Sexy Woman
Wendy Johnson	...	Party Girl
Susan Johnston	...	Combustion Assistant
Beverly Leech	...	Badge Casting Director
Lara Lyon	...	Rights Casting Assistant
Ali MacLean	...	Party Crasher
Carol Mansell	...	Phillip's Way Casting Director
Paula Marshall	...	Alice on cell phone
Andre Mayers	...	Cop #1
Eric McCormack	...	Dark Haired Actor
Jeffrey Meek	...	Barry Daniels
Laura Meshell	...	Actress at Bar
Denise Moses	...	TV Host / Announcer
Christopher Mur	...	Cop #3
Race Owen	...	Combustion Director
Susan Peretz	...	Acting Teacher
Robert Peters	...	Detective Pasternak
Tony Pierce	...	Bartender
Aric Porro	...	Ira's New Guy
Barry Primus	...	Ira Goldstein
Bruce Ramsay	...	Other Actor at Bar
Audrey Rapoport	...	Woman Fan
Renee Reres	...	Other Actress at Bar
Charles Robinson	...	Captain Stevens
Olivia Rosewood	...	Granola Girl
Steve Ruge
George Russo	...	George 'Bitter Actor'
Jamieson Stern	...	James 'Naive Actor'
David Sutcliffe	...	Happy Actor
Paul Taegel	...	Fiorentino
Kelly Taylor	...	Roxy Vixen
Eileen T'Kaye	...	Rights Casting Director
Lori Ann Triolo	...	Cathy (as Lori Triolo)
Karina Valdez	...	High Girl
Harry Van Gorkum	...	Scruples Producer 1
William Vogt	...	Scruples Director
Joshua Welsh	...	Movie Director
Trey Wilkins	...	Tyrone
Philip Willcox	...	Cop #2

MPAA:

Rated R for language, some sexuality and brief violence.

Runtime:

Brazil:98 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Iceland:12 | USA:R | Australia:M (cable rating)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Catchlight Films

Very uneven

I stumbled across the film at the San Diego Film Festival. The film has moments, especially the beginning is told nicely (the scene when Mateo decides to go after another actor who got his part), but then it becomes very confusing and somewhat indulgent. On one hand the film has plot holes. Certain scenes were left out probably because they didn't have time during production. On the other hand the film spends too much time on things that have nothing to do with the premise.

The worst part for me was a weird monoloque that Matteo had, voicing his frustration about his situation. I'm sure it was supposed to be this great character revelation, but it wasn't.

Cinematography and Production Design were both weak. The best part is Molly Parker. All in all, this movie, unfortunately is not as good as the premise sounds.