Jump to content

Sour Grapes (1998 film): Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
As per the BBFC.
Rotten Tomatoes inline reference.
Line 28: Line 28:
| country = United States
| country = United States
| language = English
| language = English
| gross = $123,104<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sourgrapes.htm |title=Sour Grapes (1998) |publisher=Box Office Mojo |date=1998-04-19 |accessdate=2013-04-10}}</ref>
| gross = $123,104<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=sourgrapes.htm |title=Sour Grapes (1998) |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=1998-04-19 |access-date=2013-04-10}}</ref>
}}
}}


Line 45: Line 45:


==Cast==
==Cast==
*[[Steven Weber (actor)|Steven Weber]] as Evan Maxwell
* [[Steven Weber (actor)|Steven Weber]] as Evan Maxwell
*[[Craig Bierko]] as Richie Maxwell
* [[Craig Bierko]] as Richie Maxwell
*[[Viola Harris]] as Selma Maxwell
* [[Viola Harris]] as Selma Maxwell
*[[Karen Sillas]] as Joan
* [[Karen Sillas]] as Joan
*Robyn Peterman as Roberta
* Robyn Peterman as Roberta
*[[Matt Keeslar]] as Danny Pepper
* [[Matt Keeslar]] as Danny Pepper
*Jennifer Leigh Warren as Millie
* Jennifer Leigh Warren as Millie
*[[Orlando Jones]] as Digby
* [[Orlando Jones]] as Digby
*John Toles-Bey as Lee
* John Toles-Bey as Lee
*[[Deirdre Lovejoy]] as Nurse Wells
* [[Deirdre Lovejoy]] as Nurse Wells
*[[Richard Gant]] as Det. Crouch
* [[Richard Gant]] as Det. Crouch
*[[Philip Baker Hall]] as Mr. Bell
* [[Philip Baker Hall]] as Mr. Bell
*[[Kristin Davis]] as Riggs
* [[Kristin Davis]] as Riggs
*[[Larry David]] as Studio executive / Annoying doctor / Singing bum
* [[Larry David]] as Studio executive / Annoying doctor / Singing bum


==Production==
==Production==
Line 64: Line 64:


==Reception==
==Reception==
The film gained poor reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite news|title= Sour Grapes Has a 'Seinfeld' Flavor|work= Los Angeles Times|date=1998-04-17|url= https://articles.latimes.com/1998/apr/17/entertainment/ca-40004|accessdate=2012-07-08|first=Jack|last=Mathews}}</ref> The film made it on the 2000 list of [[Roger Ebert]]'s most hated films, remarking in his review that, "I can't easily remember a film I've enjoyed less."<ref name="rg">{{cite news|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sour-grapes-1998 |title=Sour Grapes :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |date= 1998-04-17|accessdate=2021-01-06}}</ref> He criticized its mean-spirited nature, saying "''Sour Grapes'' is a comedy about things that aren't funny [...] Larry David, who wrote and directed ''Sour Grapes,'' apparently thinks people are amused by cancer, accidental castration, racial stereotypes and bitter family feuds."<ref name="rg"/> The film has a 27% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 15 reviews.
The film gained poor reviews from critics.<ref>{{cite news|title= Sour Grapes Has a 'Seinfeld' Flavor|work= Los Angeles Times|date=1998-04-17|url= https://articles.latimes.com/1998/apr/17/entertainment/ca-40004|accessdate=2012-07-08|first=Jack|last=Mathews}}</ref> The film made it on the 2000 list of [[Roger Ebert]]'s most hated films, remarking in his review that, "I can't easily remember a film I've enjoyed less."<ref name="rg">{{cite news|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/sour-grapes-1998 |title=Sour Grapes :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews |publisher=Rogerebert.suntimes.com |date= 1998-04-17|accessdate=2021-01-06}}</ref> He criticized its mean-spirited nature, saying "''Sour Grapes'' is a comedy about things that aren't funny [...] Larry David, who wrote and directed ''Sour Grapes,'' apparently thinks people are amused by cancer, accidental castration, racial stereotypes and bitter family feuds."<ref name="rg"/> The film has a 27% rating on [[Rotten Tomatoes]] from 15 reviews.<ref>{{rotten-tomatoes|sour_grapes}}</ref>


Larry David himself has expressed regrets over the film. A poster for the film was put up on the set of David's office for the filming of ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'s'' pilot episode. David had the poster promptly removed because he got "sick of looking at it" after one show.<ref>Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season One: Pilot, DVD Commentary Track</ref> In a later episode, David's character tells his wife to stop lending people the film, and says he doesn't believe a friend who claimed to have enjoyed the movie, stating she was just trying to be polite.
Larry David himself has expressed regrets over the film. A poster for the film was put up on the set of David's office for the filming of ''[[Curb Your Enthusiasm]]'s'' pilot episode. David had the poster promptly removed because he got "sick of looking at it" after one show.<ref>Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season One: Pilot, DVD Commentary Track</ref> In a later episode, David's character tells his wife to stop lending people the film, and says he doesn't believe a friend who claimed to have enjoyed the movie, stating she was just trying to be polite.
Line 72: Line 72:


==External links==
==External links==
*{{imdb title|id=0120838|title=Sour Grapes}}
* {{imdb title|id=0120838|title=Sour Grapes}}
*{{mojo title|id=sourgrapes|title=Sour Grapes}}
* {{mojo title|id=sourgrapes|title=Sour Grapes}}
*{{rotten-tomatoes|sour_grapes}}


{{Larry David}}
{{Larry David}}

Revision as of 22:06, 25 March 2022

For the documentary about wine fraud, see Sour Grapes (2016 film).
Sour Grapes
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLarry David
Written byLarry David
Produced byLaurie Lennard
Starring
CinematographyVictor Hammer
Edited byPriscilla Nedd-Friendly
Production
company
Distributed by
Release date
  • April 17, 1998 (1998-04-17)
Running time
91 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$123,104[2]

Sour Grapes is a 1998 American black comedy film written and directed by Larry David and starring Steven Weber, Craig Bierko, Viola Harris, Karen Sillas, Robyn Peterman and Matt Keeslar.[3] It was released on April 17, 1998, by Columbia Pictures.

Plot

Richie Maxwell is down to his last quarter at a slot machine in Atlantic City, so he asks cousin Evan for two more coins for one more spin — a spin that wins a $400,000 jackpot.

The joy of victory is quickly replaced by a fierce disagreement over who deserves what. Richie begins by offering Evan a very small percentage of his winnings. Evan didn't expect anything at first but now he is offended because he provided two-thirds of the money Richie sank into the machine.

A bitter feud develops. Richie, a sneaker designer, hogs all the money and quits his job. Evan, a doctor, is so annoyed that, as a prank, he lets Richie believe he is dying. By the time he reveals the joke, Richie has done something drastic.

The more rattled Evan gets, the more distracted he becomes at work. And even when the cousins come to a tentative truce, everything backfires on them in events that involve girlfriends, relatives and even the homeless.

In the end, Ritchie loses all his money and winds up right back where he started. Despondent, he goes home to perform oral sex on himself—a pastime of his.

Cast

Production

It was shot during mid-1997,[4] after Larry David had left Seinfeld. Locations used include New York, Long Beach, California and Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Reception

The film gained poor reviews from critics.[5] The film made it on the 2000 list of Roger Ebert's most hated films, remarking in his review that, "I can't easily remember a film I've enjoyed less."[6] He criticized its mean-spirited nature, saying "Sour Grapes is a comedy about things that aren't funny [...] Larry David, who wrote and directed Sour Grapes, apparently thinks people are amused by cancer, accidental castration, racial stereotypes and bitter family feuds."[6] The film has a 27% rating on Rotten Tomatoes from 15 reviews.[7]

Larry David himself has expressed regrets over the film. A poster for the film was put up on the set of David's office for the filming of Curb Your Enthusiasm's pilot episode. David had the poster promptly removed because he got "sick of looking at it" after one show.[8] In a later episode, David's character tells his wife to stop lending people the film, and says he doesn't believe a friend who claimed to have enjoyed the movie, stating she was just trying to be polite.

References

  1. ^ "Sour Grapes (1998)". BBFC. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  2. ^ "Sour Grapes (1998)". Box Office Mojo. 1998-04-19. Retrieved 2013-04-10.
  3. ^ Goldstein, Patrick (1998-04-29). "The King of Kvetch". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  4. ^ https://variety.com/1997/voices/columns/grounds-welles-of-pix-thesps-eye-break-1116678825/
  5. ^ Mathews, Jack (1998-04-17). "Sour Grapes Has a 'Seinfeld' Flavor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-07-08.
  6. ^ a b "Sour Grapes :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews". Rogerebert.suntimes.com. 1998-04-17. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  7. ^ Sour Grapes at Rotten Tomatoes
  8. ^ Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season One: Pilot, DVD Commentary Track
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sour_Grapes_(1998_film)&oldid=1079266429"