(2006) 3.5 Perry Seibert The recurring motif in all of Christopher Guest's improvised comedies is exposing self-delusional people, whether they be community-theater enthusiasts, dog owners, or musicians. Since there are few places more teeming with self-deception than Hollywood, Guest's satire For Your Consideration could be accused of shooting fish in a barrel. Many of the comedic targets (erudite, ineffectual screenwriters; selfish agents; venal marketing experts) offer little challenge for satirists this talented. Thankfully, the performers -- especially the women -- do a great job of bringing an inner life to their characters, fleshing them out in ways that add an element of tragedy to some of the stinging jokes. You laugh at the ladies, but you may be surprised by how sympathetic they are. Parker Posey captures her character's conflicted feelings about wanting to do good work and wanting adulation by underplaying those emotions, a decision that makes her all the more notable in a film where most of the actors are laying it on thick. Catherine O'Hara's final monologue can best be described as "hysterical," as it encompasses every aspect of that word. She is at the end of her emotional tether, seemingly on the verge of a complete mental collapse, and yet she still manages to get big laughs from the audience. She walks a razor-thin emotional line, and never stumbles. It is a stunning two minutes that disturb and amuse in equal measure. One is left unsure whether to laugh or cry, and this probably expresses the conflicted feelings Christopher Guest has in real life toward his love for his work and the business he disdains, but which he finds himself forced to be a part of in order to do that work. The film has many moments that are screamingly funny, especially the scenes in "Home for Purim," the movie-within-the-movie. These are the first outright scripted scenes in any of Guest's otherwise-improvised films, and they allow the cast to show off more conventional comedy chops. Just seeing Jennifer Coolidge and Ricky Gervais occupy the same frame is momentous enough to make any comedy nerd laugh out of anticipation. While For Your Consideration never reaches the consistent comedic highs of Best in Show or the profound sadness of Waiting for Guffman, it does deliver both of those elements -- often simultaneously -- making it yet another solid film from Guest and his crew.

cast-crew for For Your Consideration on AllMovie

For Your Consideration (2006)

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For Your Consideration

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Adult Humor
Profanity
Sexual Situations

genres

Comedy

sub-genres

Showbiz Comedy

category

Feature

directed by

Christopher Guest

countries

USA

release date

November 17, 2006 (USA - Limited)
November 22, 2006 (USA)

run time

86 min.

produced by

Castle Rock Entertainment, Shangri-La Entertainment, Warner Independent Pictures

released by

Warner Independent Pictures

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cast

Bob Balaban: Philip Koontz

Jennifer Coolidge: Whitney Taylor Brown

Christopher Guest: Jay Berman

John Michael Higgins: Corey Taft

Eugene Levy: Morley Orfkin

Jane Lynch: Cindy Martin

Michael McKean: Lane Iverson

Catherine O'Hara: Marilyn Hack

Parker Posey: Callie Webb

Harry Shearer: Victor Allan Miller

Fred Willard: Chuck Porter

Jim Piddock: Simon Whitset

Jane Morris: Script Supervisor

Stephen Rannazzisi: Studio Gate Guard

Jordan Black: Whitney's Assistant

Ed Begley, Jr.: Sandy Lane

Paul Dooley: Paper Badge Sergeant

John Krasinski: Paper Badge Officer

Don Lake: Love It Film Critic

Michael Hitchcock: Hate It Film Critic

Lauri Johnson: Morley's Secretary

Simon Helberg: Junior Agent

Rachael Harris: Mary Pat Hooligan

Sandra Oh: Marketing Person

Richard Kind: Marketing Person

Christopher Moynihan: Brian Chubb

Carrie Aizley: Pam Campanella

Ari Graynor: Young PA

Scott Adsit: First AD

Stephanie Courtney: Boom Operator

Suzy Nakamura: First AC

Mary McCormack: Pilgrim Woman

Shawn Christian: Pilgrim Man

Deborah Theaker: Liz Fenneman

Nina Conti: Weather Woman

Scott Williamson: Skip

Sarah Shahi: Sanchez

Steven M. Porter: Floor Manager

Ricky Gervais: Martin Gibb

Larry Miller: Syd Finkleman

Craig Bierko: Talk Show Host

C.J. Vanston: Talk Show Band Leader

Joe Satriani: Talk Show Guitarist

Oneida James: Talk Show Bassist

Curt Bisquera: Talk Show Drums

Anne King: Talk Show Trumpet

Sheila Gonzalez: Talk Show Saxophone

Lance Barber: Dinkie

Skyler Stone: Don

Mark Harelik: Round Table Host

Rick Gonzalez: Chillaxin' Host

Claire Forlani: Claire Forlani

Hart Bochner: Hart Bochner

Kevin Sussman: Commercial Director

Jessica St. Clair: Hula Balls Spokeswoman

Casey Wilson: Young Actress

Kevin Christy: Young Actor

Derek Waters: Even Younger Actor

crew

Christopher Guest: Director, Screenwriter, Musical Performer
Karen Murphy: Producer
Eugene Levy: Screenwriter
Roberto Schaefer: Cinematographer
C.J. Vanston: Composer (Music Score)
Robert Leighton: Editor
Joseph T. Garrity: Production Designer
Pat Tagliaferro: Art Director
David Chow: Set Designer
Julia Levine: Set Designer
Dena Roth: Set Decorator
Durinda Wood: Costume Designer
Hamilton Sterling: Sound/Sound Designer
Cas Donovan: First Assistant Director
Jennifer Lane: Camera Operator
Simon Jayes: Camera Operator
David Rubin: Casting
Mark Weingarten: Sound Mixer
Richard Hicks: Casting
Adria Van Velsen: Music Editor
Alison Fisher: ADR Supervisor
Alison Hoberman: Craft Service/Catering
Amy Hinkley: Assistant Hair
Andee McGuffee: Driver
Anthony Huljev: Electrician
Anthony Wilson: Musical Performer
Arturo Rojas: Assistant Hair
Bart Barbuscia: Swing Gang
Billy Ramirez: Craft Service/Catering
Brian Hall: Post Production Coordinator
Brick Graham: Driver
Chris Tedesco: Musical Performer
Chrisann Verges: Unit Production Manager
Chuck Montgomery: Driver
Corinne Villa: Visual Effects Editor
Dan Miller: First Assistant Editor
David Barker: Video Assist
David Bartholomew: Electrician
David Blasucci: Unit Publicist
David Giammarco: Re-Recording Mixer
David Sanfield: Craft Service/Catering
David Williams: Musical Performer
Dean Parks: Musical Performer
Debi Shirk-Tagliaferro: Art Department Coordinator
Deluxe Catering, Inc.: Craft Service/Catering
Dhana R. Gilbert: Production Supervisor
Dixie Webster-Davis: Extra Casting
Don Verela: Driver
Donavan McDougle: Title Design
Edmundo C. Quintero: Properties Maker
Emma Trenchard: Costumes Supervisor
Eric Thompson: ADR Mixer
Esteban Lascarez: Properties Maker
Felicia Linsky: Key Make-up
Fredrick Trogdon: Driver
George Palmer: Key Grip
Gray Matter FX: Visual Effects
Gregg Bissonette: Musical Performer
Handmade Digital Incorporated: Visual Effects
Harvey Letson: Best Boy Grip
Helen McGinn: Script Supervisor
Humberto Jimenez: Properties Maker
J.P. Jones: Properties Master
Jack Richard Tate: Location Manager
Jackie Saygan: First Assistant Accountant
Jamelle Flowers: Costume/Wardrobe
James Apted: First Assistant Camera
Jen Ireland: Costume/Wardrobe
Jenifer Bonisteel: Assistant Production Coordinator
Jennifer La Gura: Swing Gang
Jennifer Reiss: Second Second Assistant Director
Jennifer Starzyk: Costume/Wardrobe
Jennifer Zide: Assistant Makeup
Jerry Enright: Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
Jerry Goodman: Musical Performer
Jesse Homan: Grip
Joe Satriani: Musical Performer
John Joseph Thomas: Foley Supervisor
John Rogers: Electrician
Jonathan Bobbitt: Leadman
Juan Gonzalez: Craft Service/Catering
Kanani Wolf: Costume/Wardrobe
Katherine A. Taylor: Production Secretary
Katy S. Fox: Personal Assistant
Keith Fisher: Transportation Coordinator
Kim Richey: Assistant Properties
Kristen Eccker: Second Assistant Camera
Kristen Ploucha: Second Assistant Director
Larry Commans: Boom Operator
Lawrence Rake: Electrician
Lee "Rod" Roderick: Lead Compositor
Lisa Vijitchanton: Production Coordinator
Louis Terry: Swing Gang
Louise DeCordoba: Production Accountant
Marc Schultz: Electrician
Marc Vena: Storyboard Artist
Marcy Froelich: Assistant Costume Designer
Mary Catanado: Driver
Matt Gaumer: Second Assistant Camera
Mervyn Johnson: Construction Coordinator
Michael Dennehy: Production Accountant
Mike Sowa: Color Timing
Murray Miller: Location Manager
Norbert Fimpel: Musical Performer
Oscar Mitt: Assistant Sound Editor
Pamela Griner: Post Production Supervisor
Paul Bode: First Assistant Camera
Paul Lambiase: Grip
Paul Massey: Re-Recording Mixer
Paul Rathburn: Craft Service/Catering
Pom "Jon" Ko: Set Medic/First Aid
Randy K. Singer: Foley Mixer
Rich Bennetti: Transportation Captain
Robbie Knott: Special Effects Coordinator
Robert Paulsen: Assistant Location Manager
Robin Harlan: Foley Artist
Robin L. Bursey: Camera Loader
Roselee Showe: Costume/Wardrobe
Rutilo Jimenez: Properties Maker
Saeed Faridzadeh: Painter (digital)
Sarah Monat: Foley Artist
Scott Spencer: Chief Lighting Technician
Seamus Gibson: Craft Service/Catering
Section Quartet: Musical Performer
Sergio Gutierrez: Dolly Grip
Shaun Ryan: Driver
Skip Richard Crank: Assistant Properties
Smith & Webster-Davis Casting: Extra Casting
Stephanie Stenta: Casting Assistant
Stephen Runningen: Graphic Design
Suzanne Tenner: Still Photographer
Tammy L. Smith: Extra Casting
The Effects Group: Special Effects Coordinator
Theraesa Rivers: Assistant Hair
Thomas Enright: Electrician
Thomas McNeal: Driver
Tim Gomillion: Recording
Tom Quinn: Voice Casting
Tommy Garcia: Grip
Tony Mendez: Craft Service/Catering
Tracy Estes: Electrician
Travis Mackay: ADR Recordist
Vicki Phillips: Key Hairstylist
William Jakubecy: Driver
William Wardlow: Driver