Peter and Vandy
Encyclopedia
Peter and Vandy is a 2009 American romantic
independent
drama film
starring Jason Ritter
and Jess Weixler
. The film was written and directed by Jay DiPietro, adapted from his own play of the same name which opened in 2002 in New York.
, the story shifts back and forth in time, juxtaposing Peter and Vandy's romantic beginnings with the twisted, manipulative, regular couple they become.
on January 19, 2009. It opened on a limited release basis in the United States in October of the same year. It has been screened at various film festivals, including: the São Paulo International Film Festival
, the Gen Art Film Festival
, the AFI
Dallas Film Festival, the Waterfront Film Festival
, the Provincetown International Film Festival
and the Tallgrass Film Festival
.
A DVD of the film was released on February 9, 2010, in Region 1
.
film critic Jeannette Catsoulis, discussed the theme of the film, and wrote a mixed review, "Lovely to look at (Frank G. DeMarco’s photography gives even the chilly New York City
exteriors a romantic sheen) and beautifully acted, Peter and Vandy is often charming but also strenuous. The nonlinear structure (reminiscent of the recent (500) Days of Summer) and unrevealing dialogue too often hold us at arm’s length, a puzzle to be solved without sufficient clues. When, briefly, the film opens up to embrace a second bickering couple (elegantly played by Tracie Thoms and Jesse L. Martin), the rush of energy is palpable: here at last are people willing to communicate in clear, declarative sentences...Enriched by a soundtrack heavy with New York-based talent like the National
and Animal Collective
, Peter and Vandy is more a designer frame for actors than nourishing entertainment."
Film critics Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat of the web based Spirituality & Practice, liked the film, writing, "Writer and director Jay DiPietro has adapted this enticing romantic story from his 2002 play. Using the now familiar techniques of nonlinear storytelling, jump cuts, and masterful editing, the filmmaker challenges us to understand and appreciate that intimate relationships stand or fall on the basis of how couples handle trifles and everyday routines."
Metromix
film critic Geoff Berkshire also liked the film and gave the film a positive review, writing, "DiPietro’s simple story flirts with indie-filmmaking-by-the-numbers but still manages a refreshingly clear-eyed look at relationships. It’s closer (if not quite close enough) to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
than to any number of dreary Hollywood factory rom-coms. The non-linear approach relies on both subtle and obvious visual clues to keep the audience properly oriented, and enhances the narrative without the self-conscious raison d’etre gimmickry of Steven Soderbergh
's The Girlfriend Experience
. DiPietro’s dialogue is sharp and Ritter and Weixler credibly flesh out characters who aren’t always likeable, they’re just two regular people trying their best at love."
Yet, critic Todd McCarthy of Variety
magazine panned the film when it opened in at the Sundance Film Festival
, calling the film, "A time-jumbling love story about a couple who never inspire rooting interest, Peter and Vandy is an aggravating romance that runs only 78 minutes but ends not a moment too soon...Some of the linear deck-shuffling creates small frissons, but there's no underlying tension or subtext to shore up the banal talk. The accompanying songs are innocuous."
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes
reported that 61% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 18 reviews."
Romance film
Romance films are love stories that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate involvement of the main characters and the journey that their love takes through courtship or marriage. Romance films make the love story or the search for love the main plot focus...
independent
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
drama film
Drama film
A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...
starring Jason Ritter
Jason Ritter
Jason Morgan Ritter is an American actor, son of the late actor John Ritter and actress Nancy Morgan. Ritter is probably best known for his role as Kevin Girardi in the television series Joan of Arcadia and as Sean Walker in the NBC series The Event.-Early life:Ritter was born in Los Angeles,...
and Jess Weixler
Jess Weixler
Jessica "Jess" Weixler is an American actress, best known to date as the lead in the comedy-horror film Teeth and the comedy The Big Bad Swim...
. The film was written and directed by Jay DiPietro, adapted from his own play of the same name which opened in 2002 in New York.
Plot
Peter and Vandy is a love story told out of order. Set in ManhattanManhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
, the story shifts back and forth in time, juxtaposing Peter and Vandy's romantic beginnings with the twisted, manipulative, regular couple they become.
Cast
- Jason RitterJason RitterJason Morgan Ritter is an American actor, son of the late actor John Ritter and actress Nancy Morgan. Ritter is probably best known for his role as Kevin Girardi in the television series Joan of Arcadia and as Sean Walker in the NBC series The Event.-Early life:Ritter was born in Los Angeles,...
as Peter - Jess WeixlerJess WeixlerJessica "Jess" Weixler is an American actress, best known to date as the lead in the comedy-horror film Teeth and the comedy The Big Bad Swim...
as Vandy - Jesse L. MartinJesse L. MartinJesse L. Martin is an American theatre, film, and television actor. He is known for originating the role of Tom Collins in the Broadway theatrical production of Rent, and for his portrayal of NYPD Detective Ed Green on the NBC drama television series Law & Order.-Early life:Martin, the third of...
as Paul - Tracie ThomsTracie ThomsTracie Nicole Thoms is an American television, film, and stage actress. She is best known for her roles in Rent, Cold Case, The Devil Wears Prada, Death Proof, and the short-lived Fox television series Wonderfalls....
as Marissa - Noah BeanNoah BeanNoah Bean is an American actor best known for his role as David Connor on the FX legal drama Damages and as Ryan Fletcher on the The CW action series Nikita.-Career:...
as Andrew - Bruce AltmanBruce AltmanBruce Altman is an American film and television actor. He is a graduate of the Yale School of Drama.-Film:*Regarding Henry - Bruce*My New Gun - Irwin Bloom*Glengarry Glen Ross - Larry Spannel...
as Dad - Dana EskelsonDana EskelsonDana Erika Eskelson is an American television, film, and theatre actress.-Filmography:*Singles *Exiled: A Law & Order Movie *Cold Creek Manor *The Brave One -TV series:...
as Emma - Kristina KlebeKristina KlebeKristina Klebe is an American and German actress.-Biography:Born in New York City, Kristina Klebe spent much time overseas with her family in Germany, France and Italy. With an ability to speak all of the above languages due to her European heritage, she jokes she sometimes can't decide whether...
as Michelle - Zak OrthZak OrthZak Orth is an American comedic actor known for his roles in Wet Hot American Summer, The Baxter, Melinda and Melinda, In and Out, and Music and Lyrics...
as Keith - David RascheDavid Rasche-Early life and career:Rasche was born in St. Louis, Missouri. His father was a minister and farmer. Rasche started in theatre, but also has appeared on numerous movies and television series. He became a member of the Chicago Second City, after John Belushi moved on to Saturday Night Live...
as Alan - Maryann PlunkettMaryann PlunkettMaryann Plunkett is an American actress who in 1987 won the Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her performance as "Sally Smith" in Me and My Girl....
as Mom
Release
The film selected and premiered at the Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
on January 19, 2009. It opened on a limited release basis in the United States in October of the same year. It has been screened at various film festivals, including: the São Paulo International Film Festival
São Paulo International Film Festival
The São Paulo International Film Festival is a film festival held annually in São Paulo, Brazil since 1976. In 2004 Iranian director Abbas Kiarostami was a member of the jury.-International Jury Award:*2001: The New Country ...
, the Gen Art Film Festival
Gen Art Film Festival
Gen Art is an arts and entertainment organization that showcases emerging fashion designers, filmmakers, musicians and visual artists. It has produced over 100 events annually, which included fashion shows, film screenings, live music and art receptions and tours...
, the AFI
American Film Institute
The American Film Institute is an independent non-profit organization created by the National Endowment for the Arts, which was established in 1967 when President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities Act...
Dallas Film Festival, the Waterfront Film Festival
Waterfront Film Festival
The Waterfront Film Festival takes place annually in the town of Saugatuck, Michigan in the United States. It is in its 13th year as of 2011.Ranked as one of the top 5 film festivals in the world by SAGIndie in the Screen Actors Guild Magazine, the Waterfront Film Festival draws thousands of movie...
, the Provincetown International Film Festival
Provincetown International Film Festival
The Provincetown International Film Festival is an annual film festival founded in 1999 and held in Provincetown, Massachusetts. The festival presents a wide array of American and international narrative features, documentaries and short films for five days in June of each year.With panel...
and the Tallgrass Film Festival
Tallgrass Film Festival
The Tallgrass Film Festival is an annual film festival held in Wichita, Kansas. It was founded in 2003 by Timothy Gruver, and is operated by the non-profit organization Tallgrass Film Association.It is a four-day independent film festival, open to the public, and screens roughly 120 features and...
.
A DVD of the film was released on February 9, 2010, in Region 1
DVD region code
DVD region codes are a digital-rights management technique designed to allow film distributors to control aspects of a release, including content, release date, and price, according to the region...
.
Critical response
When the film was released, The New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
film critic Jeannette Catsoulis, discussed the theme of the film, and wrote a mixed review, "Lovely to look at (Frank G. DeMarco’s photography gives even the chilly New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
exteriors a romantic sheen) and beautifully acted, Peter and Vandy is often charming but also strenuous. The nonlinear structure (reminiscent of the recent (500) Days of Summer) and unrevealing dialogue too often hold us at arm’s length, a puzzle to be solved without sufficient clues. When, briefly, the film opens up to embrace a second bickering couple (elegantly played by Tracie Thoms and Jesse L. Martin), the rush of energy is palpable: here at last are people willing to communicate in clear, declarative sentences...Enriched by a soundtrack heavy with New York-based talent like the National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
and Animal Collective
Animal Collective
Animal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
, Peter and Vandy is more a designer frame for actors than nourishing entertainment."
Film critics Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat of the web based Spirituality & Practice, liked the film, writing, "Writer and director Jay DiPietro has adapted this enticing romantic story from his 2002 play. Using the now familiar techniques of nonlinear storytelling, jump cuts, and masterful editing, the filmmaker challenges us to understand and appreciate that intimate relationships stand or fall on the basis of how couples handle trifles and everyday routines."
Metromix
Metromix
Metromix is a network of local entertainment websites backed by a joint venture between media companies Gannett and Tribune Co. A guide to local restaurants, bars and clubs, events, concerts and movies, Metromix is currently available in over 60 markets. In late 2009, the company launched 27 new...
film critic Geoff Berkshire also liked the film and gave the film a positive review, writing, "DiPietro’s simple story flirts with indie-filmmaking-by-the-numbers but still manages a refreshingly clear-eyed look at relationships. It’s closer (if not quite close enough) to Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is a 2004 American romantic science fiction film about an estranged couple who have each other erased from their memories, scripted by Charlie Kaufman and directed by the French director, Michel Gondry. The film uses elements of science fiction, psychological...
than to any number of dreary Hollywood factory rom-coms. The non-linear approach relies on both subtle and obvious visual clues to keep the audience properly oriented, and enhances the narrative without the self-conscious raison d’etre gimmickry of Steven Soderbergh
Steven Soderbergh
Steven Andrew Soderbergh is an American film producer, screenwriter, cinematographer, editor, and an Academy Award-winning film director. He is best known for directing commercial Hollywood films like Erin Brockovich, Traffic, and the remake of Ocean's Eleven, but he has also directed smaller less...
's The Girlfriend Experience
The Girlfriend Experience
The Girlfriend Experience is a 2009 experimental drama film shot in New York City. It is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars then-active porn star Sasha Grey. A rough cut was screened at the Sundance Film Festival in January 2009. The film has also been made available on Amazon Video on Demand...
. DiPietro’s dialogue is sharp and Ritter and Weixler credibly flesh out characters who aren’t always likeable, they’re just two regular people trying their best at love."
Yet, critic Todd McCarthy of Variety
Variety (magazine)
Variety is an American weekly entertainment-trade magazine founded in New York City, New York, in 1905 by Sime Silverman. With the rise of the importance of the motion-picture industry, Daily Variety, a daily edition based in Los Angeles, California, was founded by Silverman in 1933. In 1998, the...
magazine panned the film when it opened in at the Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival
The Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
, calling the film, "A time-jumbling love story about a couple who never inspire rooting interest, Peter and Vandy is an aggravating romance that runs only 78 minutes but ends not a moment too soon...Some of the linear deck-shuffling creates small frissons, but there's no underlying tension or subtext to shore up the banal talk. The accompanying songs are innocuous."
The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes
Rotten Tomatoes is a website devoted to reviews, information, and news of films—widely known as a film review aggregator. Its name derives from the cliché of audiences throwing tomatoes and other vegetables at a poor stage performance...
reported that 61% of critics gave the film a positive review, based on 18 reviews."
Awards
Nominated- Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
: Grand Jury Prize, Dramatic, Jay DiPietro; 2009.
Track listing
- "Abel" by The NationalThe National (band)The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
- "Wet and RustingWet and RustingWet and Rusting is an EP by Menomena, featuring the first single from the full length Friend and Foe, along with two alternate versions of "Wet and Rusting" and 3 other unreleased tracks. The EP was released on FILMguerrero and contains artwork by cult comic illustrator Craig Thompson in a...
" by MenomenaMenomenaMenomena are an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, United States; currently made up of Justin Harris, Danny Seim and more recently Joe Haege of 31Knots and Tu Fawning... - "Brace Yourself" by Les Savy FavLes Savy FavLes Savy Fav is a New York City indie rock band. Their style is influenced by art rock and post-hardcore. The group is known for the stage presence of lead singer Tim Harrington...
- "Air Better Come" by The Shaky HandsThe Shaky HandsThe Shaky Hands are a Portland, Oregon based rock group, formed in 2003 by musician Paul Culp, of "Lonesome Radio Heart" and Colin Anderson. Nicholas Delffs joined soon after on vocals and guitar...
- "Enticing Luxuries" by Chris DiPetrio
- "Overture" by Patrick WolfPatrick WolfPatrick Wolf is an English-Irish singer-songwriter from South London. Patrick utilises a wide variety of instruments in his music, most commonly the ukulele, piano and viola...
- "Good Arms vs. Bad Arms" by Frightened RabbitFrightened RabbitFrightened Rabbit are a Scottish indie rock band from Selkirk, formed in 2003. The lineup consists of lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and lyricist Scott Hutchison, guitarist and bassist Billy Kennedy, guitarist Andy Monaghan, drummer Grant Hutchison and guitarist and keyboardist Gordon Skene...
- "Fireworks" by Animal CollectiveAnimal CollectiveAnimal Collective is an experimental psychedelic band originally from Baltimore, Maryland, currently based in New York City. Animal Collective consists of Avey Tare , Panda Bear , Deakin , and Geologist...
- "For Money or Love" by The Like YoungThe Like YoungThe Like Young were an indie rock band from Chicago, Illinois.The Like Young were Amanda and Joe Ziemba, married in 2002 and playing music together in various bands since 1997 . The couple formed the band in the spring of 2002 and went on to release their first album, a five-track EP entitled...
- "The Same Old Song" by 33 To Nothing
- "Gospel" by The NationalThe National (band)The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
External links
(Strand Releasing)- Peter and Vandy film trailer at Strand Releasing ChannelStrand ReleasingStrand Releasing is a theatrical distribution company founded in 1989 and is based in Culver City, California. The company has distributed over 300 auteur driven titles from acclaimed international and American directors such as Apichatpong Weerasethakul, Gregg Araki, Francois Ozon, Jean Luc...
's at You Tube - Jay DiPietro interview at indieWireIndieWireindieWIRE is a daily news site for the independent film community. It covers indie, documentary and foreign language films, as well industry news, film festival reports, filmmaker interviews and movie reviews...
- Peter and Vandy Q&A at the Sundance Film FestivalSundance Film FestivalThe Sundance Film Festival is a film festival that takes place annually in Utah, in the United States. It is the largest independent cinema festival in the United States. Held in January in Park City, Salt Lake City, and Ogden, as well as at the Sundance Resort, the festival is a showcase for new...
(following premiere)