The Last 5 Years (film)
| The Last Five Years | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Richard LaGravenese |
| Produced by |
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| Screenplay by | Richard LaGravenese |
| Based on |
The Last Five Years by Jason Robert Brown |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Jason Robert Brown |
| Cinematography | Steven Meizler |
| Edited by | Sabine Hoffman |
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Production
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| Distributed by | Radius-TWC |
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Release date
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Running time
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94 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $2 million |
| Box office | $145,427 |
The Last Five Years is a 2014 American musical comedy-drama film starring Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan. Based on Jason Robert Brown's musical of the same name, the film is written and directed by Richard Lagravenese.
The film premiered on September 7, 2014 in the Special Presentations section of the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival. The film was released in select theaters and on video on demand on February 13, 2015.
The musical chronicles the romance between Jamie Wellerstein (Jordan) and Cathy Hiatt (Kendrick). However, it does not take place in chronological order: all of Cathy's songs begin after they have separated and move backwards in time to the beginning of their courtship, while Jamie's songs start when they have first met and proceeds through their crumbling marriage.
The musical, as presented on stage, is a two-person show, with no other actors besides the ones playing Jamie and Cathy. Additionally, it consists almost exclusively of solo numbers; Jamie and Cathy alternate songs, do not share the other's time frame, almost never sing together and frequently are not even present while the other character unburdens themselves. This gives each character space to present their side of the story, biases and all. In adapting for film, LaGravanese made the decision to have the other character present for each monologue, but no music was altered. Additionally, a number of other actors appear in other parts, though Jordan and Kendrick still provide the bulk of the dialogue and all singing.
Cathy sits alone with a letter from her husband Jamie declaring their marriage over ("Still Hurting"). She removes her wedding rings, as well as her wristwatch and bracelet.
Five years earlier, Jamie is an up-and-coming Jewish writer who has just met Cathy. He is overjoyed to be dating outside his Jewish heritage ("Shiksa Goddess"), and declares, "I could be in love with someone like you."
Summer 2013: Cathy and Jamie are in Ohio, where she is working in . It is her birthday, and he has come to visit her. She is anxious to fix any problems in their marriage but she becomes angry when Jamie tells her he has to go back early to New York. She accuses him of egotism, of caring only about himself and of being unwilling to spend time with her ("See I'm Smiling").
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