A small boy squashing an insect sets in motion a series of events, large and small, that include a lost restaurant reservation, a drunken fender-bender, disruption of basic cable television service, and more than one relationship falling apart. One person's disaster becomes another's boon, and vice versa--because a man loses his job, a young girl becomes the lead ballerina in the school play, which in turn causes the death of a pet pig. These characters weave around Los Angeles and each other as seemingly mundane events fall into place, putting them on a collision course with a common fate and one heroic act of competence.
Writing
Screenplay by the guys who wrote Ride Along, but make it existential
Acting
Sarah Paulson before she was everywhere, already perfect
Direction
Directors' only feature—ambitious structure, shaggy execution
Director
Phil Hay
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
This was Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi's directorial debut after writing Crazy/Beautiful; they wouldn't direct again until 2021's The Tomorrow War.
Released in the shadow of Magnolia and Crash, this film got buried in the 'interconnected LA stories' boom despite beating Crash by three years.
US
