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'{{short description|2009 film by John Requa and Glenn Ficarra}} {{Infobox film | name = I Love You Phillip Morris | image = I Love You Phillip Morris.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = {{ubl|[[John Requa]]|[[Glenn Ficarra]]}} | producer = {{ubl|[[Andrew Lazar]]|[[Far Shariat]]}} | screenplay = {{ubl|John Requa|Glenn Ficarra}} | based_on = {{Based on|''I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks''|Steve McVicker}} | starring = {{ubl|[[Jim Carrey]]|[[Ewan McGregor]]|[[Rodrigo Santoro]]|[[Antoni Corone]]|[[Leslie Mann]]}} | music = [[DeVotchKa|Nick Urata]] | cinematography = Xavier Pérez Grobet | editing = Thomas J. Nordberg | studio = {{ubl|[[EuropaCorp]]|Mad Chance Productions}} | distributor = {{Plainlist| * EuropaCorp<ref name=mojo/>}} | released = {{Film date|2009|1|18|[[2009 Sundance Film Festival|Sundance]]|2009|2|10|France}} | runtime = 93 minutes | country = {{ubl|France}} | language = English | budget = $13 million<ref name=mojo/> | gross = $20.7 million<ref name="mojo">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=iloveyouphillipmorris.htm|title=I Love You, Philip Morris|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database|IMDb]]|access-date=April 5, 2010}}</ref> }} '''''I Love You Phillip Morris''''' is a 2009 English-language French [[black comedy film]]<ref>{{cite web|title=I Love You Phillip Morris|author=Buchanan, Jason|website=[[AllMovie]]|url=https://www.allmovie.com/movie/i-love-you-phillip-morris-v400704}}</ref> based on a 1980s and 1990s real-life story of [[con artist]], [[impostor]] and multiple [[prison escape]]e [[Steven Jay Russell]], as played by [[Jim Carrey]]. While incarcerated, Russell falls in love with his fellow inmate, Phillip Morris ([[Ewan McGregor]]). After Morris is released from prison, Russell escapes from prison four times to be reunited with Morris. The film was adapted from the 2003 book ''I Love You Phillip Morris: A True Story of Life, Love, and Prison Breaks'' by Steve McVicker.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/displayarticle.php?id=193045|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120801015755/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/displayarticle.php?id=193045|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2012|title=Release Diary: March 19, 2010|website=[[Digital Spy]]|first=Simon|last=Reynolds|date=March 19, 2010|access-date=February 1, 2010}}</ref> The film is the [[List of directorial debuts|directorial debut]] of [[John Requa]] and [[Glenn Ficarra]]. It grossed $20 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics. For their writing, Requa and Ficarra received a nomination for the [[Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1516|title=Writers Guild Awards |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America]] |date=4 January 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108052342/http://www.wga.org/awards/awardssub.aspx?id=1516 |archive-date=8 January 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ==Plot== [[Steven Jay Russell]] is on his deathbed, recalling the events of his life that led him to this point. He spent his early adult years in [[Virginia Beach]] as a police officer. He plays the organ at church, has unenthusiastic sex with his wife, Debbie, and spends his off-hours searching for his biological mother, who had placed him for adoption as a child. Steven locates his biological mother, but she rejects him. He then quits the police force and moves to Texas and works for [[Sysco]], the family business. After a car crash on the way from a homosexual tryst, Steven leaves his family and life behind, though he keeps in touch with his wife and young daughter, and explores the world as his true self – a gay man. He moves to [[Miami]], where he finds a boyfriend, Jimmy, and they adopt a luxurious [[lifestyle (sociology)|lifestyle]]. To keep themselves in the style to which they have become accustomed, Steven becomes a con man. He is pursued by the police, and, after jumping off a parking garage, is sent to prison, where he falls in love with inmate Phillip Morris. Steven cannot bear to be separated from Phillip. After being released, he helps get Phillip freed from prison by posing as a lawyer, then attains wealth by fraudulently acquiring a position as Chief Financial Officer of a large medical management company called USAMM (United States of America Medical Management). Steven is eventually caught embezzling. While in the police car, he reminisces about Jimmy in Florida, dying of [[AIDS]]. He asks the police for Phillip's [[insulin]] and injects himself. Steven survives and goes back to prison. He repeatedly escapes in several cleverly engineered ways, but gets caught and sent back every time. After his latest escape, Steven goes to visit Phillip, but Phillip eventually realizes that Steven isn't even a real lawyer, and Steven is arrested yet again shortly after. He goes back to prison, where Phillip is also sent as an accomplice and angrily tells Steven he never wants to see him again. Months later, Phillip learns from another inmate that Steven is dying of AIDS. Heartbroken, Phillip calls Steven while he is in the infirmary and confesses that, while he is still upset with Steven for lying to him, he still loves him. Phillip is later told that Steven has died. Some time later, Phillip is taken to meet with his lawyer and finds Steven waiting for him. Steven describes how he faked dying of AIDS, to be allowed to see Phillip again, and promises never to lie to him again. He runs one last con to break Phillip out of prison, only to be caught when he runs into an old co-worker from USAMM, who is on jury duty. The end of the movie explains that the real-life Phillip was released from prison in 2006; but Steven was given a life sentence and is in 23-hour lockup, only having one free hour a day to shower and exercise, which the film implies to be because an official involved in the sentencing had a brother-in-law who was conned by Russell. The last scene shows Steven laughing joyfully while running across the prison yard, guards in pursuit, in another attempt to be with Phillip. ==Cast== <!--- [[WP:NOTDATABASE]] - cast and order per opening stand-alone credits, roles per closing credits scroll ---> {{Cast listing| * [[Jim Carrey]] as [[Steven Jay Russell|Steven Russell]] * [[Ewan McGregor]] as Phillip Morris * [[Leslie Mann]] as Debbie * [[Rodrigo Santoro]] as Jimmy * [[Antoni Corone]] as Lindholm * [[Brennan Brown]] as Birkheim * Michael Mandell as Cleavon }} In addition, Phillip Morris has an uncredited cameo as Steven's lawyer during the movie-end court scene.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} ==Production== After original difficulty finding a U.S. distributor, likely due to its explicit gay sexual content, the film was re-edited.<ref>{{cite web|first=Toby|last=McDonald|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article5908016.ece|title=McGregor gay film too risque for cinema|website=[[The Times|Times Online]]|date=March 15, 2009}}</ref> In May 2009, it was announced by [[Variety (magazine)|''Variety'']] that Consolidated Pictures Group had acquired the rights for distribution.<ref>{{cite web|first=Michael|last=Fleming|url=https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003478.html?categoryid=13&cs=1|title=Consolidated loves 'Phillip Morris'|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=May 11, 2009}}</ref> Portions of the film were filmed at the [[Louisiana State Penitentiary]] (also known as Angola) in [[West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana]]. A Christian blogger stated that warden [[Burl Cain]] did not permit one sex scene between two male inmates to be filmed at the prison.<ref name=Ridgeway2>{{cite web|first=James|last=Ridgeway|title=God's Own Warden|website=[[Mother Jones (magazine)|Mother Jones]]|date=July–August 2011|url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/07/burl-cain-angola-prison?page=2|accessdate=March 23, 2013}}</ref> The real Phillip Morris appears in a cameo as Steven's lawyer in one of the final scenes.<ref name = "Ryll 2015">{{cite web |url=http://gay-themed-films.com/i-love-you-phillip-morris/ |title=Essential Gay Themed Films To Watch, I Love You Phillip Morris |first=Alexander|last=Ryll |website=Gay Essential |access-date=3 February 2015 |archive-date=4 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404143100/https://gay-themed-films.com/i-love-you-phillip-morris/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> ==Release== The film was released in [[Europe]], [[Taiwan]] and [[Japan]] between February and April 2009. Although a limited run in the United States was initially scheduled for April 12, 2009, it was later reported that the film's release had been indefinitely postponed by its distributors, Consolidated Pictures Group<ref>{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/movies/2010/04/jim-carrey-i-love-you-phillip-morris-delayed.html | work=The Los Angeles Times | title=24 Frames | date=April 8, 2010}}</ref> but on April 30, 2009, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' announced the distributor had had a change of heart and that ''I Love You Phillip Morris'' would be shown in limited theaters starting June 30 before expanding nationwide on July 6.<ref>[http://screencrave.com/2010-04-12/i-love-you-phillip-morris-gets-july-30th-release/ I Love You Phillip Morris Gets July 30th Release April 12 2010] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726072713/http://screencrave.com/2010-04-12/i-love-you-phillip-morris-gets-july-30th-release/ |date=2011-07-26 }} Retrieved 13 April 2010</ref> On August 3, 2009, the film was delayed yet again due to legal battles. The film was finally released on October 30, 2009, after [[Roadside Attractions]] and Liddell Entertainment acquired the rights to distribute in the United States.<ref>[https://www.deadline.com/2010/08/jim-carrey-film-i-love-you-phillip-morris-finds-buyer-and-gets-december-3-release Jim Carrey Film 'I Love You Phillip Morris' Finds Buyer And Gets December 3 Release]. Retrieved August 26, 2010.</ref> ===Box office=== ''I Love You Phillip Morris'' has a worldwide gross of $20,722,843 {{as of|2011|August|31|lc=y|df=US}}.<ref name="mojo"/> ==Reception== [[Rotten Tomatoes]] has a 71% critic rating based on 156 reviews and an average score of 6.6/10. The critical consensus is: "This fact-based romantic comedy has its flaws, but they're mostly overcome by its consistently sweet, funny tone and one of the best performances of Jim Carrey's career."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/i_love_you_phillip_morris/ |title=I Love You Phillip Morris (2010) |publisher=[[Fandango Media]] |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |access-date=May 27, 2019}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 65 out of 100, based on 32 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/i-love-you-phillip-morris |title=I Love You Phillip Morris Reviews |work=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |access-date=March 20, 2018}}</ref> Steve Persall from the ''[[Tampa Bay Times]]'' wrote, "Think ''[[Catch Me If You Can]]'' mashed up with ''[[Brokeback Mountain]]'' if [[Mel Brooks]] directed and you'll get the idea.<ref name = "Ryll 2015"/> John Anderson of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' remarked, "Less of a comedy than a hilarious tragedy, ''I Love You Phillip Morris'' stars Jim Carrey in his most complicated comedic role since ''[[The Cable Guy]]''."<ref name="Ryll 2015"/> ''[[Empire (film magazine)|Empire]]'' wrote, "One of the funniest films of the year, this is a wonderful mix of old-school Carrey outrageousness with a genuinely touching – and very modern – love story."<ref name="Ryll 2015"/> Damon Wise of ''[[The Times]]'' gave the film four stars out of five, stating, "''I Love You Phillip Morris'' is an extraordinary film that serves as a reminder of just how good Carrey can be when he's not tied into a generic Hollywood crowd-pleaser. His comic timing remains as exquisite as ever."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/film/film_reviews/article5548068.ece | title=I Love You Phillip Morris at the Sundance Film Festival, Utah | work=[[The Times]] | first=Damon | last=Wise | date=January 20, 2009 | access-date=March 19, 2010}}</ref> Xan Brooks of ''[[The Guardian]]'' also gave the film a positive review, describing the movie as "fast, funny and rather daring. A whisk of caffeine with a center that's sweet."<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2010/mar/19/i-love-you-phillip-morris | title=I Love You Phillip Morris: 'Fast, funny and rather daring' | work=[[The Guardian]] | first=Xan | last=Brooks | date=March 19, 2010 | access-date=March 19, 2010}}</ref> ==Italy controversy== The distribution and promotion of the film in Italy by its Italian distributor Lucky Red was strongly criticized. The advertising campaign (posters, trailers, and TV commercials) was accused of minimizing the homosexual themes of the film to present it as a simple comedy, removing the romantic relationship between Steve and Phillip in the film with the aim of attracting a larger audience. [[Ewan McGregor]] was removed from the billing list in the trailer. Lucky Red later claimed to have purchased from its distributor and production company [[EuropaCorp]] a "softer" version of the original, in which most of the homosexual sex scenes between the protagonists Steve and Phillip were removed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cineblog.it/post/21421/il-caso-colpo-di-fulmine-il-mago-della-truffa-cineblog-intervista-la-lucky-red|title=Il caso Colpo di fulmine - Il mago della truffa: Cineblog intervista la Lucky Red|website=Cineblog|date=9 March 2010|accessdate=2 August 2020|language=Italian}}</ref><ref>[http://www.badtaste.it/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=12408&Itemid=152 Colpo di fulmine: è vera censura?]</ref><ref>[http://www.cineblog.it/post/21696/attenzione-censura-su-colpo-di-fulmine-il-mago-della-truffa Attenzione: censura su Colpo di Fulmine - Il mago della truffa]</ref> ==Home media== The film was released on [[DVD]] and [[Blu-ray Disc]] on April 5, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.phillipmorrismovie.net/|title=I Love You Phillip Morris Movie Trailer, Cast, Pictures, Release Date Dec 3|website=Phillipmorrismovie.net|access-date=23 September 2017}}</ref> ==Soundtrack== {{Infobox album | name = I Love You Phillip Morris: Original Soundtrack | type = [[Soundtrack]] | artist = Various Artists | cover = | alt = | released = | recorded = | venue = | studio = | genre = [[Soundtrack]] | length = 40:25 | label = | producer = | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} '''''I Love You Phillip Morris: Original Soundtrack''''' was composed by [[Nick Urata]]. {{Track listing | extra_column = Artist | title1 = I Cried Like a Silly Boy | extra1 = [[DeVotchKa]] | length1 = 3:27 | title2 = Dance Hall Days | extra2 = [[Jack Hues]] | length2 = 4:00 | title3 = Key West | extra3 = [[Nick Urata]] | length3 = 0:53 | title4 = Jesus Has a Plan | extra4 = Nick Urata | length4 = 2:14 | title5 = [[To Love Somebody (song)|To Love Somebody]] | extra5 = [[Nina Simone]] | length5 = 2:41 | title6 = Written in the Stars | extra6 = Nick Urata | length6 = 3:59 | title7 = [[Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen]] | extra7 = [[Orlandus Wilson]] | note7 = Golden Gate Quartet | length7 = 3:16 | title8 = Promise to Jimmy | extra8 = Nick Urata | length8 = 2:31 | title9 = The Escape Artist | extra9 = Nick Urata | length9 = 4:36 | title10 = The Last Time | extra10 = Nick Urata | length10 = 3:00 | title11 = Steal Away | extra11 = [[Robbie Dupree]] | length11 = 3:31 | title12 = Faking Death | extra12 = Nick Urata | length12 = 2:44 | title13 = [[The Marriage of Figaro]]: Sull'aria | extra13 = German Opera Orchestra of Berlin | length13 = 3:33 }} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{Official website|http://phillipmorrismovie.net}} * {{IMDb title|1045772}} * {{AllMovie title|400704}} * {{Mojo title|iloveyouphillipmorris}} * {{Rotten-tomatoes|i_love_you_phillip_morris}} * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100602133658/http://www.gaytimes.co.uk/Magazine/InThisIssue-articleid-6603-sectionid-727.html Interview with Phillip Morris] for [http://www.gaytimes.co.uk Gay Times] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100307182433/http://www.ionmagazine.ca/2009/04/film-i-love-you-phillip-morris/ Interview with Glenn Ficarra and John Requa about I Love You Phillip Morris] at [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129025511/http://www.ionmagazine.ca/ ION Magazine] {{Glenn Ficarra and John Requa}} {{GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Film – Limited Release}} {{Dorian Award for LGBTQ Film of the Year}} {{Portal bar|France|Texas|LGBT|Virginia|Film|Law}} [[Category:2009 films]] [[Category:2009 black comedy films]] [[Category:2000s crime comedy-drama films]] [[Category:2009 LGBT-related films]] [[Category:2000s prison films]] [[Category:2009 romantic comedy-drama films]] [[Category:French black comedy films]] [[Category:French crime comedy-drama films]] [[Category:French LGBT-related films]] [[Category:French prison films]] [[Category:French comedy films]] [[Category:French romantic comedy-drama films]] [[Category:English-language French films]] [[Category:French romantic comedy films]] [[Category:2000s English-language films]] [[Category:Films about embezzlement]] [[Category:Films about prison escapes]] [[Category:Comedy-drama films based on actual events]] [[Category:Crime films based on actual events]] [[Category:Films set in Miami]] [[Category:Films set in Texas]] [[Category:Films set in Virginia]] [[Category:Films shot in New Orleans]] [[Category:Gay-related films]] [[Category:HIV/AIDS in French films]] [[Category:LGBT-related comedy-drama films]] [[Category:Biographical films about LGBT people]] [[Category:Film controversies in Italy]] [[Category:LGBT-related romantic comedy films]] [[Category:LGBT-related controversies in film]] [[Category:Obscenity controversies in film]] [[Category:Advertising and marketing controversies in film]] [[Category:Censored films]] [[Category:Self-censorship]] [[Category:Romance films based on actual events]] [[Category:EuropaCorp films]] [[Category:Films directed by Glenn Ficarra and John Requa]] [[Category:2009 directorial debut films]] [[Category:LGBT-related black comedy films]] [[Category:2000s French films]] [[Category:Male bisexuality in film]]'