Welcome Thy Neighbour

Author(s): Masnoraffis Masdil

Location: Singapore

"Welcome Thy Neighbour"

Directed by Tamara Jenkins

Written by Tamara Jenkins

Original Score by Marc Shaiman

Main Cast
Kelsey Grammer (Sean Harris)

William Shatner (William Douglas)

Laura Linney (Pamela Harris)

Sarah Jessica Parker (Dorothy Douglas)

Bernie Mac (James Brown)

Alfre Woodard (Diana Brown)

Anna Faris (Susan Douglas)

Justin Long (Malcolm Harris)

Tagline: "Be neighbourly. Upstage them in whatever they do or have"

Synopsis: Sean (Kelsey Grammer) & Pamela (Laura Linney) just had some new neighbours moving to the house next to theirs. Self-appointed as the chairman of the neighbourhood committee, James (Bernie Mac) and Diana( Alfre Woodard) welcomed William (William Shatner) & Dorothy (Sarah Jessica Parker) to their estate.The Harris and Douglas family started out cordially with each other. One day, Pamela told Dorothy about her recent purchase of a grand piano for their house. Not to be outdone, Dorothy persuaded William to buy an even bigger and grander piano. And from there starts the intense competition between the two ladies, with their respective husbands being dragged into the conflict.Their respective children returned for their holidays and, much to their horror, discovered that their sweetheart is now officially the children of their parents’ biggest enemy. Will they be able to be together now? And would the two families ever stop their bitter fued?

What the Press would say:
Welcome to one of the best comedies of the year. Boasting three Emmy winners and an Oscar nominee for their main cast, this show brilliantly taps onto the comedic talents of their cast.Laura Linney and Kelsey Grammer teams up again after being lovers in the TV hit show, Frasier. Their chemistry is definitely not to be missed as the bickering husband and wife whose life has turned for the worse with the moving in of their new neighbours. Laura Linney shows us her comedic talents, which has not been tapped much by other directors. Being the nagging wife who’s determined not to be beaten by the bimbo living next to her, her scenes are hilarious to watch. Not to forget Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer, who’s funny too, as the frenzied husband who has to keep up with her ever bitching wife.William Shatner impresses too as the bumbling husband who’s besotted with his young wife. His scenes with Grammer as they plot how to appease their respective wives are a riot too. But the main star is definitely Sarah Jessica Parker, as the bimbotic young wife, who definitely makes sure that she can tops her new neighbour in everything. The lengths she will go to do that result in much hilarious scenes.Of the supporting cast, Bernie Mac & Alfre Woodard deserves commendable praise as the couple who’s trapped in trying to be the middle person between the 2 feuding families. And Anna Faris, as usual, impresses with her performance in a comedic role. Justin Long supports well too as the lisping young son whose hopes dashes knowing of the situation that’s happening now.The strongest point of the movie is definitely the screenplay filled with witty dialogues and scenes. Tamara Jenkins successfully makes the characters alive in the movie and we find ourselves rooting for and against different characters. Overall, a real fun movie not to be missed.

For Your Consideration

Best Picture

Best Director: Tamara Jenkins

Best Screenplay: Tamara Jenkins

Best Original Score: Marc Shaiman

Best Actor: William Shatner

Best Actor: Kelsey Grammer

Best Actress: Laura Linney

Best Actress: Sarah Jessica Parker

Best Supporting Actor: Bernie Mac

Best Supporting Actor: Justin Long

Best Supporting Actress: Alfre Woodard

Best Supporting Actress: Anna Faris

Best Film Editing: Brian A. Kates

Best Art Direction: Mario Ventenilla

Best Cinematography: Phedon Papamichael

Best Costume Design: Patricia Fields