I Love You Phillip Morris (2009)
Biography, Comedy, Crime |
I Love You Phillip Morris is a biographical black comedy drama film based on a 1980s and 1990s real-life story of con artist, impostor and multiple prison escapee Steven Jay Russell, as played by Jim Carrey. While incarcerated, Russell falls in love with his fellow inmate, Phillip Morris. 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. The film is the directorial debut of John Requa and Glenn Ficarra. It grossed $20 million worldwide and received generally positive reviews from critics.
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 to 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. 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.
Directors: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Writers: John Requa, Glenn Ficarra, Steve McVicker (book)
Stars: Jim Carrey, Ewan McGregor, Leslie Mann, Rodrigo Santoro, Antoni Corone, Brennan Brown, Michael Mandell
►Cast:
| Jim Carrey | … | Steven Russell |
| Ewan McGregor | … | Phillip Morris |
| Leslie Mann | … | Debbie |
| Rodrigo Santoro | … | Jimmy |
| Antoni Corone | … | Lindholm |
| Brennan Brown | … | Birkheim |
| Michael Mandell | … | Cleavon |
| Annie Golden | … | Eudora |
| Marylouise Burke | … | Barbara Bascombe |
| David Jensen | … | Judge |
| Dameon Clarke | … | Houston Lawyer |
| Clay Chamberlin | … | Cellmate – Arnie |
| Louis Herthum | … | Doctor |
| Morgana Shaw | … | Steven’s Mom |
| Joe Chrest | … | Steven’s Dad |
| Griff Furst | … | Mark |
| Aunjanue Ellis | … | Reba |
| DeVere Jehl | … | Samuel |
| Michael Showers | … | Gary |
| Beth Burvant | … | Sara |
| Ladson Deyne | … | Neil (as Deyne Ladson) |
| Kennon Kepper | … | 9-Year-Old Steven |
| Alyssa Tate | … | Child Stephanie |
| Andrew Sensenig | … | Screecher |
| David Stanford | … | Paramedic |
| Bill Dykes | … | Latino Man |
| Tony Bentley | … | Racist Client |
| Kathrin Middleton | … | Saleswoman |
| Donovan Guidry | … | The Moustached Man |
| Nicholas Alexander | … | Steven’s 11-Year-Old Brother |
| Michael Beasley | … | Release Officer |
| Sean Boyd | … | Policeman |
| Maureen Brennan | … | Vera |
| Marcus Lyle Brown | … | Young Doctor |
| Trey Burvant | … | Blake |
| Ken Clement | … | County Corrections Officer |
| Miriam Cruz | … | Helen |
| David Dahlgren | … | Physician |
| Tommy Davis | … | Todd |
| Michael Ducote | … | SWAT Commander |
| Ashley Duggan Smith | … | Secretary #3 |
| Lela Edgar | … | Blond Wife |
| J.D. Evermore | … | Bossy Guard |
| Jon Eyez | … | Second Prisoner |
| Evan Fitzpatrick | … | Red-Haired Boy |
| Shane Fitzpatrick | … | Little Girl |
| Shane Fuller | … | Male Nurse |
| Jeff Galpin | … | Lead Officer |
| Larry Gamell Jr. | … | Driving Cop (as Lawrence Gamell Jr.) |
| Jim Garrity | … | Night Guard (as James Garrity) |
| Leon Gisclair | … | Little Boy |
| Geraldine Glenn | … | Mandi |
| Douglas M. Griffin | … | Steven’s Attorney |
| Jessica Heap | … | Secretary |
| Tim Hickey | … | Blond Inmate |
| Keith Hudson | … | Produce Manager |
| Jeremy Aaron Johnson | … | Policeman #1 |
| Jacqueline King-Howell | … | Lawyer (as Jacqueline King) |
| Alexa Kuve | … | Cherubic Secretary |
| Frederick Lewis | … | Yoakum |
| Sharon K. London | … | Clerk (as Sharon London) |
| Audrey Lynn | … | Married Woman |
| Marc Macaulay | … | Houston Cop |
| Reginald Mack | … | Jail Guard |
| Danny Marin | … | Infirmary Orderly |
| Sammi-Jack Martincak | … | 12-Year-Old Stephanie |
| Ann McKenzie | … | Facelift Wife |
| Thelma Medina | … | Huge Nurse |
| Wendy Bryan Michaels | … | Housewife (as Wendy Michaels) |
| John J. Mourain | … | Taxi Driver (as John Mourain) |
| Randall Newsome | … | Cop |
| Lance E. Nichols | … | Houston Judge (as Lance Nichols) |
| Antonino Paone | … | Cab Driver (as Antonio Paone) |
| Liann Pattison | … | Mrs. Lindholm |
| Sherrie Peterson | … | Female D.A. |
| Clyde Raymond | … | Houston Doctor |
| Dane Rhodes | … | Bald Prisoner |
| Johnny Rock | … | New Cellmate |
| Archie Sampier | … | Yard Guard |
| Andy Sims | … | Corrections Officer |
| Aron Ten Eyck | … | Policeman #2 |
| Thomas Thomason | … | Lawrence |
| Deneen Tyler | … | Caretaker (as Deneen D. Tyler) |
| Chris Wecklein | … | Baylor |
| Scotty Whitehurst | … | Orderly |
| Bill Martin Williams | … | Duty Officer |
| Jaymon Yates | … | First Prisoner |
| Don Yesso | … | Guard |
| Gabby Barnes | … | Girl at BBQ |
| Brett Beoubay | … | Gala Attendee / Jr. Exec. |
| Dane Brown | … | Texas Deputy |
| Scott Buckley | … | Officer |
| Rhonda Castagna | … | Shopper |
| Ryan Catalanotto | … | Court Spectator |
| Daniel Columbie | … | Club Patron |
| Samuel Davenport | … | Court Bailiff |
| Joshua Davis | … | Boy at BBQ |
| Larry Jack Dotson | … | Golfer |
| Cy Fahrenholtz | … | Library Prisoner |
| Rebecca Lee Fox | … | Church Choir Singer |
Sources: imdb & wikipedia