40 Days and 40 Nights
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40 Days and 40 Nights is a teen-comedy film that was directed by Michael Lehmann and written by Rob Perez in 2002. The film depicts the life of Matt Sullivan, played by Josh Hartnett, who swears off sex for forty days.
Tagline: One man is about to do the unthinkable. No sex. Whatsoever. For... 40 Days and 40 Nights.
Plot
Matt is heartbroken over his ex-girlfriend who is recently engaged. One-night stands and empty passion doesn't fill his broken heart over his ex-girlfriend though. He then comes up with a plan to stop any sexual activity for Lent — for 40 days and 40 nights. His friends and co-workers are working against him, and he meets a woman he's interested in, Erica, at a laundromaut which builds up his frustration and the chaos that surrounds his idea.Criticism
- The Catholic League claimed the film parodied Lent in a vulgar way. The League is also known for protesting other Miramax films such as the 1994 film Priest and Dogma in 1999. Dogma was later released by Lions Gate Films.
- In one of the last scenes, Vanessa Shaw's character (Nicole) rapes Josh Hartnett's character (Matt) while he is semi-conscious and chained to a bed. There are no consequences for Nicole's actions, and Matt is initially blamed for the incident by Erica (his love interest.) The scene supposedly was for comedic effect because this act of "sex" ended Matt's vow of abstinence mere minutes before its end. Few official reviews of the movie have noted this trivialization of rape.
- A rarely noted fact about Lent which the film failed to mention was that while Lent encompases only forty days, from beginning to end it lasts somewhat longer. This is because Sundays, being inherent days of celebration within the Catholic, are not technically part of Lent. Interestingly for the plot of the film, this also means that one is exempt from their Lenten fasting and obligations on Sundays during the season.
Cast
- Emmanuelle Vaugier as Susie
- Josh Hartnett as Matt Sullivan
- Shannyn Sossamon as Erica Sutton
- Paulo Costanzo as Ryan
- Adam Trese as John Sullivan
- Lorin Heath as Diana
- Glenn Fitzgerald as Chris
- Monet Mazur as Candy
- Christine Chatelain as Andie
- Keegan Connor Tracy as Mandy
- Vinessa Shaw as Nicole
- Stanley Anderson as Father Maher
- Griffin Dunne as Jerry Anderson
- Jarrad Paul as Duncan
- Terry Chen as Neil
- Kai Lennox as Nick
- Chris Gauthier as Mikey
- Barry Newman as Walter Sullivan
- Mary Gross as Bev Sullivan
- Maggie Gyllenhaal as Sam
- Dylan Neal as David Brokaw
- Michelle Harrison as Maureen
- Jason Low as Merj
- Nicole Wilder as Anastasia
- Susan Bain as Ms. Willow
External links
- [}}}] at Rotten Tomatoes
- [}}}] at Box Office Mojo
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