Synopsis

Daphne Wilder is a mother whose love knows no bounds or boundaries. As a single parent, she has raised three fantastic girls: klutzy, adorable Milly; stable psychologist Maggie and sexy and irreverent Mae, to become the kind of women any mom would die to have. The only problem is, they’re just about ready to strangle her. In order to prevent her youngest, Milly, from making the same romantic mistakes she did, Daphne decides to set her up with the perfect man. The one thing Daphne decides not to tell Milly, however, is that she placed an ad in the online personals to find him. If anyone knows exactly what her daughter does and doesn’t need out of a long-term relationship (or clothes or her career), it’s Daphne. Or does she? The insensitive mom secretly lines Milly up with well-heeled architect Jason, sure in her own mind that his good looks and wealthy background will win her over.

What Women Critics Say

"If these are the only kinds of roles we can conceive for actresses who have grown into their faces, as Keaton has, it's no wonder so many younger performers are seeking the knife." Stephanie Zacharek SALON.COM "Diane Keaton has a lot to answer for in her willingness to portray Hollywood's idea of middle-aged womanhood." Susan Walker TORONTO STAR "Diane Keaton has delivered many terrific film performances, but her over-the-top work in 'Because I Said So' isn't one of them." Betty Jo Tucker REELTALK MOVIE REVIEWS "Every cliché that's ever been in a romantic comedy appears tossed into Because I Said So and delivered by very unfunny actresses." Diana Saenger REVIEWEXPRESS.COM "It's so derivative, unfunny and thuddingly bad that it's one of the more cringe-inducing movies of a genre chock-full of clunkers." Claudia Puig USA TODAY

"Apart from the fact that you feel you’ve seen this film many times before, it is handled so clumsily by director Michael Lehmann. It’s as if he has no control over his star Diane Keaton who’s mannered performance is extremely irritating, she turns Daphne into the mother from hell." Margaret Pomeranz ABC AT THE MOVIES "It could have been an enjoyable light comedy, or a dark tale of obsession, but it doesn't work." Sue Pierman MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL "Towards the end, the spectacle of Milly faking an orgasm for her mother's edification is, frankly, enough to kill anyone's hopes of romance." Stella Papamichael BBC "It's a shame, because pop star Moore continues to prove herself an adept actress." Mary F Pols CONTRA COSTA TIMES "The search for true love is the backbone of romantic comedy as well as the lifeblood of match.com, but this film's clumsy, completely inauthentic portrayal of it is handled in a shockingly tedious fashion." Connie Ogle MIAMI HERALD

The Inside Story "Because I Said So" came about when screenwriter Karen Leigh Hopkins, who was in her Dentists waiting room, overheard the story of a mother who was proud of setting up her daughter on dates with men she believed to be quite eligible. "I found the concept fascinating," she recallss. "Here was a mother who desperately wanted to see her daughter married, but she was seeing her child make all the wrong decisions when it came to men. In the name of love, she decided to take matters into her own hands and blatantly pursue potential suitors for her daughter via the Internet; without her daughter’s knowledge. He reaction to what she heard was, "There are limitless possibilities you could have with this in a movie." At the time, Hopkins was working on a project with screenwriter Jessie Nelson. It didn't take long for the two to whip up a story line. "Everybody has a mother, and though all mother/child relationships are unique, I have no doubt every mom in the world wants to see her kids healthy, happy, successful and in love with the right person," says Nelson. "The meddling mother comic possibilities are endless, and all could be based upon real truths. Everyone can relate, which is why the project took on great momentum once we started moving forward." Both screenwriters says they "simply wanted audiences to see their own lives reflected" in their script. "This is about, at the end of the day, how insane love is; motherly love, sisterly love, romantic love. It's messy and impossible, but that's what makes it so incredible." Paul Brooks, president of Gold Circle Films, signed on for his company to further develop, finance and produce Because I Said So, with distribution from Universal Pictures. "I thought the script was very funny, warm and relatable," Brooks notes. "I have a wife and a daughter, and I’ve always been fascinated by their relationship. The dynamic is just so different from men. I believe women will instantly relate to this film and the people in it, and blokes like me who have wives, mothers and daughters will recognize a lot of what’s going on; and perhaps even develop a sense of understanding!" Now they needed to find a Director for the film. That position went to Michael Lehmann who had helmed the romantic comedies "40 Days and 40 Nights" and "The Truth About Cats & Dogs". He too was intriguied by the mother/daughter bond. "Obviously, I’d never experienced this kind of relationship firsthand," he noted, "but I have two sisters and a wife and a daughter, so I’ve been exposed to it throughout my life. I know it’s an incredibly loaded relationship, and I thought that the story represented it in a way that rings very true." With a director in place Golden Circle moved to the next stage. Casting the film. Luck was on their side. Co-writer and producer Jessie Nelson was good friends with actress Diane Keaton. The two had established their friendship after meeting at a Los Angeles pre-school that their daughters attended. "We became friendly, because our connection was motherhood," recalls Nelson. After reading the script, Keaton signed on for the role of Daphne. "It was clear from the way the script was conceived and the way the character was written that everything worked for Diane’s cadence and humor," Lehmann said. "Diane was perfect. When she came in and we heard her read lines for the first time, we all knew that this is exactly the kind of delivery you think about when you read the script, but Diane brought even more to it." With 'mum' cast, the team went looking for a trio of young women to play Daphne’s daughters, Milly, Maggie and Mae. The role of Milly went to talented young actress Mandy Moore. "We cast Mandy first," Nelson said. "We didn’t want to cast the other sisters until we knew who Milly was. Mandy came in and did an amazing reading and reinvented Milly. She’s got this beautiful purity and vulnerability, and we thought it would be interesting to shade her character that way." Moore says one factor in taking the role was Keaton. "To be able to work with her in any capacity is just incredibles. It’s not that working with Diane makes you want to raise your game; it just happens automatically. I would be the on-set caterer or do hair and makeup to be in a film with her." She also notes the characters connection with her own life. "Daphne and Milly’s relationship reminds me so much of my relationship with my mom. She sometimes drives me crazy, but at the end of the day, we’re best friends, and we love each other." Two time Teen Choice Awards winner Lauren Graham from "Gilmore Girls" was cast as the eldest daughter of Daphnes daughters, psychologist Maggie. "When Lauren Graham came on board, we knew she’d be a great foil for Mandy's character, who wears her heart on her sleeve. Maggie is a wisecracker; a seen it all, done it all kind of woman who can cut through a lot. Lauren exhibited that perfectly," says Nelson. And it seems that Graham, who played Lorelai Gilmore was also drawn by the Keaton Factor. "You want to be a pretend daughter worthy of that incredible wit and talent,"she said. "Diane’s very alive and present, and just really thoughtful." Cast in the role of the middle daughter and wild-child Mae, was versatile actor Piper Perabo. She says there was a great camaraderie between her, Moore and Graham. "We laughed and chatted right up until action," she recalls. "When Michael would yell 'action', we were still laughing about our own off-camera jokes and carrying on the way you would with your siblings." But what about the script’s risqué dialogue and those frank 'girl talks' about sex, husbands, boyfriends, shopping and female empowerment? "I don’t normally speak as candidly with my mom and girlfriends about anatomy and whatnot; not like these women do," notes Moore. "But I think it’s fun in a film to find out what else women do tend to talk about, and how they talk about it." With the womens roles cast the next challenge was the lead male roles of Johnny and Jason, Milly's diametrically opposed suitors, who invite a litany of Daphne's comments and critiques for Milly. "When I became involved with the film, I thought the biggest casting challenge would be the guys," says director Michael Lehmann. "These are very well-defined parts. The guys are in the movie quite a bit, and they’re crucial for telling the story. However, they have to take second position to the girls in a number of scenes. I wanted to make sure we chose actors who were capable of having strength in those roles." Gabriel Macht was cast first as the bohemian lothario Johnny, a man whom Daphne decries "has heartbreak written all over him." Macht nailed the part at his first reading. As it turns out he enjoyed working with Lehman. "Michael directed one of my favorite films, "Heathers", and a number of episodes of "The Larry Sanders Show", which is just genius. He knows comedy, how to get the laugh. I just respond well to his direction." The role of straight-laced, conservative Jason would go to Tom Everett Scott. "Tom Everett Scott was not the first person to read for the role," Lehmann recalled. "But he was the one who came in and defined it for us. I felt it was important that Jason not just be a bad person. That would oversimplify things and not be true to life. If we did that, Milly would have no real choice to make. We wanted to have Tom play Jason as someone who is ultimately sympathetic, but just the wrong choice for Milly. Tom has a great way of doing that; he never went with the 'villain within' approach." Scott agrees. "I believe they cast me because they wanted the audience to feel like Milly could end up with this guy." Stephen Collins who recently appeared with Leonardo DiCaprio in the thriller, "Blood Diamond" was cast as Jason’s father and Daphne's new romantic interest, Joe. This isn't the first time Keaton and Collins have appeared in a film together. The last time was when Collins played the snarky, cheating husband of Keaton’s character (Annie Paridis) in "The First Wives Club". Was it a hard decision to take the role? "Come on," Collins said, "another chance to kiss Diane and get paid for it? Sign me up." And with Mandy Moore in the cast, you've probably guessed the four women perform a song. Moore says she was impressed with her co-stars singing abilities. "Everybody can sing quite well," she commends. "We joked around that we should make it a girl quartet and take this show on the road. I’m such a softie for those singing moments in romantic comedies. I think it’s perfect that we have not just one, but two, in our film." On February 3rd 2006 principal filming ended. "We’ve had such a good time," recalls Graham. "That's a bonus when you’re playing a family, because it comes through. It's become this girl fest, every cliché you don’t want to be. We basically talk about boys and shopping all day." The Verdict "Guys who want to fast-track themselves towards sure sex will truly benefit from accompanying the woman of their choice to "Because I Said So". Why? Two great reasons. The first is that "Because I Said So" is heavily loaded with oodles of sex. The second is that who ever you are with at the cinema (unless it's your mum) will be totally convinced that any guy who could sit through this load of crap, laugh along with them, give them an all knowing smile at just the right moment and gaze lovingly into their eyes at the mushiest scenes, must be the 'real deal' and, is worthy of the greatest reward a male can receive. And that is? Oodles of mad, crazy, wild sex as a show of their appreciation for you being a true blue S.N.A.G. Am I serious? Yes guys I am. "Because I Said So" is a sure way to get out of your pants and into someone elses. Of course you will have to sit through what is just about the worst 'chick-flick' in years; put up with the most annoying mother in modern film history and, endure the rehashing of moments from every 'chick flick' you have, up till now, most probably managed to dodge. But if I don't want oodles of mad, crazy, wild sex just for 'doing the right thing', all I can suggest is you arrange for your mates to get you absolutely pissed and when you pass out, get them to break your leg. By the time the cast comes off, "Because I Said So" will have been relegated to the cinema trash bin. "Because I Said So" would be one of those best forgotten films if it wasn't for Mandy Moore and Gabriel Macht. Guys, see it at your own peril. When it comes to the opposite sex, I get the sneeky suspicion they may just like it. Even if it's for all the wrong reasons. 2 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "BECAUSE I SAID SO" stars .......
Mandy Moore ["A Walk to Remember", "Saved!" and "Racing Stripes"]; Gabriel Macht ["Why Would I Lie?", "The Recruit", "Behind Enemy Lines" and "The Good Shepherd"]; Tom Everett Scott ["That Thing You Do!", "Saved" and " One True Thing"]; Lauren Graham ["Evan Almighty"], Piper Perabo ["Whiteboyz", "Coyote Ugly", "The Cave" and "The Prestige"] and Academy Award ® and Golden Globe Best Actress Award winner Diane Keaton ["Looking For Mr Goodbar", "Annie Hall", "Something’s Gotta Give" and "The Family Stone"] as Daphne.
"BECAUSE I SAID SO" was .......
directed by Michael Lehmann ["The Truth About Cats & Dogs", "40 Days and 40 Nights", "Meet the Applegates" and "Hudson Hawk"]; screenplay by Karen Leigh Hopkins ["Welcome Home", "Roxy Carmichael", "Stepmom" and "A Woman’s a Helluva Thing"] and 2002 Stanley Kramer Award winner Jessie Nelson ["Corrina, Corrina", "Stepmom" and "I Am Sam"]; production design by Sharon Seymour ["The Truth About Cats & Dogs", "40 Days and 40 Nights", "Bad Santa", "Friday Night Lights" and "Flika"]; costume design by Shay Cunliffe ["The Family Stone", "Mrs Soffel", "Because I Said So" and "Mama’s Boy"]; original music by David Kitay ["Look Who's Talking 1 & 2", "Ghost World", "Bad Santa" and "Art School Confidential"] produced by Paul Brooks ["Shadow of the Vampire", "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" and "White Noise"] and Jessie Nelson ["Corrina, Corrina", "The Story Of Us" and "I Am Sam"]. Who's Who?

Diane Keaton Mandy Moore Gabriel Macht Tom Everett Scott Lauren Graham Piper Perabo Stephen Collins Ty Panitz Matt Champagne Colin Ferguson Tony Hale Judi Barton Rudolph Willrich David Purdham

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Daphne Milly Johnny Jason Maggie Mae Joe Lionel Eli Derek Stuart Jason's Mother Jason's Fatther Uncle Philip

Run Time 101 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Universal Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.