Wikipedia

You've Got Mail

You've Got Mailis a 1998 Americanromantic comedyfilm directed byNora Ephron,and starringTom HanksandMeg RyanalongsideParker Posey,Jean Stapleton,Dave Chappelle,Steve Zahn,andGreg Kinnear.Inspired by the 1937 Hungarian playParfumeriebyMiklós László(which had earlier been adapted in 1940 asThe Shop Around the Cornerand in 1949 asIn the Good Old Summertime),[3]the screenplay was co-written by Nora andDelia Ephron.It tells the story of two people in anonline romancewho are unaware they are also business rivals. It marked the third pairing of Hanks and Ryan, who previously appeared together inJoe Versus the Volcano(1990) andSleepless in Seattle(1993), the latter directed by Ephron. The film takes its name from the greetingAOLusers receive when they get a new email.

You've Got Mail
Theatrical release poster
Directed byNora Ephron
Screenplay by
Based on
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJohn Lindley
Edited byRichard Marks
Music byGeorge Fenton
Production
company
Distributed byWarner Bros.
Release date
  • December 18, 1998(1998-12-18)
Running time
119 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$65 million[2]
Box office$250.8 million[2]

Plot

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On Manhattan'sUpper West Side,Kathleen Kelly runs The Shop Around the Corner, an independent children's bookstore she inherited from her mother. She is in a relationship with Frank Navasky, a left-leaning columnist forThe New York Observer.[a]While Frank is devoted to his typewriter, Kathleen prefers her laptop and using herAOLemail account, under thescreen name"Shopgirl", to exchange messages with "NY152", whom she first met in a chatroom. As they have agreed not to share specifics about their personal lives, she knows nothing about him other than the name of his dog, Brinkley.

"NY152" is the screen name of Joe Fox,[b]who is dating abrasive publisher Patricia Eden, and whose family runs Fox Books, a major chain of bookstores. He is overseeing the opening of a new storefront with help from his best friend, branch manager Kevin, just a few blocks from The Shop Around the Corner. Kathleen's three shop assistants—George, Aunt Birdie, and Christina—worry the new Fox Books will hurt business, but Kathleen dismisses their concerns.

Following an outing with his 11-year-old aunt Annabel and 4-year-old half-brother Matthew, Joe stops at Kathleen's store for a storytime event. Joe and Kathleen meet and have a pleasant conversation, but when she expresses disdain for the new Fox Books store, he withholds his last name and leaves abruptly with the children. Later that week, Kathleen and Joe meet again at a book publishing party, and she learns his true identity. She accuses him of deception and spying, while he belittles her store, earning each other's hostility.

"Shopgirl" writes to "NY152" asking for business advice, and he urges her to fight back. Frank pens a column in support of The Shop Around the Corner that draws widespread attention, leading to talk show appearances, news coverage, and picketing outside Fox Books. Joe is aggravated by the negative publicity, but his father assures him everything will blow over once the new store opens.

"Shopgirl" and "NY152" decide to meet at a café. Joe, peeking through the window, is dismayed to find that his pen pal is actually his professional nemesis. He initially walks away, then changes his mind and joins her at the table without revealing his online identity. They clash once again, and Kathleen cruelly insults him, causing Joe to leave in distress. Later that night, he receives an email from "Shopgirl", sharing that she finally stood up to an unpleasant person but now feels terrible for doing so. After several attempts to make up a story and realizing that he couldn't lie to her, "NY152" apologizes for "what happened", and assures Kathleen that anything she said was likely deserved.

Despite efforts to save The Shop Around the Corner, business steadily declines, while the newly opened Fox Books location thrives. Kathleen makes the difficult decision to close. Later, she and Frank amicably end their relationship. Kathleen takes a break to figure out her next move, ultimately taking inspiration from her correspondence with "NY152" to write children's books. Meanwhile, after breaking up with Patricia, Joe realizes his own feelings for Kathleen and slowly builds a face-to-face relationship with her, still keeping his online identity a secret.

Eventually, "NY152" arranges another meeting with "Shopgirl". Right before she is to meet her online friend, Joe confesses his feelings, imploring her to forgive him for their past animosity. Kathleen becomes emotional, hinting that she feels the same way but cannot bring herself to forego her feelings for "NY152". Upon arriving at the meeting place, she hears a man's voice calling for Brinkley and sees that "NY152" is, in fact, Joe Fox. Kathleen cries tears of joy and reveals that she hoped it would be him, and they share a kiss.

Cast

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Production

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Influences

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You've Got Mailis based on the 1937 Hungarian playParfumeriebyMiklós Lászlóand its adaptations.[5]Parfumeriewas later remade asThe Shop Around the Corner,a 1940 film byErnst Lubitsch,which in 1949 was adapted as a musical film,In the Good Old SummertimebyRobert Z. LeonardstarringJudy GarlandandVan Johnsonand, finally, in 1963 as aBroadwaymusical withShe Loves MebyJerry BockandSheldon Harnick(composer and lyricist, respectively, ofFiddler on the Roof).You've Got Mailupdates that concept with the use of email, and the lead character's workplace is named "The Shop Around the Corner" as a nod to the 1940 film.[6]Influences fromJane Austen'sPride and Prejudicecan also be seen in the relationship between Joe Fox and Kathleen Kelly—a reference pointed out by these characters actually discussing Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet in the film. The joke when Tom Hanks explains that the little girl is really his aunt is taken fromIsrael Zangwill's story "A New Matrimonial Relation" inThe Bachelors' Club(1891).[7]

Filming

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Principal photographytook place primarily on New York City'sUpper West Side.Principal photography began on February 25, 1998, and completed on June 8, 1998.[8][6][9][10]

Delia Ephron,recalling the film's bookstore setting, said, "Once we decided that she would be an independent bookstore owner, the reason we made it a children's bookstore is, I think, we always tried to make movies as personal as we could. To find the thing in it that was personal. And we grew up loving children's books more than anything."[9]Nora Ephronsimilarly remarked in the film's audio commentary, "This was something that was very important to us—that there be first editions of old children's books. It's part of what make [sic] this a serious bookstore. We wanted to sell the idea that this was a place that really cared about the history of children's literature."[9]Additionally, Ephron had Ryan and Burns rehearse and work atBooks of Wonder,an independent New York City children's bookstore, for a week prior to filming in order to get them into character.[11]The filming location used as the bookstore was at 106 West 69th Street, at that time Maya Shaper's Cheese and Antique Shop.[12]

Michael Palinwas initially cast as a reclusive novelist based onThomas Pynchon,but his scenes were cut from the film.[9][13]

Website

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The film's original website remained live until at least May 10, 2018.[14]The website has proven to be fodder for criticism of web design from the 1990s.[15][16][17]

Soundtrack

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Main article:You've Got Mail (soundtrack)

Asoundtrackwas released on December 1, 1998, featuring a mixture of classics from the 1950s and 1970s, particularly the work ofHarry Nilsson,as well as new original recordings and covers.[18]The score to the film was written by English composerGeorge Fenton.[19]

Reception

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Box office

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You've Got Mailgrossed $115.8 million in the United States and Canada, and $135 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $250.8 million.[2]The film debuted at number one at the North American box office aboveThe Prince of Egypt,earning $18.4 million on its opening weekend.[20]

Critical response

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On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,You've Got Mailholds an approval rating of 70% based on 89 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "Great chemistry between the leads made this a warm and charming delight."[21]Metacritic,which uses aweighted average,assigned the film a score of 58 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[22]Audiences surveyed byCinemaScoregave the film a grade of A− on a scale of A to F.[23]

Roger Ebertof theChicago Sun-Timesgave the film three-out-of-four stars and lauded the "immensely lovable" main characters.[24]Janet MaslinofThe New York Timesalso praised the film, writing of the leads, "Ms. Ryan plays her role blithely and credibly this time, with an air of freshness, a minimum of cute fidgeting and a lot of fond chemistry with Mr. Hanks. And he continues to amaze. Once again, he fully inhabits a new role without any obvious actorly behavior, to the point where comparisons toJames Stewart... really cannot be avoided. "[25]Lael Loewenstein ofVarietysimilarly called it a "winning romantic comedy" and praised the chemistry between Hanks and Ryan, writing, "they show why they are two of Hollywood's most bankable and, in many ways, most traditional stars."[26]andGene Shaliton theToday Showcalled the film "exciting and enchanting".

Nathan RabinofThe A.V. Clubdisliked the film, and wrote: "Takes almost two self-infatuated, smarmy, condescending, cringe-inducingly sentimental hours to reach its pre-ordained conclusion" and called the film "almost unwatchably saccharine, representing pretty much everything wrong with today's big-budget, high-concept Hollywood filmmaking."[27]Michael O'Sullivan ofThe Washington Postcriticized the film's use ofproduct placementand its overly "adorable" characters, writing, "For some reason, this film made me feel like a Christmas goose being fattened for slaughter. Its force-fed diet of whimsy cloyed long before the eagerly anticipated romantic payoff arrived to put me out of my misery."[28]Maitland McDonagh also criticized the incongruous product placement "In a film about the ruthless corporate destruction of small businesses, it's hard not to flinch at the prominent placement accorded IBM, Starbucks, and AOL logos."[29]Rolling Stonelater includedYou've Got Mailin their list of "Most Egregious Product Placements in Movie & TV History" for the film's frequent use ofAOLtrademarks (AOL would later merge with film distributor Warner Bros' parent companyTime Warnerto formAOL Time Warnerin 2000).[30]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
American Comedy Awards February 7, 1999 Funniest Actress in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Meg Ryan Nominated [31]
Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role) Tom Hanks Nominated
Blockbuster Entertainment Awards June 16, 1999 Favorite Actor - Comedy/Romance Nominated [32]
Favorite Actress - Comedy/Romance Meg Ryan Won
Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy/Romance Greg Kinnear Won
BMI Film & TV Awards January 1, 1999 BMI Film Music Award George Fenton Won [33]
Golden Globe Awards January 24, 1999 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Meg Ryan Nominated [34]
Kids' Choice Awards May 1, 1999 Favorite Movie Actress Nominated [35]
Satellite Awards January 17, 1999 Best Actress – Musical or Comedy Nominated [36]
Best Film – Musical or Comedy You've Got Mail Nominated
Best Original Song "Anyone at All" Nominated

Notes

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  1. ^Frank Navasky was named after Nora Ephron's "friendVictor Navasky,[at the time the] publisher and editorial director ofThe Nation...."[4]
  2. ^Joe Fox was named "after a book editor and former boyfriend [of Nora Ephron] who died in 1995."[4]

References

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  1. ^"You've Got Mail(PG) ".British Board of Film Classification.January 11, 1999. Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2016.RetrievedDecember 3,2016.
  2. ^abc"You've Got Mail (1998)".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedMarch 5,2024.
  3. ^Rossen, Jake (August 17, 2016)."9 Movies That Are Remakes of Remakes".Mental Floss.Archivedfrom the original on August 18, 2019.RetrievedSeptember 11,2021.
  4. ^abSmith, Dinitia(December 13, 1998)."She's a Director With an Edge: She's a Writer".FILM.The New York Times.
  5. ^Ng, David (November 27, 2013)."'Parfumerie,' a 1936 Hungarian play, is an overlooked inspiration ".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  6. ^abKing, Susan (May 6, 1999)."With 'You've Got Mail,' You Get Lots of Other Goodies Too".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 24, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  7. ^Falk, Lilian (March 14, 2018)."The Master:Reclaiming Zangwill's Only Künstlerroman ".English Literature in Transition, 1880–1920.44(3):275–296.Archivedfrom the original on July 21, 2018.RetrievedMarch 14,2018– viaProject Muse.
  8. ^"You've Got Mail".prod.tcm.com.
  9. ^abcdCarlson, Erin (February 13, 2015)."You've Got Nora: A Valentine's Day Tribute to Nora Ephron".Vanity Fair.Archivedfrom the original on October 13, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  10. ^Etkin, Jaimie (December 19, 2013)."The" You've Got Mail "Guide To New York".BuzzFeed.Archivedfrom the original on September 21, 2020.RetrievedMarch 3,2018.
  11. ^Todd Van, Luling (May 19, 2015)."5 Things You Didn't Know About 'You've Got Mail'".The Huffington Post.Archivedfrom the original on October 29, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  12. ^Garrett, Amber (December 12, 2018)."'You've Got Mail' Turns 20 Years Old — See How Much the Upper West Side Has Changed ".Distractify.
  13. ^Palin, Michael(2014).Travelling to Work: Diaries 1988–1998.London:Weidenfeld & Nicolson.pp.470–71,504.ISBN978-0-297-84441-9.
  14. ^"You've Got Mail".Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2018.
  15. ^Maggs, Sam(January 30, 2014)."The You've Got Mail Website From 1998 Is Still Up And Wow The Internet Was Terrible Then".The Mary Sue.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.
  16. ^Logan, Megan (August 2, 2016)."6 Highlights from the Original 'You've Got Mail' Website".Inverse.Archivedfrom the original on July 10, 2019.
  17. ^Foy, Kenya (October 12, 2016)."The website for the movie 'You've Got Mail' is a '90s web design time capsule, and we're obsessed".HelloGiggles.RetrievedMarch 5,2024.
  18. ^Erlewine, Stephen Thomas.You've Got MailatAllMusic
  19. ^Clemmensen, Christian (April 1, 1999)."You've Got Mail soundtrack review".Filmtracks.Archivedfrom the original on November 10, 2015.RetrievedOctober 14,2015.
  20. ^King, Susan (December 22, 1998)."Weekend Box Office".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on November 4, 2012.RetrievedNovember 10,2011.
  21. ^"You've Got Mail".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedJuly 11,2022.
  22. ^"You've Got Mail".Metacritic.RetrievedFebruary 4,2024.
  23. ^"You've Got Mail (1998) A−".CinemaScore.Archived fromthe originalon December 20, 2018.
  24. ^Ebert, Roger(December 18, 1998)."You've Got Mail Movie Review (1998)".Chicago Sun-Times.Archivedfrom the original on July 8, 2014.RetrievedOctober 13,2015– viaRogerEbert.com.
  25. ^Maslin, Janet(December 18, 1998)."Film Review; hanks&[email protected]".The New York Times.Archivedfrom the original on October 2, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  26. ^Loewenstein, Lael (December 13, 1998)."Review: 'You've Got Mail'".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on January 7, 2016.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  27. ^Rabin, Nathan(January 29, 2003)."You've Got Mail".The A.V. Club.Archived fromthe originalon April 26, 2003.
  28. ^O'Sullivan, Michael (December 18, 1998)."'Mail': Pushing Your Buttons ".The Washington Post.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  29. ^McDonagh, Maitland."You've Got Mail".TV Guide.Archived fromthe originalon May 10, 2020.RetrievedMay 18,2020.
  30. ^Kroll, Katy (June 4, 2013)."The Most Egregious Product Placements in Movie & TV History".Rolling Stone.Archivedfrom the original on October 26, 2015.RetrievedOctober 13,2015.
  31. ^You've Got Mail Awards - List of awards won by You've Got Mail, including award nominations - FamousFix.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024– via www.famousfix.com.
  32. ^"Star-Studded Excitement of Fifth Annual Blockbuster Entertainment Awards(R) Featured at www.blockbuster.com -- re> DALLAS, June 16 /PRNewswire/ --".June 20, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon June 20, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.
  33. ^"BMI Film/TV Awards: 1999".BMI.com.January 1, 1999.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.
  34. ^Hontz, Bill Higgins,Jenny (December 17, 1998)."'Truman,' Bard win noms ".Variety.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.{{cite web}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^"This Day in Pop: Britney performs at the Kids' Choice Awards 1999 (May 01)".BreatheHeavy | Exhale.May 2, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.
  36. ^"INTERNATIONAL PRESS ACADEMY: SATELLITE: Awards".February 1, 2008. Archived fromthe originalon February 1, 2008.RetrievedSeptember 25,2024.
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