| Swept Away | |
|---|---|
Theatrical release poster |
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| Directed by | Guy Ritchie |
| Produced by | Matthew Vaughn |
| Written by | Guy Ritchie |
| Starring | Madonna Adriano Giannini Bruce Greenwood Elizabeth Banks |
| Music by | Michel Colombier |
| Cinematography | Alex Barber |
| Editing by | Eddie Hamilton |
| Studio | SKA Films |
| Distributed by | Medusa Distribuzione (Italy) Screen Gems Fox Searchlight |
| Release date(s) | October 11, 2002 (United States) May 12, 2003 (United Kingdom) May 23, 2003 (Italy) |
| Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | Italy United Kingdom |
| Language | English Greek Italian |
| Budget | $10 million[1] |
| Box office | $598,645[1] |
Swept Away is a 2002 Franco-British romantic comedy film directed by Guy Ritchie and starring Madonna, Adriano Giannini, and Bruce Greenwood. It was released by Screen Gems and produced by Matthew Vaughn. It received generally negative reviews from critics and was a box office failure.
Contents |
Amber Leighton (Madonna) is 40, beautiful, rich, spoiled, and arrogant beyond measure. Nothing makes this woman happy, including her wealthy but passive husband, Tony (Bruce Greenwood), a pharmaceutical kingpin.
When Tony takes her on a private cruise from Greece to Italy with two other couples, Amber is unimpressed by this impromptu no-frills vacation and takes out her anger on the ship's first mate, Giuseppe Esposito (Adriano Giannini). When a storm leaves the two shipwrecked on a deserted island, however, the tables suddenly turn, with Giuseppe gaining the upper hand, followed by the two falling in love.
The film's working title was Love, Sex, Drugs and Money[2] but changed back to the original title. It is a remake of the 1974 Italian film Swept Away by an Unusual Destiny in the Blue Sea of August, which starred Giancarlo Giannini and Mariangela Melato and was directed by Lina Wertmüller.
It was filmed in Sardinia and Malta from October 1, 2001 until November 9, 2001 with security increased due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.[3] Madonna had only finished her 2001 Drowned World Tour, two weeks prior to filming.
Adriano Giannini is the son of Giancarlo Giannini, who plays the same role in the 1974 film.
Swept Away received almost universally negative reviews; it currently holds a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with the consensus "Muddled and lacking the political context of the original, Swept Away offers further proof that Madonna can't act."[4] It holds an 18 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "overwhelming dislike".[5]
The film was a box office bomb, having a budget of $10 million but grossing $598,645 in the United States.[1] It was shown only on 196 screens for two weeks, dropping down to 59 in the final third week of release. In Italy, it grossed €71,575 and in Spain €105,371 from 174 screens.[6]
The film was awarded five awards at the 2002 Golden Raspberry Awards:
In addition, the film was nominated for Worst Screenplay (by Ritchie), and Giannini for Worst Actor. The film holds the distinction of being the first film to win both Worst Picture and Worst Remake or Sequel. However, in his otherwise negative review of the film, Slant Magazine critic Ed Gonzalez said: "Madonna gives her best performance since Abel Ferrara had her beaten to a pulp in his Dangerous Game."[7] Madonna even won the Worst Supporting Actress award that same year (for her performance in Die Another Day).
| Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Swept Away | ||||
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| Soundtrack album by Michel Colombier | ||||
| Released | October 15, 2002 | |||
| Genre | Film score, Pop | |||
| Length | 43:28 | |||
| Label | Varèse Sarabande | |||
| Guy Ritchie film soundtracks chronology | ||||
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The score to Swept Away was composed by Michel Colombier, and it is mostly his work that is featured on the 12-track soundtrack album. The soundtrack also contain several songs by other artists. "Come On-a My House", sung by Della Reese, is the only one featured on the album.
Songs from the film not featured on the album include "Lovely Head" by Goldfrapp (played during the opening credits), "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" by Louis Jordan (the charades scene), and "Fade into You" by Mazzy Star (as Amber and Pepe experience life on the island together). Arvo Pärt's "Spiegel im Spiegel" plays during the closing moments and end credits of the film.
In the United Kingdom, the film was released straight-to-video by Columbia Tristar Home Entertainment. The DVD special features include a filmmakers' commentary with Ritchie and Matthew Vaughn, an interview with Ritchie and Madonna, 16 deleted scenes, Movie Special (making of), theatrical trailers, and filmographies.
| Awards | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Freddy Got Fingered |
Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Picture 23rd Golden Raspberry Awards |
Succeeded by Gigli |
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