The Object of My Affection (1998)

Directed by: Nicholas Hytner | 111 minutes | drama, comedy, romance | Actors: Paul Rudd, Kali Rocha, Jennifer Aniston, Lauren Pratt, Alan Alda, John Pankow, Nigel Hawthorne, Allison Janney, Timothy Daly, Steve Zahn, Bruce Altman, Gabriel Macht, Marilyn Dobrin

The Object of My Affection is based on Stephen McCauley’s 1987 book of the same name. The filmmaker, Nicholas Hytner, also seems to have a preference for literary film adaptations. His earlier films ‘The Madness of King George’ and ‘Crucible’ are both based on plays. ‘The Object of My Affection’ is a film that gets off to a slow start. Once you get into the story, it immediately picks up speed. The film demands that you see it from the beginning. With some movies you can easily fall in the middle of the story, clearly not here. The film has too many characters that are connected to each other in different ways. In addition, the main characters experience a character development during the story, which you as a viewer have to follow completely in order not to lose track.

It is great to see that the filmmaker has succeeded in making a good unity out of a cast consisting of diverse actors. The cast is a mix of actors and actresses, who have appeared in both the film world and TV series. Jennifer Aniston is one of the few actors from the TV series ‘Friends’ who has actually separated from her character from that TV series. In ‘The Object of My Affection’ she plays Nina Borowski, a woman who has trouble committing herself. She has a steady boyfriend Vince McBride (John Pankow), but doesn’t want to live with him. Her choice falls on George Hanson (Paul Rudd), a gay man who has just been dumped by his boyfriend. Everyone thinks there’s more to it. Despite their denying this, something that seems to be more than just an ordinary friendship grows. The symbolism of this is aptly depicted in the dance lessons they follow. Their friends and family don’t understand what they are doing. After all, it can never become more than a friendship.

Paul Rudd has succeeded well in portraying a sensitive gay man, who even starts to doubt his sexual preference. He knows how to display his inner struggle in a refreshing way. Furthermore, in the many supporting roles, the presence of John Pankow, Alan Alda, Steve Zahn and Nigel Hawthorne, among others, stands out. John Pankow later broke through in the TV series ‘Mad About You’, but laid a good foundation for his breakthrough with the portrayal of Vince McBride. Alan Alda really needs no introduction. He also gained fame with a TV series (‘M*A*S*H’). In ‘The Object of My Affection’ he plays Sidney Miller, a good boy who is married to a bitch of a woman who is only after his money. Steve Zahn plays George’s brother, Frank Hanson, who likes to chase the women. He tries in every possible way to literally sell his brother. The way he promotes men is very comical. Nigel Hawthorne excellently plays the role of Rodney Fraser, a warm welcoming aging gay man. He also gained real fame with his appearance in a TV series (‘Yes, (Prime) Minister’). His portrayal of George III in both the movie ‘The Madness of King George’ and the play of the same name has won him many critical acclaim and awards. The film was also by filmmaker Nicholas Hytner.

After watching ‘The Object of My Affection’ you have a strong feeling that the filmmaker has left out certain parts of the book. At the end of the film we even make a time jump of nine years. This seems very unnatural because the characters go through such a development in the space of one year. And in nine years since, nothing happens and they just got older. Nevertheless, ‘The Object of My Affection’ is a good mix of drama and romance, especially because of the good acting.