Swept Away

Swept Away Information

Swept Away is a 2002 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. The film is a remake of Lina Wertmüller's 1974 film of the same name. It received generally negative reviews from critics and was a box office failure.

Plot

Amber Leighton is 40: beautiful, rich, spoiled, and arrogant beyond measure. Nothing makes this woman happy, including her wealthy but passive husband, Tony, 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. 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.

Cast

Madonna as Amber Leighton
Adriano Giannini as Giuseppe Esposito
Bruce Greenwood as Tony Leighton
Elizabeth Banks as Debi
Jeanne Tripplehorn as Marina
Michael Beattie as Todd
David Thornton as Michael

Production

The film's working title was Love, Sex, Drugs and Money 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 1 October 2001 until 9 November 2001 with security increased due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 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.

Release

Critical reception

Swept Away received almost universally negative reviews; it currently holds a 5% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It holds an 18 out of 100 on Metacritic.

Box office

The film was a box office bomb; from a $10 million budget, it grossed $598,645 in the United States. 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.

Accolades

The film was awarded five awards at the 2002 Golden Raspberry Awards:

Worst Picture
Worst Actress - Madonna
Worst Screen Couple - Madonna and Giannini
Worst Remake or Sequel
Worst Director - Guy Ritchie

In addition, the film was nominated for Worst Screenplay (written 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." Madonna even won the Worst Supporting Actress award that same year (for Die Another Day).

Soundtrack

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.

Home media

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.