| Highball | |
| Director: | Noah Baumbach |
| Producer: | Joel Castleberg |
| Cinematography: | Steven Bernstein |
| Editing: | J. Kathleen Gibson |
| Runtime: | 90 minutes |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
Highball is a 2002 American comedy film[1] directed by Noah Baumbach, and written by Baumbach, Carlos Jacott, and Christopher Reed. The film was shot over six days in 1997, financed with money left over from Baumbach's previous film Mr. Jealousy. Highball was never completed to Baumbach's satisfaction and he ultimately abandoned it.[2] In April 2002,[3] a version of the film assembled by the producers was released on VHS[4] against Baumbach's wishes.[5] Upon release, the film was credited as having been directed by "Ernie Fusco" and written by "Jesse Carter" after being disowned by Baumbach and his co-writers.[6] [7] [8]
Diane, part of a newly married couple, Travis and Diane, decides to improve her social life by throwing three great parties and inviting people to their Brooklyn apartment. The film follows this pursuit over the course of a year.
Friends' (Justine Bateman, Peter Bogdanovich, Dean Cameron) relationships are tested during a birthday party, a Halloween party and a New Year's Eve party.
Baumbach has removed his credit for the film, explaining in an interview with The A.V. Club:
The Making Of Highball is a 75-minute featurette which includes interviews with Joel Kastelberg, Christopher Reed, Lauren Katz, John Lehr, Rae Dawn Chong, Peter Bogdanovich, and Dean Cameron.[9]