Synopsis
Based on stories by Raymond Carver, Short Cuts follows 22 Los Angeles residents whose lives intersect over the course of a few days. Ann and Howard Finnegan (
Andie MacDowell and
Bruce Davison) are preparing for their son Casey's birthday party when the boy is injured in an auto accident and falls into a coma. Meanwhile, Andy (
Lyle Lovett), a baker, seethes with anger over the birthday cake that wasn't claimed, and Howard's father, Paul (
Jack Lemmon), decides that a visit with his ailing grandson is a good time to discuss his infidelities. Lois (
Jennifer Jason Leigh) is a new mother who watches over her baby when not making money doing phone sex, which bothers her husband, Jerry (
Chris Penn), though he knows they need the money. Pilot "Stormy" Weathers (
Peter Gallagher) takes a very literal approach to dividing up community property with his ex-wife (
Frances McDormand). Doreen (
Lily Tomlin) is trying on to hold her marriage with Earl (
Tom Waits), who is a good man on the rare occasions that he's sober. Zoe (
Lori Singer), a classical musician, is trying to find some way to connect with her mother, Tess (
Annie Ross), a jazz singer. Dr. Ralph Wyman (
Matthew Modine) and his wife, Marian (
Julianne Moore) put their bickering on hold while they have dinner with another couple, Stuart and Claire Kane (
Fred Ward and
Anne Archer). Stuart and his pals Gordon and Vern (
Buck Henry and Huey Lewis) earlier went on a fishing trip where they discovered the body of a drowned woman but decided not to report it until the end of the weekend. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide