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Principal photography began in April 2008 in Los Angeles, California. As an independent production, it was picked up for distribution by Fox Searchlight Pictures and premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. It was a hit with audiences and received a standing ovation at the festival. It later went on wide release in the US on August 7, 2009, on September 2, 2009, in the UK and Ireland, and on September 17, 2009, in Australia. The film went on to achieve widespread success. It garnered critical acclaim and became a successful "sleeper hit", earning over $60 million in worldwide returns, far exceeding its $7.5 million budget. Many critics lauded the film as one of the best from 2009, seeing it featured in many year end lists and drawing comparisons to other acclaimed films such as Annie Hall, High Fidelity, and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. The film also received numerous awards and nominations; including Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber receiving the 2009 Satellite Award for Best Original Screenplay and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay. Notable nominations included two at the 67th Golden Globe Awards, for Best Picture (Musical or Comedy), and a nomination for Joseph Gordon-Levitt for Best Actor (Musical or Comedy). |