Claim: Duane Hopwood includes a screenwriter.

Duane Hopwood is a 2005 film featured in the Sundance Film Festival starring David Schwimmer and Janeane Garofalo , with a supporting cast featuring Judah Friedlander , Dick Cavett , Susan Lynch , John Krasinski , Rachel Covey , and Mia Dillon . The movie was written and directed by Matt Mulhern and released by IFC Films in November 2005 .   The film 's plot centers on the title character -LRB- Schwimmer -RRB- , an alcoholic whose life is spiraling downward rapidly after his divorce from Linda -LRB- Garofalo -RRB- .   The movie , writer/director Matt Mulhern 's second film , was well received by critics , named by Roger Ebert as `` one of the best movies of 2005 . '' He also said that David Schwimmer gave a `` career-transforming performance . '' IFC did not release the film in New York City or Los Angeles , focusing instead on Philadelphia , Tucson and Kansas City . HBO released the DVD in April 2006 and Showtime and The Movie Channel began the cable run in December 2006 .