Earlier this year, Reese Witherspoon gave a brilliantly reviewed performance as Matthew Broderick's over-achieving nemesis in Alexander Payne's satirically comedy "Election." Her other recent films include "Pleasantville," written and directed by Gary Ross and co-starring William H. Macy, Joan Allen and Tobey Maguire; "Cruel Intentions," opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe; and "Twilight," with Paul Newman, Gene Hackman and Susan Sarandon.

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Witherspoon attracted the attention of audiences and critics alike with her feature film debut in Robert Mulligan's coming-of-age drama, "The Man in the Moon." She went on to play the lead in the dramatic adventure, "A Far Off Place," followed by Diane Keaton's acclaimed Lifetime feature "Wildflower" with Patricia Arquette. In 1995, Witherspoon starred opposite Mark Wahlberg in the James Foley thriller "Fear," and received rave reviews for her performance in the independent feature "Freeway," produced by Oliver Stone and directed by Matthew Bright. Witherspoon recently completed the much-anticipated upcoming film "American Psycho," starring Christian Bale.

A graduate of Yale University, Alessandro Nivola's break out role was as Nicolas Cage's brother in John Woo's hit "Face Off." His other film credits include Michael Winterbottom's "I Want You," John Hughes, "Reach the Rock" and "Inventing the Abbots" with Liv Tyler and Joaquin Phoenix. Immediately following "Best Laid Plans," Nivola will be seen starring in "Mansfield Park," based on the Jane Austen novel and Kenneth Branagh's "Love Labour's Lost," in which he makes his singing debut. On stage, Nivola received a Drama Desk Award nomination
for his starring role on Broadway in "A Month in
the Country," starring opposite Helen Mirren and F. Murray Abraham. On television, he has played opposite Brooke Shields and Nastassja Kinski.
This summer Nivola is starring with Gwyneth Paltrow in the play "As You Like It" at the
Williamstown Film Festival.

Josh Brolin's wide range of film credits include Scott Silver's "Mod Squad," with Claire Danes, Omar Epps and Giovanni Ribisi; Ole Bornedal's psychological thriller, "Nightwatch" with Nick Nolte, Patricia Arquette, and Ewan McGregor; Guillermo Del Toro's "Mimic" with Mira Sorvino, Jeremy Northam, and Charles Dutton; David O. Russell's "Flirting With Disaster," with Ben Stiller and Patricia Arquette; "Roadflower"; "Bed of Roses" with Christian Slater; and his feature film debut in Richard Donner's "Goonies."