Pieces of April
Directed by:
Peter HedgesScreenplay:
Peter HedgesCinematography:
Tami ReikerComposer:
Stephin MerrittCast:
Katie Holmes, Oliver Platt, Patricia Clarkson, Derek Luke, Alison Pill, John Gallagher Jr., Alice Drummond, Adrian Martinez, Sean Hayes, Isiah Whitlock Jr. (more)VOD (2)
Plots(1)
April Burns (Katie Holmes) has never been on good terms with her mother, Joy (Patricia Clarkson), but in a burst of goodwill she's volunteered to host her family for Thanksgiving at the Lower East Side apartment she shares with her boyfriend, Bobby (Derek Luke). As if preparing a holiday feast isn't pressure enough, she discovers her oven is broken and has to search her building for one that works, making appeals to an eclectic array of neighbors. Meanwhile, the Burns family is speeding down the highway towards New York while recounting April's failures. April's father, Jim (Oliver Platt), is determined to have a nice day, but Joy persists in undermining his plans. While perfect daughter Beth (Alison Pill) reminds everyone of her sister's faults and Grandma Dottie (Alice Drummond) can barely remember anyone's name, youngest child Timmy (John Gallagher, Jr.) dodges emotional bullets by photographing every awkward moment. Pieces of April is a poignant and funny look at a day in the life of a family striving to create new memories while making peace with the old. (official distributor synopsis)
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Reviews (1)
A small conversational film with plenty of small jokes, showcasing Hollywood star Katie Holmes in a somewhat different role than her fans usually know her for. While it's worth just a one-time watch, I enjoyed it decently; the humor was mostly effective, and the screenplay doesn't slide into awkwardness at any point. It's a comedy about a crazy culinary attempt that nobody believed would succeed. The film may not excite, but it earned my sympathy. Overall impression: 60%. The film's shortcoming is a certain imbalance, partly due to the tight budget.
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Photo © 2003 United Artists
