Kristen Stewart is now a star. It's really a shame. She could once do interesting work, as in this film and 'Adventureland'. However she will be forever known as the sulky starlet from the Terrible Tale of Taut, Teethy, Toddlers in the Twilight Teeniverse. Stephanie Meyer has a lot to answer for.
Mary Stuart Masterson makes her debut here as director, yet is better known as the cool tomboy drummer, Watts from 'Some Kind of Wonderful'. She also starred opposite Sean Penn in 'At Close Range' and with Johnny Depp in 'Benny and Joon'. Here, her approach is more subtle. She doesn't overcompensate with her low budget, she settles on steady shots allowing the characters to reveal the story.
It's a rural life, but all is not calm. Easy (Bruce Dern) lives with his two grown sons, one of whom has just returned after three years away, missing his mother's sickness and funeral. There are a few issues to sort out. Meanwhile, school girl Georgie (Kristen Stewart) is struggling under her dominating mother. As if her terminal illness isn't bad enough. She simply want to experience a normal life while she can. In short, she wants to lose her virginity. Can cafeteria worker Beagle, who is Easy's son, fill the void?
There is more here than meets the eye. The relationships are complicated and sometimes not everything can worked out. We all must compromise and yet some people can't see past themselves. Everyone has needs, from the young to the old and we're just struggling to be accepted, preferably by someone we connect with.
It feels like a novel and yet the script was written by Jayce Bartok, who plays Easy's eldest son Guy. Its a competent piece of work. It's not a film that will wrench your emotions from your gut, but as time wears on, you invest more into the characters and find yourself wanting even more. Sometimes it feels as though scenes are missing. In fact the German Film Market version was supposed to run 100 minutes. Here's its under 85. It was enough, but a few extra scenes more might have fleshed it out and made it a more complete experience.
Nevertheless, wonderful performances, especially by the excellent Bruce Dern (Big Love, Silent Running) and TV & Stage star, Elizabeth Ashley and a nice beginning for Mary Stuart Masterson, who I hope continues on her directorial drive.
It's more deserving than a Kristen Stewart curio, but if it gets people to it, then let them eat cake.
Mary Stuart Masterson makes her debut here as director, yet is better known as the cool tomboy drummer, Watts from 'Some Kind of Wonderful'. She also starred opposite Sean Penn in 'At Close Range' and with Johnny Depp in 'Benny and Joon'. Here, her approach is more subtle. She doesn't overcompensate with her low budget, she settles on steady shots allowing the characters to reveal the story.
It's a rural life, but all is not calm. Easy (Bruce Dern) lives with his two grown sons, one of whom has just returned after three years away, missing his mother's sickness and funeral. There are a few issues to sort out. Meanwhile, school girl Georgie (Kristen Stewart) is struggling under her dominating mother. As if her terminal illness isn't bad enough. She simply want to experience a normal life while she can. In short, she wants to lose her virginity. Can cafeteria worker Beagle, who is Easy's son, fill the void?
There is more here than meets the eye. The relationships are complicated and sometimes not everything can worked out. We all must compromise and yet some people can't see past themselves. Everyone has needs, from the young to the old and we're just struggling to be accepted, preferably by someone we connect with.
It feels like a novel and yet the script was written by Jayce Bartok, who plays Easy's eldest son Guy. Its a competent piece of work. It's not a film that will wrench your emotions from your gut, but as time wears on, you invest more into the characters and find yourself wanting even more. Sometimes it feels as though scenes are missing. In fact the German Film Market version was supposed to run 100 minutes. Here's its under 85. It was enough, but a few extra scenes more might have fleshed it out and made it a more complete experience.
Nevertheless, wonderful performances, especially by the excellent Bruce Dern (Big Love, Silent Running) and TV & Stage star, Elizabeth Ashley and a nice beginning for Mary Stuart Masterson, who I hope continues on her directorial drive.
It's more deserving than a Kristen Stewart curio, but if it gets people to it, then let them eat cake.