Pieces of April

Rating:
Summary: Not exactly Rockwell's vision
Review: You may have seen the famous Norman Rockwell painting, "Freedom from Want", which depicts the idealized American family gathered around the quintessential Thanksgiving table as the turkey is presented for carving. PIECES OF APRIL it's not.

April Burns (Katie Holmes) lives in a New York City apartment with her boyfriend Bobby (Derek Luke), and the film opens as the two begin to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for the rest of April's family, which is driving in from out of town for the ordeal.

Joy Burns (Patricia Clarkson) is dying of the metastatic cancer that has already cost her both her breasts, a surgical transformation suitably documented in the family photo album. She expects this Thanksgiving to be a disaster since daughter April was a more into drugs than Home Ec. Indeed, to say she and April are estranged is an understatement. But husband Jim (Oliver Platt) persuades her, so off they go in the station wagon with their other children, daughter Beth (Alison Pill) and son Timmy (John Gallagher), and Joy's senile mother Dottie (Alice Drummond) for what may well be Joy's last Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, as Bobby goes out on a mysterious errand, April is faced with a non-functional oven, which forces her to desperately beg the other tenants in the building for the necessary range time to cook the traditional bird. Time is running short, and the rest of the clan is getting closer despite frequent stops for Joy to vomit from the nausea induced by her chemotherapy. And it also appears that the family doesn't know that April lives in a decrepit tenement in a graffiti-decorated slum, nor that Bobby is Black. The Burns festive occasion promises to make your dysfunctional Turkey Day look like a Martha Stewart showcase event in comparison.

Clarkson was deservedly nominated for, but didn't receive, an Oscar for this performance in a supporting role. She's more the "star" of PIECES OF APRIL than the ostensible lead, Holmes. The Bobby, Beth and Timmy characters are almost an unnecessary distraction. More interesting are April's neighbors which give her help, or not, especially the very strange Wayne (Sean Hayes) and the middle-age Afro-American couple, Evette (Lillias White) and Eugene (Isiah Whitlock). There's an especially good scene involving Evette's initial reaction to April when the latter first appears seeking help for her culinary crisis.

The movie's abrupt conclusion after eighty-one minutes leaves much to be desired. One wonders if the scriptwriter ran out of ideas or the producers out of money. But there's still enough there to make the film more than worth the cost of the rental. And, next Thanksgiving with the relatives, perhaps you won't take those mashed potatoes for granted.

Rating:
Summary: Patricia Clarkson shines in her Oscar nominated performance
Review: A common theme in a movie about Thanksgiving is for the prodigal to return to the bosom of their family; if you just show up at Christmas you have to bring presents for everybody, but if you come home for Turkey Day you get fed the big meal with all the trimmings. "Pieces of April" turns the common theme upside down because April Burns (Katie Holmes), the black sheep of the Burns clan, has invited her family to the Lower East Side apartment in New York City to have Thanksgiving dinner. So April's Mom (Patricia Clarkson), Dad (Oliver Platt), Sister (Alison Pill), Brother (John Gallagher, Jr.) and Grandma (Alice Drummond), all get into the family station wagon and head for the big bad city (but after stopping at Krispy Kremes to make sure they do not starve to death).

Writer-director Peter Hedges alternates between the two halves of the story as April tries to find somebody in her apartment building who has a working stove she can borrow to cook her turkey (not to mention the things she has stuffed into the bird), while her family tries to make it without imploding along the way. April's sister takes every opportunity to point out there is still time to turn around while her father insists it could be possible to have a good time. Apparently no one in the car can think of one good memory about April and the only reason they are even bothering with this attempt is because it could well be the last time they will all be together.

April's mother has cancer and Patricia Clarkson, in her Oscar nominated role, gives a textbook example of how less can be more. Her key moment in the film, taking place in a ladies room, does not even require her to speak a world, but she also has some moments of desperate humor that make her family despair. The film is dedicated to the memory of Carole Hedges, the writer-director's mother and since Peter Hedges tells us his mother loved every day it is clear Clarkson's character must be a different person (but I could believe the brother is the director). Still it is her journey that is more central to the heart of the film that April's attempt to get the turkey cooked. This is captured in the film's "before" and "after" pictures, taken by her brother.

There is a sub-plot involving April's new boyfriend, Bobby (Derek Luke of "Antwone Fisher") that seems to serve no other purpose that to get him out of the house so that April is left to fend with the neighbors she finds behind the few doors in the apartment building that will open to her. It is only when she tries to explain this weird American holiday to someone else that she remembers what it is supposed to mean to her as well and the memories of what her tart tongued mother had said on Thanksgiving pasts can be forgiven. Holmes really has little to do in this film besides be frazzled and anxious, which is fine, because Clarkson is more than equal to the task of doing the heavy lifting in "Pieces of April."

Rating:
Summary: Loads of fun and heart...
Review: Why do Amazon reviewers have to blab away the plot of everything? All I can say is that this small, independent film by Peter Hedges is loads of fun, and full of idiotic, totally believable behavior from all involved. Katie Holmes is Miss Know-It-All, who doesn't. She's a riot. Derek Luke is not given enough credit in this film. He is the only one who is genuinely in love. The magnificent Patricia Clarkson is great, as well as Oliver Platt. Sean Hayes appears briefly, but his character doesn't seem appropriate for the seedy surroundings. Lots of fun; Holmes and Clarkson connect like magnets (opposites), and I enjoyed it a lot. Especially, Oliver Platt has never been in such control. This small film wasn't in theatres for long, but anyone who wants to go for an entertaining ride will enjoy it a lot. A nice DVD extra, too.

Rating:
Summary: Moving and Memorable
Review: This movie delves into the dynamics of a family with a member who is an outcast, and her attempts to make peace....a twist on the story of the prodigal returning to her family, because her family is actually coming to her. April has invited her family to come into the city for Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment. The film moves back and forth between her traveling family and April's frenetic but earnest attempts to cook the dinner.

"Pieces of April" is also a testament to the fact that a wonderful and meaningful movie can be made for a small amount of money ($300,000) and in a short period of time. It is a quiet, unassuming film that will only appeal to those who do not need car chases, shootouts, and the like. It is difficult and thought-provoking but that is life, right?

This was a perfect little movie, in my opinion. The story, the cast, the settings...there was nothing that I would change. I read some criticism of the subplot involving April's boyfriend and do not agree...I thought his story was touching and lovely.

I highly recommend this movie.

Rating:
Summary: Picking Up The Pieces
Review: Pieces Of April is a pretty solid family drama. Like many films in the genre, there's also a fair amount of comedy interspersed throughout the proceedings as well. A fine cast and a smart script make me wonder why it didn't get more attention during its theatrical run.

Thanksgiving, is a time for families to be together, surrounded by the warmth and love of each other. April Burns (Katie Holmes) is a 21-year-old wild child on her way to having a nerveous breakdown. Against her better judgment, she's invited her straightlaced family for Thanksgiving dinner. Her boyfriend, Bobby, (Derek Luke) wants to help, but she banishes him from the apartment while she attempts to cook the meal. Murphy's Law, of course kicks in, she soon discovers that her oven doesn't work. So, while April is forced to ask her eccentric neighbors for help in cooking her fifteen pound turkey, the Burns Family begins a reluctant journey from suburban Pennsylvania toward New York City's Lower East Side. April's Dad, Jim Burns (Oliver Platt) tries to convince the family that the day will be beautiful. Her mom, Joy (Patricia Clarkson) has her doubts and freely voices them. April's teenage sister Beth (Allison Pill) and brother Timmy (John Gallagher Jr.) are squeezed in the back seat with Grandma Dottie (Alice Drummond), as the Burns' family car makes its way toward the city

Writer/director Peter Hedges captures the delicate nature of the family unit, and all of its warts, to a tee. His script is brought to life by a top notch cast. Holmes proved that she can handle herself and is on her way to a long career post her TV gig--if she's smart. Clarkson is a personal favorite of mine, who's always good, even if the material itself is sub-parr. I would imagine that Hedges thought he must have hit the jackpot as far as casting was concerned.

The best extra on the DVD, by far, is the audio commentary track with by Hedges. He is well spoken and very informative. It's an easy listen...On the other hand, the "All the Pieces Together" featurette, is fairly typical for stuff like this and suprisingly ho-hum. The theatrical trailer tops off the bonus material. I would have liked to see some of the deleted scenes as well for more character insights. You also have a you have a choice between the full-screen, or widescreen viewing formats.

Pieces Of April is an on target dramedy that is worth your time. It's characters are real and folks everyone can identify with them, as well as the film's themes. Seek it out...

Rating:
Summary: HARD TO RATE
Review: This is a hard one to rate. I gave it four stars, not because I liked it, but because many do. I didn't feel right about giving it two or three, because the fact I didn't care for it much doesn't mean that it is a poor excuse of a movie.

The problem for me was that most of this seemed like an exposition for the last minute or so. The ending saved it for me, very touching.

It is very ironic, though, that for some the ending is practically nothing in comparison to the rest. To me, I really didn't care that much for watching April struggle to cook the turkey and prepare the meal, nor the family struggle to come (although I liked that in some ways a little better).

Watching with the commentary (not that it is extremely informative, but enough to let one know what the writer-director Peter Hedges was trying to accomplish, and where the inspiration came from), did help me appreciate it more -- but I still cannot say that I liked it that much.

Yes, there are some strong general statements about human nature: When it comes to helping others, you have those who might seem tough and mocking on the outside but are warm and caring and helpful, and those who seem caring but are only interested in what they will get, and those who cannot understand what you are saying but can see into your soul.

While watching, it was obvious to me it would go one of two ways -- but in order to not spoil it for you I will not say. -- I will say that I can understand why it ends the way it does. To me, even though I didn't care for most of it, the ending wouldn't have worked without the prior structure of events. But for others, the ending was a flop.

So, liking PIECES OF APRIL will all depend on whether or not you enjoy watching April's struggle to cook the turkey, and her family's struggle(s) as they travel to be with her.

Rating:
Summary: Not exactly Rockwell's vision
Review: You may have seen the famous Norman Rockwell painting, "Freedom from Want", which depicts the idealized American family gathered around the quintessential Thanksgiving table as the turkey is presented for carving. PIECES OF APRIL it's not.

April Burns (Katie Holmes) lives in a New York City apartment with her boyfriend Bobby (Derek Luke), and the film opens as the two begin to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for the rest of April's family, which is driving in from out of town for the ordeal.

Joy Burns (Patricia Clarkson) is dying of the metastatic cancer that has already cost her both her breasts, a surgical transformation suitably documented in the family photo album. She expects this Thanksgiving to be a disaster since daughter April was a more into drugs than Home Ec. Indeed, to say she and April are estranged is an understatement. But husband Jim (Oliver Platt) persuades her, so off they go in the station wagon with their other children, daughter Beth (Alison Pill) and son Timmy (John Gallagher), and Joy's senile mother Dottie (Alice Drummond) for what may well be Joy's last Thanksgiving.

In the meantime, as Bobby goes out on a mysterious errand, April is faced with a non-functional oven, which forces her to desperately beg the other tenants in the building for the necessary range time to cook the traditional bird. Time is running short, and the rest of the clan is getting closer despite frequent stops for Joy to vomit from the nausea induced by her chemotherapy. And it also appears that the family doesn't know that April lives in a decrepit tenement in a graffiti-decorated slum, nor that Bobby is Black. The Burns festive occasion promises to make your dysfunctional Turkey Day look like a Martha Stewart showcase event in comparison.

Clarkson was deservedly nominated for, but didn't receive, an Oscar for this performance in a supporting role. She's more the "star" of PIECES OF APRIL than the ostensible lead, Holmes. The Bobby, Beth and Timmy characters are almost an unnecessary distraction. More interesting are April's neighbors which give her help, or not, especially the very strange Wayne (Sean Hayes) and the middle-age Afro-American couple, Evette (Lillias White) and Eugene (Isiah Whitlock). There's an especially good scene involving Evette's initial reaction to April when the latter first appears seeking help for her culinary crisis.

The movie's abrupt conclusion after eighty-one minutes leaves much to be desired. One wonders if the scriptwriter ran out of ideas or the producers out of money. But there's still enough there to make the film more than worth the cost of the rental. And, next Thanksgiving with the relatives, perhaps you won't take those mashed potatoes for granted.

Rating:
Summary: Quietyly Sentimental and Emotionaly Evoking
Review: I completely respect the artistic nature and independent feel about this movie, it is one of its saving graces. However the story never challenges itself, it never really breaks down or forces character interactions and doesn't allow us the ability to deconstruct and analyze the relationships between the characters which are never really given a chance to develop. The table is set for a film which intimately chronicles the estrangement and reuniting of an outcast child with her struggling family. There are glimpses of genius, both in simplicity and in the beginning of character development, but in just 80 minutes there's not enough time to allow for the maturation of these situations and scenarios. The picture sets a solid foundation for what could have been further expounded upon, but is generally enjoyable and well acted.

Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Effective
Review: For a movie with such a simple plot and meager settings, it works surprisingly well. Mainly because the cast is so effective in presenting interesting and dynamic characters. The stars of this movie, for me, were Patricia Clarkson and Oliver Platt as April's parents. Platt's unflinching optimism as April's father, and Clarkson's sarcastic and biting portrayal of April's cancer stricken mother play off each other incredibly well. Holmes also does a good job of playing the hapless, but ultimately good-hearted, April. Add to this the incredible soundtrack from Stephen Merritt (Magnetic Fields) and this is one little independent film that ultimately delivers in the end. A simple, but effective, plot and great acting save this movie from it's budget and technological shortcomings. Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Terrible
Review: This is one of the worst movies I've ever seen. The plot is so incredibly stupid and boring, this was a complete waste of my time. The camera angles are bad, sometimes shaking. Please save yourself the agony.