Rating: 
Summary: the name says it all
Review: This is such a sweet, sad flick about a little family, made up of a mother (Brenda Blethyn) and her three daughters (Catherine Keener and Emily Mortimer play Michelle and Elizabeth, her grown biological daughters, and Raven Goodwin plays Annie, her 8-year-old adopted daughter.) Annie is also African-American, being raised by the white family, but it is great how that is never the issue -- they are all well-adjusted to each other and refer to each other as "my sister", "my mother", etc. In fact, Annie is the most well-adjusted of all of them, as Michelle has employment and marital issues, and Elizabeth has a hard time as she is used by others in the world of her aspiring acting career. Raven Goodwin is a stand-out as Annie, she is genuine and exudes all the sincerity of children of that age. I wanted to adopt her for my own sister. It was hard to believe someone so young could act so naturally and well but she does an excellent job. I have always been a fan of Keener as well, and her performance is great. Jake Gyllenhaal also makes a good appearance as the teenager who is Michelle's boss when she takes a part-time job at a One Hour Photo place.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best...
Review: This movie completely bowled me over with it's honesty, clever writing, and wonderful performances. It is one of the BEST films EVER that speaks of the challenges of the human condition involving FAMILY Dynamics. It really illustrates (almost subconsciously) how important our families are to our own self-worth, regardless of how we may feel about ourselves. After reading a few of the reviews here, I need to explain that I am a "guy" & YES I loved it. I dont think it is a WOMAN's picture at all. It's more of a slice-of-life film about how we all have our limits and struggles no matter what our place is in our family units, and how much they rely on us. Raven Goodwin is an amazing (very) young actress who steals every scene she's in, but the entire cast is phenomenal. Some people think the ending is a bit flat, but it ultimately rings true, and lingers much longer than a "traditional happy ending." GET THIS FILM TODAY!
Rating: 
Summary: Lovely
Review: What you have is lovely and amazing. Sometime, some poeople do not see it or maybe too busy to realize it. This movie made me feel that I do have something lovely and amazing in my life.
Rating: 
Summary: a series of well-acted vignettes
Review: While I didn't think this film cohered well, there were a number of interesting scenes featuring a gifted cast -- Brenda Blethyn, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney, Emily Mortimer and Raven Goodwin. Blethyn plays the mother of Keener, Mortimer and Goodwin. Each one has "issues" -- poor body image, eating disorders, self-destructive behavior, etc. and the film's action takes place after Blethyn has had complications from a liposuction procedure. Subtitles are available in English or Spanish. Extras include a trailer and several short interviews with the director and stars Mortimer, Mulroney and Keener. There is no commentary track.
Rating:
Summary: a series of well-acted vignettes
Review: While I didn't think this film cohered well, there were a number of interesting scenes featuring a gifted cast -- Brenda Blethyn, Catherine Keener, Dermot Mulroney, Emily Mortimer and Raven Goodwin. Blethyn plays the mother of Keener, Mortimer and Goodwin. Each one has "issues" -- poor body image, eating disorders, self-destructive behavior, etc. and the film's action takes place after Blethyn has had complications from a liposuction procedure. Subtitles are available in English or Spanish. Extras include a trailer and several short interviews with the director and stars Mortimer, Mulroney and Keener. There is no commentary track.
Rating:
Summary: a vivid slice-of-life, warts and all
Review: While I'd never call this movie a cinematic masterpiece, it was definitely enjoyable and touching on many levels. Its strength rests squarely on its characters, who are both engaging and original---no Hollywood cookie-cutter, you-know-who-she-is-in-the-first-five-minutes stereotypes. Four females, all vulnerable, insecure, trying to find their way through the wilderness. No neat answers or comforting happy endings, just a gradual working through of a few issues here and there. Nothing is easy or predictable here, but everything is always interesting, even when nothing much is really happening. Katherine Keener is excellent as usual playing her usual shrewish role, Emily Mortimer is irresistible especially during her glorious 3 minutes of full nudity, Jake Gyllenhall bears a striking resemblance to Tobey Maguire and is equally talented...there's not a bad thespian in the whole film! If you value originality, realism, and fully fleshed-out characters, you'll enjoy this one!
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