Pieces of April (2003)

Excellent, smart action film.

Charming and brutal

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

For having a relatively low budget, the film's style and overall art direction are immensely impressive.

When this movie began I wondered how long I'd be able to put up with the unsettling effect of the cheaper style hand-held camera work but, something about the story and performances kept me fascinated. Here's a movie its creator obviously had a personal passion to bring to life. The writer, Peter Hedges ('What's Eating Gilbert Grape') also turns in a tour-de-force 'debut' directing effort with this quite remarkable work. Anyone who enjoys movies that feature a jumbled mix of characters all reacting to situations drawn directly from life experiences - could find this hard to top. And when you realize the handpicked cast worked so hard, for so little remuneration, it shows us they held a high regard for the story and its new director.Mum, as played by Patricia Clarkson certainly deserved her Oscar nomination but the role of her daughter April, is amazingly brought to life with a believable performance from Katie Holmes - she's equally deserving of nomination (that's if the awards mean more to you than they do to me). Oliver Platt (Frost/Nixon '08) who in real life, has links to the family of Princes Diana via her maternal Grandfather Maurice Roche - plays April's Dad with disarming brilliance - alternating between pathos and concern. Alison Pill and John Gallagher are both superb as April's brother and sister. Then come a deliciously fascinating array of N.Y. tenement block neighbours who complete the various characters April is forced to encounter, as she desperately begins preparations for her fated Thanksgiving family-reunion dinner. The only character who fails to fully impress is a young chap named Wayne, who turns up among her neighbours. He is just one of the characters who complicate the task of getting April's 'special' roast off-the-ground.It may not sound like much but the way a series of escalating events lead to many diverting twists and turns, make it special in so many ways. Equally interesting is Derek Luke who impressed as 'Antwone Fisher' just the year before, here he plays April's boyfriend Bobby. Finally, can't forget veteran Alice Drummond ('Awakenings '90) as Grandma. With so many unforgettable dysfunctional characters, involved in equally remarkable situations, you can't help be surprised at the outcome. Amidst the laughter and tears there are also important observations that show how society has dropped its guard and lost its way. A melodic music & songs score adds interest along the way but some tracks might have been better as strait instrumentals. Distributor United Artists took a chance on a commercial release and even made some money on the way. Highly recommended viewing for those who care or have ever been involved in the delicate act of preparing a special family dinner having the potential to end up being either volatile or a peace offering. Footnote: It's said the writer/director took little more than $20 for his work! Now that's a true belief in the cause. Take a look at this one.

OMG, as a retired person I can switch the TV on whenever I like and do so often at noon, but today I was not prepared for this! I just planted myself at the breakfast bar on a bar stool and proceed to something some call lunch and clicked on the TV. "Pieces of April", what kind of title is this, another tele movie to entertain my lunch for a few minutes? - weeeell, so much more than that, at times "lunch" had problem to find its way down as there was a big lump in my throat and my watery eyes glued on the TV set wondering what would happen next, and would it be good. I could not believe this wonderful work had passed me without saying hello in one form or other. I can't understand the detachment from TV channels, they'll beat you ears to no end with some insignificant trash, but won't say a word about this kind of art work. On the other end I'm glad they did not as it was such a joy to see this without any expectations. You can't help but being involved in the plot. You become part of this young woman's struggle to achieve a goal against all odds. And will she succeed? This question remains in her mind and yours till the very end, you can't guess, you can only hope in despair with her. As for the guests to her effort, a Thanks Giving dinner, You may understand them but you may also wonder about them. I hope you will see this film, just like me, with no idea at all about what it is. but it would be an even greater disaster if you did not see it at all.

To be quite simple - the story is simple, but heartwarming and really makes you care about the characters from start to finish. April (played terrifically by Katie Holmes) is hosting a thanksgiving dinner which will most likely be the last one she will hold with her Mother and family due to her Mother's terminal cancer. They are driving to New York to see April while at the same time dreading the experience that will either distance April even more from her family or finally make some peace.Katie Holmes gives a really good performance as the rebel girl who is trying to make some new changes in her life. What this story does is simply tell a story that we could all relate to on one of these special occasions - whether it be Christmas or a birthday. The fact that this is a low budget film with the quality of the film being reasonable, though not spectacular actually adds to the whole feel of it - it makes it more real.What is also great is the supporting cast and characters who come into the whole drama. The black family who lives in the apartment block end up helping April when her oven breaks and the food preparation actually had me wanting to go buy a turkey and have a great feast. Most of all, Patricia Clarkson's performance is splendid and with all the great performances, you keep caring till the very end and rooting for the family to get together and to come to an understanding.It's movies like these - which are so overlooked, which really should get more attention. Sometimes something simple can end up being one of the best movies you can see.

1st watched 1/21/2009 – 8 out of 10(Dir-Peter Hedges): Well done drama/comedy photographed kind of like a documentary but featuring realistic & funny characters throughout. Katie Holmes is excellent as the forgotten daughter who tries to put together a Thanksgiving dinner for her family to re-acquaint herself with them. The family doesn't like her that much but the mother is dying of cancer and it may be the last time she can see her, so they travel from their comfortable home to her big city apartment. Katie's characters' oven decides to stop working so she travels to neighbors finding an oven to cook the turkey and encounters a variety of unique characters(varying everywhere from friendly to mean). Her boyfriend escapes to do some business so she's on her own with this endeavor. Her quest to get the bird cooked and the dinner made makes her meet people she probably wouldn't normally and therefore makes new friends and some enemies. This is one of the fun parts of the story, the other this is the family's trip. The typical mixed-up family provides some comic relief to the movie despite their problems. Does it all work itself out in the end?? Well, I guess you'll have to watch the movie and find out!! Trust me, it will be worth it if you like funny, touching realistic movies.