Pieces of April | | Cast : | Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Derek Luke, Oliver Platt | | Director : | Peter Hedges (II) | | Studio : | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer | | Format : | Color, Closed-captioned, Widescreen | | Released Date : | January 01, 2003 | | DVD Released Date : | June 08, 2004 | | Language : | English (Dubbed), French (Subtitled), English (Subtitled), English (Original Language), French (Original Language), Spanish (Subtitled) | | Audience Rating : | PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested) | | | BUY THIS DVD FROM AMAZON |
Customer Reviews
| Rating |  | | Date | June 03, 2005 | | Summary | some wonderful actors in this low budget film | Content
 | Katie Holmes, in particular, as well as Derek Luke, Oliver
Platt, etc. I liked the writing a lot, direction--as well as the camera work. Hard to believe it was shot with a 3 chip Sony digital camera!
Ordinarily this would not have been my type of flick, etc., but wanted to see what they were able to accomplish with the Sony PD 150... Like I said: fine work--and you can't help but like and appreciate a talented actress like Ms. Holmes (who pretty much carries most of the film).
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| Rating | | | Date | May 07, 2005 | | Summary | The best dysfunctional film ever | Content
| April (Katie Holmes) is the black sheep - we can all relate, right? Well, not only does April manage to pull off the biggest miracle since 42nd street, but she does it in a manner which brings everyone together. From the sarcastic-turned-sympathetic Evette and Eugene, to the weird-in-every-role Sean Hayes to the Chinese family that takes pity, everyone comes together in a spiritual and heartwarming conclusion that makes you wish you were part of it.
If you have ever had a bad Thanksgiving you'll want to see this. If you have ever felt left out or misunderstood, you'll also want to see this. If you've fulfilled all your dreams and wish nothing bad upon us that haven't you'll still want to see this. It is simply heartwarming, and though I never cry at anything, I cried watching this movie. Twice. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 30, 2005 | | Summary | A Kind and Forgiving Film... | Content
| Holidays for many mean an opportunity to assemble the complete family - both the desired and undesired members. Pieces of April is a film about such an event where April Burns (Katie Holmes) attempts to attract her family to her home in New York for the first time, as the family considers her the black sheep. Throughout most of the film, the audience gets to learn how much the Burns dislike her while April's little sister, Beth (Alison Pill), repeatedly tries to convince her mother, Joy (Patricia Clarkson), to stay at home or turn around. Nonetheless, Joy remains firm in her conviction to visit April while she habitually spews out something spiteful about her daughter April who seems to have been a real horror as a child at least according to her family.
Underneath the surface there is also something much more painful that all members of the family try to consider, as the Burns leave to visit April in New York. Initially, it seems as if Joy suffers from bulimia while she devours doughnuts and later vomits intensely at a gas station bathroom. However, it is not an eating disorder. Nonetheless, there is clearly something wrong with Joy, as the family never seems to discuss this well-known family secret. This leaves the family in a tense limbo where no one knows what to say or do, as they merely act upon what Joy tells them to do. This happens while April becomes the verbal punching bag that they toss around on their short journey to New York City.
Throughout the Burns' trip, the audience can witness April's passionate, yet feeble struggle with April's gastronomical artistry while trying to cook the Thanksgiving dinner for her visiting family. Nothing seems easy for April, but it also reflects a little of her thoughtlessness, as she scurries around in her apartment building for a functioning stove for the turkey. In addition, the audience finds out why she has isolated herself from the family, which helps the audience understand why she has detached herself from the family. Yet there seems to be something within April that recognizes the importance of the situation even though she is not looking forward to this event of thankfulness.
Pieces of April reminds a lot of other films that deal with the family connection over Thanksgiving such as Hannah & Her Sisters (1986), Ice Storm (1997), and What's Cooking (2000). Despite these previous films Pieces of April reaches out to the audience in a new manner, which is both heartwarming and moving. However, it does not succeed in reaching a level above these films, as it remains on a slightly lower level. Nonetheless, the digital photography enhances the genuine atmosphere while the cast delicately handles the issues at hand, which delivers a kind and forgiving film in the spirit of Thanksgiving. |
| Rating | | | Date | April 25, 2005 | | Summary | Latrell + SisQo = Masterpiece | Content
| SisQo did an amazing job with his character and I can't wait for "Surf School" to come out! Keep up the good work SisQo!!! Love Ya! |
| Rating | | | Date | April 08, 2005 | | Summary | A funny slice of disordered life | Content
| Judging by most of the reviews here, people overreacted to this little film that lasts barely more than 70 minutes. Patricia Clarkson may have gotten a best supporting actress Oscar nomination for her performance, but I'd say that speaks more to the quality of acting in 2003 than anything in this flick. Clarkson was good, not great. Her role was well-written but not memorable by any standard.
Having said that, I enjoyed this little movie, its humor and its situations. It's the story of a partially estranged family driving to New York to share Thanksgiving dinner with daughter-sibling April (played by Katie Holmes) at her apartment. The storyline shows there is a great deal of alienation between April and her family members, some of which they hope to overcome with this visit.
The movies is often funny and lithe, never pretending to be the kind of film reviewers here have portrayed it. It is a little film, a small entertainment, and one that is offbeat enough to attract people made cynical by big budget Hollywood flops.
"Pieces of April" is, to me, a close copy of "The Daytrippers", another movie about a family driving around looking to make connections with a family member. But, while the acting and situations in "The Daytrippers" is uniformly outstanding and creative, respectively, there is little in "Pieces of April" that matches its skill. And while "Pieces of April" has a completely predictable ending, "The Daytrippers" concludes in a way no one could have guessed.
So keep these things in mind when reading the overreaction of critics here and elsewhere. "Pieces of April" is a funny diversion but it is not great filmmaking in any way. It will entertain you for an hour or so but you'll forget most of what you saw the next day. So enjoy it while it's there and don't expect the kind of greatness people around here project. |
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