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Emmy Rossum, Mary McDonnell, Steven Bauer, James Badge Dale, Thom Christopher ... see more see more... , Michael Cavadias , Sam Coppola , Adam Le Fevre , Dominic Marcus , Bernie McInerney , Michael Medeiros , Larry Pine , Janis Dardaris , Lynne Matthew , Adam LeFevre , Matt Servitto

Nola (Emmy Rossum) is a Kansas teen who runs away to New York City to escape an abusive stepfather. Once she gets to the big town, she sets about looking for a job and for her father, whom she's never... read more read more... met. She attacks both tasks with fierce determination, but has little success, until she stumbles upon a greasy spoon near Union Square where the eccentric owner, Gus (Sam Coppola), immediately takes a liking to her. Soon, she's waitressing at the diner and crashing in a room upstairs with the handsome fry cook, Ben (James Badge Dale), who also goes to law school when he feels like it. Nola spends her spare time using the phone book in an effort to track down the man she knows only as "Hutch." Things look up for Nola when she meets the sassy owner of the diner, Margaret (Mary McDonnell), who also runs a very classy escort service. Margaret sees something in Nola, and hires the girl as her assistant. As Nola's relationship with Ben gets more intimate, she tells him about her dream of being a successful songwriter. But things take an ugly turn when one of Margaret's escorts, a transsexual named Wendy (Michael Cavadias) offends a rich and powerful client, Niles (Thom Christopher). Niles is determined to have his revenge, and tries to use his media contacts to have an exposé written about Margaret's business. But the reporter assigned to the story, Leo (Steven Bauer), turns out to be an old friend of Margaret's. Nola, the feature debut of writer/director Alan Hruska, a former trial lawyer, had its world premiere at the 2003 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, Rovi

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38% liked it

846 ratings

Critics

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13 critics

R, 1 hr. 37 min.

Directed by: Alan Hruska

Release Date: August 29, 2003

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DVD Release Date: August 29, 2011

Stats: 37 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (37)


  • fb1144932598
    March 10, 2010
    fb1144932598
    An over-the-top fairytale ending nearly ruined a pretty good story up until then. Nola (not the Big Easy), played by a sweet Emmy Rossum, is a talented young singer-songwriter who runs away from a bad situation at home and winds up in New York City hoping to find her father. The ... read morefirst hour, although filled with an incredible string of good luck for this kid, had this viewer hooked. The last half hour went from improbable to wildly cliched and entirely predictable. At times, there were opportunities to rein it back in and make it interesting, but the editor and the director conspired to go with the formula. The film opens almost in mid-scene and for a moment, this viewer thought the IW player had messed up. The opening only gave us a brief taste of what drove Nola to hit the road and a few more details were filled in later. Ms Rossum was a true bright spot in this rather sappy tale that could have used a bit more spice and a little less treacle.
  • January 18, 2007
    This movie was shown on Lifetime and tell about a girl who finds her way through life and in search of her father. Goes to NYC and becomes a waitress and meets a guy. Main role is played by Emmy Rossum.

Critic Reviews


Stephen Whitty
July 28, 2004
Stephen Whitty, Newark Star-Ledger

Needs to be put out of its misery -- and yours. Full Review

Elizabeth Weitzman
July 23, 2004
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News

So laughably preposterous that it's thoroughly entertaining. Full Review

Megan Lehmann
July 23, 2004
Megan Lehmann, New York Post

A dubious script that detonates into a full-blown disaster midway through.

Jan Stuart
July 23, 2004
Jan Stuart, Newsday

Has everything you want from a good bad movie: overheated drama, overripe performances, arch characters and fruity dialogue. Full Review

Stephen Holden
July 23, 2004
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Pits a substantial actor like Mary McDonnell, playing a New York madam, against a bogus story that crossbreeds noirish affectations and romantic comedy into an unpalatable mush that suggests strawberr... Full Review

Ben Kenigsberg
July 20, 2004
Ben Kenigsberg, Village Voice

Constantly at odds with itself -- torn between urban realism and musical fantasy, suggestive glances and frank sexuality, fashionable cynicism and old-fashioned happy endings. Full Review

Bill Muller
August 28, 2003
Bill Muller, Arizona Republic

Combines a worn-out premise -- young woman leaves unhappy home for big city -- with some of the silliest characters ever to reach the screen.

Chris Vognar
August 28, 2003
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News

A tone-deaf indie that slides by on spunk until the script simply implodes. Full Review

Doris Toumarkine
August 8, 2004
Doris Toumarkine, Film Journal International

There's not a frame of truth in it. Full Review

Maitland McDonagh
July 23, 2004
Maitland McDonagh, TV Guide's Movie Guide

Hruska's bloodless little fairy tale is utterly innocuous and instantly forgettable. Full Review

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  • Who is -Sarah Jordan -Nola Rice -Charlotte -Rebecca  Answer »
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