Pieces of April (2003)

• 
  
  May 26, 2010

  ythelastman89

  A one part great movie and one part bad movie. The storylines of Derek Luke and Katie Holmes are perfect and extremely well done, while the scenes with the family are the same cliche seen over and over. I think what also works extremely well is the cinematography and documentary ... read morelook. It feels like you're living in this apartment building and taking a look at a real place rather than fiction. Overall, it works. It's just not as good as it theoretically could have been.

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  October 2, 2009

  purplemegan

  I've wanted to see this movie for a while. It was definitely enjoyable. I'm starting to like these quirky, independent, true-to-life movies more than the big action blockbusters actually. You could feel the awkwardness of both sides of the family through the television.

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  September 28, 2009

  SirPant

  A disappointing indie film that promised so much more. Only Patricia Clarkson?s performance is worth watching for as she?s, as always, on great form.

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  October 1, 2007

  jennifxu

  Katie Holmes was impressive. I love that Peter Hedges takes the simple event of Thanksgiving dinner and paints an extremely thorough picture of it. Quirky and delicious.

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  July 17, 2007

  Camus123

  The surprisingly refreshing story of a family estranged from their daughter, April. April has been a "screw-up" and a "misfit" and she never seems to do anything right. The family thinks that she is just trying to make them mad and maybe she was..., but now she is trying to put i... read moret back together. YES...you have seen this plot before in many incarnations, but not through these eyes. If you watch the movie you will find that the subject hits close to home for the writer/director. Also, the vehicle used to speak to helping one another is truly unique (the oven/turkey...you'll get it when you see the movie). Great performances by Patricia Clarkson and Oliver Platt. Solid performance from Katie Holmes. Enjoy!

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• 
  
  February 27, 2006

  mrbungle7821

  [font='Times New Roman'][color=#b22222][/color]
  
  [center][font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred][img]http://img506.imageshack.us/img506/8765/piecesofapril27fk.jpg[/img][/color][/size][/font][/center]
  [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred][/color][/size][/font]
  [font=Arial][size=2][colo... read morer=darkred]The set-up for [i]Pieces of April[/i], a low budget film starring Katie Holmes, is a pastiche of familiar independent film elements so much so that it could across as parody.[/color][/size][/font]
  
  [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Holmes plays April Burns, a beleaguered teen living on her own in a grungy New York apartment. Today is Thanksgiving and her family will be stopping by for a grand Thanksgiving meal prepared by April. Her cantankerous mother (Patricia Clarkson) is ailing from breast cancer, and when she tries to think of one good memory she?s had with April, she can only conjure memories belonging to younger daughter Beth (Alison Pill). She also will be introducing her family to her new boyfriend, Bobby (Derek Luke of [i]Antoine Fisher[/i]). April has 24 hours to cook a memorable meal for her family and it could be the last Thanksgiving they spend together.[/color][/size][/font]
  
  [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]In the world of independent film, it seems like there?s a whole sub-genre of movies that revolve around chaotic Thanksgiving dinners and dysfunctional families. The holiday setting, her mother?s cancer, April?s spirited attempts at autonomy in the big city, interracial dating and an apartment complex full of cute oddballs all seem like tried-and-true staples of indie film.[/color][/size][/font]
  
  [size=2][font=Arial][color=darkred][i]Pieces of April[/i] was written and directed by Peter Hedges, writer of [i]What?s Eating Gilbert Grape? [/i]and co-writer of [i]About a Boy[/i]. His pedigree would certainly state that he knows something about family drama, and [i]Pieces of April[/i] is a nice continuation of his observational humor. Hedges has a skilled confidence in his writing. The characters feel real and we gravitate to their vulnerability and hope. We see every sincere detail of April?s plight to make her family proud. The choice to shoot [i]Pieces of April[/i] on digital video adds an extra element of intimacy, like we?re trapped inside a home video.[/color][/font][/size]
  
  [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Holmes gives her best performance to date. April, with patches of bright orange hair and arms enclosed with bracelets, is a sweetly vibrant character. When a neighbor asks about her relationship with her mother, April describes herself as the first pancake. ?She?s the one you?re supposed to throw out,? another neighbor explains. Holmes? performance is like a slow simmer of frustration, optimism and determination that wins your heart. Her more dramatic moments of helplessness and disappointment are quite affecting.[/color][/size][/font]
  
  [font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]The supporting cast for [i]Pieces of April[/i] is top-notch. Clarkson gets some weighty moments as the ailing mother, like when she runs out of the car in tears because she can?t afford one more bad memory with April. She gets the showy part but enlivens every moment. Oliver Platt further feeds my theory of his quest to be in every movie ever. In [i]Pieces of April[/i] he plays the put-upon father who frets his wife could pass any moment. Pill shines as the hyperactively cheerful and overachieving Beth. Her cherubic cheeks and glowing smile leave an indelible impression, and makes me question if her face ever got sore from excessive smiling.[/color][/size][/font]
  
  [font='Times New Roman'][size=2][font=Arial][color=darkred][i]Pieces of April[/i] is a pleasurable little comedy that?s borderline touching. It?s not much more than a small slice of family drama, but with excellent writing and strong acting, [i]Pieces of April [/i]distinguishes itself as more than a collection of familiar staples, and as a warm and quietly charming homespun comedy with an extra helping of heart.[/color][/font][/size][/font]
  [font='Times New Roman'][/font]
  [font='Times New Roman'][/font][font='Times New Roman'][font=Arial][size=2][color=darkred]Nate's Grade: B+[/color][/size][/font][/font][/font]

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• 
  
  February 25, 2004

  michaelneumann

  It just occurred to me that my last journal entry was a little out of line. I gotta apologize for that last entry, as I irresponsibly posted a link to some awfully sketchy humor regarding rape, and I never put any sort of warning or disclaimer. A complete lapse in judgment on my ... read morepart there, and I want to extend my apologies to those who might've been offended. Very un-Neum of me. I guess that link in question appealed to my old college self :p (I collected most issues of The Onion in college).
  
  
  
  And the songs that have been dominating my earplay lately (and these are much less well-known than the ones I posted before):
  
  
  [u][b]If You Could Read My Mind[/b] by Gordon Lightfoot[/u]
  (Just heard this in the movie 'Wonderland' - there's also a disco version of this song at the end of the movie '54'. This version's way better, of course :p)
  
  [size=1]If you could read my mind love
  What a tale my thoughts could tell
  Just like an old time movie
  'bout a ghost from a wishin' well
  In a castle dark or a fortress strong
  With chains upon my feet
  You know that ghost is me
  And I will never be set free
  As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see[/size]
  [size=1]
  If i could read your mind love
  What a tale your thoughts could tell
  Just like a paperback novel
  The kind that drugstores sell
  When you reach the part where the heartaches come
  The hero would be me
  But heroes often fail
  And you won't read that book again
  Because the ending's just too hard to take
  
  I'd walk away like a movie star
  Who gets burned in a three way script
  Enter number two
  A movie queen to play the scene
  Of bringing all the good things out in me
  But for now love, let's be real
  * I never thought I could act this way *
  And I've got to say that I just don't get it
  I don't know where we went wrong
  But the feelin's gone
  And I just can't get it back
  
  If you could read my mind love
  What a tale my thoughts could tell
  Just like an old time movie
  'bout a ghost from a wishin' well
  In a castle dark or a fortress strong
  With chains upon my feet
  But stories always end
  And if you read between the lines
  You'll know that I'm just tryin' to understand
  The feelin's that you lack
  I never thought I could feel this way
  And I've got to say that I just to get it
  I don't know where we went wrong
  But the feelin's gone
  And I just can't get it back
  
  [size=2][/size]
  [size=2][u][b]Everybody's Talkin'[/b] by Harry Nilsson[/u][/size]
  [size=1]Everybody's talking at me
  I don't hear a word they're saying
  Only the echoes of my mind
  
  People stopping staring
  I can't see their faces
  Only the shadows of their eyes
  
  I'm going where the sun keeps shining
  Thru' the pouring rain
  Going where the weather suits my clothes
  Banking off of the North East wind
  Sailing on a summer breeze
  And skipping over the ocean like a stone[/size]
  
  
  [size=2][u][b]Windy [/b]by The Association[/u][/size]
  Who's peekin' out from under a stairway
  Calling a name that's lighter than air
  Who's bending down to give me a rainbow
  Everyone knows it's Windy
  
  Who's tripping down the streets of the city
  Smilin' at everybody she sees
  Who's reachin' out to capture a moment
  Everyone knows it's Windy
  
  And Windy has stor-my eyes
  That flash at the sound of lies
  And Windy has wings to fly
  Above the clouds (above the clouds)
  Above the clouds (above the clouds)
  
  ------ flute ------
  
  And Windy has stor-my eyes
  That flash at the sound of lies
  And Windy has wings to fly
  Above the clouds (above the clouds)
  Above the clouds (above the clouds)
  
  Who's tripping down the streets of the city
  Smilin' at everybody she sees
  Who's reachin' out to capture a moment
  Everyone knows it's Windy
  [repeat and fade]
  
  
  [size=2][u][b]20th Century Boy[/b] by T-Rex[/u][/size]
  [size=2](More for the rockin' than the lyrics :p)[/size]
  
  Friends say it's fine
  Friends say it's good
  Everybody says it's just like rock and roll
  I move like a cat
  Charge like a ram
  Sting like a bee
  Babe I want to be your man
  Well it's plain to see
  You were meant for me
  Yea I'm your toy
  Your 20th century boy
  Fly like a plane
  Drive like a car
  Ball like a hound
  Babe I want to be your man
  20th century boy
  I want to be your toy
  20th century boy
  I want to be your toy
  
  
  [u][size=2][b]Blowin' Free[/b] by Wishbone Ash[/size][/u]
  I thought I had a giiirl
  And all because I seen her.
  I thought I had a giiirl
  And all because I seen her.
  Her hair was golden brown (yes it was)
  Blowin' free...like a cornfield.
  She was far away
  I found it hard to reach her.
  She told me you can try
  But it's impossible to find her.
  In my dreams everything was all right -
  In your schemes you can only try.
  
  
  [u][size=2][b]Ice Cream Man[/b] by Van Halen[/size][/u]
  Dedicate one to the ladies...
  Now summertime's here babe, need somethin' to keep you cool
  Ah, now summertime's here babe, need somethin' to keep you cool
  Better look out now though, Dave's got somethin' for you
  Tell ya what it is
  I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
  Oh my, my, I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
  See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
  Hold on a second baby
  
  I got puddin' pie, banana dixie cups
  All flavors and pushups too
  
  I'm your ice cream man baby, stop me when I'm passin' by
  See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy Hold on, one more
  
  Well I'm usually passin' by just about eleven o'clock
  Uh huh, I never stop
  I'm usually passin' by just around eleven o'clock
  And if you let cool you one time, you'll be my regular stop
  
  All right boys!
  
  I got puddin' pie, banana dixie cups
  All flavors and pushups too
  
  I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
  See now all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy, yes
  I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
  I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
  They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy Ah one time
  
  (Guitar Solo)
  
  I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
  I'm your ice cream man, stop me when I'm passin' by
  They say all my flavors are guaranteed to satisfy
  
  One time boys!
  I'm your ice cream man
  I'm your ice cream man
  B-B-B-B-B-B-B-Baby!
  Ah my my my
  All my flavors are guaranteed......to satis-uh-fy
  Ow!
  
  
  [size=2][u][b]In Your Eyes[/b] by Peter Gabriel[/u][/size]
  Love...I get so lost, sometimes
  Days pass and this emptiness fills my heart
  When I want to run away
  I drive off in my car
  But whichever way I go
  I come back to the place you are
  
  All my instincts, they return
  And the grand facade, so soon will burn
  Without a noise, without my pride
  I reach out from the inside
  
  In your eyes
  The light the heat
  In your eyes
  I am complete
  In your eyes
  I see the doorway to a thousand churches
  In your eyes
  The resolution of all the fruitless searches
  In your eyes
  I see the light and the heat
  In your eyes
  Oh, I want to be that complete
  I want to touch the light
  The heat I see in your eyes
  
  Love, I don't like to see so much pain
  So much wasted and this moment keeps slipping away
  I get so tired of working so hard for our survival
  I look to the time with you to keep me awake and alive
  
  And all my instincts, they return
  And the grand facade, so soon will burn
  Without a noise, without my pride
  I reach out from the inside
  
  In your eyes
  The light the heat
  In your eyes
  I am complete
  In your eyes
  I see the doorway to a thousand churches
  In your eyes
  The resolution of all the fruitless searches
  In your eyes
  I see the light and the heat
  In your eyes
  Oh, I want to be that complete
  I want to touch the light,
  The heat I see in your eyes
  In your eyes in your eyes
  In your eyes in your eyes
  In your eyes in your eyes
  
  
  [size=2][/complete lack of originality in repeating entry ideas][/size]
  [/size]

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• 
  
  November 25, 2007

  Nutterjr

  A decent quirky indie film about an imperfect daughter having her imperfect family over for thanksgiving dinner.

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• 
  
  October 11, 2009

  liquidstone14

  A generous, heartfelt little motion picture that helps us remember that excellence doesn't exclude compact, unambitious projects like this one. Pieces of April speaks to the human nature, i.e. our unability to express the love buried somewhere inside ourselves, underneath long-la... read moresting resentment and different values. Its short running time still doesn't prevent us from getting inside these complex minds, and backed by all-around superb performances (Holmes and Clarkson getting the top honors), the characters in Pieces of April really resonate and stick with the viewer. Add to that an almost completely naturalistic flow of great dialogue and solid, unpretentious directing from Hedges, and you've got yourself a real hidden gem. Don't miss out on this one...

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• 
  
  March 25, 2009

  SunilJawahir

  A great heartwarming black comedy to get you through the holidays. Katie Holmes's only really good role.

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• Katie Holmes as April Burns
• Patricia Clarkson as Joy Burns
• Oliver Platt as Jim Burns
• Derek Luke as Bobby
• Alison Pill as Beth Burns
• John Gallagher Jr. as Timmy Burns
• Alice Drummond as Grandma Dottie
• Sean Hayes as Wayne
• Sisqo as Latrell

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• What is the original enlgish version of 'Un festin a New-York"?  Answer »

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