Preview: PIECES OF APRIL

By Staff

This flick tells us about 'April Burns', played by Katie Holmes (before she turned into Mrs. Tom Cruise). April is a young rebellious girl that lives with her boyfriend 'Bobby'. Today is Thanksgiving and for the first time in a long while, her family will celebrate the occasion on her apartment, with food that she herself will prepare. Since she is the black seed of the family, this is probably the biggest event of her life and she will do everything necessary to have it go without a hitch.

If any of you have prepared a meal for your entire family, then you'll know it is a high-stakes mission that requires almost military-like planning. For April, it will be even worse because of her lifestyle; she is not a home-gal and lives her life without asking permission or forgiveness from anyone.

Analysis:

This movie is truly independent. The producers filmed it with a Sony Handicam and semi-pro lights and lenses. The low-budget feel is all over the film and its artistic departments.

Peter Hedges, the film's director, who also wrote the script, does a great job getting the best of his cast and the situations they go through.

Katie Holmes gives a performance that she rarely did during her career; she takes the main roll and goes all out with every joke, problem and situation.

Joining her are Oliver Platt and the underappreciated Patricia Clarkson, playing April's parents 'Jim' and 'Joy' respectively. Clarkson in particular did an amazing job; so much so that she earned a nomination for an Academy award for the Best Supporting Actress Category.

Opinion:

This is a very entertaining flick with interesting characters and a nice touch of reality added that really relates to the audience in different ways and levels.