Stars: Jennifer Lawrence, Sophia Bairley, Chloe Grace Moretz, Selma Blair, Bokeem Woodbine | Written and Directed by Lori Petty
When actors make it big and they are winning awards, we tend to forget just how much hard work it took to get them where they are today. Jennifer Lawrence is a household name, often hailed as one of the best actresses working right now but she, as with everybody else, has a history of movies that range from the good to those they want to forget. Behind Closed Doors is one sucjh movie – a new release of a 2008 movie also known as The Poker House, which besides Lawrence, also stars Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick Ass, Carrie). The question is does it hold up against their more recent work, or would they rather forget it?
Behind Closed Doors (aka The Poker House) was directed and written by actress Lori Petty (Tank Girl...
When actors make it big and they are winning awards, we tend to forget just how much hard work it took to get them where they are today. Jennifer Lawrence is a household name, often hailed as one of the best actresses working right now but she, as with everybody else, has a history of movies that range from the good to those they want to forget. Behind Closed Doors is one sucjh movie – a new release of a 2008 movie also known as The Poker House, which besides Lawrence, also stars Chloe Grace Moretz (Kick Ass, Carrie). The question is does it hold up against their more recent work, or would they rather forget it?
Behind Closed Doors (aka The Poker House) was directed and written by actress Lori Petty (Tank Girl...
- 4/6/2015
- by Paul Metcalf
- Nerdly
Check out an exclusive clip from SXSW world premiere "Sequoia," starring Aly Michalka ("Easy A") as a young woman battling a dangerous illness who plans one last trip to a bucolic national park. The film bows at the Austin fest on March 9 in the narrative spotlight section."Sequoia" is helmed by first-time feature filmmaker Andy Landen, a graduate of USC's film school. Dustin Milligan ("Slither"), Todd Lowe ("True Blood"), Demetri Martin ("In a World"), Sophi Bairley ("The Poker House"), Joey Lauren Adams ("Blue Caprice") and Lou Diamond Phillips ("La Bamba") also star.Here's the official synopsis:a lively young woman with a life threatening illness visits Sequoia National Park with the intention of ending her life – but her plans are complicated by her colorful family and the unexpected possibility of romance with an introspective musician.
- 3/5/2014
- by Beth Hanna
- Thompson on Hollywood
One of the standout titles on the SXSW Narrative Spotlight lineup is Andy Landen's feature debut Sequoia. Starring Aly Michalka and Dustin Milligan alongside Todd Lowe, Demetri Martin, Sophi Bairley, and Joey Lauren Adams, Sequoia is the story of a troubled girl with a terminal disease that heads to the woods to call it quits on life, only to meet a dashing young man along the way. We've got the synopsis below followed by the trailer for your viewing pleasure. Set amid the epic grandeur of the California's Sequoia National Forest, Sequoia is drama-romance with a breakout performance by Aly Michalka (Former Disney Channel actor, CW's Hellcats, Easy A, pop music sister act Aly & Aj). Aly stars as a lively young woman with a...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
[Read the whole post on twitchfilm.com...]...
- 2/20/2014
- Screen Anarchy
Sundance just ended, and we are already preparing for the next big film festival, South By Southwest. Not too long ago, the festival announced a few of the films premiering this year, but now they’ve announced the main slate. The midnight selections and some inevitable late-breaking additions are still to be announced, but this should be more than enough to get you excited. Along with many World Premieres, and Sundance favorites like Richard Linklater’s Boyhood and Gareth Evans’ The Raid 2, the line up also includes an anniversary screening of The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and an extended Q&A screening of The Grand Budapest Hotel with Wes Anderson. SXSW 2014 runs March 7 through 15 in Austin, Texas. Check out the line up after the jump.
****
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. Selected from 1,324 films submitted to SXSW 2014. Films screening in Narrative...
****
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight unique ways to celebrate the art of storytelling. Selected from 1,324 films submitted to SXSW 2014. Films screening in Narrative...
- 1/31/2014
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Today the South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Conference and Festival announced a diverse features lineup for this year’s Festival, the 21st edition and running March 7 – 15, 2014 in Austin, Texas. The 2014 program expands on SXSW tradition of embracing a range of genres and span of budgets, featuring a wealth of vision from experienced and developing filmmakers alike.
For more information visit http://sxsw.com/film.
Listed in the announcement are 115 of the features that will screen over the course of nine days at SXSW 2014. The lineup below includes 68 films from first-time filmmakers, and consists of 76 World Premieres, 10 North American Premieres and 7 U.S. Premieres. These films were selected from a record 2,215 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,540 U.S. and 675 international feature-length films. With a record number of 6,482 submissions total, the overall increase was 14% over 2013. The Midnighters feature section and the Short Film program will be announced on February 5, with the complete...
For more information visit http://sxsw.com/film.
Listed in the announcement are 115 of the features that will screen over the course of nine days at SXSW 2014. The lineup below includes 68 films from first-time filmmakers, and consists of 76 World Premieres, 10 North American Premieres and 7 U.S. Premieres. These films were selected from a record 2,215 feature-length film submissions composed of 1,540 U.S. and 675 international feature-length films. With a record number of 6,482 submissions total, the overall increase was 14% over 2013. The Midnighters feature section and the Short Film program will be announced on February 5, with the complete...
- 1/31/2014
- by Movie Geeks
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
After announcing earlier this month that Jon Favreau’s Chef and the Veronica Mars movie will be making their world debuts at SXSW this year, the festival has revealed its full line-up, including further very promising world premieres, alongside appearances from some of the year’s most high-profile films.
The Midnight programme will be announced early next month, along with the Shorts line-up, and the complete Conference slate a little later as well.
Led by Seth Rogen and Zac Efron, Nicholas Stoller’s anticipated R-rated comedy, Neighbors, will be making its world debut at the festival, notably marked out as a ‘work-in-progress’ ahead of its theatrical release in May.
David Gordon Green’s acclaimed Joe will make its Us premiere, having bowed at Venice and then Toronto last year. Early reviews have Nicolas Cage giving one of the finest performances of his career, with Tye Sheridan (Mud) excellent alongside him.
The Midnight programme will be announced early next month, along with the Shorts line-up, and the complete Conference slate a little later as well.
Led by Seth Rogen and Zac Efron, Nicholas Stoller’s anticipated R-rated comedy, Neighbors, will be making its world debut at the festival, notably marked out as a ‘work-in-progress’ ahead of its theatrical release in May.
David Gordon Green’s acclaimed Joe will make its Us premiere, having bowed at Venice and then Toronto last year. Early reviews have Nicolas Cage giving one of the finest performances of his career, with Tye Sheridan (Mud) excellent alongside him.
- 1/30/2014
- by Kenji Lloyd
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Not sure if there is a Short Term 12 equivalent in this year’s Narrative Feature Comp, but on paper SXSW programmers are serving up a mean (and the usual lean group of 8 out of a whopping 1,324 film entries) for the upcoming competitiuon of eight which includes notable entries (that we’ve been tracking for a good time now) such as Zachary Wigon’s The Heart Machine, John Magary’s The Mend, Leah Meyerhoff’s I Believe in Unicorns and Lawrence Michael Levine’s Wild Canaries. Undoubtedly one of the most anticipated docs of the year, on the non-fiction side we find Margaret Brown’s The Great Invisible. Below you’ll find a breakdown of the other sections (notable world preems in We’ll Never Have Paris and Faults (see Mary Elizabeth Winstead above), some Sundance items with Texan connections and other nuggets.
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight...
Narrative Feature Competition
Eight world premieres, eight...
- 1/30/2014
- by Eric Lavallee
- IONCINEMA.com
Venue: Los Angeles Film Festival.
Lori Petty, a likable actress in such films as “A League of Their Own” and “Point Break, ” makes her directorial debut with a very personal story about her harrowing childhood living with a drug-addicted mother. While the film has strong moments and performances, it illustrates the dangers of overly personal filmmaking. Petty's passion for the subject is unmistakable; what's missing is the clarity that a true artist would provide. Few viewers will want to subject themselves to the seamy slice-of-life depicted in this memoir.
This lack of clarity is evident first of all in a very unkempt structure. Petty thrusts us right into the dangerous life of Agnes (Jennifer Lawrence) and her two younger sisters. While a brief flashback sequence, done in the style of grainy home movies, is designed to explain how Agnes's family was ripped apart, it doesn't really accomplish that feat. We spend a long time trying to comprehend the dynamics within the drug house where Agnes struggles to survive. The verbose voice-over narration doesn't help. Too many story points remain murky. When Agnes appears for a basketball game at the movie's finale, it comes as something of a shock because we had no idea she was even attending school.
Lawrence has a touching poise on camera that conveys the resilience of children. Sophia Bairley and Chloe Grace Moretz as her sisters also perform admirably. The surprise of the movie is Selma Blair, who gives a stark, uncompromising performance as Agnes's mother that may be the best of her career. On the other hand, David Alan Grier-who also co-authored the screenplay with Petty-delivers a showy, bewildering turn as an eccentric barroom drunk.
Those who survived abusive childhoods may feel a strong connection to the material. Other moviegoers will applaud Petty's intentions but feel alienated from the squalid, chaotic universe presented here. The editing by Tirsa Hackshaw doesn't help us to get our bearings. Mike Post's haunting score is an asset.
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bokeem Woodbine, Selma Blair, Sophia Bairley, Chloe Grace Moretz, David Alan Grier. Director: Lori Petty. Screenwriters: Lori Petty, David Alan Grier. Producers: Stephen J. Cannell, Michael J. Dubelko. Director of photography: Ken Seng. Production designer: Lisa S. Wolff-Mandziara. Music: Mike Post. Costume designer: Erin Benach. Editor: Tirsa Hackshaw. Sales agent: The Film Sales Company.
No MPAA rating, 93 minutes.
Lori Petty, a likable actress in such films as “A League of Their Own” and “Point Break, ” makes her directorial debut with a very personal story about her harrowing childhood living with a drug-addicted mother. While the film has strong moments and performances, it illustrates the dangers of overly personal filmmaking. Petty's passion for the subject is unmistakable; what's missing is the clarity that a true artist would provide. Few viewers will want to subject themselves to the seamy slice-of-life depicted in this memoir.
This lack of clarity is evident first of all in a very unkempt structure. Petty thrusts us right into the dangerous life of Agnes (Jennifer Lawrence) and her two younger sisters. While a brief flashback sequence, done in the style of grainy home movies, is designed to explain how Agnes's family was ripped apart, it doesn't really accomplish that feat. We spend a long time trying to comprehend the dynamics within the drug house where Agnes struggles to survive. The verbose voice-over narration doesn't help. Too many story points remain murky. When Agnes appears for a basketball game at the movie's finale, it comes as something of a shock because we had no idea she was even attending school.
Lawrence has a touching poise on camera that conveys the resilience of children. Sophia Bairley and Chloe Grace Moretz as her sisters also perform admirably. The surprise of the movie is Selma Blair, who gives a stark, uncompromising performance as Agnes's mother that may be the best of her career. On the other hand, David Alan Grier-who also co-authored the screenplay with Petty-delivers a showy, bewildering turn as an eccentric barroom drunk.
Those who survived abusive childhoods may feel a strong connection to the material. Other moviegoers will applaud Petty's intentions but feel alienated from the squalid, chaotic universe presented here. The editing by Tirsa Hackshaw doesn't help us to get our bearings. Mike Post's haunting score is an asset.
Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Bokeem Woodbine, Selma Blair, Sophia Bairley, Chloe Grace Moretz, David Alan Grier. Director: Lori Petty. Screenwriters: Lori Petty, David Alan Grier. Producers: Stephen J. Cannell, Michael J. Dubelko. Director of photography: Ken Seng. Production designer: Lisa S. Wolff-Mandziara. Music: Mike Post. Costume designer: Erin Benach. Editor: Tirsa Hackshaw. Sales agent: The Film Sales Company.
No MPAA rating, 93 minutes.
- 6/30/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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