The Amati Girls (2000)

Director:

Anne De Salvo

Writer:

Anne De Salvo

Stars:

Cloris Leachman, Mercedes Ruehl, Dinah Manoff

4 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Cloris Leachman	...	Dolly Amati
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Grace
Dinah Manoff	...	Denise
Sean Young	...	Christine
Lily Knight	...	Dolores
Lee Grant	...	Aunt Spendora
Edith Fields	...	Aunt Loretta
Cassie Cole	...	Carla
Marissa Leigh	...	Laura
Sam McMurray	...	Brian
Joe Greco	...	Uncle Frankie
Matt Winston	...	Johnny Barlotta
Gary Hershberger	...	Kevin
Anne De Salvo	...	Cathy
Sal Viscuso	...	Father Dedice

Storyline

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Plot Keywords:

independent film

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Taglines:

Four sisters who disagree about everything... except what matters most. Family.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild language and brief sensuality

Details

Official Sites:

Providence Entertainment

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 January 2001 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$33,902 (USA) (19 January 2001)

Gross:

$33,902 (USA) (19 January 2001)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Family Channel, Heritage Group, Persistent Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Soundtracks

"Roaring Twenties"
Composed by Kevin Hiatt and Charles Blaker

User Reviews

The South Philly Italian Sisters Rosenzweig

I went to Penn. My roommate was from an Italian family in South Philly and since I had a car, I accompanied him there often. The family dinner and kitchen scenes are totally authentic and filled me with nostalgia. I never would have picked Cloris Leachman as the Italian mother of the four title sisters, but she nailed it and becomes the glue that holds the movie together. Paul Sorvino is perfect (what else is new?) as the family patriarch. Lee Grant is a standout at Cloris' sister, stealing every scene she's in. Mercedes Ruehl as the glue that holds the family together (as opposed to the movie) is magnificent as usual. Dinah Manoff (Lee Grant's daughter) is perfectly cast as the artistic daughter who has remained single after being traumatized by the marriage she sees; Mark Harmon is sturdy in the thankless role of her boyfriend. The one who surprised me with being the most natural and least stereotyped of the entire crew was Sean Young. I feel like I knew the South Philly mother and estranged wife who handles her guilt with repression that she played. She was nothing short as brilliant. Jamey Sheridan was well- cast as her workaholic spouse from whom she is separated and the gal playing her daughter was good. The youngest sister, a special needs child who became that way via the clichéd fall by her mother while pregnant, is the one false note in this family drama. Her character and her performance both did not work for me.

But enough of it did work well that I enjoyed it throughout and recommend it - especially if you have any roots in Philadelphia.