Carolina (2003/I)

User Rating:

6.1/10   

Director:

Marleen Gorris

Writer (WGA):

Katherine Fugate (written by)

Release Date:

4 July 2003 (Spain)

Genre:

Romance | Comedy

Plot:

A young woman escapes her wildly eccentric family in search for a life of normalcy. |

Plot Keywords:

Christmas Party | Thanksgiving | Los Angeles California | Book Reading | Growing Up

Cast

Julia Stiles	...	Carolina Mirabeau
Shirley MacLaine	...	Grandma Millicent Mirabeau
Alessandro Nivola	...	Albert Morris
Randy Quaid	...	Theodore 'Ted' Mirabeau
Edward Atterton	...	Heath Pierson
Azura Skye	...	Georgia Mirabeau
Mika Boorem	...	Maine Mirabeau
Jennifer Coolidge	...	Aunt Marilyn
Alan Thicke	...	Chuck McBride - Perfect Date Host
John Capodice	...	Ernie the Cook
Lisa Sheridan	...	Debbie
Ambyr Childers	...	Young Carolina
Daveigh Chase	...	Young Georgia
Lauri Johnson	...	Susan the Waitress
Michael Panes	...	John

Also Known As:

Carolina - Auf der Suche nach Mr. Perfect (Germany)
Carolina Torn Asunder (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for sexual content.

Runtime:

Canada:96 min (Ontario)

Country:

USA | Germany

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:M | Spain:7 | USA:PG-13 | Germany:6 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Bregman-IAC Productions

Trivia:

Kathy Bates was originally considered for the role of Grandma Mirabeau, later given to Shirley MacLaine.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first shot outside Carolina's apartment, there is a propped-open screen door. In subsequent shots, it is gone.

Quotes:

Grandma Mirabeau: [to granddaughter in labor] Now, you breathe deep and you push hard. You push and you push. You push harder, harder, harder, harder, or I will go down there and get a plunger and SUCK that baby out of you!

Movie Connections:

Features Fear in the Night (1947)

Strong acting and memorable lines

This movie has been a long time coming. After waiting a year for Miramax to release it in the US, I picked up the DVD via Canada. Although not perfect, it was sweet and very well acted. Ms. Stiles continues her skill of creating a new personality for each of her screen appearances, and she has NEVER looked better. Her range is amazing. She once again delivers a very powerful performance. In fact, all of the actors were impressive. Shirley MacLaine's role is more than a cameo, and she delivers. Randy Quaid was a pleasant surprise. In a role where he could easily have gone over the top; he didn't. Azura Skye did a great job and had several very memorable moments. I look forward to seeing her again. The child actress chosen to play the young Carolina is an uncanny young version of Ms. Stiles. Along with the acting, the dialog was consistently smart and sharp. Miramax should release and promote this film for no other reason than it contains some of the all-time great movie lines. Not every aspect or scene worked for me, but most did. I enjoyed and recommend it.