The Playroom constantly states the obvious. For instance, nearly every time some finishes their drink, they proclaim, “I need a drink!” There is a also close-up of a newspaper article announcing the arrest of Patty Hearst, in case we didn’t catch that it takes place in the 1970s. More examples of this occur throughout the film, but said obviousness in direction quickly grows tiring – just give the audience some more credit. Directed by Julia Dyer, and scripted by her sister Gretchen Dyer, The Playroom tells the story of one evening in the lives of four suburban children, cared for chiefly by their teenage sister Maggie (newcomer Olivia Harris), as they are sequestered in their upstairs playroom while their parents Martin and Donna (John Hawkes and Molly Parker) get increasingly drunk and debaucherous downstairs with another couple, Clark and Nadia (Jonathan Brooks and Lydia MacKay). To disguise their feelings of abandonment, they...
- 2/8/2013
- by Caitlin Hughes
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Played Out: Dyer’s Sophomore Feature Overly Familiar and Underwhelming
Director Julia Dyer, again teaming with screenwriter sister Gretchen, mount their first project since their successfully received 1996 independent feature, Late Bloomers, with a 1970s sexual revolution period piece, The Playroom. While there are certain sensational and dramatic elements that may put one in mind of a cross between something like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Flowers in the Attic, the feature, while it certainly avoids camp cliché, also avoids any type of practical engagement with its sordidly unhappy elements. While the adults in the Dyer sisters’ latest feature suffer the children, so do they suffer the patience of an audience desperately searching for a point of interest in the troupe presented to us here.
Opening with a group of four siblings in the Cantwell family, looked after by elder teen Maggie (Olivia Harris), the breaking newspaper headline on...
Director Julia Dyer, again teaming with screenwriter sister Gretchen, mount their first project since their successfully received 1996 independent feature, Late Bloomers, with a 1970s sexual revolution period piece, The Playroom. While there are certain sensational and dramatic elements that may put one in mind of a cross between something like Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Flowers in the Attic, the feature, while it certainly avoids camp cliché, also avoids any type of practical engagement with its sordidly unhappy elements. While the adults in the Dyer sisters’ latest feature suffer the children, so do they suffer the patience of an audience desperately searching for a point of interest in the troupe presented to us here.
Opening with a group of four siblings in the Cantwell family, looked after by elder teen Maggie (Olivia Harris), the breaking newspaper headline on...
- 2/8/2013
- by Nicholas Bell
- IONCINEMA.com
Title: The Playroom Director: Julia Dyer Starring: John Hawkes, Molly Parker, Olivia Harris, Jonathan Brooks, Lydia McKay, Alexandra Doke, Ian Veteto, Jonathon McClendon, Cody Linley Lovingly captured but rather dramatically inert, “The Playroom” is a slice of 1970s-era familial portraiture, with a special focus on wandering eyes and the secret lives of adults. If “The Ice Storm” was a band, think of this as its minor-chord, B-feature opening act, a boxed-in, presumably autobiographical tale in which a quartet of kids manage their mother’s alcoholism and nice-guy father’s enabling… With Imagination! Set in 1975, “The Playroom” centers on the home life of lawyer Martin Cantwell (John Hawkes) and his scotch-dependent, emotionally distant wife, Donna (Molly Parker). The couple has [ Read More ]
The post The Playroom Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The Playroom Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 2/8/2013
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
While he may have missed out on an Academy Award nomination for yet another great performance in "The Sessions," fans of actor John Hawkes don't have to wait long to see him again on the big screen. Once again changing gears, the actor stars alongside the underrated Molly Parker in the indie drama "The Playroom," a film that promises a peek behind the curtain of seemingly stable suburban life. Written by Gretchen Dyer and directed by Julia Dyer (who previously teamed on "Late Bloomers"), the story, set in the 1970s, follows a couple whose hurts and betrayals are brought to the fore during a boozy party, all while their children steal away to the attic, where they conjure up stories of their own. It's the kind of small drama that doesn't get made in the studio system anymore, a fact cited by the actors in this exclusive, seven-minute behind-the-scenes featurette as the reason,...
- 2/7/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The Playroom, starring John Hawkes and Molly Parker, will hit NY and La theaters on February 8th. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival last year, with standout performances especially from up-and-comer Olivia Harris, who plays Maggie in the film. If you are interested in speaking with the talent or reviewing the film, please let me know and I would be happy to coordinate. In 1970s suburbia, Maggie and her younger siblings spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light. With standout performances from John Hawkes, Molly Parker, and a cast of talented young actors, Julia Dyer’s second feature is an honest and challenging look at the reality behind the façade of a seemingly perfect American family. Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
- 1/29/2013
- by hnblog@hollywoodnews.com (Hollywood News Team)
- Hollywoodnews.com
The ’70s-set family drama The Playroom, starring John Hawkes and the underrated Molly Parker premiered last spring at the Tribeca Fim Festival, but the first clip has newly arrived. Now we have the first theatrical trailer for the film which failed to get much traction.
Freestyle’s upcoming indie drama directed by Julia Dyer (Late Bloomers) is slated for a day and date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD February 8th, 2013. The film written by Julia’s sister Gretchen Dyer sees a family straining beneath a pleasant facade.
The film also stars Molly Parker, Cody Linley, Lydia MacKay, and Olivia Harris. It seems like one of Hawkes’ forgettable indies, but check it out for yourself and maybe you’ll feel differently.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama,...
Freestyle’s upcoming indie drama directed by Julia Dyer (Late Bloomers) is slated for a day and date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD February 8th, 2013. The film written by Julia’s sister Gretchen Dyer sees a family straining beneath a pleasant facade.
The film also stars Molly Parker, Cody Linley, Lydia MacKay, and Olivia Harris. It seems like one of Hawkes’ forgettable indies, but check it out for yourself and maybe you’ll feel differently.
Click here to view the embedded video.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama,...
- 1/18/2013
- by Nick Martin
- Filmofilia
Watch the trailer for Freestyle Releasing's The Playroom, starring John Hawkes and Molly Parker, as well as Olivia Harris, Jonathan Brooks, Cody Linley In 1970s suburbia, Maggie and her younger siblings spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light. With standout performances from John Hawkes, Molly Parker, and a cast of talented young actors, Julia Dyer's second feature is an honest and challenging look at the reality behind the façade of a seemingly perfect American family.
- 1/18/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Watch the trailer for Freestyle Releasing's The Playroom, starring John Hawkes and Molly Parker, as well as Olivia Harris, Jonathan Brooks, Cody Linley In 1970s suburbia, Maggie and her younger siblings spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light. With standout performances from John Hawkes, Molly Parker, and a cast of talented young actors, Julia Dyer's second feature is an honest and challenging look at the reality behind the façade of a seemingly perfect American family.
- 1/18/2013
- Upcoming-Movies.com
Here's a reminder, as the Sundance Film Festival gets underway, that not every movie at a festival is going to make it or be remembered. And so it goes for "The Playroom." The film starring John Hawkes and the underrated Molly Parker premiered last spring to not much fanfare at the Tribeca Fim Festival, and even with someone like Hawkes in the cast, it failed to get much traction. And now, just under a year later, it's quite ready to quietly be released and live the rest of its life out in the wild. A new trailer and clip has arrived for "The Playroom," a '70s set drama that sees a family straining beneath a pleasant facade. Written by Gretchen Dyer and directed by her sister Julie Dyer (the sisters’ first film, “Late Bloomers,” premiered at Sundance in 1996), the film is told through the eyes of the children of a married couple,...
- 1/17/2013
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The trailer for Freestyle's upcoming indie drama The Playroom is now online and you can check it out in the player below. Directed by Julia Dyer ( Late Bloomers ), The Playroom stars Academy Award-nominee John Hawkes ( Winter's Bone , The Sessions ) and Molly Parker ("Dexter," "The Firm"). The film, which premiered in the gala/spotlight section of this year's Tribeca Film Festival, was produced by Stephen Dyer ( Hysteria ) and Angie Meyer (Wuss), and is slated for a day and date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD February 8, 2013. Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world. Maggie (newcomer Olivia...
- 1/17/2013
- Comingsoon.net
Each year the Tribeca Film Festival offers a flood of new features, from midnight movies, to foreign films, brand-new narratives and debuting documentaries. As such, a critic covering the fest is spoiled for choice, and, thus, frequently forced to fill their screening schedule haphazardly. Last year, as I bounced around Tribeca, chasing down press screenings, I made it a point to see The Playroom, and am very glad I did. Directed by Julia Dyer, the film was her second feature, following 1996's Late Bloomers, both of which were written by her late sister, Gretchen Dryer. But I'd never heard of the Dryer sisters. What drew me to The Playroom was its cast, which included two stars from the HBO western series Deadwood, John Hawkes and Molly Parker. In the drama, set in the 1970s, Hawkes and Parker play a husband and wife who are brewing for a scandalous showdown. Newcomer...
- 1/8/2013
- cinemablend.com
The Playroom, an upcoming drama which comes from director Julia Dyer, is set to open in limited theaters next month. Today, we finally have the first trailer for the whole thing, and I’m sure you’re going to love this short video. Why? Well, ’cause they already describe it as funny, wise and powerful story set in 1975. And, do you know where your parents are?
Directed by Julia Dyer, the movie is set in the suburbs during the 1970s, and the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world.
Starring John Hawkes, Molly Parker, Olivia Harris and Cody Linley, The Playroom is set to hit limited theaters on February 8th, 2013.
Maggie is a vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts as big sister and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings.
Directed by Julia Dyer, the movie is set in the suburbs during the 1970s, and the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world.
Starring John Hawkes, Molly Parker, Olivia Harris and Cody Linley, The Playroom is set to hit limited theaters on February 8th, 2013.
Maggie is a vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts as big sister and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings.
- 1/8/2013
- by Jeanne Standal
- Filmofilia
This year, the battle for the “Best Actor” category is fierce. However, one of our favorites is John Hawkes. Is brilliant performance in “The Sessions” may garner him the coveted Oscar. Soon we will find out. John Hawkes has been working non-stop since his critically acclaimed performance as Teardrop in “Winter’s Bone,” the role which earned him an Independent Spirit Award win and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. Hawkes can be seen in Ben Lewin’s “The Sessions,” the story of a man confined to an iron lung who is determined – at age 38 – to lose his virginity. He also recently completed production on “Lincoln,” “Arcadia” and “The Playroom.” Hawkes’ additional film credits include “Higher Ground,” “Contagion,” “Martha Marcy May Marlene,” “Me and You and Everyone We Know,” “American Gangster,” “Miami Vice,” “Identity,” “The Perfect Storm,” “Small Town Saturday Night,” “Hardball,” “Wristcutters: A Love Story,” “The Amateurs,...
- 12/31/2012
- by mgblog@hollywoodnews.com (Marco Gama)
- Hollywoodnews.com
Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media have released the first poster for The Playroom starring John Hawkes and Molly Parker.
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world. Maggie (newcomer Olivia Harris) is a vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts as big sister and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings. Upstairs in the attic she tells them fantastical stories, but only to mask what is happening downstairs. As her hard-drinking parents, Martin and Donna (Hawkes and Parker), entertain guests, Maggie grapples with their flawed choices and is thrust into a world she might not be ready for.
Directed by Julia Dyer (.Late Bloomers.), the movie premiered in the gala/spotlight section of this year.s Tribeca Film Festival and was...
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world. Maggie (newcomer Olivia Harris) is a vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts as big sister and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings. Upstairs in the attic she tells them fantastical stories, but only to mask what is happening downstairs. As her hard-drinking parents, Martin and Donna (Hawkes and Parker), entertain guests, Maggie grapples with their flawed choices and is thrust into a world she might not be ready for.
Directed by Julia Dyer (.Late Bloomers.), the movie premiered in the gala/spotlight section of this year.s Tribeca Film Festival and was...
- 12/20/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
The folks over at Freestyle Digital Media have a mid-week treat for all you John Hawkes fans. The actor, who is nominated for a Golden Globe for his performance in The Sessions, will star in the family drama The Playroom next year. Below is an exclusive first look at the poster for The Playroom. The film centers on four children who hideaway in their attic and make up a fantastic story while downstairs their alcoholic parents grapple with their flawed life choices. After premiering at this year's Tribeca Film Festival to strong reviews, the film will arrive in theaters on February 8. That's not all though! Tomorrow, we'll also have a brand new episode of The Frontrunners up in our Awards Watch Guide as Hawkes dissects a pivotal scene from The Sessions. Be...
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- 12/19/2012
- by affiliates@fandango.com
- Fandango
Photos for Gangster Squad, Kill Your Darlings, The Hangover Part III and Red 2.
Posters for Parker, A Haunted House, and Escape from Planet Earth.
20th Century Fox has revealed the worldwide release dates for The Wolverine. There's also a trailer for the upcoming Blu-ray release of Willow, and a new viral website for Star Trek Into Darkness.
"'Draft Day', the football-themed drama script with Kevin Costner attached, topped the annual Black List of Hollywood's best unproduced screenplays…" (full details)
"Criterion have announced their March Blu-ray titles which include Terrence Malick’s 'Badlands,' Fritz Lang's 'Ministry of Fear,' Robert Bresson's 'A Man Escaped,' the Charlie Chaplin title 'Monsieur Verdoux,' the 50's version of 'The Blob,' and Powell and Pressburger's 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'…" (full details)
"The Weinstein Company has scrapped the L.A. premiere of...
Posters for Parker, A Haunted House, and Escape from Planet Earth.
20th Century Fox has revealed the worldwide release dates for The Wolverine. There's also a trailer for the upcoming Blu-ray release of Willow, and a new viral website for Star Trek Into Darkness.
"'Draft Day', the football-themed drama script with Kevin Costner attached, topped the annual Black List of Hollywood's best unproduced screenplays…" (full details)
"Criterion have announced their March Blu-ray titles which include Terrence Malick’s 'Badlands,' Fritz Lang's 'Ministry of Fear,' Robert Bresson's 'A Man Escaped,' the Charlie Chaplin title 'Monsieur Verdoux,' the 50's version of 'The Blob,' and Powell and Pressburger's 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'…" (full details)
"The Weinstein Company has scrapped the L.A. premiere of...
- 12/18/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Photos for Gangster Squad, Kill Your Darlings, The Hangover Part III and Red 2.
Posters for Parker, A Haunted House, and Escape from Planet Earth.
20th Century Fox has revealed the worldwide release dates for The Wolverine. There's also a trailer for the upcoming Blu-ray release of Willow, and a new viral website for Star Trek Into Darkness.
"'Draft Day', the football-themed drama script with Kevin Costner attached, topped the annual Black List of Hollywood's best unproduced screenplays…" (full details)
"Criterion have announced their March Blu-ray titles which include Terrence Malick’s 'Badlands,' Fritz Lang's 'Ministry of Fear,' Robert Bresson's 'A Man Escaped,' the Charlie Chaplin title 'Monsieur Verdoux,' the 50's version of 'The Blob,' and Powell and Pressburger's 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'…" (full details)
"The Weinstein Company has scrapped the L.A. premiere of...
Posters for Parker, A Haunted House, and Escape from Planet Earth.
20th Century Fox has revealed the worldwide release dates for The Wolverine. There's also a trailer for the upcoming Blu-ray release of Willow, and a new viral website for Star Trek Into Darkness.
"'Draft Day', the football-themed drama script with Kevin Costner attached, topped the annual Black List of Hollywood's best unproduced screenplays…" (full details)
"Criterion have announced their March Blu-ray titles which include Terrence Malick’s 'Badlands,' Fritz Lang's 'Ministry of Fear,' Robert Bresson's 'A Man Escaped,' the Charlie Chaplin title 'Monsieur Verdoux,' the 50's version of 'The Blob,' and Powell and Pressburger's 'The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp'…" (full details)
"The Weinstein Company has scrapped the L.A. premiere of...
- 12/18/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media have announced that they have acquired theatrical and all DVD and VOD rights to The Playroom , the critically acclaimed drama directed by Julia Dyer ( Late Bloomers ), which stars Academy Award-nominee John Hawkes ( Winter's Bone , The Sessions ) and Molly Parker ("Dexter," "The Firm"). The film, which premiered in the gala/spotlight section of this year's Tribeca Film Festival, was produced by Stephen Dyer ( Hysteria ) and Angie Meyer ( Wuss ), and is slated for a day and date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD February 8, 2013. Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly...
- 12/18/2012
- Comingsoon.net
Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media announce today that they have acquired theatrical and all DVD and VOD rights to The Playroom, the critically acclaimed drama directed by Julia Dyer (.Late Bloomers.), which stars Academy Award-nominee John Hawkes (.Winter.s Bone,. .The Sessions.) and Molly Parker (Dexter, The Firm). The film, which premiered in the gala/spotlight section of this year.s Tribeca Film Festival, was produced by Stephen Dyer (.Hysteria.) and Angie Meyer (.Wuss.), and is slated for a day and date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD February 8th, 2013.
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world. Maggie (newcomer Olivia Harris) is a vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts as big sister and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings.
Set in the suburbs during the 1970s, the story unfolds like a dream wrapped around a family drama, one in which all members of the Cantwell family struggle to find their way in a rapidly changing world. Maggie (newcomer Olivia Harris) is a vulnerable yet tempestuous teenager who acts as big sister and surrogate mother to her three younger siblings.
- 12/18/2012
- by Michelle McCue
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media have acquired the theatrical, DVD and VOD rights to "The Playroom," a drama directed by Julia Dyer ("Late Bloomers"), which stars John Hawkes ("Winter's Bone," "The Sessions") and Molly Parker ("Dexter," "The Firm"). The film is slated for a day-and-date theatrical release and on DVD/VOD on Feb. 8, 2013. "The Playroom" premiered in the gala/spotlight section of this year's Tribeca Film Festival. It was produced by Stephen Dyer ("Hysteria") and Angie Meyer ("Wuss"). Set in the suburbs during the1970s, the family drama tells the story of Maggie...
- 12/17/2012
- by Liza Foreman
- The Wrap
Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media have acquired theatrical and all DVD and VOD rights to “The Playroom,” directed by Julia Dyer. The drama, which premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival, is scheduled for a day-and-date release on theatrical and DVD/VOD Feb. 8. John Hawkes, Molly Parker and Olivia Harris star in the story of a suburban family during the 1970s comprised of a pair of hard-drinking parents and the teenaged daughter desperately trying to keep her three younger siblings distracted from the chaos. Stephen Dyer (“Hysteria”) and Angie Meyer (“Wuss”) produced. “Julia Dyer has created a beautiful time machine back to the ’70s,” said Freestyle president Susan Jackson. “The film is a bird’s eye view of a tumultuous period told from the perspective of children.” Jackson, head of acquisitions Chris Charalambous and Bill Straus of Bgp and Jonathan Gray of Gray, Krauss Stratford...
- 12/17/2012
- by Jay A. Fernandez
- Indiewire
HollywoodNews.com: The second half of the year is upon us. The race is about to heat up with big Oscar hopefuls coming down the pike. Our John Foote will be in attendance at the Toronto International Film Festival and many films will be unveiling themselves to critics alike. There is a very unclear yet still feasible shape to the race looking from ten thousand feet. There are internet jitters building for Paul Thomas Anderson’s The Master starring Joaquin Phoenix and Philip Seymour Hoffman. With the trailers released and now the film being pushed up to September, it looks as though we may be in store for a master class in filmmaking. Phoenix also looks to be a lead contender for his first Oscar after delivering in his previous nominated works, Gladiator (2000) and Walk the Line (2005). Phoenix does have tough competition ahead of him including what looks to be...
- 8/2/2012
- by Clayton Davis
- Hollywoodnews.com
Since he dazzled critics and audiences alike with his Oscar-nominated portrayal of Teardrop, the growling defender of Jennifer Lawrence's heroine in Winter's Bone, character actor John Hawkes has been reason enough for many of us to seek out even his most obscure indie efforts. Since then he has drawn praise for his creation of the nicknaming cult leader in the dreamy and devastating drama Martha Marcy May Marlene, his complex portrayal of a virgin in an iron lung in the Sundance selected biopic The Surrogate and as a cuckolded husband in the heartbreaking Tribeca Film Festival offering The Playroom. Whatever the subject matter, whatever the role, Hawkes is guaranteed to make any movie he is attached to something worth watching. So it's great news for first-time feature film director Dennis Hauck that Hawkes has just signed on to front his upcoming thriller Too Late. THR reveals Hawkes will play...
- 5/7/2012
- cinemablend.com
John Hawkes is one-of-a-kind. This is a guy who can take roles in an HBO series (Eastbound & Down) and do some work for Steven Spielberg (Lincoln) or Steven Soderbergh (Contagion) on the side, but holds virtually no aversion to the smaller stuff, either. (He had a role in my favorite movie of this year’s Tribeca, The Playroom, for example.) More on that latter side of things comes a story from THR, who inform us Hawkes will be starring in Too Late, the feature debut of writer-director Dennis Hauck.
Here, the Oscar nominee plays a private investigator tasked with finding a woman he ends up bonding with. Standard stuff on the surface, but Too Late gets a tad more interesting when you learn it’s told in a non-linear fashion — not entirely unlike his critical smash from last year, Martha Marcy May Marlene. (There will probably be less singing, though.
Here, the Oscar nominee plays a private investigator tasked with finding a woman he ends up bonding with. Standard stuff on the surface, but Too Late gets a tad more interesting when you learn it’s told in a non-linear fashion — not entirely unlike his critical smash from last year, Martha Marcy May Marlene. (There will probably be less singing, though.
- 5/5/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
At the end of each month, the Sound On Sight staff will band together to write an article about their favourite scenes in films released. Here are our favourite scenes from the month of April.
Warning: Of course, spoilers are in full effect here!
Rebelle - Friendly ghost warning
There are a host of wonderful moments in this picture, but it is those which spoke to the film’s pseudo-supernatural nature that I remember most fondly. The protagonist’s connection to the spirit world has see see the ghosts of the dead at various moments. The nondescript actors portraying the spectres are painted in white from head to toe and their eyes are equipped with some strange contact lenses, thus perfectly whitening them as well. The ghosts are not scary per say, but definitely a creepy, odd addition to the picture, with their first ever appearance being the most effect,...
Warning: Of course, spoilers are in full effect here!
Rebelle - Friendly ghost warning
There are a host of wonderful moments in this picture, but it is those which spoke to the film’s pseudo-supernatural nature that I remember most fondly. The protagonist’s connection to the spirit world has see see the ghosts of the dead at various moments. The nondescript actors portraying the spectres are painted in white from head to toe and their eyes are equipped with some strange contact lenses, thus perfectly whitening them as well. The ghosts are not scary per say, but definitely a creepy, odd addition to the picture, with their first ever appearance being the most effect,...
- 5/3/2012
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
John Hawkes, the Academy Award-nominated actor whose career has spanned nearly 30 years and includes more than 100 film and television credits, has gotten attention in recent years for playing creepy, menacing roles in films such as "Winter's Bone" and "Martha Marcy May Marlene." At the same time, some of his best performances have been characterizations of mundane men trying to do the right thing for themselves and their families in films like "You and Me and Everyone Know" and the HBO series "Eastbound & Down."Despite his films’ differences in style and tone, Hawkes is helped by strong performances from child actors in each of the titles mentioned above. And in his new film, "The Playroom," which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival last week, Hawkes plays Martin Cantwell, a passive father who struggles to keep his dysfunctional family together as ugly truths are revealed over the...
- 4/28/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Daniel Lehman)
- backstage.com
John Hawkes is one of the best actors working today. Seriously, why are you reading the Internet right now? You should really be spending your free time watching John Hawkes act. Here's something else about John Hawkes: Not only is the former Oscar nominee a fantastic actor, he's also legitimately nice (at least in my experiences). Which will make it all the better the next time his name is mentioned for an Oscar nomination -- which could possibly happen this year for his role in the Sundance favorite, "The Surrogate."
In the meantime, Hawkes has an entry in this week's Tribeca Film Festival, "The Playroom." In "The Playroom," Hawkes plays a 1970s husband and father who slowly watches his family life disintegrate over the course of one dinner party.
Here, Hawkes discusses both his Tribeca film and "The Surrogate," the true life story where Hawkes plays a man nearly paralyzed from polio.
In the meantime, Hawkes has an entry in this week's Tribeca Film Festival, "The Playroom." In "The Playroom," Hawkes plays a 1970s husband and father who slowly watches his family life disintegrate over the course of one dinner party.
Here, Hawkes discusses both his Tribeca film and "The Surrogate," the true life story where Hawkes plays a man nearly paralyzed from polio.
- 4/26/2012
- by The Huffington Post
- Huffington Post
We’ve all seen stories about the effects alcoholism has on children — for better, worse, and often somewhere in that underwhelming middle ground. And while I’m not averse to this mold, so long as it’s crafted with care, one of the main pleasures to be found in The Playroom is director Julia Dyer‘s tendency to — sometimes in a literal, visual sense — put the perfunctory conflicts and confrontations that would typically stem from this in the background, opting to place the children of a troubled husband and wife at the center of things.
Set almost exclusively in a suburban home in the fall of 1975, The Playroom revolves around four children (Olivia Harris, Ian Veteto, Jonathon McClendon, and Alexandra Doke) living in a household run by two parents (John Hawkes and Molly Parker) who, though not dysfunctional on the surface, are slowly pulling themselves apart with the trappings of alcohol.
Set almost exclusively in a suburban home in the fall of 1975, The Playroom revolves around four children (Olivia Harris, Ian Veteto, Jonathon McClendon, and Alexandra Doke) living in a household run by two parents (John Hawkes and Molly Parker) who, though not dysfunctional on the surface, are slowly pulling themselves apart with the trappings of alcohol.
- 4/26/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Following up on last week's preview of the Tribeca Film Festival (site), this'll be the entry that'll carry us through to Sunday. Introducing Slant's package of reviews, Ed Gonzalez argues that Tribeca "has blossomed from a celebration of the Big Apple as a filmmaking center into a great facilitator and promoter of international film and video culture." The Los Angeles Times' Steven Zeitchik agrees that it's "a prime venue to discover international films." More packages and lists: Smithsonian Magazine's Daniel Eagan ("What to See"), indieWIRE ("12 New Films We're Excited For"), Filmmaker's Scott Macaulay ("25 Films I'm Looking Forward To"), Movies.com ("20 Most Anticipated Movies"), Time's Lily Rothman ("Top 15 Chatter-Worthy Films"), Time Out New York and Twitch ("Top 15 Picks").
Having previewed "30-odd films" for the Voice, Eric Hynes recommends 14, and Take This Waltz is one of them: "Sarah Polley's follow-up to her moving directorial debut, Away From Her, is a modern...
Having previewed "30-odd films" for the Voice, Eric Hynes recommends 14, and Take This Waltz is one of them: "Sarah Polley's follow-up to her moving directorial debut, Away From Her, is a modern...
- 4/25/2012
- MUBI
Exclusive: Husband-and-wife writing team Stephen Dyer and Jonah Lisa Dyer, who scripted the invention of the vibrator pic Hysteria that just played at the Tribeca Film Festival, have been hired by Sony Pictures to rewrite Pioneer Woman. That is the film adapted from Ree Drummond’s blog/cookbook and memoir The Pioneer Woman: From Black Heels To Tractor Wheels that Sony optioned for producer Laura Ziskin Prods back in 2010, with Reese Witherspoon attached to play Drummond, and Robert Harling attached to write. Related: Tribeca: Mike Fleming Moderates Universal’s Centennial Panel With Robert De Niro And Judd Apatow The project languished when Ziskin passed away, and Steel Magnolias scribe Harling moved on when he got his TV series picked up. Then, Laurence Mark came aboard to produce with Pam Williams, who was president of Ziskin’s production company. After Williams saw the Tanya Wexler-directed Hysteria at the 2011 Toronto Film Festival,...
- 4/25/2012
- by MIKE FLEMING
- Deadline
It’s hard to write about Julia Dyer’s The Playroom without writing about the passage of time. It’s been sixteen-years since Dyer’s previous (and first) film, the Sundance hit Late Bloomers, and Dyer has finally crafted a proper follow-up. But beyond that, the film itself is quite concerned with the changes in attitude and perspective that time renders. Set in 1970s suburbia, The Playroom tells the story of a dysfunctional, alcohol-fueled dinner party, while also showing the same night through the eyes of a group of kids upstairs in the house’s attic. Premiering this week in Tribeca’s Spotlight section, the film features an especially strong ensemble that includes John Hawkes, Molly Parker, and Olivia Harris.
Filmmaker: Obviously it’s been a long time since Late Bloomers. In your eyes, how has the independent film landscape changed since that movie was released?
Dyer: In many ways,...
Filmmaker: Obviously it’s been a long time since Late Bloomers. In your eyes, how has the independent film landscape changed since that movie was released?
Dyer: In many ways,...
- 4/19/2012
- by Dan Schoenbrun
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
It's Year 11 for the Tribeca Film Festival, and it looks like the fest created by Robert De Niro is hitting its stride.
The 11-day event, which takes place April 18-29, has always been known for its flashy red- carpet premieres (this year's fest is bookended with the comedy "The Five-Year Engagement" and Marvel's latest “The Avengers”) and fun family fare (free Drive In screenings of "Jaws" and "The Goonies"). Tribeca is also branching out into the online world: For its second year, the festival will screen a handful of titles from this year's Tribeca Online Film Festival as well as stream some of its panels.
But if you like to watch your movies the old-fashioned way (in the theater), here are 15 titles from this year's fest that we think you should check out.
1. '2 Days in New York'
In Julie Delpy's sequel to her 2007 directorial debut "2 Days in Paris,...
The 11-day event, which takes place April 18-29, has always been known for its flashy red- carpet premieres (this year's fest is bookended with the comedy "The Five-Year Engagement" and Marvel's latest “The Avengers”) and fun family fare (free Drive In screenings of "Jaws" and "The Goonies"). Tribeca is also branching out into the online world: For its second year, the festival will screen a handful of titles from this year's Tribeca Online Film Festival as well as stream some of its panels.
But if you like to watch your movies the old-fashioned way (in the theater), here are 15 titles from this year's fest that we think you should check out.
1. '2 Days in New York'
In Julie Delpy's sequel to her 2007 directorial debut "2 Days in Paris,...
- 4/17/2012
- by Jason Guerrasio
- NextMovie
Yes, John Hawkes can premiere movies outside of Sundance. As a matter of fact, next month’s Tribeca Film Festival will see the world premiere of his latest drama, The Playroom, directed by Julia Dyer; Gretchen Dyer is behind the screenplay. Our first look at the film can be scoped out above and below these very words, wherein Hawkes, Molly Parker (playing his wife), the children of their characters, and an actor whose face I don’t recognize. (If he’s reading this: please accept my apology.) I’m hoping to check this one out come late April; that’s just the power of Hawkes.
Plot: In 1970s suburbia, Maggie and her younger siblings spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light.
Plot: In 1970s suburbia, Maggie and her younger siblings spend the night telling each other stories in the attic. Downstairs, as their parents entertain guests over the course of a gin-soaked evening, truths are unearthed and betrayals come to light.
- 3/23/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
2012 Tribeca Film Festival Announces Film Selections
For Spotlight And Cinemania Sections And Special Screenings
***
Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival Lineup Also Revealed
The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
.The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that...
For Spotlight And Cinemania Sections And Special Screenings
***
Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival Lineup Also Revealed
The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
.The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that...
- 3/8/2012
- by Melissa Howland
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
A new big batch of films have been added to the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival line-up, and while there aren't a lot of big premieres in the bunch, there's a lot to catch up with for those of you (and us) who didn't attend Tiff 2011, Sundance 2012, etc. etc.
Highlights for us include Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial effort "Take This Waltz," starring Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, Julie Delpy's "2 Days In New York," starring herself and Chris Rock in a sequel to "2 Days in Paris," Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Chicken With Plums," their directorial follow-up to the very excellent 2007 animated film "Persepolis," Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister" starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass, and "Lola Versus," Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister Jones' follow-up to the celebrated 2009 micro-budgeted indie "Breaking Upwards" starring Lister Jones herself alongside Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman (AMC's "The Killing," the new "RoboCop"), Bill Pullman,...
Highlights for us include Sarah Polley's sophomore directorial effort "Take This Waltz," starring Seth Rogen and Michelle Williams, Julie Delpy's "2 Days In New York," starring herself and Chris Rock in a sequel to "2 Days in Paris," Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud's "Chicken With Plums," their directorial follow-up to the very excellent 2007 animated film "Persepolis," Lynn Shelton's "Your Sister's Sister" starring Emily Blunt, Rosemarie DeWitt and Mark Duplass, and "Lola Versus," Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister Jones' follow-up to the celebrated 2009 micro-budgeted indie "Breaking Upwards" starring Lister Jones herself alongside Greta Gerwig, Joel Kinnaman (AMC's "The Killing," the new "RoboCop"), Bill Pullman,...
- 3/8/2012
- by The Playlist
- The Playlist
Tribeca 2012 Announces Final Line-Up Including ’2 Days,’ ‘Take This Waltz,’ ‘Sleepless Night’ & More
After an initial unveiling earlier this week, Tribeca Film Festival 2012 have announced the rest of their feature film line-up and it is a surprisingly strong one. We’ve got lots of great films that have premiered at previous fests.
There is July Delpy‘s 2 Days In New York (our Sundance review here), Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz (our Vancouver review here), the awesome action thriller Sleepless Night (our Tiff review here), as well as one of my favorites from Toronto, Chicken with Plums (our Tiff review here), from the Persepolis directors. We’ve also got premieres of Jenna Fischer‘s Mechanical Man and Chris Colfer‘s Struck by Lightning, as well as docs by Billy Corben, Morgan Spurlock and Keanu Reeves‘ filmmaking doc Side by Side. Check them all out below.
Spotlight Section
2 Days in New York, directed and written by Julie Delpy. (France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. This...
There is July Delpy‘s 2 Days In New York (our Sundance review here), Sarah Polley‘s Take This Waltz (our Vancouver review here), the awesome action thriller Sleepless Night (our Tiff review here), as well as one of my favorites from Toronto, Chicken with Plums (our Tiff review here), from the Persepolis directors. We’ve also got premieres of Jenna Fischer‘s Mechanical Man and Chris Colfer‘s Struck by Lightning, as well as docs by Billy Corben, Morgan Spurlock and Keanu Reeves‘ filmmaking doc Side by Side. Check them all out below.
Spotlight Section
2 Days in New York, directed and written by Julie Delpy. (France) – New York Premiere, Narrative. This...
- 3/8/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
HollywoodNews.com: The Tribeca Film Festival (Tff), presented by American Express, today announced its feature film selections in the Spotlight and Cinemania sections, as well as Special Screenings and the Tribeca/Espn Sports Film Festival lineup. The 11th edition of the Festival will take place from April 18 to April 29 in New York City.
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
‘The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that showcase stellar performances and insightful writing, and documentaries that challenge and inform their audiences,’ said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic...
The Spotlight section screens 34 films, 22 narratives and 12 documentaries that demonstrate the breadth of films at the Tribeca Film Festival. Nineteen films in the selection will have their world premieres at the Festival. The Cinemania section offers a largely international assortment of seven thrilling narrative films.
‘The Spotlight program is a wonderful encapsulation of the originality and diversity of filmmaking that Tribeca seeks to highlight. We have films from emerging filmmakers as well as seasoned veterans, narratives that showcase stellar performances and insightful writing, and documentaries that challenge and inform their audiences,’ said Frédéric Boyer, newly appointed Artistic...
- 3/8/2012
- by Josh Abraham
- Hollywoodnews.com
The Tribeca Film Festival announced its Spotlight and Cinemania programs today, including Morgan Spurlock’s latest documentary, Mansome, period drama Cheerful Weather for the Wedding with Like Crazy’s Felicity Jones (right), and Struck By Lightning, written by Glee’s Chris Colfer. “It was important that we head into Tribeca’s second decade highlighting projects that were attuned to the pulse of our cultural climate,” said director of programming Genna Terranova, in a release. “That said, both consciousness and levity play a prominent role in this year’s selection. We are also eager to introduce audiences to a group of...
- 3/8/2012
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
John Hawkes has long since established himself as one of cinema's most beloved character actors. While his 'big break' with mainstream audiences came with the 2010 gritty backwoods drama Winter's Bone, indie cinema fans and television lovers were already quite familiar with the lanky Hawkes. His expressive features, his easy-going manner off-screen, and his ability to become the role - no matter how big or small the part - have all contributed to Hawkes being one of Hollywood's most sought after character actors. Hawkes has long been a familiar face to Tribeca Film Festival audiences. In 2011, Hawkes portrayed Taissa Farmiga's unhappy father in the spirituality-in-crisis movie, Higher Ground. Higher Ground was actress Vera Farmiga's directorial debut. Last year, Hawkes mesmerized Tff audiences again with his stellar work in Julia Dyer's The Playroom as the flawed patriarch of an unstable family. The New York Times recently praised the film...
- 2/8/2012
- TribecaFilm.com
#49. The Playroom - Julia Dyer Having John Hawkes cast in your film doesn't assure a playdate in Park City, but Hawkes plus having shown your first film (Late Bloomers) at the film festival way back in 1996 might help in spades to receive a sophomore showing showcase which would be the case for Julia Dyer's The Playroom. If included, this would surely be included in the U.S Dramatic Comp. Gist: Four children in their attic hideaway make up a fantastic story, while downstairs their parents weave a drunken intrigue of their own. In a lyrical but gripping dual narrative, the story of the children’s life intertwines with the story they make up about their life–until the two stories collide and the delicate family structure collapses. Producers: Stephen Dyer and Angie Meyer(Ioncinema.com Preview Page // IMDb Link)...
- 11/11/2011
- IONCINEMA.com
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