Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

On a business trip to New Orleans, a damaged man seeks salvation by caring for a wayward young woman.

Director:

Jake Scott

Writer:

Ken Hixon

Stars:

James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, Melissa Leo

2 wins & 3 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Gandolfini	...	Doug Riley
Kristen Stewart	...	Mallory
Melissa Leo	...	Lois Riley
Joe Chrest	...	Jerry
Ally Sheedy	...	Harriet
Tiffany Coty	...	Tara
Eisa Davis	...	Vivian
Lance E. Nichols	...	Hamilton 'Ham' Watkins
Peggy Walton-Walker	...	Brenda (as Peggy Walton Walker)
Sharon Landry	...	Sharon
Kathy Lamkin	...	Charlene
Kerry Cahill	...	Waitress
Ken Hixon	...	Danny
Elliott Grey	...	Randy
David Jensen	...	Ed

Storyline

Something's wrong at the Rileys. Married nearly 30 years, Doug and Lois rarely talk. She doesn't leave their Indianapolis home, and she's ordered a gravestone with their names and birth years on it. He has a long-time Thursday night mistress whom he invites to go with him to a plumbing supply conference in New Orleans. Once there, Doug calls Lois to say he's staying for a while. What's he leaving behind and what's he looking for in New Orleans? And Lois, can she break out?

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Plot Keywords:

stripper | prostitute | travel | businessman | street | 

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Taglines:

You never know who's going to be your wake-up call

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, brief drug use and pervasive language involving a teenager

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [France] Official site [United States]

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 November 2011 (UK)

Also Known As:

Corações Perdidos

Filming Locations:

Louisiana, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$42,145, 31 October 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$152,857, 5 December 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Samuel Goldwyn Films,Destination Films,Scott Free Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Official selection at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival. The film was screened on day 5.

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Goofs

Doug sees Mallory sleeping and spreads a sheet over her upto her chest. In the next scene, sheet is upto her knees.

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Quotes

Lois Riley: [on phone] How's New Orleans?
Douglas Lloyd 'Doug' Riley: Listen I think I'm going to stay here for a while. I can't come home right now.
Lois Riley: What are you talking about?
Douglas Lloyd 'Doug' Riley: I don't know. I just know that I can't come home right now. I know I'm not dead yet. Alright?
Lois Riley: [crying] Doug. I'm not mad about Vivian.
Douglas Lloyd 'Doug' Riley: What?
Lois Riley: A year or two ago I found a name tag in the pocket of your windbreaker. It's not like I had no idea what was going on. And I know I haven't been.
[pauses]
Lois Riley: Oh Lord.
Douglas Lloyd 'Doug' Riley: I'm sorry.
[...]

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Connections

Featured in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Inception/Predators/The Sorcerer's Apprentice (2010)

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Soundtracks

Passera
Written by Ralf Laurenz and Antonio Canfora
Performed by The Orchestra Anbros Seelos
Courtesy of Shams Records
By Arrangement with Visions From The Roof

User Reviews

Not Dead Yet

Greetings again from the darkness. Reading the synopsis on this one could lead you to believe you've seen the same thing 40 other times - an indie flick where a nice guy rescues the teenage runaway who has fallen into a life of stripping/prostitution. This assumption would be incorrect. What sets this one apart is the script from writer Ken Hixon and the acting trio of James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart and Melissa Leo.

Two of those names may surprise you. Gandolfini is of course best known from his run on The Sopranos. What many don't realize is that he was a fine character actor prior to that iconic role. And many more know Kristen Stewart only as Bella from the Twilight franchise. In fact, she was a scene stealer prior to that in Panic Room and again in Into the Wild. Melissa Leo has experienced a career boon since her Oscar nomination for Frozen River. This year, she can also be seen in Conviction and The Fighter.

Hixon's script is unusual because it has the feel of how these people would actually interact. Gandolfini owns a plumbing supply business and leading, as they say, a life of quiet desperation. His wife (Leo) has been a virtual recluse since their teenage daughter died. Their marriage basically died that night as well, though they keep going through the motions that 30 years together brings. While attending a convention in New Orleans, Gandolfini stumbles into a strip joint and falls right into the life of Stewart.

The obvious thought is that he sees this as his opportunity to rescue her from this awful life and be the father he never got to be his own daughter. But there is more. He really comes across as a guy just searching for meaning in life ... his own life. He doesn't pretend to have the answers, but is not content to sit around and wait to die. His bizarre actions motivate his wife to actually leave the house and join him in New Orleans. Her reaction to what she finds is, once again, very real and un-Hollywood.

No need for me to give away any details or plot points. Watching these three together is refreshing for this avid movie goer. The stereotypes are minimal. The dialogue is sparse, but authentic ... just like the setting. Searching for meaning can be a painful process and it's not always obvious when one has succeeded. The director of the film is avid music video director Jake Scott, who also happens to be the son of Ridley and nephew of Tony. Jake shows none of the over the top tendencies of his more famous relatives. In fact, the level of understatedness is a joy to behold.