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The Playroom

  • 20122012
  • Not RatedNot Rated
  • 1h 23m
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
713
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
40,086
678
The Playroom (2012)
Trailer for The Playroom
Play trailer2:12
1 Video
22 Photos
Drama
Four children in their attic hideaway make up a fantastic story, while downstairs their parents weave a drunken intrigue of their own.Four children in their attic hideaway make up a fantastic story, while downstairs their parents weave a drunken intrigue of their own.Four children in their attic hideaway make up a fantastic story, while downstairs their parents weave a drunken intrigue of their own.
IMDb RATING
5.3/10
713
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
40,086
678
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Director
      • Julia Dyer
    • Writer
      • Gretchen Dyer
    • Stars
      • Jonathan R. Freeman
      • Lydia Mackay
      • Olivia Harris
    Top credits
    • Director
      • Julia Dyer
    • Writer
      • Gretchen Dyer
    • Stars
      • Jonathan R. Freeman
      • Lydia Mackay
      • Olivia Harris
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 4User reviews
    • 21Critic reviews
    • 59Metascore
    • Awards
      • 1 nomination

    Videos1

    The Playroom
    Trailer 2:12
    The Playroom

    Photos22

    Molly Parker and Jonathan R. Freeman in The Playroom (2012)
    John Hawkes, Molly Parker, Lydia Mackay, and Jonathan R. Freeman in The Playroom (2012)
    Molly Parker in The Playroom (2012)
    Molly Parker in The Playroom (2012)
    Allie and Molly Parker having some fun during a break on set of The Playroom
    On the set of The Playroom with Director Julia Dyer and fellow actor John Hawkes
    Allie and Chris Dufau (2nd AD) on set of The Playroom
    Allie with Liz McCracken on set of The Playroom
    Allie with John Hawkes on set of The Playroom
    Alexandra Doke and Olivia Harris
    Alexandra with Lydia Mackay at The Playroom premier
    Allie with Jonathon McClendon at The Playroom premier

    Top cast

    Edit
    Jonathan R. Freeman
    Jonathan R. Freeman
    • Clark
    • (as Jonathan Brooks)
    • …
    Lydia Mackay
    Lydia Mackay
    • Nadia…
    Olivia Harris
    Olivia Harris
    • Maggie…
    Molly Parker
    Molly Parker
    • Donna Cantwell
    Ian Veteto
    • Sam…
    Alexandra Doke
    Alexandra Doke
    • Janie…
    John Hawkes
    John Hawkes
    • Martin Cantwell
    Jonathon McClendon
    Jonathon McClendon
    • Christian…
    Cody Linley
    Cody Linley
    • Ryan…
    Hondo
    • The Cat
    Woolfie
    • The Dog
    • Director
      • Julia Dyer
    • Writer
      • Gretchen Dyer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Julia and Gretchen Dyer filmed a ten-minute teaser of this film in the Dallas, Texas, area in October 1992 to show to potential producers.
    • Connections
      Featured in Maltin on Movies: Identity Thief (2013)
    • Soundtracks
      Mother Freedom
      Performed by Bread

      Written by David Gates

      Sony/ATV Tunes LLC (ASCAP)

      Courtesy of Elektra Entertainment Group

      By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

    User reviews4

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    The Playroom (**½) features strong performances from Hawkes, Parker, and Harris...
    Naturally compared to Ang Lee's harrowing film The Ice Storm (1997), director Julie Dyer teamed up with sister and writer Gretchen Dyer attempt to bring an honest and emotional take on 1970's suburbia in the morose and grim, The Playroom. Starring Academy Award Nominee John Hawkes, Molly Parker, and Olivia Harris, the story takes place in the attic where the four children of Martin (Hawkes) and Donna Cantwell (Parker) tell fantastical tales while their parents fall deeper in a drunken state downstairs with friends Clark and Nadia. If there's a film that can teach you about psyche of survival and the ability to grow up when your adolescent mind tells you otherwise, Dyer's film is a prime example. While the sequences of events are not the most believable or even the most logical, Dyer's screenplay does its best to construct a family that is often times recognizable. As the parents continue to ignore their children while self-absorbed in their own marital and painful woes, you're constantly challenged with the question, who do you care for, the kids, the adults, or neither? In a narrative structure that at times is reminiscent of The Neverending Story (1984), sometimes there's too much moral and metaphorical presentations to keep you engaged during its 82 minute runtime. As it begins with wit, humor, and real life teenage situations, the film makes an abrupt shift into heavy material that will make you cringe. John Hawkes showcases a calm and poised performance that's darkly reminiscent of his turn as Patrick in Sean Durkin's Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011). As Hawkes boils at the brim, never toppling over, his commitment to Martin and his emotional detachment from a life he no longer knows is one of the actor's strongest performances ever. He continues to show range and the ability to elevate any material he's given. As the alcoholic and disconnected mother Donna, Molly Parker, devotes herself to the craft beautifully, even when her character clearly is not. Similarly effective like Julianne Moore's Oscar-nominated turn in Stephen Daldry's The Hours (2002), Parker wears the despair on her soul and delivers her finest turn yet. Commanding the screen and demanding the viewer's attention, Donna is both the obstacle and driving force that makes for a successful but uneven look at matrimony. In the end, it's Olivia Harris that gets the most attention and care from the viewer. In the role of Maggie, the eldest daughter, Harris bares her soul on screen. Though a problematic character response to certain situations doesn't allow Harris to stretch out in the manner I believe she's fully capable of, Harris makes due with her material. It's a wonderful breakout performance that could and should land her more dynamic and capable roles in Hollywood. Not to mention, a beautiful singing voice that is showcased in the credits as she delivers sweet rendition of Carole King's "Up on the Roof." Leaving too many questions unanswered, and an ending that's less than satisfying, The Playroom intrigues and latches on to the viewer's conscience enough to stick through the tale. With children fighting to survive and fortunate enough to have the bond of siblings to get them through, the film can make you appreciate some of the bad times you remember growing up, even the ones you try really hard not to.

    Read More Reviews @ The Awards Circuit (http://www.awardscircuit.com)
    helpful•9
    6
    • ClaytonDavis
    • Feb 12, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 8, 2013 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official sites
      • Official Facebook
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Oyun Odası
    • Filming locations
      • Dallas, Texas, USA
    • Production companies
      • One Mind Productions
      • Circle of Confusion
      • Ten96 Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $5,964
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $3,900
      • Apr 7, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $5,964
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 23 minutes
    • Color
      • Color

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