What Maisie Knew (2012)

In New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.

Directors:

Scott McGehee, David Siegel

Writers:

Nancy Doyne (screenplay by), Carroll Cartwright (screenplay by)

Stars:

Julianne Moore, Alexander Skarsgård, Steve Coogan

3 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julianne Moore	...	Susanna
Steve Coogan	...	Beale
Alexander Skarsgård	...	Lincoln
Joanna Vanderham	...	Margo
Onata Aprile	...	Maisie
Sadie Rae	...	Zoe (as Sadie Rae Lee)
Jesse Stone Spadaccini	...	Martin (as Jesse Spadaccini)
Diana García	...	Cecelia (as Diana Garcia Soto)
Amelia Campbell	...	Ms. Baine
Maddie Corman	...	Ms. Fairchild-Tetenbaum
Paddy Croft	...	Mrs. Wix
Trevor Long	...	Musician #1
Emma Holzer	...	Holly
Nadia Gan	...	Hostess
Samantha Buck	...	Zoe's Mother

Storyline

WHAT MAISIE KNEW is a contemporary New York City re-visioning of the Henry James novel by the same name, written by Carroll Cartwright and Nancy Doyne. It revolves around unwitting 7-year-old Maisie, caught in the middle of a custody battle between her mother Suzanna, an aging rock star, and her father, Beale, a major art dealer. In a race to win the court's advantage, Beale marries Maisie's nanny Margo, prompting Suzanna in turn to marry friend and local bartender, Lincoln. Both forced into a battle neither wishes to be a part of, Margo and Lincoln come to empathize with Maisie's position and over time with one another's. Teased by the notion of making their own surrogate family, the trio must either submit to the will of Maisie's parents or eventually face their wrath.

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Plot Keywords:

custody battle | nanny | father daughter relationship | mother daughter relationship | ex husband ex wife relationship | 

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Taglines:

Hold on with all your heart.

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for some language

Did You Know?

Trivia

Based on the acclaimed novel by Henry James.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Susanna: Want to sleep with mommy tonight?
Maisie: Um hmm.
Susanna: In my bed?
Maisie: Um hmm.
Susanna: You promise not to kick me?
Maisie: I promise.

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Connections

Version of What Maisie Knew (1968)

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Soundtracks

S.O.S
Written by Austin Taylor Trado
Performed by Austin Taylor Trado

User Reviews

They don't deserve Maisie

What Maisie Knew (2012), directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, is an extraordinary movie about an extraordinary young girl. Maisie (Onata April) deserves better parents. Both her mother (Julianne Moore) and her father (Steve Coogan) are self-absorbed people who care about Maisie, but care about their careers more than about their daughter.

Maisie is cheerful, cooperative, and adaptive. Although her life has all the trappings of luxury--a nanny, an exclusive private school--she lives in a precarious world. Her parents make only haphazard arrangements for her care. Sometimes these arrangements work, sometimes they don't. Once, the haphazard plans fall through, and Maisie is literally abandoned among strangers. We don't know what will happen next to Maisie, but it probably won't be good. Her parents don't deserve such a great little girl. But, she is their daughter, and she'll have to play the cards she's been dealt.

The acting is strong in this movie, but I think the most impressive work is done by Julianne Moore. Moore is brave enough to take a role where she often looks tired and worn, and where her character is truly inadequate as a parent. You cringe at the way Moore makes stabs at being a good mother, but never quite works hard enough to actually achieve that goal. I think she deserves--and will get--an Oscar nomination for her work in this film.

There are a few lovely views of a beach and the ocean in the movie. These will work better in a theater, but everything else will work well on the small screen. This is definitely a film that is worth seeking out and seeing.

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

3 May 2013 (USA)

Also Known As:

What Maisie Knew

Filming Locations:

The High Line, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$21,480, 5 May 2013

Gross USA:

$1,066,471

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,711,379

Company Credits

Production Co:

Red Crown Productions, Weinstock Productions, 10th Hole Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1