Big Stone Gap (2014)

In a small town nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, self-proclaimed spinster Ave Maria Mulligan finds her life shaken up and forever changed after learning a long-buried family secret.

Director:

Adriana Trigiani

Writer:

Adriana Trigiani

Stars:

Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Patrick Wilson	...	Jack MacChesney
Ashley Judd	...	Ave Maria Mulligan
Whoopi Goldberg	...	Fleeta Mullins
Judith Ivey	...	Nan MacChesney
Angelina Fiordellisi	...	Fiammetta Mulligan
John Benjamin Hickey	...	Theodore Tipton
Bridget Gabbe	...	Tayloe Slagle
Erika Coleman	...	Pearl Grimes
Jenna Elfman	...	Iva Lou Wade
Anthony LaPaglia	...	Spec Broadwater
Jane Krakowski	...	Sweet Sue Tinsley
John S. Rausch	...	Father John (as Fr. John S. Rausch GLMY)
James Edward Mitchell Jr.	...	Bobby Dinsmore
Mary Pat Gleason	...	Alice Lambert
Terry Kilgore	...	Delegate Terry Kilgore (as Delegate Terry Kilgore)

Storyline

Nestled in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, the tiny town of Big Stone Gap is home to some of the most charming eccentrics in the state. Ave Maria Mulligan is the town's self-proclaimed spinster, a thirty-five year old pharmacist with a "mountain girl's body and a flat behind." She lives an amiable life with good friends and lots of hobbies until the fateful day in 1978 when she suddenly discovers that she's not who she always thought she was. Before she can blink, Ave's fielding marriage proposals, fighting off greedy family members, organizing a celebration for visiting celebrities, and planning the trip of a lifetime-a trip that could change her view of the world and her own place in it forever.

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Plot Keywords:

three word title | title directed by female | written by director | female protagonist | mother daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

Small town. Big heart.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG - 13 for brief suggestive material

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 May 2016 (Spain)

Also Known As:

Big Stone Gap

Filming Locations:

Big Stone Gap, Virginia, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$362,422, 11 October 2015

Gross USA:

$1,009,301

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,012,804

Company Credits

Production Co:

Altar Identity Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

103 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In the film, Ave wears a University of Kentucky t-shirt. Ashley Judd attended University of Kentucky.

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Connections

Featured in The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: Jeff Daniels/Whoopi Goldberg/Nelly (2015)

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Soundtracks

Groove in 'G'
Written by Wilbur Bascomb
Performed by Wilbur Bascomb & The Blue Zodiac
Courtesy of Westwood Music Group

User Reviews

Love this movie!!!

I read where someone said it was a film that would only interest residents of Big Stone Gap. Not true! It does however, depict a way of life that is fast fading away. The movie is set in 1978, as was the book of the same title, but I can tell you having visited the area, that it remains largely unchanged today. Trigiani consistently creates characters in her novels that touch our hearts and become our friends. This movie version of her debut novel truly brings her already vibrant characters to life. I credit the honesty of the film, and it's adherence to the original story, to Trigiani's hands-on approach to movie making. It is obvious her heart and soul went into this project. If the reviewers who criticize would only slow down, step back, and allow themselves to be transported to this simpler time and place, they too would fall in love with Big Stone Gap.