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Movies / On DVD / Pieces of April
Pieces of April

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Pieces of April (2003)

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Reviews Counted:143

Fresh:121

Rotten:22

Average Rating:7.1/10

Consensus: A delightful, heartfelt comedy.

Runtime: 80 mins

Genre: Dramas

Synopsis: Katie Holmes is outstanding as the title character in Peter Hedges's PIECES OF APRIL. Holmes stars as April Burns, the black sheep of her family who has left suburbia for a Lower East Side... Katie Holmes is outstanding as the title character in Peter Hedges's PIECES OF APRIL. Holmes stars as April Burns, the black sheep of her family who has left suburbia for a Lower East Side tenement. To reconnect with her mother, Joy (Patricia Clarkson), and father, Jim (Oliver Platt), she invites them and her wisecracking brother (John Gallagher Jr.) and perfect sister (Alison Pill) for Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment, and against their better judgment, the Burnses pile up in the family station wagon, pick up Grandma (Alice Drummond), and head to the big city from the safe confines of their stereotypical suburban home. But Joy is seriously ill, complicating the road trip; meanwhile, April's oven is broken, sending her off to her bizarre and wacky neighbors to try to borrow their kitchen. Her interaction with Wayne (Sean Hayes) is a riot. Holmes is a revelation as April, showing marvelous range and depth as the outcast daughter who still strives for her mother's affection. Derek Luke is excellent as April's caring boyfriend, who understands how important this Thanksgiving dinner is to her. Platt is solid as the father, with just the right amount of vulnerability, but Clarkson nearly steals the movie; she takes over the screen in every scene she's in. Hedges's directorial debut, following screenplays for WHAT'S EATING GILBERT GRAPE, ABOUT A BOY, and A MAP OF THE WORLD, is well-paced and fun to watch. The soundtrack features music by Stephin Merritt with the 6ths and Magnetic Fields. [More]

Starring: Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Oliver Platt, Sean Hayes

Starring: Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Oliver Platt, Sean Hayes, Derek Luke, Alison Pill, John A. Gallagher, Alice Drummond, Sisqo

Director: Peter Hedges

Director: Peter Hedges
Screenwriter: Peter Hedges
Producer: Alexis Alexanian, John Lyons, Gary Winick
Studio: MGM/UA

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Reviews for Pieces of April

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

April's cranberry sauce may be canned but the laughter and tears of an affecting, unsentimental coda are real.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
11/24/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Laughter and poignancy go hand in hand in this DV debut whose comedy that may be standard, but never ceases to deliver sharp, dark laughs.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A shining example of just how compelling and affecting low-budget filmmaking can be when you’ve got a good story and strong cast.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
04/01/06
Natasha Aitken
Natasha Aitken
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

A collection of indie clichés, it's about as refreshing as being slapped in the face by a five-week-old kipper.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
02/13/04
Jamie Russell
Jamie Russell
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Superb performances and a decent script ensure this stays well above average.

Full Review Source: ViewLondon | comment Comment
10/26/03
Matthew Turner
Matthew Turner
ViewLondon

[Director Peter] Hedges keeps it laceratingly real, with bulls-eye performances from talented actors who are all used to much bigger budgets.

Full Review Source: Shadows on the Wall | comment Comment
09/25/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Cinema Crazed | comment Comment
04/29/09
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Felix Vasquez Jr.
Cinema Crazed

Pieces of April has its heart in the right place, and while it may not always be entirely successful, marks a promising debut for a talented filmmaker.

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/18/08
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile

Screenwriter Peter Hedges makes his directorial debut with the best entry to date in the burgeoning Thanksgiving Day-from-hell genre.

Full Review Source: Sacramento News & Review | comment Comment
08/07/08
Mark Halverson
Mark Halverson
Sacramento News & Review

Had Hedges gone with unknown actors, or non-professionals, it might have worked, but with recognisable faces one can never quite suspend disbelief enough to care about the characters.

Full Review Source: Eye for Film | comment Comment
12/07/07
Keith H. Brown
Keith H. Brown
Eye for Film

A delightful, charming, instant holiday classic which makes us laugh repeatedly while delivering an emotionally satisfying message about unconditional love.

Full Review Source: Princeton Town Topics | comment Comment
04/16/07
Kam Williams
Kam Williams
Princeton Town Topics

A series of terrific performances (led by the amazing Patricia Clarkson) make this unusual Thanksgiving comedy a feast for the mind.

Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | comment Comment
08/08/06
Wesley Lovell
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy

Peter Hedges has made a simple and sweet movie that will leave you misty eyed.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Don R. Lewis
Don R. Lewis
Film Threat

Holmes, Clarkson, and Platt steer the course through the straight and narrow and keep the film from becoming an inedible holiday leftover.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Mark Sells
Mark Sells
Film Threat

A film to savor and to be thankful for.

Full Review Source: Film Threat | comment Comment
12/06/05
Tim Merrill
Tim Merrill
Film Threat

Es una pequeña peliculita, pero con una sensibilidad enorme.

Full Review Source: Uruguay Total | comment Comment
03/03/05
Enrique Buchichio
Enrique Buchichio
Uruguay Total

This delightful little miracle of a movie reminds us of how crucial it is that we appreciate and love each other in spite of our failures, grudges, and disappointments.

Full Review Source: Looking Closer | comment Comment
01/15/05
Jeffrey Overstreet
Jeffrey Overstreet
Looking Closer

..I can’t stress enough the grace and beauty of Peter Hedges’ haunting picture ..

Full Review Source: Bangitout.com | comment Comment
12/06/04
Jordan Hiller
Jordan Hiller
Bangitout.com

Katie Holmes... gives her most subtle and audacious performance yet...

Full Review Source: Flick Filosopher | comment Comment
12/03/04
MaryAnn Johanson
MaryAnn Johanson
Flick Filosopher

Pieces of April is built around the tired premise of a dysfunctional family's Thanksgiving get-together, but -- surprise -- it's fresh.

Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
08/07/04
Peter Rainer
Peter Rainer
New York Magazine
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 >> >|
all

Latest News for Pieces of April

October 26, 2006: Critical Consensus: "Fire" Blazes; "Scissors" Isn't Sharp Enough; "Saw III" Not Screened: Guess The Tomatometer!
This week at the movies, we've got the return of Jigsaw ("Saw III," starring Tobin Bell), a tale of rebellion in apartheid-era South Africa ("Catch a Fire,"... More...

November 24, 2005: A Day to Give Thanks (for Good Thanksgiving Movies!)
The Newsday column gets to take a few days off during the big holidays, but I couldn't let today go by without offering our friends a handful of Turkey-day treats. If you're... More...

September 15, 2005: That Crazy Carell Lands Yet Another New Gig
According to Variety, the suddenly VERY busy "40 Year-Old Virgin" Steve Carell has signed with Disney to star in Peter Hedges' comedy "Dan in Real Life,"... More...

January 13, 2005: "Everything Changes" for Peter Hedges
More...

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