Jay Coster
Alas yet another movie I found myself watching because of an ex and how I "Really must see it". The fact Oliver Platt was co-starring lifted my lethargy somewhat as I am a fan of his work, but sadly not even Mr Platt could save this movie.Now off the bat I want to say that I'm aware Pieces Of April has a level of cult status and I respect that but sadly in this case I honestly cannot see why.The movie wasn't offensive and brought nothing to the table that upset me, it just didn't bring anything to the table that I could find myself caring about let alone something that resembles something original.I'm not saying the movie is bad, its just that me and it just didn't click. The acting was fine, the camera work was solid...........I just didn't get it. Maybe I'm not the target audience, maybe I just wish that Holmes would go away.....far....far....away. Or maybe I just couldn't empathize with the characters.Either way this went over my head and I would recommend this purely as a sleeping aid.2/10 (Very Bad)
mmunier
OMG, as a retired person I can switch the TV on whenever I like and do so often at noon, but today I was not prepared for this! I just planted myself at the breakfast bar on a bar stool and proceed to something some call lunch and clicked on the TV. "Pieces of April", what kind of title is this, another tele movie to entertain my lunch for a few minutes? - weeeell, so much more than that, at times "lunch" had problem to find its way down as there was a big lump in my throat and my watery eyes glued on the TV set wondering what would happen next, and would it be good. I could not believe this wonderful work had passed me without saying hello in one form or other. I can't understand the detachment from TV channels, they'll beat you ears to no end with some insignificant trash, but won't say a word about this kind of art work. On the other end I'm glad they did not as it was such a joy to see this without any expectations. You can't help but being involved in the plot. You become part of this young woman's struggle to achieve a goal against all odds. And will she succeed? This question remains in her mind and yours till the very end, you can't guess, you can only hope in despair with her. As for the guests to her effort, a Thanks Giving dinner, You may understand them but you may also wonder about them. I hope you will see this film, just like me, with no idea at all about what it is. but it would be an even greater disaster if you did not see it at all.
mmagliaro
If ever there was a movie about acceptance, dysfunctional families, and putting people and feelings first, this is it. Katie Holmes is FABULOUS as a daughter who lives in somewhat of a hovel of an apartment in the city. Her family is en route by car to spend Thanksgiving at her apartment. Initially, it appears that they (her mom, dad, brother, etc) are the white-bread average stable American family, and April is the one who just can't get her life together. The movie flips back and forth between April and her family. We see scenes of her trying to learn to cook, overcome a broken stove, sociopathic building neighbors, poverty, and a host of other ills to pull off Thanksgiving dinner. These are interspersed with scenes of the family on their long car drive en route to April's apartment. The film does a masterful job of making a whole story just out of revealing and exploring the personalities of April and her family. We gradually come to understand that April is a perfectly charming, sincere young woman who loves people and tries her best. It is her family who are the losers who really have no life. They reveal themselves as, in one way or another, lazy, unaffectionate, preoccupied with getting high, self-loathing, judgmental, prejudiced, hateful people.It's hard to believe that it's Katie Holmes, but it is. She was TERRIFIC in this.
snowflakeinyourpalm
April Burns (Katie Holmes) describes herself in a very colorful yet almost tragic way as the "first pancake" (the one you throw away) in the Burns family. The entire movie is about her struggle to prepare a perfect Thanks Giving dinner for her very dysfunctional and very distant (and this is mildly said) family; she somewhat is trying to prove to them that she has forgiven them and she seeks their forgiveness (because she, like all of us, wants to be part of a family), and also that she is all grown up and living a happy, normal-ish life with her boyfriend.While April is trying very hard for her family, the lot is on the road and wishing they had never left home.The end is most surprising and emotional.I was never a fan of Katie Holmes, nor am I now, but this movie is excellent (I might be slightly subjective because I myself am a "first pancake"). I used to work in a movie rental and one day, I just didn't have anything to do and I decided to watch one of the movies I hadn't seen by that time. I chose "Pieces of April", though I hadn't heard about it 'till then, nor have I seen the case on the shelves (which is somewhat weird), because it seemed different than all the others we have. I wasn't wrong, it is different in a good and emotional kind of way. What I liked the most about it is obviously the story and the way it's told ( I refer here to the home-movie aspect). The acting is also pretty good and realistic.You might have nothing to gain watching this movie (depending on what you like), but you certainly have nothing to loose, so, if you can spare a couple of hours...
AD
