formulaic tripe, catharsis-by-the-numbers.
Comment
04/17/09
The Cake Eaters (2009)
68 %
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 22
Fresh: 15
Rotten:7
Average Rating: 6.2/10
Consensus: Though light on theme and craftsmanship, The Cake Eaters relies on fine performances and brisk direction to provide an affecting tale of small-town life.
Theatrical Release:Mar 13, 2009 Limited
Synopsis: For her directorial debut, actress Mary Stuart Masterson (BENNY & JOON) has created a subtle, textured film. In THE CAKE EATERS, Kristen Stewart (TWILIGHT) stars as Georgia, a 15-year-old girl with... [More]
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Aaron Stanford, Bruce Dern, Elizabeth Ashley
Director: Mary Stuart Masterson
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Reviews for The Cake Eaters
In her first feature film, Masterson creates a slice of life that is very believable (especially if you’ve ever seen The Jerry Springer Show), and often endearing.
04/10/09
Top CriticThe Cake Eaters mistakes characters and story quirks for character and story development.
04/09/09
The story is so wispy that it feels only half-written; basically, nothing much happens here. Not a total washout, but it seems more like a TV movie.
03/27/09
There are only so many story threads an ensemble cast can hold.
03/27/09
Top CriticStand out performances, interesting character dynamic but overall, kind of a flat film that really doesn’t have you too emotionally invested.
03/23/09
I think there is a future in directing for Mary Stewart Masterson.
03/23/09
These are people whose company you enjoy, in good times and bad. Taking place over a short period of time, it's a small slice of life, yes. But as the title implies, it's a tasty one as well.
03/18/09
Top CriticAs directing debuts from actors and actresses go, Masterson’s falls somewhere on the upper-end of the middle, a better-than-respectable effort given the difficulty of the material and the constraints of the budget.
03/16/09
Pleasant, low-key drama about two small-town families with secrets. Though familiar in many respects, Mary Stuart Masterson's feature directorial debut has a quiet charm.
03/16/09
With so much junk cluttering movie houses, it is a shame that it took two years for this sweet, intelligent drama to get a release before heading for DVD. But such is the sad state of the movie business.
03/13/09
Top CriticKristen Stewart is lovely, as is Masterson's beautifully crafted first film.
03/13/09
Superior acting elevates a small, overcrowded ensemble piece set in rural upstate New York into something a little deeper.
03/13/09
Top CriticThe Cake Eaters is a bland ensemble drama with an unremarkable script.
03/12/09
Top CriticA small movie in every way, but solidly crafted and respectably acted.
03/12/09
Masterson, like many actors, is an assured director even in her debut; working with her brother Pete as cinematographer, she creates a spell and a tenderness and pushes exactly as far as this story should go.
03/12/09
Top CriticLoaded with potentially maudlin material, Mary Stuart Masterson’s directorial debut turns out to be an economical, affecting slice of small-town naturalism.
03/11/09
The Cake Eaters is a small but rewarding slice of realism that is a nice antidote to the surfeit of slasher movies that have been polluting the ozone lately.
03/11/09
Top CriticAs we fade out with Easy and sons bonding over steak and beers, our cockles are warmed -- the movie forgotten.
03/10/09
Top CriticMasterson draws beautifully modulated performances from her strong ensemble cast ... It balances sweetness and sadness without ever leaning too heavily on either quality.
03/10/09
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