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.
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06/24/06
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Pieces of April (2003)
85
%
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Reviews Counted:143
Fresh:121
Rotten:22
Average Rating:7.1/10
Consensus: A delightful, heartfelt comedy.
Theatrical Release:Oct 17, 2003 Limited
Box Office: $2,313,443
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... [More]
Starring: Katie Holmes, Patricia Clarkson, Oliver Platt, Sean Hayes
Director: Peter Hedges
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Reviews for Pieces of April
A shining example of just how compelling and affecting low-budget filmmaking can be when you’ve got a good story and strong cast.
04/01/06
Funny-sober, high-brow situation comedy, about family, holidays and the perils of uncooked poultry, unpaid utility bills.
10/16/03
Top CriticI'm thankful that Pieces of April is one fall movie that is not a turkey and does not rely too heavily on stuffing.
10/24/03
Nothing there to make me care about her much, still the picture is entertaining and surprisingly emotional as it rounds up with a strong dose of heart.
09/18/03
... strikes an emotional chord ...
10/23/03
A small independent with a big heart.
10/21/03
Hedges brings some refreshing new wrinkles to a familiar plot, and he further spices it up by having the meal in question being prepared by the daughter, not the mother.
10/31/03
The ending of Pieces of April is conventional, but satisfying, and there's enough delightful weirdness up to the final moments that it's hard to fault Hedges for taking the easy way out.
10/16/03
Top CriticA delightful, funny surprise.
10/17/03
Top CriticIntelligent, painful, and ultimately very moving.
03/16/04
A Murphy's-Law Thanksgiving comedy in which both the meal and the movie have a hard time coming together.
10/22/03
Thanks to a brilliant script and spot-on performances, Pieces Of April turns out to be a perfect film about families and what makes them work.
11/14/03
The predictability factor is as steady as a simmering saute but there's enough spice in the company of lead Katie Holmes to make this a savory meal.
11/02/03
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.
12/07/07
A sparkling gem of a comedy.
11/13/03
Pulls off a nice balancing act between humor and heartbreak.
11/05/03
Pieces of April revolves around a Thanksgiving dinner and draws out all our mixed feelings about families, memories, nasty grievances and moments of deep gratitude.
10/16/03
Es una pequeña peliculita, pero con una sensibilidad enorme.
03/03/05
A shell game that replaces the comedy of observation it sets out to be with glib one-liners, shallow characterizations, and a sweet but naive vision of racial harmony.
10/24/03
Top CriticLatest 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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