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By
DEBORAH NICOL
This film is formed not so
much out of pieces of a puzzle, as much as pieces
of thread creating the tapestry that becomes a
family. Shared genes do not always lead to shared
affections in writer/director Peter Hedges'
Thanksgiving tale. Screenwriter of "About a Boy"
and "What's eating Gilbert Grape?," Hedges again
expresses his belief that every family member has
a part in the shaping of their fellow kin.
As the threads become woven, a glimpse into
April's dark past is revealed, through stories of
the literal and figurative fires she created.
April is portrayed by Katie Holmes with
frustration and lip-chewing intensity, though the
transition between the devil she was and the more
patient person she has become is never fully
realized. Her doting boyfriend Bobby is played
jubilantly by Denzel Washington's protégé Derek
Luke, through whom we see that April is ultimately
deserving of love. Through the crisis of a broken
oven, April learns from the various cultures
within her apartment complex, and is quickly
influenced by the differing family values
represented.
As the two attempt to create the perfect
Thanksgiving dinner in their triple-locked city
apartment, the parallel story of April's family
traversing from the suburbs provides the conflict
and the reason why that conflict needs to be
resolved. Oscar-nominated Patricia Clarkson -– the
current Indie gold-standard for superb acting -–
portrays April's cancer-stricken mother, who is no
less vindictive in her illness than she was when
she first told April that the salt and pepper
shakers were worth more than she was. And with
this revelation the story comes full circle, as
the mother influences the behavior of the daughter
as fully as the daughter affects her parent. The
family is also divided by sex, as the youngest
daughter (Alison Pil) is as controlling as her
mother, whereas the son and father (John Gallagher
Jr. and a subdued and genuine Oliver Platt)
attempt simply to keep the peace and maintain some
semblance of togetherness.
Hedges creates a simple set, focusing on the
players rather than the physical atmosphere. It is
through this focused lens that the audience is
able to concentrate on what is important, and
evaluate the value of forgiveness. DVD extras
include a director's commentary, a making-of
featurette and trailers. |
