A very depressing (at least until the end) film, but it somehow worked very well. Very low budget, but also very personal in a lot of ways.

B+.

I loved it. Simple movie that did work very well. Short and sweet. Holmes and Clarkson were also excellent.

- A-

It was a very pleasing movie. It had sadness,hapiness,madness, and it was a very nice completion.

Starring: Katie Holmes (Go), Patricia Clarkson (The Station Agent), Derek Luke (Antwone Fisher), Oliver Platt (Lake Placid), Sean Hayes (The Cat In The Hat), Alison Pill (Confessions Of A Teenage Drama Queen), Sisqo (Snow Dogs)

Directed by: Peter Hedges (debut)

Rated: PG-13

Running Time: 1 hour 20 minutes

"The best movie about Thanksgiving in a long time, maybe ever."
-- Robert Roten, LARAMIE MOVIE SCOPE

"This is one of those quietly wonderful films that really deserves an audience."
-- Richard Roeper, EBERT & ROEPER

"This is a gem of a film and goes to show that if you have a good story, you don't have to have millions of dollars to tell it."
-- John Venable, SUPERCALA.COM

"Moments that are real and touching and meaningful."
-- Nell Minow, MOVIE MOM AT YAHOO! MOVIES

"It takes a village to cook a turkey. That’s the premise ... or at least one of the best ideas in this delightful little miracle of a movie."
-- Jeffrey Overstreet, LOOKING CLOSER

"An especially warm comedy with a hidden heart."
-- Kenneth Turan, LOS ANGELES TIMES

"A playful comedy laced with heartbreak."
-- Peter Travers, ROLLING STONE

"The movie is brimming with life. The story is moving to the point where it's hard not to shed a tear."
-- Alex Sandell, JUICY CEREBELLUM

"These days, we rarely see realism portrayed so effectively on screen."
-- Jeff Otto, IGN FILMFORCE

"A Thanksgiving family reunion comedy that sparkles with acerbic wit, original characters and genuine heart."
-- David Rooney, VARIETY

"A near-perfect holiday film about families and imperfection."
-- Tom Long, DETROIT NEWS

"Hedges has created something funny, sad, deft and satisfying that resembles life as most of us know it -- not as Hollywood tends to inflate, gild and package it."
-- Shawn Levy, OREGONIAN

"Consistently engaging and intelligent."
-- Timothy Knight, REEL.COM

"Hedges has crafted a warmhearted holiday film that stands as a small classic in its bittersweet illustration of the unbreakable bond of family."
-- Megan Lehmann, NEW YORK POST

"Will leave you with a smile on your face, a tear in your eye and a memory in your heart."
-- Terri Clark, APOLLO GUIDE

"Few films have captured the guilt, anxiety and gallows humor of Thanksgiving as successfully."
-- Duane Dudek, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL

"Smart, witty and touching in its examination of the way family ties can get stretched to their limits without severing the connection that makes people a family."
-- Marshall Fine, JOURNAL NEWS (WESTCHESTER, NY)

"This is such a wonderful film - you'll want seconds!"
-- Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone, THEMOVIECHICKS.COM


PIECES OF APRIL (2003)


“Pieces of April” is a holiday classic for the art-house crowd. A simple story about a girl, April (Katie Holmes), who is hosting Thanksgiving dinner at her apartment for her estranged family, of which she is the black sheep, and the many complications that arise along the way. That might not sound that interesting, but the description just doesn’t do it justice. “Pieces of April” is a highly poignant film that packs an amazing emotional punch. It really got to me and managed to make me cry a couple of times.

Katie Holmes shines as April. She looked simply adorable and gives an underrated performance. Also excellent is Patricia Clarkson, who really deserved her Best Supporting Actress nomination.

“Pieces of April” is a real gem and one I plan on watching around Thanksgiving every year. It’s the best Thanksgiving themed film I’ve seen. A simple storyline turned into a deep, moving, beautiful film. ***SPOILERS***The scene with April running down the stairs to see her family after being told they were there, only to discover that they left, was absolutely heartbreaking.***END SPOILERS*** The performances are very good, especially by Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson, and the soundtrack is wonderful and perfect for the film.

“Pieces of April” is a great film and one of my favorites.

Grade: 9/10 (A)

I liked it. It's a great character study, and its very easy to relate to all of the characters. It's an uplifting film, that proves family is very important, and you have to put your differences aside, and just love one another. Katie Holmes is great here, but I thought Patricia Clarkson totally stole the show, and she was so incredible in her role. I also really liked the ending, very sweet and inspiring. This movie made me want to have a closer relationship with my mother.

A

How can you "like" a movie and give it an A?

Anyways, the movie was quite average and overrated. I like it enough to own it though.

7/10 (B-)

I wasn't that impressed with Katie Holmes, but overall I liked the movie more than I expected to. I can't say much more than has been said about Patricia Clarkson. She's one of those actresses that never seems to be acting, she's just living. I also thought Derek Luke was good as Holmes' boyfriend. I didn't realize he was the same guy from Antwone Fisher until the end credits. Lots of funny moments, lots of moving moments. Everyone should watch this a couple of days before Thanksgiving. My grade: B.

I initially wanted to see PIECES OF APRIL simply because Katie Holmes is a very promising young actress. She was the best thing about the long-running television show "Dawson's Creek" and managed to make many films very enjoyable. But then I saw the trailer and I wanted to see it even more. It looked very clever and funny. I was planning to see it in theaters, but somehow I never got around to it. But when it came out on DVD, I pretty much forgot about it. But then I saw it on the shelves at the video store the other night and suddenly remembered it. I rented it immediately and watched it that night.

In simple terms, I loved it. It is a very true-to-life comedy/drama that shows the hilarity and sadness of everyday life. What seems like a simple Thanksgiving story is so much more. It is a character study of a young twenty-something girl named April (Katie Holmes) and all of the people who are in her life. There are parts of this movie that are hilarious and parts that are heartbreaking. What is the important element of this movie is that you feel for the characters you are watching onscreen. This movie manages to not only make you feel for them, but it also makes you completely addicted to their characters. Despite its brief running time, PIECES OF APRIL manages to pack a lot of heart and soul into the story.

Katie Holmes gives a fantastic performance as the estranged daughter April. She gives a subdued comedic performance and is not only cute but also shows range as an actress. Patricia Clarkson gives a simple but good performance as April's estranged sick mother. The movie is really about these two women, and both actresses play their characters beautifully.

The supporting cast is just as good. Derek Luke plays April's boyfriend and gives a good performance, nothing spectacular, but his character is not that important. Oliver Platt plays April's father, who is a bit more supportive of his daughter. He gives a very good performance and is really the heart of April's family. Sean Hayes is hilarious as a preppy snobbish neighbor of April's who takes her Thanksgiving turkey hostage. Even R&B star Sisqo shows up for a bit, and aside from the fact that I was trying to identify him for the whole film, he is pretty decent.

In closing, PIECES OF APRIL is a great movie. I am surprised that Katie Holmes didn't recieve any award consideration, because she is really a revelation. Highly reccomended.

9/10 (A)

With Thanksgiving next week, I'm bumping this up!