Congratulations to Kristen Stewart, who won “Best Actress” at the Milan International Film Festival for her portrayal of “Mallory”, a runaway stripper, in “Welcome to the Rileys.”
Showing posts with label Welcome to the Rileys. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Welcome to the Rileys. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Kristen wins “Best Actress” at MIFF for “Welcome to the Rileys”
Congratulations to Kristen Stewart, who won “Best Actress” at the Milan International Film Festival for her portrayal of “Mallory”, a runaway stripper, in “Welcome to the Rileys.”
Monday, April 25, 2011
“Welcome to the Rileys” Available on Demand
Hollywoodnews By Kim Palacios: The critically acclaimed indie flick “Welcome to the Rileys” is now available with select carriers on demand. The film originally debuted in January 2010 at Sundance and was screened again at the Los Angeles Film Festival in June.
While Stewart fans admire the actress for choosing gritty, complex characters and off the beaten path roles, some of the actress’ films are so obscure, they fail to see widespread distribution. This means that fans must often wait months—sometimes closer to a year—before getting a chance to see any film outside of the festival circuit.
In “Welcome to the Rileys,” James Gandolfini (the protagonist) plays Doug Riley, a wayward soul whose deteriorating life comes to a halt when he goes on a business trip to New Orleans. His sudden inertia comes at the culmination of a series of traumas, including his young daughter’s death eight years before, the deterioration of his marriage, and the recent death of his mistress.
Stewart plays Mallory, an underage stripper and prostitute who Doug meets while she is at work. Though Mallory treats Doug as she would a client (e.g., proffering sex for money), Doug is unable to indulge such a relationship because Mallory reminds him of his late daughter. And, so the pair become intertwined—Doug pays Mallory to stay in her apartment, but begins to care for her as he might care for a grown child. Yet, their lives remain complicated: Doug’s wife, Lois (played by Oscar Winner Melissa Leo), eventually comes after him and Mallory doesn’t necessarily want a surrogate father.
The role is a far cry from anything Stewart has done in the past, given her child star status and the teen targeting of recent works such as the Twilight films. Few of her roles to date have found her personified as an adult and been geared toward adult audiences.
While Stewart fans admire the actress for choosing gritty, complex characters and off the beaten path roles, some of the actress’ films are so obscure, they fail to see widespread distribution. This means that fans must often wait months—sometimes closer to a year—before getting a chance to see any film outside of the festival circuit.
In “Welcome to the Rileys,” James Gandolfini (the protagonist) plays Doug Riley, a wayward soul whose deteriorating life comes to a halt when he goes on a business trip to New Orleans. His sudden inertia comes at the culmination of a series of traumas, including his young daughter’s death eight years before, the deterioration of his marriage, and the recent death of his mistress.
Stewart plays Mallory, an underage stripper and prostitute who Doug meets while she is at work. Though Mallory treats Doug as she would a client (e.g., proffering sex for money), Doug is unable to indulge such a relationship because Mallory reminds him of his late daughter. And, so the pair become intertwined—Doug pays Mallory to stay in her apartment, but begins to care for her as he might care for a grown child. Yet, their lives remain complicated: Doug’s wife, Lois (played by Oscar Winner Melissa Leo), eventually comes after him and Mallory doesn’t necessarily want a surrogate father.
The role is a far cry from anything Stewart has done in the past, given her child star status and the teen targeting of recent works such as the Twilight films. Few of her roles to date have found her personified as an adult and been geared toward adult audiences.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
New 'Welcome to the Rileys' DVD Review!
Review by Tired of Previews:
I saw a clip from Welcome to the Rileys when it was getting ready to debut. The clip didn't show much and I couldn't understand who these two characters were to each other. However, I rented it to see what the story was about. Now, you know I am not going to spoil it for you but rest assured the relationship portrayed in this film was different than most I have seen between an older man and young female - and worth watching.
Welcome to the Rileys takes a subject matter that many families have thrust upon them and shows the aftermath through a profound and realistic view point. Life is messy, cruel and can kick you in the stomach but many films like to make sure you leave satisfied in the end with everyone smiling and fixed. This film doesn't try to solve all the answers and it doesn't clean it all up either. How refreshing.
James Gandolfini plays a tender but broken man who is stuck in his marriage and life. He took on this role with an authenticity that I have never seen him try before. His portrayal brought tears to my eyes when his character decided to release the pause button from his dilemma. Kristen Stewart grabbed her portrayal with a vulnerability tied in with an inner strength only real survivors seem to possess. There is no resemblance to her past roles in this movie.
However, Melissa Leo, who was recognized at the Academy Awards for her outstanding performance in The Fighter this year, probably helped both the other actors reach the story's true potential. She, too, showed a real character and the process one goes through if they allow the tragedies of life to consume them.
This is not a fast-paced movie and it won't give you all the answers, but I thoroughly enjoyed the story. I recommend Welcome to the Rileys, even it is just to show everyone that iconic characters don't need to pigeonhole an actor.
My favorite thing: The giggle I had when I wasn't expecting any light-hearted parts in this movie.
My least favorite thing: Realizing the basis of the story is probably more prevalent than I would like to consider.
Did the previews show too much? I actually never saw a preview - just the same clip of the scene outside a laundromat.
Random thought: Jake Scott, the director of this film, is the son of Ridley Scott and the nephew of Tony Scott. He directed one of my favorite videos of all time: R.E.M.'s "Everybody Hurts."
Rating: R
Length: 110 minutes
Review: 7 out of 10
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Kristen is Nominated at the Miff Awards 2011 for 'Welcome to the Rileys'!
Kristen Stewart returns to the big screen with "Welcome to the Rileys, "the story of Lois and Doug Riley (James Gandolfini and Oscar winner Melissa Leo), which was shaken by the loss of her daughter, which occurred eight years earlier, find the strength to start again to live and to love after meeting a young stripper named Mallory (Kristen Stewart).
Jake Scott's film is among the candidates for the 2011 Milan International Film Festival, an event to be held in Milan May 4 to 14, where it competes with three nominations: best film (directed by Jake Scott), Best Actor (James Gandolfini) and best actress (Kristen Stewart).
World Team, in collaboration with the MIFF gives you the unique opportunity to participate in the screening of "Welcome To The Rileys, " normally reserved for members of the Academy in Milan, scheduled for Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 19:30 at the Spazio Oberdan Milan Viale Vittorio Veneto 2/ang Porta Venezia.
The new and hard work of Kristen Stewart, known to many for her role as Bella Swan in the Twilight Saga, being screened in a film festival, it is forbidden to an audience of less than 18 years, so those who like to participate preview will be compulsory to age. The screening will be in their original language with Italian subtitles. Waiting for your email to pubblico@teamworld.it (Rileys object) with name and surname of those who want to participate in the preview, not later than 11.00 am on Monday, April 11. (OLDER ONLY)
Kristen Stewart - Best Acting Performance Female
James Gandolfini - Best Acting Performance Male
Jake Scott- Best Directing 'Welcome to the Rileys'
Winner will be announced and awarded on May 10, 2011 in Milan.
teamworld via robstenation and vonch
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Kristen 'Excels Beyond Description' in 'Welcome to the Rileys' - New Review
Here is a tiny little film that barely earned $320,000 in total box-office receipts world-wide and screened only in 11 movie theaters when it was released. It’s one of those films that was tossed straight into the home-video bin.
But my god… what quality, what super writing, directing, and acting are tucked away in this miniscule corner of the movie world! The quality of this adult drama is nothing less than astounding.
First off, let’s praise the world-class acting muscle brought in by James Gandolfini (Doug Riley) of the SOPRANOS fame. That TV-series has seared itself permanently into my brain cells and will live with me as long as I’m around. And the number one reason why I loved that show so much was Gandolfini. The number one reason why I was mesmerized with the RILEYS is again JG. Bless you, sir.
But Melissa Leo as Doug’s depressed wife Lois and Kristen Stewart as a teenage hooker also excel beyond description. Why I haven’t heard the names of these amazing actors before; I have no idea. But I’m sure we’ll hear about them frequently in the future, especially Stewart given the fact that she is still so young and in the early years of her career. May it be a long one. I think she’ll fill in the shoes of Marcia Gay Harden nicely. Stewart is another Natalie Portman or Michelle Williams in the making.
(WARNING: some plot points revealed ahead…)
The story: Doug is a plumbing materials wholesaler in Indianapolis living in a middle-class neighborhood with his wife Lois. Despite the appearances, both are depressed deep down since they’ve lost their 15-year old only daughter in a traffic accident years earlier.
Doug, perhaps also squeezed by a typical middle-age crisis, starts to look around for a diversion, for a way to forget his pain. His wife Lois is house-ridden and clinically depressed 24-7. Thus it does not take long for Doug to get off track during an industry convention down in New Orleans.
Enter Mallory, the Big Easy teenage pole-dancer and prostitute who is just about the same age as Rileys’ deceased daughter. There’s obviously a father-daughter attraction there on Doug’s part while Mallory tries to treat Doug as yet another John off the street. Yet when Doug declares his decision to move in with Mallory while refusing any sex for payment, we are as puzzled as both Mallory and Lois are with Doug’s true intentions.
At times I thought the RILEYS might deteriorate into the overworked formula of MY FAIR LADY (even PRETTY WOMAN): will Doug try to make a lady out of Mallory? Yes and no, but Mallory is no “lady” for sure. She is not even a “woman” yet. She is a foul-mouthed wild beast.
The story takes a sharp turn at this point with Lois’s decision to pack up her suitcase, get into the family Cadillac, and after a few nervous mishaps, hit the road to… New Orleans! Lois has her epiphany and will not leave Doug on his own down in the netherworld of New Orleans.
Act Three of this fascinating story gets layered with all three major characters interacting with each other to redeem themselves and to find salvation in ways that befit them.
The ending is both logical and delicate. Writer Ken Hixon and director Jake Scott (nephew of the great Tony Scott) really love their characters and they treat them with respect, patience, and dignity even when they are down in the pits, smeared with the ugliness of the world.
The RILEYS leaves us emotionally exhausted but yet also strangely charged up for the possibilities ahead. Hope is beating like a drum in the inner chambers of this film.
R-rated and too hard for the kids. But if you’d like to spend meaningful two hours in front of your TV set curled up with your spouse or significant other, RILEYS is not a bad choice at all. As a matter of fact, until you see it, it should be the only choice.
source culturefeast via robstendreams
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
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