WAITRESS by the late Adrienne Shelly

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 8:58am

Well, Shelley had been making a name for herself as a director long before she was tragically murdered, but her films never really made it to the public at large. WAITRESS, written and directed by Shelly, starring Keri Russell and Nathan Fillion, may change that. Here's a good review from salon.com:
WAITRESS

[D2]

Posted: 5/2/07 at 9:05am

And another good review from the TIMES:

http://movies2.nytimes.com/2007/05/02/movies/02wait.html

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 1:31am

Just got home from seeing this film.

It's an extremely charming and entertaining film. I absolutely adored it.

The whole cast gives fantastic performances. Keri Russel is pith-perfect, Cheryl Hines is dead on, Andy Griffith is superb and Adrienne Shelly is absolutely terrific.

The film has a very realistic yet at the same time surreal feel to it. It feels fable-ish at times (almost like Flannery O'Conner-light) but excitingly so.

It's just very cute with tons of heart, laughs and emotions.

It's a real gem of a film, and I highly recommend it.

[xxnewgirlxx]

Posted: 5/14/07 at 10:47am

I've been a Nathan Fillion fan since his days as Joey on One Life to Live, and I'm the world's biggest Felicity nerd, so I'm planning on checking this film out this week.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 10:03pm

I finally got around to seeing this today - what an extraordinarily fantastic film.

It met my expectations, and then some.

Kerri Russell is giving the finest performance of her career. In my opinion, this surely catapults her from a C or B list actress to someone who is wildly talented, when given good material.

Do you guys think she might have a decent chance at being remembered at the Golden Globes this year?

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 10:46pm

I had no idea she was murdered.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 5/27/07 at 10:54pm

i think i shall see it this week sometime.

[Calvin]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 12:16am

Saw it a week or so ago and agree with the aforementioned praise. And munk -- I hope so.

[Taryn]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 12:42am

I JUST saw it tonight and I have to agree that it was a wonderful film. I came out wanting to have a baby.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:04am

hmm. i seem to be in the minority here, but I didn't like it very much.

i thought the script was VERY lacking, though all the acting was fantastic (and i always love Cheryl Hines!), some the lines were just so corny and sometimes the script veered into the realm of Hallmark movie.

also- that song was ANNOYING

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 1:37am

Taryn: You might want to put a spoiler alert or something.

Caroline: What impressed me so much about this film was that it had all the aspects of a Hallmark or Lifetime movie, but it didn't approach cliche once. It could have been an otherwise "been there, done that" kind of film - but it was totally endearing, I thought. And I do disagree about the song. I thought it was a sweet, nice little thing.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 8:29am

(Munk, I think that the pregnancy component of Waitress is pretty much included in every blurb written about the movie, so in fairness to Taryn, I'm not sure that would count as a spoiler...)

Whatever, I think I'll see this some time today, before I put it off so long that I have to wait for the DVD.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:46am

Well, not so much the pregnancy factor, but the fact that the movie ends on a good note, since she said the movie made her want to have a baby. If I had read that before I saw the film, I would already 100% know what the outcome was going to be, that's all.

[shira467]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 12:28pm

I really enjoyed it! The movie was adorable. Sometimes corny, yes, but I loved it anyway.

[jess20882]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 2:51pm

this movie is absolutely one of my favorite of the year. keri russell was phenomenal, cheryl hines was hilarious, and adrienne shelley's character was really sweet and touching.
this movie definitely deserves more recognition than it seems to be getting...

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 5/28/07 at 11:58pm

I love this movie.

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 9:11am

I have yet to see it, but I must tell ya, I got a little choked up looking at this weekend's grosses for this movie. #5! Right between BUG and 28 WEEKS LATER. Kudos to Miss Shelley...R.I.P.

[beacon1]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 9:57am

What a wonderful little film. I hope it gets notice come awards time. Keri Russell is a REVELATION. I only saw her a few times in Felicity as I surfed pass the channel.

The rest of the cast is fabulous too. Each of them seemed to have a great time in their part.

It's funny, sad, tragic, heartwarming and just a wonderful way to spend a couple of hours. I heartily recommend it.

And, I've been craving pies ever since and so want to cuddle a little baby!

[MatthewAddison]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 9:33pm

I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing the film this weekend!

I'm going to bring food because I'm assuming I'll be craving it.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 12:29pm

I'm going to see this in about an hour. w00t.

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 6/8/07 at 5:21pm

Just got back.

I loved how Adrienne Shelly was able to find the humor in extremely upsetting situations. Reading the plot synopsis, I was expecting something grim and sad. Ultimately, however, it was more upbeat than one would think even though nothing is compromised. The abusive husband isn't a "wacky" abusive husband like so many movies use, but actually and legimitely an asshole. Yet, Shelly lets us understand him as a human being and not as a cartoon.

I really really enjoyed this movie. It was extremely well-written and well-acted. The only criticisms I have really is that it's too long (Starts running out of steam near the end) and that Cheryl Hines' and Adrienne Shelly's characters aren't really developed enough.

'Tis really a shame what happened to her.