Welcome to the Rileys

source: Welcome to the Rileys

Everybody keeps referring back to Twilight and Kristen Stewart, it is good to see something different from her. These are the roles she likes to play, smaller films and not worrying about a 25 million dollar paycheck... Just because she isn't a stuck up Hollywood bitch doesn't mean she cant act.. I think she is one of the smarter ones, she does what she wants and is good at it, she doesn't try to please other people...This kind of attitude is what Hollywood needs and I think we are only seeing the beginning of what is going to be a wonderful career for a really cool girl...I hope she stays on track worth her career and with her relationship with Robert Pattinson, they work so well together.

A couple trying to cope with the death of their 15 year old daughter individually handle themselves in a way that works for them. Three people who are completely different get to know each other and all have ways of helping each other cope with where their lives are at. After going to New Orleans on a business trip, Doug Riley (Gandolfini) meets Mallory (Stewart) and tries to take care of her (like a daughter). Let me start by saying that Kristen Stewart is a good actress (when not playing Bella) and hold her own with Tony Soprano. This is another movie that is only watchable because of the performances. I enjoyed it, but if the acting was bad it would have been hard to sit through. This is a completely character driven story so if your looking for action I'd look elsewhere, but if you want a well done drama you've come to the right place. Story is OK, acting again makes this a better movie then it is. I give it a B. Would I watch it again? - If it was on TV I would not immediately change the channel.

Jake Scott's 'Welcome to the Rileys' tells a moving human story about three people lost in their own misery. In the beginning it looks like just another grief flick with a breaking marriage but this is a wrong assumption because 'Welcome to the Rileys' is far from typical. What sets this one apart are the marvelous performances of its three leads and Ken Hixon's terrific screenplay. Not to undermine Scott's direction as he does quite an impressive job too. The New Orleans setting is quite refreshing and pleasing to look at. His attention to detail is quite noticeable and his subtle approach in presentation and humour is very effective. The director's job is made easier by his talented cast. He wisely lets his actors carry the film. The story of 'Welcome to the Rileys' is told through interactions and this wouldn't have worked if it starred lesser actors. James Gandolfini wonderfully downplays his part. His Doug Riley is almost the complete opposite of Gandolfini's iconic Tony Soprano and the actor shows no difficulty in playing the part. Melissa Leo effortlessly plays her part and she does it with full conviction. She pairs up very well with Gandolfini and they're very believable as a married couple. Kirsten Stewart surprisingly holds her own. Notwithstanding her poor performances in previous films, she proves that she can actually act for a good director. Many seem to be disappointed by the ending as they felt the conclusion was much ado about nothing. However, I felt it was the right ending, an ending that reflected hope for the three principle characters (without the using clichés). 'Welcome to the Rileys' is definitely worth seeing.

James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo are grieving parents dealing with the death of their teenage daughter and coping or not in different ways. Some of the moments are quite touching. The story is predictable but quite satisfying to watch. The house in New Orleans was kind of gross and a bit unpleasant to watch. Melissa Leo is quite affecting in her role. James is a bit burly to be moving. For K Stew fans it's worth a watch and a bit of another "The Runaways" but with a bit more endearing character. Don't know why Kristen wants to play all these druggie / hooker roles to show her range. She is quite good but still seems a bit too put together and articulate for the prostitute she is trying to play. Another K Stew branching out vehicle. Hope she does a non basket case role next time - she is a good and pretty young actress and doesn't need to ugly up and use lots of expletives once she is out of Twilight. Overall if you don't catch this one it doesn't matter but if you are a K Stew fan you would probably want to see it.

In Indianapolis, Douglas Lloyd 'Doug' Riley (James Gandolfini) and Lois Riley (Melissa Leo) are a estranged couple married for almost thirty years that grieves the loss of their fifteen year-old daughter Emily. Doug is a well succeeded businessman in plumbing business that likes to play poker every Thursday with his friend and to meet his mistress, the waitress Vivian (Eisa Davis), after the game. Lois is agoraphobic, takes many pills and does not have sex with Doug. When Vivian unexpectedly has a heart attack and dies, Doug goes to the cemetery and finds a tombstone that Lois has ordered with her and his names. This is the last straw in their relationship and Doug travels to a plumbing conference in New Orleans feeling lost. Doug is wandering on the streets and stumbles with a nightclub. The young * and prostitute Mallory (Kristen Stewart) invites Doug to a private lap dance and when he see his acquaintances from the conference in the nightclub, he accepts her invitation to hide from them but he does not have sex with the teenager. There is an incident but then he takes Mallory home and decides to stay in her derelict house to help her. Doug calls Lois and tells to her that he would stay in New Orleans for a while. Lois decides to drive to New Orleans in Doug's car and he introduces her to Mallory, whose real name is Allison. The couple projects Emily in Allison, but is there still hope or is it too late for Allison and themselves? "Welcome to the Rileys" is a family drama supported by the magnificent Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo. Kristen Stewart is an actress that seems to be tailored to indie movies. The screenplay discloses the past events that have separated Doug and Lois to the viewer piece by piece. The story could have been of second chance in life and redemption, but the writer Ken Hixon chooses a more realistic conclusion but leaving some hope. My vote is seven. Title (Brazil): "Corações Perdidos" ("Lost Hearts")

When watching the movie I had the feeling the groundbreaking climax is a short seconds away. Well, guess what, it never came. I really liked the main characters but it seemed they showed only 40% of the emotions they had to. Given all the trauma they have been through, I newer saw pain or bitterness or even joy. Stewart's wasn't very believable as a prostitute. Playing a junkie would have been much more suitable for her performance. Mellisa Leo's cameo lacked the necessary emotional radiance. Imagine staying inside your house for almost a decade and the moment your husband calls, you take a 900 miles trip to see him. No emotions, no dwelling, no doubt. Exactly the opposite- rational behavior. Gandolfini cant really do many mistakes with the role. He is the most believable character but still fails to make a point. I don't understand how this film received such a high rating. It could have been a great movie but without the slow action and bits of information with which we have to deal.

The giant James Gandolfini and the immature Kristen Stewart. A very unlikely combination. Perfect performances by Gandolfini and Melissa Leo but a tremulous Kristen. Although it's hard to evaluate her global performance, since this is her first important role in her career, she was not convincing in this film. With a surrounding OST and precious moments of silence, the action flows warmly through New Orleans. The script was just compelling enough not to make us look to our clock from time to time. Happily the actors outbalanced that factor. Overall pleasant.

"She's not Emily!" Lois to Doug Welcome to the Rileys is not a great film, just a small, sometimes good one that depicts a forlorn couple befriending a 16 year old hooker in what might be a hope of bringing back their 15 year old daughter killed in an accident. Doug (James Gandolfini) is a married businessman who loses his lover and figuratively has lost his wife Lois (Melissa Leo) probably as long ago as their daughter has been dead. On a business trip to sin city New Orleans he hooks up with hooker Mallory (Kristen Stewart) and takes care of her. No, they never make it even though she offers as a matter of business; he is far too concerned with her welfare to cross any imaginary social lines. Although their dialogue is sparse and their emotional range limited, Gandolfini carries the scenes with a slowly solid care that rings authentic. On the other hand, Stewart does her usual Twilight scowling and brooding all the time while looking at least 21, certainly not 16. Her "f-bombs" and "cooters" can't erase the image of the virtuous Bella. When Lois drives to New Orleans to see her estranged husband, the drama comes alive as she comes to terms with her husband's eccentric behavior and catches the child care fever that has revived him. I like the idea that not very exciting people can be resurrected by the smallest acts of love, and I favored from the beginning that he would not engage in sexual activity with Mallory, giving an original variation on the old reform-the-prostitute motif. Director Jake Scott, from the famous Ridley and Tony lineage, gives an authentic sense of New Orleans, seedier than you would expect and less rambunctious than you usually see. What you do see is redemption at a slow pace, a couple of great actors, and variations on some old themes sometimes moving and always interesting.