Before watching the film, I had already read conflicting reviews on the Internet: someone praised the “deep thinking” and the performance of actors, especially Kristen Stewart and James Gandolfini, and someone lamented the meaninglessness of the plot. I decided to trust the positive reviews, anticipating to see the heartbreaking drama with touching relationships between the characters, and got ... and what, in fact, got? It's hard to even say that right away. When the credits appeared, it seemed that the film was cut, and not to say that in the most interesting place, it just broke off, and that’s all. We were shown an episode from the lives of the main characters that led them to... to the fact that their boring story is over, for the audience, at least.
Initially, I was hit by a good drama, although without a claim to originality. An aging couple who can not accept the loss of a fifteen-year-old daughter, and a young prostitute without parents. What should have led to their meeting in the framework of this film is more than obvious, but the creators decided that the audience may be mentally retarded and do not understand that Melory / Alison will be in the eyes of the grieving couple a replacement for her daughter, so we are obligingly shown a few moments that directly speak about this. The episode in the store where the consultant informs Melissa that her daughter is waiting for her in the dressing room perfectly demonstrates this. Yes, thank you, everything became clear after him, because before that it was impossible to even imagine why the married couple began to take such care of Alison.
Despite the tragedy of what is happening, the characters do not cause strong sympathy, although they seem to have to. The relationship between Doug and Alison does not touch at all, and in general, the film leaves no emotions behind, except bewilderment. The performance of the actors is not bad, but not to say that outstanding, although they may simply not have had the opportunity to show their potential.
5 out of 10
I’m not betting less because it’s not a terrible movie, but I don’t think it deserves more. Verdict: "Nothing."
The story was not easy for me, to be honest. I haven’t seen a lot of movies like this, something like that in The Invisible Side, so I refreshed myself a little bit in the movie.
It would seem that an ordinary prostitute who is not really needed by anyone, and then a savior comes, who does absolutely everything to make her life at least somehow change for the better, of course.
One thing that I didn’t like very much was clearly unnecessary.
That moment when his wife came to them, I think it was superfluous.
To me, it would be better if they were alone, without any vulgar hints.
He would have raised her, changed her life, discouraged her from quitting her job (if it could be called a job at all).
Kristen Stewart is very pleased, although she is not suitable for such a role.
James Gandolfini – a good dad came out, played this role well and truly, I even believed that he was really Kristen’s father.
But his wife was superfluous, as for me.
The film is not bad, although in some places it is crazy.
What did I just look at? I don’t remember such a waste of time in the last six months. What prompted me, of course, was the fact that director Jake Scott was waiting for Christine Stewart to come of age and play a role in this film. What or who is this film about? Who should watch it and what kind of morals should you take? Yes, it has the drama of two grown-ups who lost a daughter, and a prostitute who pretends to be strong and independent, even though she has already fallen to the bottom. How did these people, completely different in age and social status, end up in one collapsing, wretched apartment only God knows, trying to change their lives and past? You can, of course, suck out of the finger, all the mob that is present on the screen.
Mallory's endless mats, or Ellison, don't know what her real name is. Forgive my French, aging Douglas Riley (James Gandolfini) motives for this young lady were never fully clear. He wanted her to make amends and show her fatherly feelings for this spoiled person? Wife Lois Riley (Melissa Leo) except that distinguished her acting talent, showing incomprehensible dedication, after so many years of reclusiveness.
And the rest of the film is unclear how it began and it is unclear how it ended, every 15 minutes you wait for some sudden turn, or surge, which would at least catch something, but in the end you remain with nothing. Would I recommend it to watch? Definitely not.
You never know who`s going to be your wake-up call
Probably six months before the premiere of the film, I was waiting for it, mainly because of the specified genre of drama and the participation of Kristen Stewart in the project. I’m not a fan of her, but I was wondering how she would handle the role. And she did quite well.
The issue raised in the film isn't entirely original, but the acting made me watch it without stopping. His character Gandolfini played just fine, I literally felt his thoughts, hidden experiences and hopes.
But high hopes don’t lead to what they lead to on screen. The moral of the film is to be kind and open. In the end, the main characters helped each other. But I can’t keep quiet about the fact that after the credits, the thought that it was just a movie never left my mind. Well, seriously, I haven't observed people being so kind to each other (although Stewart's character isn't so kind), but still. In reality, not everything is so “easy”. And that’s the only reason I don’t have a ten.
9 out of 10 for a great acting; a story that makes you start thinking about your life; a good soundtrack and (God, thank you for the technical progress and good cameras) a beautiful picture that completely immerses the viewer in what is happening on the screen.
“Take care of your honor from a young age,” as our grandmothers always said. But what if farewell to that very honor is not your own personal choice of a growing girl, but life circumstances in which a lonely, abandoned teenager is driven?
I came across the movie Welcome to Riley by accident. I only regretted not seeing it sooner. Of course, my attitude towards Kristen Stewart, who is always trying to find vampire immortality, would change for the better. After all, the very strong side of her acting nature was able to seep through the anti-famility of the heroine only in this film.
She is chic here: in how brazenly and unceremoniously tries to persuade the “daddy” to show him a private dance, and in what conditions she lives and in what language she communicates with the world, and how much pain and disappointment lives inside her.
Jake Scott has never failed to cast Kristen as Mallory. Her thin pale shoulders, down corners of her mouth and a hidden demon in her ribs allow the actress to fully reveal all sides of the young stripper’s nature. Even when she opens her mouth so talentedly, serving new customers.
Unfortunately, not all abandoned children are so lucky. And the good Rileys don't get in their way often. But if you imagine that one heartbroken person was able to save and return to the path of a true young, lost girl, then in the colors of this world I want to believe with double zeal.
Especially when any good comes back a hundredfold: you selflessly try to save the “kitten”, and in the end you come back to life yourself.
A life where everything will be fine.
Finally, I watched Welcome to the Rileys and there was an unexpected duet of Gandolfini (in the amazing role of a suspiciously kind person (although he is in the red in poker, and escaped from his wife) and Stewart (she is a whore and an unhappy cat – at the same time). How am I supposed to miss it?
I see some of the critics (large) slightly missed it (and in vain!). I didn’t like two moments – a fabulous ending, and the role of Gandolfini’s wife (it’s a bit wooden, and somehow quite past the box office). Otherwise, in the course of the film - a great life drama (criminal-erotic), and another proof that the notorious Bella is only the tip of the iceberg of multifaceted talents Chris (and this was removed immediately after the first Twilight). So to spite the critics -
This film is simply created to take a break from the sophisticated modern action films and horror films. It is vital, there is no place for fiction or mysticism. In such life situations, in which the heroes got, each of us can get. Also, what is most attractive - he teaches, no matter how banal it may sound, "don't give up" in whatever trouble you get. The main thing is that there are those who are able to prompt / support / push, in the end even those who are able to just listen (alas – in our time, fewer and fewer people who know how to listen). Remember that man is not a wolf to man. Our modern, as they say, pofigism is one of our main troubles. If we were a little more attentive and kind to each other, look and complain less about life. This film shows just how important it is to want to change something in your life. He also demonstrates the importance of supporting each other, without these seemingly elementary and not too important things, a person turns into a lost animal.
The actors were very good, especially James Gandolfini. The image of the father, who lost after the death of his daughter the meaning of life, he succeeded simply in a masterpiece.
And Kristen Stewart? I had no idea she could play Mallory! Especially when you compare these two movies to Twilight. These are two opposite roles to each other! And you know, it costs a lot to play like that at 18. I didn’t see Stewart as a talented actress at all, for me she was also an actress in one role – the role of Bella Swan. But The Fugitives and Welcome to the Rileys changed my mind. The girl clearly has a talent and if she continues to work on it, she will achieve great success in cinema.
By the way, the ending of the film was slightly shaken. Not that I was looking forward to a happy ending, but I was clearly hoping to see something more optimistic. But apparently, that was the idea - to leave the audience a sense of incompleteness and the opportunity to finish the story of the characters of the film. For which I think we can thank them. Like the whole movie. Definitely one of the best dramas I've seen lately.
The initial footage with the pleasant music reminded me of Tony Soprano. Who else can you imagine when James Gandolfini smokes a cigarette, eats in a diner and sleeps on his side? Association occurs automatically. I think it’s only in the Mexican that I’ll see someone else. For the simple reason that this film was seen by me before the series.
This is what Tony Soprano’s life would be like if he wasn’t involved in crime. And he wasn't Italian.
But it felt like there was something else. This silent grief filled every frame. Each lit cigarette had a loud characteristic crack. The car swayed when the heavy hero climbed out of it, holding onto the roof.
I didn't recognize Melissa Leo at all. In "Fighter" and "Red State," it's very different! Here is a cold and mannered woman.
Knowing the reason for their grief, you begin to sympathize with them. The natural alienation between spouses is understandable. And everything changes when the husband goes on a business trip to New Orleans.
And this is where the defeat of consciousness begins, which I'm going to be very predictable about. I've never seen a Kristen Stewart before. Although she had roles as vagrants and girls with diseases. This is a serious challenge to her glamorous fame. After all, most fans of “Twilight” can not even watch this movie.
Yeah, it's monotonous. Her dirty words, coupled with bruises and revealing outfit, are a bit awkward. But all this is there, and there is no escape from it.
When another trip to New Orleans is made, the drama becomes more powerful. Yes, this film is a real life drama. With very unusual overtones.
The everyday situation with going to the pharmacy in the middle of the night is contrasted with the general appearance of what is happening. This is not the usual thing.
But, no matter what, the lives of all the heroes are changing radically.
Good drama with good actors. And a pretty good Stuart try. Here she fought back for all the inefficiencies and adolescence of “Twilight”.
8 out of 10
The picture in its structure and mood resembles the “Island of Women”, which tells a simple story about the meeting of people in need of each other, their joint action, and parting. There's nothing crazy shocking like the truck at the end of One Day. No chases and crazy orgies. The film tells that there are still those in the world who need help and those who can give it. It also confirms the theory that every person, whether he knows it or not, appears in our lives with a specific purpose, and when he reaches it, he leaves.
They found each other: Mallory's orphan and Mr. and Mrs. Riley, who buried their daughter. And even though their communication was short-lived, and the relationship is not always smooth, they greatly helped each other not to get caught up in the quagmire of life in which they fell.
The cast. Nice.
First of all, I was interested in Kristen Stewart, for her I watched Yes, this is another role of a difficult teenager, but what to do if she succeeds in this way! She's not that bad an actress. It seems that Kristen herself knows firsthand what it is like to live in this way.
I also liked James Gandolfini (Douglas) and Melissa Leo (Lewis). He with absolute accuracy showed a man who holds all the worries about the death of his daughter, and who really wants to feel like a father again. She is a mother who for a long time did not leave the house, blaming herself for the death of her only child, and later a woman was able to overcome her prejudices and fears.
Generally speaking, this is a good movie. Not to say that genius, but poor and meaningless it also can not be called.
The film, which caused a storm of emotions in many of my friends, thereby provoked me to watch it!
I don’t really like writing reviews, but the film deserves it!
The plot did not really cause me anything special, the usual drama and nothing else, but when you watch it, it immediately drags you. I didn't like Doug as a person at first because I saw the cheating. It's just that despite his exhausted and trampled wife over his daughter's death, he could do that to her, but as I delved into the plot, I realized that it was just out of a sense of hopelessness and total loneliness that he found a woman who understood him. The moment in the garage made me cry and I felt sorry for him. I didn’t understand his wife at first and I thought her behavior was not normal, but if you think about it in her place, I probably went crazy.
Mallory (Kristen Steward) played very well, although I always doubted her talent, but in this film she conveyed her emotions perfectly (I didn’t know she could be so liberated). Her only consolation, as I understood it, was selling her body, which made me feel bad for her. If you think about it, not only did she take this path, just because she had nowhere to go, but other girls also begin to live, losing their family. That’s why this movie is called a movie.
Losing our spirit, we lose consciousness, and then pride, but do not dwell only on this, because life is full of happiness for the sake of which you need to get on your feet.
10 out of 10
“I want you to show me how to endure a life of despair. ?
The movie “Welcome to Riley” will definitely not appeal to everyone. Many people, after watching (and often not even watching, but only trying it) will say that the film is too murky and boring. But that doesn’t mean the movie is bad. You just need to understand that choosing a film with such a plot, you should not count on funny jokes, a lot of words and dynamic music, because the purpose of this film is to immerse the viewer in this atmosphere. An atmosphere of disappointment, hope, despair. And it succeeded - in relation to emotions, the film is at the highest level.
I don’t want to retell the plot and think about what the meaning of the film is, as anyone who wants to understand will understand. I just want to add one thing – it’s very cool when people who are at the bottom, climb to the top not alone, but by the hand of someone who fell even lower. That's what everyone should do. If everyone did that, the world would be a much happier and better place.
This movie is probably designed for an amateur. I personally like such calm, deep films as Welcome to the Rileys.
In some ways it is similar to “Rabbit Hole” – both in this and in another picture, parents lose a child on a ridiculous occasion and are left alone with misfortune that distances them to a huge distance from each other. The film is full of sadness, but not as tragic and hopeless as the first.
Parents find solace and the opportunity to move on in a girl who, like them, needs help. And they help each other - each from this communication gets what he needs in the end.
The actors did a great job with their roles. Suddenly, I was pleasantly surprised by Kristen Stewart. I am not a fan of this actress, but here she looked simple and harmonious, emotions beat over the edge. Why she does not show the same in other paintings, it is unclear.
The film is very real, it has few sounds, music, special effects, played scenes. And the end only confirms his inseparability from life.
Anyway, I liked it. I recommend it.
Those who love “action, drive, special effects, etc.” will not like the film, it is completely different, but it is beautiful. There are only real feelings.
Did you read the synopsis and understand the film? It was worth believing your feelings and not looking any further. Well, unless you're a fan of young Stewart and don't miss a single movie with her participation. After getting acquainted with this picture, you will have a great opportunity to demonstrate your horizons to the yawning crowd and throw in the face of the accusers the argument about the versatility of the talent of the leading actress.
Although, if you admit, Christine here is not “leader”, but rather a follower. James Gandolfini confidently indicates who is the master of the situation, and Melissa Leo clearly demonstrates what it means to play with the back of the head. Stuart is left to glitter ass and swear dirty in front of adults. Of course, there is no trace of the modest Bella Swan, but you are not a thirteen-year-old girl to be deceived by cheap dressing?
However, Christine’s presence on the screen is not so much annoying as the length of the narrative. Not only does the plot fit into one sentence, and the development of the action is not expected in principle, so the director decided to increase the timekeeping to one hundred and ten minutes. The first half hour is drowned in the stagnation of family life, painting a marriage cracked at the seams as clearly as possible. Heroes are increasingly silent, quietly cheat on each other, look at the photo of the untimely departed daughter and order themselves tombstones. The viewer risks falling asleep in front of the screen, and not waiting for the crown exit of Christine in torn tights. However, suppressing yawns, you can always refer to the philosophical overtones ("I'm nobody's little girl!"), always standing in the way of the dynamics. It's not "Twilight" to watch drooling on Edward-Jacob. Our Bellochka has grown up and now prefers adult men.
3 out of 10
I wouldn’t have gotten my hands on this movie without my sister. She's a fan of the Twilight saga and Kristen Stewart included. She waited a long time for this film and watched it at first alone (and she liked it madly), and then suggested to me, well, I, as a great lover of different movies, of course, did not refuse. We started watching the movie and at first, frankly, I got very bored, but then I became even interested, but a little later I got bored again. The film is over and the impressions are still there. I’m absolutely flat on all this hype around Twilight and its actors. I just don't care about it. And so I can quite objectively evaluate the actors who play in the Saga. The film was certainly not a masterpiece, although my sister assured me for a very long time. But I can’t say that the film didn’t work out, the film is very good. It clearly shows that everyone needs to take care of someone, otherwise a person, still formally living, can already die, especially when you lose your own child.
So the focus is on a long-standing couple, Doug and Louis. They have been together for almost thirty years, but during this time they have already survived the death of their fifteen-year-old daughter. They live together as cohabitants, not spouses. Plus, Louis has not left the house for eight years, she is afraid to start living again and it is much more convenient for her to just hide from everything that is happening outside. But Doug feels the grief a little differently. He's doing the same thing, and he's been dating a woman for four years, where he found comfort. But one day Doug goes on a business trip to New Orleans and there he accidentally meets a sixteen-year-old prostitute Melory (Alison), and then his life is turned upside down. He really starts to live because of her. He sees in her his daughter and now he needs her, just as he needs her.
Like I said to Kristen Stewart, I'm totally flat. I saw her as Bella and she made no impression on me. As in that role, though. I didn't see her as this rude little girl who still lives as a prostitute. Her expletives did not sound convincing, although she looked like a dirty prostitute, in her play I did not see this image. Maybe she will grow up as an actress, who knows the time will tell, but in this film I did not notice anything outstanding in her. James Gandolfini. He certainly played a little better than his colleague Stuart, but I still think he could have done better. I don't know. Melissa Leo. I'm more than happy with her. All her facial expressions and gestures, she just got used to this role. Looking at her, I really felt all the pain that her character went through. She is a very good actress, a very decent actress.
Bottom line: the film “Welcome to the Riley” will most likely appeal to fans of the work of Kristen Stewart. The film is not terrible or vice versa a masterpiece. He's average. But if you still decide to watch it, then I wish you a pleasant view.
7 out of 10