Critic Reviews
Pieces of April (2003) Rank 3 Reviews
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San Francisco Chronicle (Carla Meyer)
Peter Hedges has done something remarkable with "Pieces of April," his directorial debut. He's made a movie about family -- one with a holiday theme, no less -- that's both heartfelt and tough-minded. The tale of a black-sheep daughter (Katie Holmes) ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at San Francisco Chronicle (Carla Meyer)
Susan Granger
Written and directed by Peter Hedges ("What's Eating Gilbert Grape?"), the unconventional story revolves around stubbornly independent April Burns (Katie Holmes) who has invited her dysfunctional suburban family to drive into Manhattan to join her for ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Susan Granger
Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
It took me a while to see this wonderful little film and I am glad that I finally did. Yes, it is another movie about Thanksgiving and it fills the holiday bill. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Lobo Howls (Judith Wolfe)
Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
Katie Holmes holds together a short comedy about a family's journey to their black sheep daughter's home for a Thanksgiving dinner. Holmes is the young woman whose troubled past has estranged her from her mother (Patricia Clarkson) -- her performance is ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Window to the Movies (Jeffrey Chen)
MovieWeb (Justin Case)
Rebellious daughter, April (Holmes), has invited her family over for an elaborate Thanksgiving feast. When her oven fails, amid many other mishaps while she strives to create the perfect unforgetable turkey-day feast, she must turn to her neighbors, ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at MovieWeb (Justin Case)
Apollo Movie Guide (Terri Clark)
A young woman living on her own in the big city invites her family from suburbia for Thanksgiving dinner. Chaos ensues. Katie Holmes and Patricia Clarkson star. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Apollo Movie Guide (Terri Clark)
Movie Gazette (Anton Bitel)
Riffing off the Thanksgiving myth, 'Pieces of April' offsets sentimentality with some hard-hitting cynicism. Intelligent, painful, and ultimately very moving. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Movie Gazette (Anton Bitel)
Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Holidays have a way of bringing out the best in everyone. Just ask Neal Page, who encounters Del Griffith on the trip from hell in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles or how about Claudia Larson, who heads home for a family reunion at Thanksgiving only to ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Film Threat, Hollywood's Indie Voice
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
It's an amazing feat when you realize that after watching over 75 minutes of nothing going right, Pieces of April still manages to be a heartwarming family drama worthy of becoming a standard for those seeking a good flick to watch around Thanksgiving ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
MovieFreak.com (Gregory L. Amato)
Writer/director Peter Hedges (screenwriter for What's Eating Gilbert Grape, About a Boy ) makes it clear that Pieces of April was inspired in no small part by his own mother's illness. The personal nature of such a project can be good and bad - good ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at MovieFreak.com (Gregory L. Amato)
Guardian/Observer
It has wit, charm, and a seductively offbeat comic language, positioning itself a knight's-move away from the usual comic tropes about ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Guardian/Observer
Cineclub-Filmkritik
Regisseur Peter Hedges erzählt in "April - Ein Tag mit April Burns" die Geschichte einer junge Frau die aus der heilen Welt der Vororte ausgebrochen ist und mit ihrem Freund ein Apartment an der Lower East Side in New York bewohnt. April (Katie Holmes) ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Cineclub-Filmkritik
Fulvue Drive-in
Every writer is told the same thing: write what you know. The events surrounding the true story of a mother dying of breast cancer and somebody whose oven breaks down on Thanksgiving Day are the elements that inspired Peter Hedgesâ Pieces of April ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Fulvue Drive-in
Dallas Observer (Robert Wilonsky)
It just feels like the real thing, which is a trick few writers can muster and even fewer directors can master. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Dallas Observer (Robert Wilonsky)
Boxoffice Magazine (Annlee Ellingson)
Utterly charming from its opening scene and touching to the end. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Boxoffice Magazine (Annlee Ellingson)
ViewLondon (Matthew Turner)
Film Threat (Don R. Lewis)
As the debate between digital video and film rages on, Pieces of April proves a point that many people overlook in the DV/film debate. If you have a great story, a great script and a great cast, DV will work as well as film onscreen. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Film Threat (Don R. Lewis)
Daytona Beach News-Journal (Fl.) (Jeff Farance)
New York Times (Elvis Mitchell)
[An] intelligent and touching farce. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at New York Times (Elvis Mitchell)
Las Vegas CityLife (Bob Grimm)
While director Hedges deserves high praise, the film's true blessing is the combination of Clarkson and Holmes. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Las Vegas CityLife (Bob Grimm)
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
The performances are all first-rate. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (Jack Garner)
Des Moines Register (Jeffrey Bruner)
A sparkling gem of a comedy. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Des Moines Register (Jeffrey Bruner)
Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
The predictability factor is as steady as a simmering saute but there's enough spice in the company of lead Katie Holmes to make this a savory meal. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Cinema Signals (Jules Brenner)
This is Lancashire (--)
New York Magazine (Peter Rainer)
The jamboree is beautifully shot and directed, by Chris Menges and David Leland respectively, and there is a haunting touch: the presence of George’s son, Dhani, on guitar, looking near-identical to his dad in his twenties. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at New York Magazine (Peter Rainer)
Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
Belongs, wholly and completely, to Clarkson, who delivers Joy's mordant asides and withering observations with a flawless balance of tartness and vulnerability. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Washington Post (Ann Hornaday)
The Hollywood Reporter (Duane Byrge)
This warm and scruffy film may strike some as a mere period piece, but it's juiced with recognizable family trauma and garnished with a quirky sensibility -- it's the portrait of a group of people we come to care about. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Hollywood Reporter (Duane Byrge)
Tiscali UK
Peter Hedges' delightful directorial debut is a calling card for digital cinema, and proves that with a confident script and a quality cast low-budget doesn't always mean low quality. Of course Hedges has some pedigree when it comes to writing: What's ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Tiscali UK
DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)
Pieces of April is not a stinker, so don't completely discount it yet. It just seemed to leave me hanging for more. It didn't impress me as I thought it would. For my money, it would be better spent on something else. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at DVD-Dweeb.Com (Oliver Korioth)
DVD Times
April (Katie Holmes) and her mother Joy (Patricia Clarkson) never got on - in fact, they've always loathed each other but circumstances have recently changed... As Joy has been diagnosed with a potentially terminal illness, April has taken upon herself ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at DVD Times
Cinema Blend
One could make many excuses for Pieces of April: It was filmed over 16 days on a budget of less then 7 million dollars after starting and stopping 2 other times. But despite the muted, sometimes grainy appearance of digital filming, Pieces needs no ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Cinema Blend
CinemaBlend.com - DVD review
One could make many excuses for Pieces of April: It was filmed over 16 days on a budget of less then 7 million dollars after starting and stopping 2 other times. But despite the muted, sometimes grainy appearance of digital filming, Pieces needs no ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at CinemaBlend.com - DVD review
The Film Journal (Mark Pfeiffer)
Family dysfunction and the holidays go together like Thanksgiving turkey and cranberry sauce, all of which are found in Pieces of April. In a break from the apple-cheeked, girl-next-door types for which she is best known, Katie Holmes plays April, the ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Film Journal (Mark Pfeiffer)
The Boston Phoenix
In the edgy slacker odyssey Go, Katie Holmes showed talent that went beyond her teen-idol status from Dawsonâs Creek. In Peter Hedgesâs portrait of familiar dysfunction, she tries to further that promise. Her April, full of angst, yearning and ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Boston Phoenix
Juicy Cerebellum (Alex Sandell)
I can't write a standard review for this film. I wrote three different drafts over four long hours, and each one came out worse than the last. I felt an emotional connection with Pieces of April, and it's one that I can't spell out in three or four ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Juicy Cerebellum (Alex Sandell)
filmcritic.com
Reviewing Pieces of April brings up a metaphysical question: What do you say about a movie thatâs not really there? April has several moments of note, quiet, sad bits of truth that feel like theyâve just come in out of the rain. Pieces, in other ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at filmcritic.com
Latino Review
Pieces of April is a touching, poignant film about the last chances we have to make things right. It is a human drama, very quirky at times, told with a great degree of realism. I walked in expecting good things and was not disappointed. The filmâs ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Latino Review
Terminus
Before we got back to the hotel, we had the rehearsal dinner. We ate at a beautiful resaurant called Casa Bella, and the food was superb. Now, you know me, and I'm not one for fancy ass food, but this was good shit. Plus, we were in a big group... ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Terminus
Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
Too rare pleasure: an honest and sentimental journey. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Denver Post (Lisa Kennedy)
Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)
A series of terrific performances (led by the amazing Patricia Clarkson) make this unusual Thanksgiving comedy a feast for the mind. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Oscar Guy (Wesley Lovell)
San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)
We leave grateful that the filmmaker has taken the time to bring out not only the best in his characters, but also the best in us. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at San Jose Mercury News (Glenn Lovell)
Cinema Signals by The Filmiliar Cineaste
We're in cooking mode, folks, following in the food preparation mold of "Tortilla Soup", "Tampopo" (1986), Ang Lee's "Eat Drink Man Woman" (1994) and Stanley Tucci's "Big Night" (1996). While the framework differs, the predictability factor is as steady ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Cinema Signals by The Filmiliar Cineaste
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Making the move from TV to movies is a slippery slope. Look at the cast of Friends (Jennifer Aniston excepted). The jury is still out on Katie Holmes, just off a five-year run on Dawson's Creek. She's already done films, proving sexy (OK, she's always ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Phoebe Flowers)
Smart, funny, steadfastly unsentimental. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Phoebe Flowers)
Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
The film sneaks up on us with its warmth and feelings of love. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Movie Parables (Michael Elliott)
Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
The resolution of the story is a little problematic too, especially related to Bobby. The way he's introduced to April's parents is really flawed: I realize it goes along with Hedge's need to play off white fears of young black men, but if you stop ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips, Jr.)
Steve Rhodes
Meanwhile in April's shabby apartment in a ghetto area of an unnamed inner city, she and her new boyfriend, Bobby (Derek Luke), are attempting to prepare a Thanksgiving meal for April's family. The "feast" to be is just the opposite of a LIKE WATER FOR ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Steve Rhodes
Jigsaw Lounge (Neil Young)
In her early twenties, rebellious April Burns (Katie Holmes) has tired of feuding with her relatives and is happily living in a tiny Manhattan flat with boyfriend Bobby (Derek Luke). But when her mother Joy's (Patricia Clarkson) cancer reaches a terminal ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Jigsaw Lounge (Neil Young)
FilmStew.com
First things first: Pieces Of April is no good and no amount of Sundance catfights for its distribution rights will convince me otherwise. Sure, going in, I might have held tremulous hopes for a serio-comic drama that parallels my own familial ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at FilmStew.com
Planet Confusion
April Burns (Katie Holmes) sagt von sich selbst, sie sei "der erste Pfannkuchen" in ihrer Familie... der, den man wegwirft. Allerdings wohnt sie schon lange nicht mehr zu Hause, denn dort ist sie nach viel Streit und einigen Eskapaden ausgezogen. Sie ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Planet Confusion
DVD Clinic ("The Shootin Surgeon")
Katie Holmes is April, a young girl living in a (very) low rent area of New York's Lower East Side. Estranged from her family, she invites them over for what may be her ailing mother's last Thanksgiving. Unfortunately for April, her oven gives out and ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at DVD Clinic ("The Shootin Surgeon")
One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
It would be easy to dismiss âPieces of Aprilâ as a frail, wispy example of the bickering-family-bonds-during-the-holidays genre of comedy-drama, and for a good deal of its modest 79-minute running-time Peter Hedgesâs debut feature deserves such a ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at One Guy's Opinion (Frank Swietek)
Jam! Movies
Pieces Of April will leave movie-goers pondering that age-old question about the universe: Where the heck is Patricia Clarkson's Academy ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Jam! Movies
Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
The film grows on you. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Seattle Times (Moira MacDonald)
Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)
[The masterstroke is] keeping the family apart for most of the movie and using character analysis as a way of suggesting the dysfunction. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Aisle Seat (Mike McGranaghan)
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Few films have captured the guilt, anxiety and gallows humor of Thanksgiving as successfully. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Duane Dudek)
Globe and Mail (Stephen Cole)
The film more than earns its heartwarming finale by virtue of the skilled performances of the leads. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Globe and Mail (Stephen Cole)
Mr. Cranky
It seems odd to me that nobody has ever decided to do an entire movie about jock itch. After all, it's a fairly serious problem. It affects a lot of people. I ask this question only after seeing "Pieces of April," the thousandth or so film I've had to ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Mr. Cranky
Newsday (John Anderson)
Funny-sober, high-brow situation comedy, about family, holidays and the perils of uncooked poultry, unpaid utility bills. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Newsday (John Anderson)
Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips Jr.)
Pieces of April is an enjoyable comedy about a family that journeys from their comfortable suburban home to the depths of New York City to celebrate Thanksgiving with their wayward daughter April (Katie Holmes), a screwup who thinks she has her life ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Goatdog's Movies (Michael W. Phillips Jr.)
Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
Hedges brings some refreshing new wrinkles to a familiar plot, and he further spices it up by having the meal in question being prepared by the daughter, not the mother. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Sacramento Bee (Joe Baltake)
The Onion A.V. Club (Scott Tobias)
Arriving after 80 minutes of labored screwball comedy and mawkishness, the moving payoff to writer-director Peter Hedges' otherwise sloppy first feature Pieces Of April comes as a peculiar shock, like a sucker punch seen from a mile away. In the film's ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Onion A.V. Club (Scott Tobias)
CineScene.com (Les Phillips)
In Pieces of April (written and directed by Peter Hedges) a suburban family drives in their station wagon from Pennsylvnia to New York City for Thanksgiving dinner. Estranged daughter April, in the person of Katie Holmes, is preparing the dinner. Cut to ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at CineScene.com (Les Phillips)
New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
A delightful, funny surprise. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
Pieces of April isn't the biggest or best film of the year, but it's touching, witty, smart and well-made. You have to sort through a lot of chaff at the multiplex to find all those qualities in a single movie. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Portland Oregonian (Shawn Levy)
New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
As pat as some of its conclusions may seem, this low-budget effort has charm, fine acting and one of the few realistic screen depictions of the awkward dynamics of a family trying to circle its wagons. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at New York Daily News (Jami Bernard)
Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
For a movie about community and forgiveness, family and grace, Pieces of April is refreshingly unsappy. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Philadelphia Inquirer (Steven Rea)
Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
In a movie that dwells so wittily and movingly on forgiveness, you have to grant pardon. Clarkson alone makes "April" a feast. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Chicago Tribune (Michael Wilmington)
Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
The highest compliment I can pay Pieces of April is that it brings to mind a Paul Simon lyric: "the mother and child reunion is only a motion ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Baltimore Sun (Michael Sragow)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Despite its flaws, Pieces of April has a lot of joy and quirkiness; it's well-intentioned in its screwy way, with flashes of human insight, and actors who can take a moment and make it glow. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
Pulls off a nice balancing act between humor and heartbreak. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Creative Loafing (Matt Brunson)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
The ending of Pieces of April is conventional, but satisfying, and there's enough delightful weirdness up to the final moments that it's hard to fault Hedges for taking the easy way out. The digital video isn't the most polished medium in ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
New York Post (Megan Lehmann)
eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)
That Hedges is able to weave all the strands of humor, regret, anger and love into a paltry 80 minutes is quite an achievement. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at eFilmCritic.com (Erik Childress)
Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
The dialogue is crisp and natural, particularly when Clarkson unloads with parental complaining or surprising humor. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Salt Lake Tribune (Sean Means)
TeenHollywood.com (Lynn Barker)
April Burns (Katie Holmes), who dresses a little like a punked-out Pippi Longstocking, has invited her whole estranged family to Thanksgiving dinner at her place. She and her boyfriend Bobby (Derek Luke,) get up early in their dilapidated New York ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at TeenHollywood.com (Lynn Barker)
Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Thanksgiving is not a conventional religious or political holiday but consists simply of families gathering to love one another and express gratitude. That's the tricky part. There are no ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Chicago Sun-Times (Roger Ebert)
Perth Sunday Times
Baltimore Sun (--)
The Popkorn Junkie
The only flaws in the film are the unnecessary side story involving Bobby and his journey, and the bizarre way in which director Hedges just tacked on the ending. It was as if he had crafted this marvelous film and then just ran out of ideas. Maybe the ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Popkorn Junkie
Salon (Stephanie Zacharek)
In "Pieces of April," the directorial debut of the gifted novelist and screenwriter Peter Hedges, a young woman who has never quite fit in with her family -- she's the April of the title, played by Katie Holmes -- coaxes them out of their comfy suburban ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Salon (Stephanie Zacharek)
Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
Seamless blend of over-the-top farce with sincere drama. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Minneapolis Star Tribune (Jeff Strickler)
efilmcritic.com (Collin Souter)
Miraculously, the movie never breaks into a sitcom. It remains a thoughtful, witty and dead-on portrait of a family coming to terms with its identity as one of its members faces death. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at efilmcritic.com (Collin Souter)
Chicago Tribune
"Pieces of April," which marks the directorial debut of that often excellent writer Peter Hedges ("What's Eating Gilbert Grape?"), is a funny movie about a very sad subject: an impending death in a family splintered for years and now trying to come ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Chicago Tribune
National Post (Jay Stone)
ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
As human beings, we have an amazing thirst for closure. Thus, when an estranged family member dies without a reconciliation, the gaping sore can be especially painful for the one left behind. There are countless stories of deathbed peacemaking sessions ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at ReelViews (James Berardinelli)
Apollo Guide (Terri Clark)
April Burns (Katie Holmes) has been estranged from her family for years. Her mother, Joy (Patricia Clarkson), canât recall a single positive memory involving her eldest child. She remembers the drugs, shoplifting, petulance and ingratitude. She ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Apollo Guide (Terri Clark)
JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
I'm still not 100% sure of how I feel about this movie. I had some issues with it, as I watched, devised mental notes about what they were, but once all was said and done, the film's extremely short runtime of 75 minutes a thing of the past, I found ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at JoBlo's Movie Emporium ("JoBlo")
Reel.com
An audience favorite at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival, Pieces of April is now playing in theaters nationwide. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Reel.com
The Movie Insider (John Sylva)
Come film's end, the viewer is left with a portrait of family that will have more than a few sons and daughters calling home just to say "I love you." But it will also have just as many wondering where Hedges found inspiration for a film filled with so ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Movie Insider (John Sylva)
Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
A playful comedy laced with heartbreak. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Rolling Stone (Peter Travers)
Movie Martyr (Jeremy Heilman)
Since it belongs to the burgeoning, and consistently syrupy, Thanksgiving movie genre, one must go into Peter Hedges' Pieces of April expecting a certain degree of frank sentimentality. It's placed under a transparent film of what passes for reality ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Movie Martyr (Jeremy Heilman)
CaribPress (Robert Wheaton)
In an attempt to mend a deep rift that she has with her family, April (Katie Holmes) decides to host Thanksgiving dinner. This is from a woman that would have difficulty making canned soup. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at CaribPress (Robert Wheaton)
Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
You may leave on a high note, but youll quickly remember how long it took you to reach that pinnacle ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Eclipse Magazine (Sean O'Connell)
Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
Pieces of April is probably worth a look, especially as a video rental. If it doesn’t catch on, then so be it. Everyone involved showed enough skill and talent to earn work on bigger and better projects in the future. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Movie Habit (Marty Mapes)
DVD Talk (Jason Bovberg)
You might know the name Peter Hedges. He's the writer of the screenplays for What's Eating Gilbert Grape and About a Boy. His debut film as a director is an understated Thanksgiving film called Pieces of April, a shot-on-digital-video production that ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at DVD Talk (Jason Bovberg)
dvdfuture.com (Randy Spiros)
I went into "Pieces Of April" at the Tenth Annual Writers' Festival held in Austin, Texas with two expectations. The first was that Katie Holmes would be in this movie and just possibly the song "Pieces Of April" by Three Dog Night would be used. I ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at dvdfuture.com (Randy Spiros)
3 Black Chicks ("Bams")
It's rare that I consider the title of a movie for more than a fleeting moment; after all, many filmmakers, especially those specializing in Art Fillums, seem to delight themselves in giving their films as opaque a title as possible. But this movie's ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at 3 Black Chicks ("Bams")
The Filmsnobs
Hey worshippers, it has been way too long since I wrote on this totally male dominated, testosterone packed website! Things have been waaaay crazy with law school and the like. I've been looking for summer jobs and all of these job interviews have been ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Filmsnobs
A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
A moving and occasionally funny little tale that somehow makes its inexpensive, digital camera (we're not talking Lucas-style digital camera, by what appears to be more Best Buy style) roots work in its favor, "Pieces of April" is a heartfelt family ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at A Guide to Current DVD (Aaron Beierle)
Premiere Magazine (Glenn Kenny)
A chamber piece for two acting ensembles and digital camera, writer-director Peter Hedgesâs Sundance festival fave follows, on the one hand, âbadâ daughter April (Katie Holmes) and her worse-than-hapless attempt to make a Thanksgiving dinner (to ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Premiere Magazine (Glenn Kenny)
allesfilm.com (Magdalena Miedl)
Die spätpubertäre April hat sich noch nie gut mit ihrer Mutter verstanden. Die hat aber Krebs und nicht mehr lange zu Leben â und so lädt April die ungeliebte Familie zu einem Versöhnungs-Thanksgiving-Truthahn in die Bruchbude nach New York ein. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at allesfilm.com (Magdalena Miedl)
Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)
Pieces of April is a typically quirky independent comedy, complete with Patricia Clarkson's presence among the cast. Though the film's ever-so-slight premise - a young woman anxiously prepares Thanksgiving dinner for her family - often threatens to ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Reel Film Reviews (David Nusair)
The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
Pieces of April is not a random connection of scenes set in that month nor is it a portrait of the psychological breakdown of a girl named April . . . well, it is that time of year when such stories are de rigueur Oscar wannabe fare. Pieces of April is ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The Cranky Critic (Chuck Schwartz)
Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Who among us hasn't been in the all-too-painful position of having to prepare what can best be described as the Thanksgiving Dinner From . . . well, Hades? That almost-universal experience lends this character-driven, comedy-drama an almost-universal ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Deseret News, Salt Lake City
Haro Online
Thanksgiving is a time when an entire family can come together and give thanks. It's a little harder for the Burns family, mainly because of black sheep daughter April (Katie Holmes, Abandon, Phone Booth). April has never gotten along with any member of ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Haro Online
musicOMH (John Murphy)
When we first meet April, she's reluctantly being woken up by her boyfriend. Appropriate really, as Pieces Of April is a film about people who need to wake up to deal with what's really important. If that sounds a bit sappy don't be put off - Peter ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at musicOMH (John Murphy)
James Bowman
A first feature by Peter Hedges, the novelist and screen-writer of Whatâs Eating Gilbert Grape, Pieces of April presents us with an interesting situation and interesting characters which are well managed cinematically. But once heâd got them into ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at James Bowman
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
"Pieces of April" (MGM) is a bittersweet dramedy about a young woman whose attempt at reconciliation with her estranged family by hosting Thanksgiving dinner is jeopardized when she discovers her stove has decided to take a holiday. While at first glance ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops
Joe Critic.com (Rick Elliot)
Pieces of April is a poignant, heartwarming story of family and the dynamics that either bring us closer together or tear us apart. Writer/director Peter Hedges (in a terrific directorial debut) takes us on a journey of love, hope, and redemption that ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Joe Critic.com (Rick Elliot)
Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
It's an amazing feat when you realize that after watching over 75 minutes of nothing going right, Pieces of April still manages to be a heartwarming family drama worthy of becoming a standard for those seeking a good flick to watch around Thanksgiving ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Qwipster's Movie Reviews (Vince Leo)
Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
Drama/Comedy: With their terminally ill mother in tow, a family sets off to have Thanksgiving with their estranged daughter who's trying to get her life back on track. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents
hoopla.nu
I read a scathing review of this film which seemed above all to be sick and tired of grungy hand held digital camera films. Pieces Of April was made through InDigEnt (Independent Digital Entertainment) which specialises in such films, having previously ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at hoopla.nu
filmdeculte.com (Christophe Chenallet)
April, qui nâest plus en très bons termes avec sa famille, décide tout de même de les inviter pour Thanksgiving. Mais son four est en panne et elle va devoir aller à la rencontre des habitants de son immeuble pour arriver à cuire sa dinde. Pendant ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at filmdeculte.com (Christophe Chenallet)
Moviehole
Katie Holmes has obviously got her head screwed on properly. After starring on the teen soap âDawsonâs Creekâ for forever and a day, itâd be easy for her to simply jump straight into film projects that donât stray too far from the Leary ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Moviehole
CultureDose.net (Tiffany Sanchez)
digitallyOBSESSED.com (Kevin Clemons)
April is the black sheep of her family, spending her days far away from her hometown in a low rent apartment on New York's Lower East Side. For reasons yet unknown to the audience, she is disliked immensely by her sister Beth (Pill), looked down upon by ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at digitallyOBSESSED.com (Kevin Clemons)
Wolf Entertainment Guide (William Wolf)
If you want to play the recognition game, you can think of how many young offbeat women like April you might know and how closely the film comes to family situations, yours or others with which you are familiar. "Pieces of April," written and directed by ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Wolf Entertainment Guide (William Wolf)
Movie-Vault.com (David Trier)
This is a film thatâs pretty easy to dismiss. It was shot on digital for a reported $160,000, itâs only 80 minutes long and itâs another dysfunctional family Thanksgiving story. But somehow it manages to bring you in quick and keep you caring ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Movie-Vault.com (David Trier)
MovieEye.com (David Litton)
It's Thanksgiving Day in New York City, where 21-year-old April Burns (Katie Holmes) has just awakened to a morning of stuffing the turkey and pulling cranberry sauce from the can. This year, she's been enlisted by her father (Oliver Platt) to prepare ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at MovieEye.com (David Litton)
The World's Greatest Critic! (J.C. Maçek III)
It's hard to say what might get you to see this film about the Thanksgiving that nobody wants that has a whole lot of everything going wrong! At least, there's not much I can tell you that won't simply ruin some of the most fun of this film! I can tell ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at The World's Greatest Critic! (J.C. Maçek III)
Movie House Fawning Commentary
Peter Hedges has long wanted to be a film director. Previously lacking the immediate opportunity to take the helm, he carved himself an alternate career as a writer. He wrote both the novel and the screenplay behind "What's Eating Gilbert Grape." He also ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Movie House Fawning Commentary
Zertinet Movies Review
Why are so many filmmakers afraid of making something believable? Action films, epics, thrillers, comedies â they are often so far-fetched and stupid that viewers canât forget they are watching an idiotic movie, much less become emotionally involved. ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Zertinet Movies Review
Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
We think we have escaped home but we remain under the family spell. It often ambushes us on holidays when old images, feelings, fond moments, and grievances come back into our consciousness. We can never toss it out or hide it away in a closet. Family ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Spirituality & Health (Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat)
Salon.com (Stephanie Zacharek)
Although Pieces of April doesn't quite stick together as a whole -- in some places it's conventional and a bit contrived, particularly the ending, which feels rushed and a little tough to buy -- Hedges peppers it with enough wonderful moments that you ...read the complete Pieces of April movie review at Salon.com (Stephanie Zacharek)
Citysearch (Bill Pearis)