MovieSet Spotlight Top-notch ensemble cast led by Robin Wright Penn and Alan Arkin in a relationship-based drama co-produced by Brad Pitt. ‘The Private Lives of Pippa Lee‘ is in theaters November 27th, 2009 and features Keanu Reeves, Maria Bello, Winona Ryder and Blake Lively.
Synopsis At fifty, Pippa Lee positively glows with female serenity, the devoted wife of a brilliant publisher thirty years her senior, proud mother of successful twins and a lovely and adored friend and neighbor. But, when her husband spontaneously decides that they should leave New York for a retirement home as a “pre-emptive strike against decrepitude,” and has an affair with someone even younger than she is, Pippa finds her beatific persona unraveling in alarming ways. The truth is, the gracious woman of the present day has seen more than her fair share of the wild side. She has finally found love and security in a family of her own.
Synopsis At fifty, Pippa Lee positively glows with female serenity, the devoted wife of a brilliant publisher thirty years her senior, proud mother of successful twins and a lovely and adored friend and neighbor. But, when her husband spontaneously decides that they should leave New York for a retirement home as a “pre-emptive strike against decrepitude,” and has an affair with someone even younger than she is, Pippa finds her beatific persona unraveling in alarming ways. The truth is, the gracious woman of the present day has seen more than her fair share of the wild side. She has finally found love and security in a family of her own.
- 9/18/2009
- by Dave
- MovieSet.com
While "Bread and Roses" marks his first time filming on American soil, Cannes favorite Ken Loach ("My Name Is Joe", "Raining Stones") nevertheless finds himself right at home with subject matter that once again deals with the plight of the struggling working class.
Given that the group in question happens to be Los Angeles office cleaners who fight for unionization, the drama certainly has a ripped-from-the-headlines resonance for Angelenos who recently witnessed a protracted, disruptive janitors' strike played out in nightly newscasts.
Others should find the David vs. Goliath story equally involving and often moving despite some overly didactic passages, while screen newcomer Pilar Padilla makes a strong impression as the film's fiercely spirited lead.
Loach's film begins literally cutting to the chase as a group of illegal Mexican immigrants are being smuggled across the border by abusive "coyotes" who separate them from their children and loved ones until they pay their transport fees in full.
Among them is young, feisty Maya (Padilla) whose similarly strong-willed, naturalized sister Rosa (Elpidia Carrillo) gets her a job as a cleaner for Angel, a nonunion janitorial company assigned to a downtown office block.
Composed of mainly Latino immigrants, legal and otherwise, the cleaners work long hours for scant pay and zero benefits while also having to put up with constant threats from their intimidating supervisor, Perez (George Lopez).
Enter Sam Shapiro (Adrien Brody), an energetic activist with a healthy sense of mischief who ultimately manages to make the workers see the union light despite Perez and his various scare tactics.
Sam also ignites a little spark between himself and Maya, much to the displeasure of her admiring co-worker, Ruben (Alonso Chavez), who fears that any unnecessary boat-rocking will jeopardize his shot of getting a college grant.
But just in case the above scenario might suggest "Norma Reyes", it should be pointed out that Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty, who also collaborated with the filmmaker on "Carla's Song", offer no pat, crowd-pleasing resolutions.
Instead they serve up the bittersweet slices of marginalized life for which Loach is famous. He's also known for casts that combine seasoned professionals with fresh acting talent and authentic nonpros with convincing results.
The major find here is Mexican theater actress Padilla, who effectively gives the picture its spunky soul.
Good, too, are lanky Brody as the wave-making labor crusader, Carrillo as Maya's sacrificing sister and stand-up comic Lopez as their bullying boss.
Behind the scenes, Loach and his frequent collaborators again eschew fancy footwork in favor of an organic, verite approach that keeps the camera at eye-level and the lighting natural, allowing the players to do their thing without having to worry about hitting their technical marks.
The result might not always be pretty, but it's seldom uneventful.
BREAD AND ROSES
A Parallax Pictures, Road Movies Filmproduktion and Tornasol/Alta Films production
Director: Ken Loach
Producer: Rebecca O'Brien
Executive producer: Ulrich Felsberg
Screenwriter: Paul Laverty
Director of photography:
Barry Ackroyd
Production designer: Martin Johnson
Editor: Jonathan Morris
Music: George Fenton
Cast:
Maya: Pilar Padilla
Sam: Adrien Brody
Rosa: Elpidia Carrillo
Perez: George Lopez
Ruben: Alonso Chavez
Running time -- 110 minutes...
Given that the group in question happens to be Los Angeles office cleaners who fight for unionization, the drama certainly has a ripped-from-the-headlines resonance for Angelenos who recently witnessed a protracted, disruptive janitors' strike played out in nightly newscasts.
Others should find the David vs. Goliath story equally involving and often moving despite some overly didactic passages, while screen newcomer Pilar Padilla makes a strong impression as the film's fiercely spirited lead.
Loach's film begins literally cutting to the chase as a group of illegal Mexican immigrants are being smuggled across the border by abusive "coyotes" who separate them from their children and loved ones until they pay their transport fees in full.
Among them is young, feisty Maya (Padilla) whose similarly strong-willed, naturalized sister Rosa (Elpidia Carrillo) gets her a job as a cleaner for Angel, a nonunion janitorial company assigned to a downtown office block.
Composed of mainly Latino immigrants, legal and otherwise, the cleaners work long hours for scant pay and zero benefits while also having to put up with constant threats from their intimidating supervisor, Perez (George Lopez).
Enter Sam Shapiro (Adrien Brody), an energetic activist with a healthy sense of mischief who ultimately manages to make the workers see the union light despite Perez and his various scare tactics.
Sam also ignites a little spark between himself and Maya, much to the displeasure of her admiring co-worker, Ruben (Alonso Chavez), who fears that any unnecessary boat-rocking will jeopardize his shot of getting a college grant.
But just in case the above scenario might suggest "Norma Reyes", it should be pointed out that Loach and screenwriter Paul Laverty, who also collaborated with the filmmaker on "Carla's Song", offer no pat, crowd-pleasing resolutions.
Instead they serve up the bittersweet slices of marginalized life for which Loach is famous. He's also known for casts that combine seasoned professionals with fresh acting talent and authentic nonpros with convincing results.
The major find here is Mexican theater actress Padilla, who effectively gives the picture its spunky soul.
Good, too, are lanky Brody as the wave-making labor crusader, Carrillo as Maya's sacrificing sister and stand-up comic Lopez as their bullying boss.
Behind the scenes, Loach and his frequent collaborators again eschew fancy footwork in favor of an organic, verite approach that keeps the camera at eye-level and the lighting natural, allowing the players to do their thing without having to worry about hitting their technical marks.
The result might not always be pretty, but it's seldom uneventful.
BREAD AND ROSES
A Parallax Pictures, Road Movies Filmproduktion and Tornasol/Alta Films production
Director: Ken Loach
Producer: Rebecca O'Brien
Executive producer: Ulrich Felsberg
Screenwriter: Paul Laverty
Director of photography:
Barry Ackroyd
Production designer: Martin Johnson
Editor: Jonathan Morris
Music: George Fenton
Cast:
Maya: Pilar Padilla
Sam: Adrien Brody
Rosa: Elpidia Carrillo
Perez: George Lopez
Ruben: Alonso Chavez
Running time -- 110 minutes...
- 5/12/2000
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.