The gravity and substance in this trailer for the upcoming indie drama Welcome to the Rileys really stands out for me. The film, which debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival stars an unlikely pair. Twilight‘s Kristen Stewart and The Soprano’s star James Gandolfini carry the emotional picture about a man (Gandolfini) grappling with the death of his daughter and a troubled marriage fizzling in the tragedy’s aftermath. He meets Stewart’s rough around the edges Mallory, a 16 year old prostitute and stripper. When the man’s wife gives their life together a second chance, she becomes taken with Mallory’s resemblance to their deceased child. Can an unusual friendship drown out all the negative baggage of their lives? What dark secret does actress Melissa Leo’s Lois (the wife) hold about her daughter’s passing? Leo and Stewart worked once before in The Cake Eaters. The human condition seems definitely explored and celebrated in Welcome to the Rileys, which is set in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Of the cast, Roger Ebert had this to say, “Gandolfini demonstrates that although he may not be conventionally handsome, when he smiles his face bathes you in the urge to like him. Kristen Stewart here is tougher even than her punk rocker in ‘The Runaways.’ Who knew she had these notes? I’m discovering an important new actress.” USA Today commented, “Those who prefer [Stewart] only as Twilight‘s lovestruck Bella may be shocked, while others who know her more nuanced work in films such as Adventureland will see a fearless new side of the actress confirmed. . . . Stewart deserves credit for taking the risk of playing this part. It’s a shockingly sexual performance…” BSC recently reported that Kristen Stewart wants Wanted (the sequel). We’ve also got a review of Twilight Saga: Eclipse.
