PLEASE GIVE
Catherine Keener and Oliver Platt star in Nicole Holofcener’s latest
PLEASE GIVE (Nicole Holofcener, 2010)
www.sonyclassics.com/pleasegive
Writer-director Nicole Holofcener’s PLEASE GIVE is a nearly flawless portrait of a couple of quirky New York City families who come together in strange, awkward ways. Kate (Catherine Keener) and Alex (Oliver Platt) resell furniture they buy from the relatives of the recently deceased; they are particularly eager for the old lady next door, Andra (Ann Guilbert, Millie Helper from THE DICK VAN DYKE SHOW), to pass on so they can knock down the walls and expand their own apartment. Sweet and innocent Rebecca (Rebecca Hall), a mammogram technician, has sacrificed any personal life she might have by taking care of her grandmother despite Andra’s nasty, mean-spirited nature. Rebecca’s sister, Mary (Amanda Peet), who gives facials at a beauty salon, doesn’t seem to care that Andra’s about to kick the bucket and isn’t afraid to say that to her face. And Abby (Sarah Steele), Kate and Alex’s teen daughter, is furious that her mother won’t buy her expensive jeans yet constantly hands out plenty of money to neighborhood bums and a local transvestite. Holofcener (WALKING AND TALKING, LOVELY & AMAZING) has a great ear for dialogue and an innate sense of creating realistic, believable situations, nailing each character’s dilemmas as their stories all converge. The central focus is on Kate, who desperately wants to make the world a better place but is having difficulty figuring just how she might be able to do that, continually seeking volunteer opportunities that end up being just too painful for her. PLEASE GIVE is a wonderful, engaging film that will be especially endearing for New York City audiences.
RED RIDING TRILOGY
British trilogy will get special screening at IFC Center
RED RIDING — 1974 (Julian Jarrold, 2009)
RED RIDING — 1980 (James Marsh, 2009)
RED RIDING — 1983 (Anand Tucker, 2009)
IFC Center
323 Sixth Ave. at West Third St.
212-924-7771
www.ifccenter.com
www.channel4.com
Based on four novels written by British author David Peace (THE DAMNED UNITED), the RED RIDING TRILOGY is an epic crime noir set against the hunt for the Yorkshire Ripper, a series of murders that took place in England in the 1970s. The first part, RED RIDING — 1970, directed by Julian Jarrold (BRIDESHEAD REVISITED), follows hotshot reporter Eddie Dunford (Andrew Garfield) as he returns home after an unsuccessful attempt at making a name for himself in the big city. Dunford is investigating the disappearance of several young girls, but he soon gets in too deep, uncovering rampant police corruption, falling for one of the victim’s mothers (Rebecca Hall), and battling powerful businessman John Dawson (Sean Bean), who will stop at nothing to build the area’s first giant shopping complex. The second film, directed by James Marsh (MAN ON WIRE), moves the action to 1980, as Manchester detective Peter Hunter (Paddy Considine) is summoned to help capture the Yorkshire Ripper. Trying to put his past behind him, Hunter immediately finds himself up against the local police, particularly Bob Craven (Sean Harris), who is hiding a dark secret. The third film, directed by Anand Tucker (HILARY AND JACKIE), heads forward in time to 1983, as Maurice Jobson (David Morrissey) begins to question his involvement in the corruption and cover-up and ragged lawyer John Piggott (Mark Addy) believes they might have convicted the wrong man.
Sean Bean plays a critical role as corrupt businessman in crime trilogy
Written by Tony Grisoni (FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS), the RED RIDING TRILOGY is a moody, gripping thriller that is part SERPICO, part THE WIRE, part INFERNAL AFFAIRS, with the first film focused on journalism, the second on police procedures, and the third on the law. Although each film — originally made for British television with an eye for international release — can stand on its own, there are recurring characters and overlapping story lines, and the dark, foreboding atmosphere haunts all three works. Despite being made by different directors, the films flow seamlessly into one other and are best seen back to back to back. With that in mind, the IFC Center will be screening the whole series fourteen times from February 5 to 11, beginning each day at 1:00 and 7:00, unfurling this Special Roadshow Edition of the five-hour trilogy for a special price of $25 that comes with a collectors program, free popcorn, two intermissions, and no commercials or trailers. Starting February 12, the films will be shown individually, with separate admissions.
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