Anne Chaisson Movies
In the years before the Hamptons became the ultimate Long Island destination, two generations of clam diggers work the land and struggle to make sense of the changes that threaten to forever transform their simple way of life. The year is 1976, and the future Long Island vacationing hotspot is little more than a tight-knit community of hard-living folks who make their living from the sea. While the impending presidential race between Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter has the entire country swept up in the wind of change, the local Hamptons clam diggers begin waging a losing battle against the wealthy developers who are gradually encroaching on their waters. Hunt (Paul Rudd) is a restless and imaginative digger who comes from a long line of hardworking seafarers and has a keen eye for black-and-white photography. When Hunt's father suddenly dies, Hunt and his lifelong pals Frankie (Ken Marino), Jack (Ron Eldard), and Cons (Josh Hamilton) slowly begin to take stock of their modest lives. Meanwhile, as Hunt's recently divorced older sister, Gina (Maura Tierney), struggles to get by while working as a waitress at a local diner, Hunt himself enters into a playfully flirtatious relationship with vacationing Manhattanite Zoe (Lauren Ambrose). Constantly questioning why Hunt refuses to venture out of his dead-end town in favor of pursuing his artistic talents in the big city, Zoe serves as a persistent reminder that one is not always necessarily bound by his or her roots. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Rudd, Lauren Ambrose, (more)
- 2006
Matthew Ross helms the 12-minute short feature Lola. The picture opens on Curtis (Daniel Sauli), a young man whose broken leg confines him to a ratty Brooklyn walk-up apartment on a busy Manhattan evening. He'd certainly rather join his girlfriend Lola (Cordelia Reynolds) for a night on the town, but circumstances make this impossible. Lola claims she's heading out to spend time with relatives and family friends, when - unbeknownst to Curtis - she is actually testing her own ability to remain faithful by dining with Alan (Dean Wareham), a novelist and womanizer. Unfortunately, as the night rolls on, events soon spiral out of control for Lola, and she finds herself in deep trouble. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Daniel Sauli, Cordelia Reynolds, (more)
Directed by Dylan Kidd, P.S. follows Louise Harrington (Laura Linney), a divorcee who works in Columbia University's School of Fine Arts and at first glance seems utterly satisfied with her life. The thirties-odd woman has found success in the workplace, is respected among her peers, and is fairly confident in her own abilities -- yet, she can't help but feel something is missing. When she arranges to interview a prospective student at least 15 years younger than she is, she's shocked to find out he is the spitting image of her high-school sweetheart, an artist who had died in a tragic car accident before they graduated. After the interview, Louise and Scott (Topher Grace) waste no time before getting romantically involved. Their motives aren't entirely clear -- Louise may be longing for her former flame, while Scott could be trying to assure himself a position in the Ivy League by whatever means necessary -- but that doesn't stop them. Elsewhere, Missy (Marcia Gay Harden), Louise's best friend from high school makes a play for Scott herself. Complicating issues further is the looming presence of Peter (Gabriel Byrne), Louise's ex-husband, and her recently sober brother (Paul Rudd). ~ Tracie Cooper, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Laura Linney, Topher Grace, (more)
Writer/director Dylan Kidd got a chance to make his script for Roger Dodger into a feature film when he boldly approached Campbell Scott in a café in Greenwich Village and made his pitch. Eventually, Scott would agree to executive produce and star in the film, and was responsible for bringing Jennifer Beals and Isabella Rossellini onboard. Scott stars as the eponymous Roger, a successful New York ad man and self-proclaimed master of reading and manipulating women. The film begins with Roger out for drinks with his co-workers and demonstrating his verbal gifts. "Words are my stock in trade," he explains as he expounds. But he soon learns that his boss, Joyce (Rossellini), wants to end their clandestine sexual relationship. Roger gets another shock when his teenaged nephew, Nick (Jesse Eisenberg of TV's Get Real), shows up unannounced the next day at his job. Nick explains that he's in town for an interview at Columbia and soon admits that he wants Roger to take him out and give him a crash course on women. Soon the pair is out carousing, but when they run into the lovely Andrea (Elizabeth Berkley) and her friend, Sophie (Jennifer Beals), Roger discovers that despite Nick's sexual desperation, the teen is temperamentally unsuited to Roger's transparent womanizing mode of operation. In short, Nick is a sweet, open, and sensitive boy, while Roger proves himself to be a misogynist pig. Their differences grow even starker when Roger decides to crash a party Joyce is throwing that night, and brings Nick along. Roger Dodger was named the Best Narrative Feature in competition at the 2002 Tribeca Film Festival. ~ Josh Ralske, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Campbell Scott, Jesse Eisenberg, (more)
- 1997
Ken Hamm wrote and directed this romantic comedy set in Manhattan. Former small-town gal Mona (Cara Wall) works as an assistant researcher at a magazine and hopes for publication of her poetry. Mona lives in the East Village, next door to artist Leonard (Michael Ringer), who works as a dishwasher. Will they meet? Filmed in New York and Boston. Shown at the 1997 Mill Valley Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael Ringer, Cara Wall, (more)
