Alison Bagnall Movies
- 2009
Independent filmmaker Joe Swanberg (Hannah Takes the Stairs, Nights and Weekends) writes, directs, and produces this intimate marriage drama focusing on the troubled union of an artistic young couple. As temptations both sexual and creative in nature challenge the couple's monogamous relationship, the facade of happiness fades to reveal the hardships of modern marriage. Jess Weixler, Justin Rice, and Jane Adams star. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jess Weixler, Justin Rice, (more)
- 2008
- NR
Two people who fall in love while separated by 800 miles find it's hard to stay friends while living in the same city in this low-key independent drama. James (Joe Swanberg) and Mattie (Greta Gerwig) are in love and trying to make their relationship work. But James lives and works in Chicago, while Mattie calls New York home, and though they try to visit one another as often as they can, their infrequent weekends together are punctuated by telephone calls, e-mails, on-line chatting, and sending digital pictures back and forth. As much as Mattie cares for James, in time the space between them is too much to deal with and they break up. Twelve months later, James' career as a video-game designer is taking off, and a new project necessitates a move to New York City; while they're no longer lovers, he tries to reconnect with Mattie, though his recent success has added a new and uncomfortable element to their relationship. Joe Swanberg and Greta Gerwig wrote, directed, and produced Nights and Weekends as well as playing the two leads; the film received its world premiere at the 2008 South by Southwest Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Greta Gerwig, Joe Swanberg, (more)
- 2003
A strange teenager becomes obsessed with a man who has a dangerous past in this independent drama. Fannie (Savannah Haske) is a slow-witted young woman living with her father (Robert John Burke) on a small farm in upstate New York. Fannie's only friends are her pet pig and an elderly woman who she tends to after a fashion, but Fannie wants to have a boyfriend, and often writes clumsy songs about the subject that she performs for the benefit of her cassette recorder. Nile (Dean Wareham) is a second-rate rock musician with a drug habit who moves in next door to the old woman; Fannie is immediately smitten with him, and follows him constantly until he agrees to go out on a date. But Nile makes no secret of his disinterest in Fannie, and ditches her for another woman before the end of the evening. As Fannie wonders how to win Nile's affection, the musician is confronted by a small-time gangster (John C. Reilly) who has some old business with Nile. Piggie was the first directorial credit for Alison Bagnall, who co-authored the screenplay for the cult favorite Buffalo '66. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Savannah Haske, Dean Wareham, (more)
Actor Vincent Gallo (The Funeral, Palookaville) made his feature directorial debut with this drama about convict Billy Brown (Gallo), released after half a decade spent behind bars. Drifting into downtown Buffalo, Billy kidnaps teen Layla (Christina Ricci) and has her pose as his loving wife when he visits his parents (Ben Gazzara and Anjelica Huston). Layla praises him and goes along with his fanciful tale that they met at CIA headquarters, where they both worked. Mom and dad not only fall for this, they are entranced by Layla, who soon begins to embellish her act. When she claims to be pregnant by Billy, he hustles her out to a bowling alley and on to a restaurant, where they run into trampy Wendy (Rosanna Arquette), who might be Billy's former girlfriend. Eventually, Billy seems ready to track down and kill the person he feels was responsible for his five years in the slammer. Shown at the 1998 Sundance Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci, (more)
