Chanced upon this in Maltin - sometimes it's worth reading a film guide from beginning to end. A film , led by a marvellous performance from Gena Rowlands, about a woman who starts to care for the son of a wayward neighbour. How they got the natural performance out of the boy, Jake Lloyd, I do not know, though would guess a lot of what Gena says is unscripted, thus his reactions genuine. Marisa Tomei is the mother, David Thornton her unstable boyfriend, David Sherrill Gena's son, Bridgette Wilson-Sampras his wife, and Moira Kelly her daughter. With Gerard Depardieu as a truck driver.
What is great about Nick and Helen Caldwell's screen play is that it doesn't go where you think it will. Loved the scene in the rain, for example, where the drunk boyfriend doesn't create a scene but talks moderately through the closed front door.
Both the production designer and director of photography are Phedon Papamichael, though believe it or not, not the same Phedon Papamichael! The former had a long association with John Cassavetes; the latter known for his association with Alexander Payne.
A little gem.
Ms. Rowlands will be 94 in June.
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