Themes: Golden Years, Unlikely Friendships, Single Parents
Main Cast: Tom Proctor, Gena Rowlands, Marisa Tomei, Gérard Depardieu, Jake Lloyd, Moira Kelly
Release Year: 1996
Country: US
Run Time: 103 minutes
MPAA Rating: R
Plot
The great overlooked actress Gena Rowlands was cast in the starring role of Mildred in this film directed by her son, Nick Cassavetes. Rowlands appeared in several of John Cassavetes's remarkable films, notably A Woman Under the Influence. Mildred is a wealthy widow who lives with her daughter Ann Mary Margaret (Moira Kelly), who is constantly angry with her. Ann Mary moves out, and the void in Mildred's life is soon filled when she takes over babysitting J.J. (Jake Lloyd, the future young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace). J.J. is the son of neighbor Monica (Marisa Tomei), who needs someone to watch him because she has taken a job after being abandoned by her abusive husband Frankie (David Sherrill). Mildred becomes J.J.'s surrogate mother, doting on him. One night, Monica takes Mildred to a local bar, where they meet a Canadian trucker named Big Tommy (Gerard Depardieu). Big Tommy turns out to be a sweet guy with a yen for older women, and a romance begins between the two of them. ~ Michael Betzold, All Movie Guide
David Sherrill - Ethan; David Thornton - Frankie; Tom Proctor - Duncan
Credit
Nick Cassavetes - Director, Phedon Papamichael - Cinematographer, René Cleitman - Producer, Nick Cassavetes - Screenwriter, Helen Caldwell - Screenwriter
Unhook the Stars is a 1996drama film starring Gena Rowlands, Marisa Tomei, and Jake Lloyd. The movie was directed by Nick Cassavetes, son of Gena Rowlands. Rowlands and Tomei both received SAG Award nominations for their performances. Filmed in the Sugarhouse neighborhood of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Rowlands plays Mildred, an older woman whose troubled twentysomething daughter, Annie (Moira Kelly), has just left home. Shortly after Annie leaves, Mildred befriends Monica (Tomei), a single mother from across the street, and Mildred eventually finds herself babysitter of Monica's young son, J.J. (Lloyd). Throughout the film, Monica and J.J. inadvertently teach Mildred valuable life lessons about herself and her relationships with others.
