Unhook the Stars

Directed by Nick Cassavetes, Unhook the Stars follows Gena Rowland’s Mildred as she agrees to look after the young son (Jake Lloyd’s J.J.) of a flighty neighbor (Marisa Tomei’s Monica). First-time filmmaker Cassavetes delivers a quiet, gentle drama that benefits from its raft of above-average performances, and there’s little doubt, certainly, that the movie’s periodic lulls are generally offset by the top-tier efforts of stars Rowland and Tomei – with the actresses’ engrossing work matched by such talented periphery players as Gérard Depardieu, Moira Kelly, and David Thornton. And while the picture never quite becomes as enthralling as one might’ve hoped, with this vibe perpetuated by a continuing emphasis on elements and digressions of a questionable nature, Unhook the Stars, which ultimately comes off as a subdued slice-of-life character study, builds towards a satisfying final stretch that admittedly does pack a fairly pronounced emotional punch – with the end result a mostly stirring endeavor that perhaps leaves just a little too much unsaid (eg why is Kelly’s character so violently angry at her mother?)

*** out of ****