In The Cake Eaters we have essentially three stories swirling about, involving two families in a sleepy upstate New York town. The Kimbrough family, which just suffered the loss of its matriarch, is involved in all three, with dad Easy (Bruce Dern) trying to culminate a long-term affair with grandma Kaminski (Elizabeth Ashley), son Guy just returned home to try to put his life together, and youngest son Beagle being introduced to sex by Ashley's granddaughter Georgia Kaminski (Kristen Stewart), a pretty young girl who suffers from a terminal muscular disease.
First-time director Mary Stuart Masterson shows a real flare for allowing her story to be related by the characters. She can show a wealth of revelations in brief scenes with no dialog - she allows the camera and the players to tell the tale. Masterson may become a recognized director if she continues along these lines.
It is no surprise that Dern and Ashley can act. All supporting cast members are actually first rate. But the real shocker here is Kristen Stewart as the afflicted Georgia, pressing to achieve experiences, including sexual experience, while she can. This actress is no Hollywood cupcake! This is, in my humble opinion, an Oscar-worthy performance. And, given the Academy's predilection for roles featuring challenged characters (ala Rain Man, Ray, My Left foot, etc.), it is a wonder that this great acting job went unnoticed. However, the delayed release of this Indy picture may have foiled that. Thumbs way, way up for Kristen Stewart.
The only reason I did not give the entire ten stars is that at 87 minutes, I think Masterson could have padded out the ending a bit longer; I did not want it to end. Recommended!
First-time director Mary Stuart Masterson shows a real flare for allowing her story to be related by the characters. She can show a wealth of revelations in brief scenes with no dialog - she allows the camera and the players to tell the tale. Masterson may become a recognized director if she continues along these lines.
It is no surprise that Dern and Ashley can act. All supporting cast members are actually first rate. But the real shocker here is Kristen Stewart as the afflicted Georgia, pressing to achieve experiences, including sexual experience, while she can. This actress is no Hollywood cupcake! This is, in my humble opinion, an Oscar-worthy performance. And, given the Academy's predilection for roles featuring challenged characters (ala Rain Man, Ray, My Left foot, etc.), it is a wonder that this great acting job went unnoticed. However, the delayed release of this Indy picture may have foiled that. Thumbs way, way up for Kristen Stewart.
The only reason I did not give the entire ten stars is that at 87 minutes, I think Masterson could have padded out the ending a bit longer; I did not want it to end. Recommended!