Welcome to the Rileys (2010)

This is a great family drama. The story says that middle-aged man survives the death of his daughter and the emotional attachment to a young prostitute, whom he wants to help. I can understand their feelings. From personal experience, I know what death of close person bring to marriage. Alienation, misunderstanding, resentment. I've lost stepdaughter, and I know for these feelings ,as they appear in the film. His need for saving a young person, who went on the wrong path ,is natural. He blame himself and his wife for the death of their daughter, and now,trying to improve himself by helping a young girl. On the other hand, her binding to these people is also natural,despite the dissolute life that she leads , in her soul , she feels the need for family, safe house, and this is the thread that bound them. For me, film is not excessive in feelings. And the end is excellent, everyone in the story realized what is reality.

In Indianapolis, Douglas Lloyd 'Doug' Riley (James Gandolfini) and Lois Riley (Melissa Leo) are a estranged couple married for almost thirty years that grieves the loss of their fifteen year-old daughter Emily. Doug is a well succeeded businessman in plumbing business that likes to play poker every Thursday with his friend and to meet his mistress, the waitress Vivian (Eisa Davis), after the game. Lois is agoraphobic, takes many pills and does not have sex with Doug. When Vivian unexpectedly has a heart attack and dies, Doug goes to the cemetery and finds a tombstone that Lois has ordered with her and his names. This is the last straw in their relationship and Doug travels to a plumbing conference in New Orleans feeling lost. Doug is wandering on the streets and stumbles with a nightclub. The young stripper and prostitute Mallory (Kristen Stewart) invites Doug to a private lap dance and when he see his acquaintances from the conference in the nightclub, he accepts her invitation to hide from them but he does not have sex with the teenager. There is an incident but then he takes Mallory home and decides to stay in her derelict house to help her. Doug calls Lois and tells to her that he would stay in New Orleans for a while. Lois decides to drive to New Orleans in Doug's car and he introduces her to Mallory, whose real name is Allison. The couple projects Emily in Allison, but is there still hope or is it too late for Allison and themselves? "Welcome to the Rileys" is a family drama supported by the magnificent Kristen Stewart, James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo. Kristen Stewart is an actress that seems to be tailored to indie movies. The screenplay discloses the past events that have separated Doug and Lois to the viewer piece by piece. The story could have been of second chance in life and redemption, but the writer Ken Hixon chooses a more realistic conclusion but leaving some hope. My vote is seven.Title (Brazil): "Corações Perdidos" ("Lost Hearts")

I thoroughly enjoyed this little indie drama. However, given the subject material, perhaps "enjoyed" is the wrong word. The cast: Stewart, Gandolfini, and Leo were all more than believable and often heart wrenching in their roles. Kristen Stewart's portrayal as Mallory is very touching and authentic. She played flighty and wary to perfection and never let Doug (James Gandolfini) or the audience forget that at the root, she is a good person who's been damaged. Gandolfini played the watchful friend of Mallory's and the good influence who's still reconciling with his own personal grief, irritation, and depression with aplomb. Melissa Leo's Lois is amazing with her conveying the character's reaction to the aforementioned grief. The three of them could be a believable and nice little nuclear family had their been different circumstances in the film. All in all, director Jake Scott's second feature set in New Orleans is a sadly overlooked independent film, despite it's debut at the Sundance Film Festival. "Welcome to the Rileys" is not a perfect film and is flawed, but the plot and the acting are not among them.

This is a fantastic movie! Kristen Stewart and James did an amazing job and this movie made me really think about the effect you can have on someone's life. James and Kristen had a really good connection and i feel like the director showed very well the reality of how some people live and the things they will do to live. I continue to think about this movie even after months of watching it...which I love. This movie was very well put together and all the actors did great. I now really want to go and visit New Orleans. I encourage everyone to see this movie. It is one of the best movies I have ever seen and one I will never forget! It has a little bit of everything,an all around great movie.