ways. It is a story of a husband and wife who lost the teenage
daughter to a tragic car accident and who in turn cope about the loss
in different ways - the husband, played by James Gandolfini, is in
denial - and the wife played by Melissa Leo, becomes a recluse not
ever leaving her house. Gandolfini has a mistress who we breifly see
until she has a heart attack and dies triggerig Gandolfini to visit
the cemetery where she is burried and subsequently visits his
daughters grave. At the grave site, he notices his wife reserved a
plot adjacent and sees his name alongside hers which causes a
breakdown. He goes the next day for a convention in new orleans where
he meets a teenage runaway stripper, played by Kristin Stewart, and
much to Stewarts chagrin decides he wants to stay and help her - the
audience making the connection that she is a replacement for his dead
daughter. Gandolfini treats her with love and tries to teach her like
a father would. All the while Stewart acts like the victimized runaway
whose only power in life is tied to her sexuality - until that starts
being questioned by abusive johns. Gandolfinis shut In wife ventures
out an takes a road trip to new Orleans because she loves him and
doesn't want to lose him. The thoughts she must have has when finding
out her husband is stayig with a stripper child are quite transparent
when he introduces them. Quickly though both end up being surrogate
parents while trying to make Stewarts character something she is not.
Eventually Stewart is arrested an bailed out only to run away saying
basically "I'm not your daughter you can't raise me like her". The
husband and wife return to their home with new life after realizing
they cannot replace their daughter. This story is a transformative one
for both characters - they each become reborn by the end - and it is
satisfying to see this. This is a repeat movie for me and very
motivating to help someone who cannot help themselves. I highly
recommend this movie and place it in the same realm of excellence as
this yeas Get Low I terms of drama and style. Four stars!
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