Those who have followed all the behind-the-scenes histrionics documented on HBO's "Project Greenlight" series will likely find the end product to be a much kinder, gentler picture than anticipated.
A sweetly benign slice-of-life period piece that tells of a friendship between a Catholic schoolboy on a mission and the 7-year-old rabbi's son he's determined to convert, the family-friendly film begins promisingly with some nicely observed bits of comedy before drifting permanently into the kind of heavier message mode that would have made for the ideal after-school special.
Or is that after-Sunday-school special?
Either way, this first feature by native Chicagoan Pete Jones is harmless enough (and budgeted low enough) for Miramax to benefit from a substantial widening beyond this weekend's initial four-city release.
The first winner of the Project Greenlight competition co-sponsored by Miramax, HBO, LivePlanet (whose principals include Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris Moore) and Sam Adams, "Stolen Summer" is set in Chicago circa 1976 when shag carpeting and plaid bell-bottoms still reigned supreme.
It's the last day of school, and rambunctious Pete O'Malley (Adi Stein) has been given an ultimatum by his habit-wearing teacher -- to either shape up over the summer or find himself well along the path to eternal damnation by September.
Because his firefighter dad (Aidan Quinn) and his full-time mom (Bonnie Hunt) have their own problems to deal with, including his five brothers and sisters, Pete takes it upon himself to go on a soul-saving quest.
Setting up shop outside a synagogue, he offers a free glass of lemonade and a free trip to heaven to anyone wishing to see the light. Despite some hesitant encouragement from Rabbi Jacobsen (Kevin Pollak), Pete isn't finding any takers, but he does strike up a friendship with the rabbi's little boy, Danny (Mike Weinberg).
It turns out Danny has leukemia, and although he's in remission, Pete realizes there's no time to waste in ensuring he makes it through the Pearly Gates.
On the surface, the "Stolen Summer" script has much in common with "Good Will Hunting". Both trade in themes of loyalty and friendship rooted in heavily working-class communities. But while Gus Van Sant was able to steer the latter away from most of its softer edges, Jones' inexperience as a director is all too apparent.
While he obviously knows of what he writes, much of the film's initial period color and amusing characterizations are abruptly pushed aside to make room for the ensuing drama, and the storytelling never fully recovers from the stiff staging of the more serious stuff.
In front of the camera, Quinn and the always-welcome Hunt, both Chicago natives, make for a highly credible parental unit. Pollak also does some fine work as does, in a lesser role, Brian Dennehy as Pollak's ecclesiastical counterpart, the bemused Father Kelly.
As the two young friends who teach the grown-ups a thing or two about tolerance, Stein and Weinberg are certainly cute, though Haley Joel Osment won't be losing any sleep over their cable-ready performances.
Creating the illusion of a bigger budget are production designer Devorah Herbert ("The Fluffer") and costume designer Stacy Ellen Rich, whose evocation of all things '70s is disturbingly authentic.
STOLEN SUMMER
Miramax
Miramax Fims presents
a LivePlanet production
Director-screenwriter: Pete Jones
Producers: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore
Executive producers: Pat Peach, Michelle Sy
Director of photography: Pete Biagi
Production designer: Devorah Herbert
Editor: Gregg Featherman
Costume designer: Stacy Ellen Rich
Music: Danny Lux
Color/stereo
Cast:
Joe O'Malley: Aidan Quinn
Margaret O'Malley: Bonnie Hunt
Rabbi Jacobsen: Kevin Pollak
Patrick O'Malley: Eddie Kaye Thomas
Pete O'Malley: Adi Stein
Danny Jacobsen: Mike Weinberg
Father Kelly: Brian Dennehy
Running time -- 92 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
A sweetly benign slice-of-life period piece that tells of a friendship between a Catholic schoolboy on a mission and the 7-year-old rabbi's son he's determined to convert, the family-friendly film begins promisingly with some nicely observed bits of comedy before drifting permanently into the kind of heavier message mode that would have made for the ideal after-school special.
Or is that after-Sunday-school special?
Either way, this first feature by native Chicagoan Pete Jones is harmless enough (and budgeted low enough) for Miramax to benefit from a substantial widening beyond this weekend's initial four-city release.
The first winner of the Project Greenlight competition co-sponsored by Miramax, HBO, LivePlanet (whose principals include Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Chris Moore) and Sam Adams, "Stolen Summer" is set in Chicago circa 1976 when shag carpeting and plaid bell-bottoms still reigned supreme.
It's the last day of school, and rambunctious Pete O'Malley (Adi Stein) has been given an ultimatum by his habit-wearing teacher -- to either shape up over the summer or find himself well along the path to eternal damnation by September.
Because his firefighter dad (Aidan Quinn) and his full-time mom (Bonnie Hunt) have their own problems to deal with, including his five brothers and sisters, Pete takes it upon himself to go on a soul-saving quest.
Setting up shop outside a synagogue, he offers a free glass of lemonade and a free trip to heaven to anyone wishing to see the light. Despite some hesitant encouragement from Rabbi Jacobsen (Kevin Pollak), Pete isn't finding any takers, but he does strike up a friendship with the rabbi's little boy, Danny (Mike Weinberg).
It turns out Danny has leukemia, and although he's in remission, Pete realizes there's no time to waste in ensuring he makes it through the Pearly Gates.
On the surface, the "Stolen Summer" script has much in common with "Good Will Hunting". Both trade in themes of loyalty and friendship rooted in heavily working-class communities. But while Gus Van Sant was able to steer the latter away from most of its softer edges, Jones' inexperience as a director is all too apparent.
While he obviously knows of what he writes, much of the film's initial period color and amusing characterizations are abruptly pushed aside to make room for the ensuing drama, and the storytelling never fully recovers from the stiff staging of the more serious stuff.
In front of the camera, Quinn and the always-welcome Hunt, both Chicago natives, make for a highly credible parental unit. Pollak also does some fine work as does, in a lesser role, Brian Dennehy as Pollak's ecclesiastical counterpart, the bemused Father Kelly.
As the two young friends who teach the grown-ups a thing or two about tolerance, Stein and Weinberg are certainly cute, though Haley Joel Osment won't be losing any sleep over their cable-ready performances.
Creating the illusion of a bigger budget are production designer Devorah Herbert ("The Fluffer") and costume designer Stacy Ellen Rich, whose evocation of all things '70s is disturbingly authentic.
STOLEN SUMMER
Miramax
Miramax Fims presents
a LivePlanet production
Director-screenwriter: Pete Jones
Producers: Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Chris Moore
Executive producers: Pat Peach, Michelle Sy
Director of photography: Pete Biagi
Production designer: Devorah Herbert
Editor: Gregg Featherman
Costume designer: Stacy Ellen Rich
Music: Danny Lux
Color/stereo
Cast:
Joe O'Malley: Aidan Quinn
Margaret O'Malley: Bonnie Hunt
Rabbi Jacobsen: Kevin Pollak
Patrick O'Malley: Eddie Kaye Thomas
Pete O'Malley: Adi Stein
Danny Jacobsen: Mike Weinberg
Father Kelly: Brian Dennehy
Running time -- 92 minutes
MPAA rating: PG...
- 3/22/2002
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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