Last night I watched "Waitress" and during the last frame I simply thought it was one of the best films from 2007. I also thought that Keri Russell deserved a nomination for Best Actress.
The next frame that appeared on the screen was....
IN MEMORIAM FOR ADRIENNE SHELLY
But before I get into the serious story I want to talk about the film.
I think the musical selections were perfect. There's a sequence, after 40 minutes, where Keri Russell is realizing that she is either in love or she is realizing that everything will be ok and she smiles for the first time in the movie. The song that was chosen for this prolonged realization was absolutely perfect for the moment.
That sequence completely altered the texture of the film and from that point on I was extremely impressed. The way the director photographed Keri during the "HAPPY" moments was an obvious tribute to her beauty and if I was Ms. Russell I would forever be grateful for those moments.
A real bonus was watching Andy Griffith. The southern older gruff guru part was perfect for him and he handled the role with grace and style. He also becomes the spiritual warrior hero with his actions.
I realize that "corny" applies to a certain genre of film that I gravitate toward.... and "WAITRESS" and "AUGUST RUSH" are winners in my "corny" world.
I believe there should be a "corny" category in the Academy Awards show.
NOW THE REAL STORY
At about 5:45 p.m on November 1, 2006, Shelly's husband found her hanging by a bedsheet[13] from a shower rod in the bathtub [11] of an Abingdon Square apartment in the West Village section of Manhattan's Greenwich Village, in what at first appeared to be a suicide.[13] Shelly, who lived in Tribeca,[11] used the apartment as an office.[11] Ostroy had dropped her off at 9:30 a.m. that day, and as the building's doorman told journalists, "He hadn't heard from her and he said it was odd not to hear from her, so he was nervous. And he asked me to go up to the apartment with him, so we went to the front door, and it was unlocked".[11]
An autopsy was performed the following day. The New York City Police Department was suspicious of sneaker prints in the bathtub that did not match Shelly's shoes (she was found wearing only socks). Shelly's husband also indicated that there was money missing from Shelly's wallet. He vigorously denied allegations that she could have committed suicide.[14]
Press reports on November 6, 2006 stated that police had arrested construction worker Diego Pillco, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant who confessed to killing Shelly after she complained about the noise he was making in the apartment below hers. Pillco said that he "was having a bad day."[15] Police said Pillco had made videos implicating himself in the murder, and as of November 7, 2006 was being held without bail for her murder.[16][17]
Shelly died before her film, Waitress, was accepted into the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.[23] The film, starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith and Shelly herself, was bought during the festival by Fox Searchlight Pictures for somewhere between $4 million and $5 million (accounts vary), with a final box-office draw of $18 million and an 89% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes
The next frame that appeared on the screen was....
IN MEMORIAM FOR ADRIENNE SHELLY
But before I get into the serious story I want to talk about the film.
I think the musical selections were perfect. There's a sequence, after 40 minutes, where Keri Russell is realizing that she is either in love or she is realizing that everything will be ok and she smiles for the first time in the movie. The song that was chosen for this prolonged realization was absolutely perfect for the moment.
That sequence completely altered the texture of the film and from that point on I was extremely impressed. The way the director photographed Keri during the "HAPPY" moments was an obvious tribute to her beauty and if I was Ms. Russell I would forever be grateful for those moments.
A real bonus was watching Andy Griffith. The southern older gruff guru part was perfect for him and he handled the role with grace and style. He also becomes the spiritual warrior hero with his actions.
I realize that "corny" applies to a certain genre of film that I gravitate toward.... and "WAITRESS" and "AUGUST RUSH" are winners in my "corny" world.
I believe there should be a "corny" category in the Academy Awards show.
NOW THE REAL STORY
At about 5:45 p.m on November 1, 2006, Shelly's husband found her hanging by a bedsheet[13] from a shower rod in the bathtub [11] of an Abingdon Square apartment in the West Village section of Manhattan's Greenwich Village, in what at first appeared to be a suicide.[13] Shelly, who lived in Tribeca,[11] used the apartment as an office.[11] Ostroy had dropped her off at 9:30 a.m. that day, and as the building's doorman told journalists, "He hadn't heard from her and he said it was odd not to hear from her, so he was nervous. And he asked me to go up to the apartment with him, so we went to the front door, and it was unlocked".[11]
An autopsy was performed the following day. The New York City Police Department was suspicious of sneaker prints in the bathtub that did not match Shelly's shoes (she was found wearing only socks). Shelly's husband also indicated that there was money missing from Shelly's wallet. He vigorously denied allegations that she could have committed suicide.[14]
Press reports on November 6, 2006 stated that police had arrested construction worker Diego Pillco, a 19-year-old illegal immigrant who confessed to killing Shelly after she complained about the noise he was making in the apartment below hers. Pillco said that he "was having a bad day."[15] Police said Pillco had made videos implicating himself in the murder, and as of November 7, 2006 was being held without bail for her murder.[16][17]
Shelly died before her film, Waitress, was accepted into the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.[23] The film, starring Keri Russell, Nathan Fillion, Cheryl Hines, Jeremy Sisto, Andy Griffith and Shelly herself, was bought during the festival by Fox Searchlight Pictures for somewhere between $4 million and $5 million (accounts vary), with a final box-office draw of $18 million and an 89% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes
Shelly, who took her professional surname after her late father's given name,[1] was married to Andrew Ostroy, the chairman and CEO of the marketing firm Belardi/Ostroy ALC.[11] They had a daughter, Sophie, who was two years old at the time of Shelly's death.[12]
Following his wife's death, Ostroy established the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization that will award film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers.[18] [19]
THIS CHANGES THE "CORNY" MOVIE INTO ANOTHER ENTIRE CATEGORY
EPIC TRAGICAL HOMAGE comes to mind as another category.
The fact that Adrienne Shelly did not get to see her film sold is tragic. The fact that she didn't get to see the film win various awards from various film festivals is tragic.
The fact that Adrienne Shelly can't write or direct any more films is tragic.
The fact that Sophie Ostroy will only know her mom through the eyes of her work is beyond tragic and becomes epic in my eyes.
WAITRESS becomes the epic tragical homage to her career and should be viewed by anyone who likes "corny" movies.
WAITRESS becomes the epic tragical homage to her career and should be viewed by anyone who likes "corny" movies.
Someday Sophie will view WAITRESS and totally understand that her mom's last finished project can be easily classified as an epic tragical homage to her life.
Sophie hopefully will find some of "us" who loved her mom's work and wish to God that there could have been more. I don't suppose it will ease her pain but Adrienne Shelly did create her moment of immortailty and for that I thank her for sharing and creating a vision that left me feeling good.
What else is a should a "corny" movie do?
Hell...you are reading something by a guy who thinks every movie should make you feel good.
But that's just the "corny" in me.
Is there any "corny" left in you?
If so....rent this movie immediately.
BY THE WAY
THANKS GRACE FOR GIVING LILY THIS FILM......I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR NEXT RECOMMENDATION.
MICHAEL TIMOTHY MC ALEVEY
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1 comment:
Hi, Tim --
This is really a sad story. I loved the movie, but I confess that I don't remember it well, so maybe I'll Netflix it. Your comments are very heart-felt and give you away as being a sensitive guy -- but I won't let it get around. Nora Lee
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