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| Plot Synopsis Plot Synopsis When a pudgy, bespectacled seven-year-old, Olive (Abigail Breslin), voices her desire to take home the coveted Little Miss Sunshine crown at an upcoming beauty pageant, her wildly dysfunctional family sets out on an interstate road trip to ensure her a clear shot at realizing her dreams in former music video directorial team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris' quirky feature debut, starring Greg Kinnear, Steve Carell, and Toni Collette. Despite early career success as an outspoken motivational speaker, family patriarch Richard (Kinnear) continues to cling to his "Refuse to Lose" philosophy, much to the chagrin of his increasingly annoyed spouse, Sheryl (Collette). Add into the mix a Nietzsche-reading teenage son (Paul Dano) who has taken a vow of silence until he finds his fate as a fighter pilot; a horny, heroin-happy grandfather (Alan Arkin) with a penchant for creative profanity; and a suicidal genius (Carell) and Proust scholar still reeling about losing both his male lover and his MacArthur Foundation genius grant - and the stage is set for a road trip in which sanity is sure to take the back seat. Reviews Perry Seibert All Movie Guide Michael Arndt's screenplay for the stellar comedy Little Miss Sunshine is tightly constructed, and full of the kinds of characters talented actors kill to portray. All of the characters and themes are economically but patiently set up in a funny 20-minute dinner sequence that opens the movie. Throughout the film, characters perform what seem to be throwaway actions that actually pay off later in the film. The fact that first-time directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris know when to keep the story moving and when to slow down for the first-rate character stuff helps make it one of the great debuts of the year. However, it is the actors who make Little Miss Sunshine one of the best films of 2006. These characters, from the suicidal Proust scholar to the heroin-addicted grandfather to the silent, sullen teenager to the failed motivational speaker (a comedy concept worthy of an award in and of itself), could all be played so grandly that the film would collapse. However, everybody stays on the same page emotionally, making them seem like a real family and like real individuals. About a third of the way into Little Miss Sunshine, Steve Carell and Alan Arkin play a simple scene in which Arkin's character makes a frank request that gets a laugh from Carell's character. The scene is unusual because very rarely does anyone actually laugh onscreen in a comedy. Carell's laugh feels utterly genuine and entirely in character, making the conversation one of the moments that best exemplifies the humanism and the humor in the thoroughly entertaining Little Miss Sunshine. PETER TRAVERS Rolling Stone Posted: Jul 20, 2006 It sounds puke-awful: a formula farce about a dysfunctional family from New Mexico that hops in a VW bus and heads to California, where seven-year-old Olive (Abigail Breslin) will enter the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant and teach her elders what really matters in life. Surprise. Instead of yuck, we get something wonderful: a scrappy human comedy that takes an honest path to laughs and is twice as funny and touching for it. First-time screenwriter Michael Arndt -- remember the name -- has lucked out with a dream cast. Besides Breslin, there's Greg Kinnear as Dad, a motivational speaker nearing meltdown, and as Mom the superb Toni Collette, just the actress to expose the fissures in a marriage with a glance. Along for the ride are Paul Dano as their alienated teen son, Alan Arkin as Dad's junkie father and a deadpan-hilarious Steve Carell as Mom's brother, a Proust scholar who's been suicidal since his studly boyfriend dumped him. First-time directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris -- their background is in music videos -- avoid flash to get close to the places in the heart that bruise. Their debut is more than promising. No wonder this Little Miss was loved at Sundance. It's National Lampoon's Family Vacation with soul. Willie Waffle WAFFLEMOVIES.COM 4 Waffles (Out Of 4) Olive (Abigail Breslin) is the sweetest little girl you can imagine, but she lives in a family full of angry, depressed losers. Dad, Richard (Greg Kinnear), is a struggling motivational speaker trying to get a book deal, so he can take care of his family, while also holding on to this dying dream. Mom, Sheryl (Toni Collette), is struggling to make ends meet for the financially strapped family, and starting to question her love for Richard. Brother Dwayne (Paul Dano), wants to be a fighter pilot, so he spends every waking moment trying to prepare himself for that physical and mental challenge. Grandpa (Alan Arkin) is a drug addict who got kicked out of nursing home. Finally, Uncle Frank (Steve Carell) just tried to commit suicide when the object of his affection decided to start a relationship with his main rival in the academic world. When Olive becomes a regional finalist in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant, the entire brood has to pull together and travel from New Mexico to California, all while their dreams and desires hang in the balance. Will they make it without killing each other? Will any of them achieve their goals? Little Miss Sunshine is one of those rare movies that brilliantly mixes laughter and heartache to engross you in every obstacle the characters face on this arduous journey down the road and through life. Writer Michael Arndt writes brilliant arguments between the characters that keep the story moving forward, reveal information about them that the audience needs to know and throws in a surprise ending that makes sense, even if you never saw it coming. While it is one of the better scripts of the year, the actors make Little Miss Sunshine worth going to see. Kinnear and Carell make this movie amazing as we watch the two guide their characters through a brewing battle of ideals and beliefs. Kinnear fills Richard with that Midwestern wholesomeness his face and physical being so naturally give off, while Carell is fantastic with every raised eyebrow and disapproving look Frank throws Richard's way each time the dad seems to be pushing one of his children or his wife in the wrong direction. Both of them say more with their faces than words could ever express, and engage in an actor's dance we can all appreciate. Carell is great as he slowly, throughout the movie, brings Frank back to life after his attempt at death. Frank is emotionally dead at the beginning of the film, but he gains strength and reason for living each day, and Carell shows it as he makes Frank's personality emerge from its shell and his confidence grows. We hear it in the sarcastic statements, loving discussions with his niece and nephew and the support he shows for Sheryl (his sister). It's the kind of all encompassing performance some might not expect from the comedian, but Carell shows he might be the next Tom Hanks if he keeps challenging himself and gets the right role to amaze us. Little Miss Sunshine could be the indie film hit of the summer, and the biggest surprise of the year. Awards 2006 Academy Best Original Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt Best Picture (nom) Best Supporting Actor (win) - Alan Arkin Best Supporting Actress (nom) - Abigail Breslin 2006 British Academy Awards Best Director (nom)- Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris Best Original Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt Best Picture (nom) Best Supporting Actor (win)- Alan Arkin Best Supporting Actress (nom) - Abigail Breslin Best Supporting Actress (nom) - Toni Collette 2006 Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Comedy Movie (nom) Best Ensemble Acting (win) Best Picture (nom) Best Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt Best Supporting Actor (nom)-Alan Arkin Best Young Actor (win)-Paul Dano Best Young Actress (win)-Abigail Breslin 2006 Chicago Film Critics Circle Best Original Screenplay (nom)-Michael Arndt Best Picture (nom) Best Supporting Actress (nom)-Abigail Breslin Best Supporting Actress (nom)-Toni Collette Most Promising Director (nom)-Jonathan Dayton / Valerie Faris 2006 Golden Globe Best Actress - Comedy or Musical (nom) - Toni Collette Best Picture - Comedy or Musical (nom) 2006 Independent Spirit Award Best Director (win)-Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris Best First Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt Best Picture (win) Best Supporting Actor (nom)-Paul Dano Best Supporting Actor (win)-Alan Arkin 2006 L.A. Film Critics Association Best Screenplay (Runner-up) (win)-Michael Arndt New Generation Award (win)-Michael Arndt / Valerie Faris New Generation Award (win)-Jonathan Dayton 2006 New York Film Critics Online Best Directorial Debut (win)-Jonathan Dayton / Valerie Faris Best Ensemble Cast (win) Best Picture (nom) 2006 Online Film Critics Best Original Screenplay (nom)-Michael Arndt Best Supporting Actor (nom)-Alan Arkin Best Supporting Actress (win)-Abigail Breslin Breakthrough Filmmaker (win)-Jonathan Dayton / Valerie Faris 2006 Phoenix Film Critics Circle Best Ensemble Acting (win) Best Female Youth Performer (win)-Abigail Breslin Best Original Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt Best Picture (nom) 2006 Screen Actors Guild Best Ensemble Acting (win) Best Supporting Actor (nom)-Alan Arkin Best Supporting Actress (nom)-Abigail Breslin 2006 Southeastern Film Critics Circle Best Original Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt Best Picture (nom) 2006 Washington D.C. Film Critics Association Best Ensemble Cast (win) Best Original Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt 2006 Women Film Critics Circle Best Picture by a Woman (win)-Valerie Faris Best Young Actress (win)-Abigail Breslin Other Awards Best Picture (win) - 2006 American Film Institute Producer of the Year in Theatrical Motion Pictures (win) - 2006 Producers Guild of America Best Original Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt -2006 Writers Guild of America Best Costumes in a Contemporary Film (nom) - Nancy Steiner - 2006 Costume Guild Awards Best Director (nom)-Jonathan Dayton / Valerie Faris -2006 Directors Guild of America Youth in Film Award (win)-Abigail Breslin - 2006 Las Vegas Film Critics Circle Best Picture (nom)- -2006 National Board of Review Best Original Screenplay (win)-Michael Arndt -2006 Kansas City Film Critics Awards |
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| LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE 2006 - USA - 99 min - Feature - Color Director - Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris |
| Genre / Type - Comedy Drama, Domestic Comedy, Ensemble Film, Road Movie Flags - Profanity, Adult Humor, Adult Situations, Drug Content, Sexual Situations Keywords - beauty-contest, dysfunctional, family, road-trip MPAA Rating - R Themes - Eccentric Families, Parenthood, Suburban Dysfunction Tones - Quirky, Deadpan, Heartwarming, Affectionate, Irreverent Color type - Kodak Cinematic Process - Panavision Sound by - Dolby, DTS, SDDS Produced by - Big Beach Productions / Bona Fide Productions / Dayton / Faris Release - Jul 26, 2006 (USA - Limited) / Aug 18, 2006 (USA - Wide) Released by - Big Beach / Fox Searchlight Pictures MPAA Reasons - for language, some sex and drug content DVD Street Date - Jan 22, 2007 Screen Format - Color Sound - PCM Stereo Studio - 20th Century Fox Cast Greg Kinnear -- Richard Toni Collette -- Sheryl Steve Carell -- Frank Paul Dano -- Dwayne Abigail Breslin -- Olive Alan Arkin -- Grandpa Marc Turtletaub -- Doctor #1 Jill Talley -- Cindy Brenda Canela -- Diner Waitress Julio Oscar Mechoso -- Mechanic Chuck Loring -- Convenience Store Propietor |
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