Review of Welcome to the Rileys (2010) by Kester E — 30 Jan 2012

A touching, low-key drama about a businessman named Doug Riley (James Gandolfini) who, while on a business trip to New Orleans, defects from his life in the Midwest to redirect his attention toward a teenage stripper (Kristen Stewart) whom he thinks he can help break out of her sordid existence. We know that she reminds him of his own teenage daughter who died in a car accident at the age of fifteen. The girl Allison (stripper name - Mallory) is suspicious of his attentions at first, but they settle into an uneasy platonic relationship, that comes to resemble more father-daughter as the days go by.

Doug's wife, Lois Riley (Melissa Leo), left alone back at home, determines to overcome the debilitating "agoraphobia" that she developed after her daughter's tragic death, which rendered her unable to step outside of the house. In order to follow her husband, she exhibits a new-found courage that seems to effect her physically; she blossoms, and suddenly Melissa Leo's subtle acting skills turn an already unpredictable movie into something quite wondrous. One scene where she steps lightly into the courtyard of a motel where she is staying, to gaze in awe at a night sky she has not seen in years, is simple quite magical.

As for Miss Stewart, forget "Twilight," she displays a firm control of her craft. At times she seems to be channeling psychic support from Jodie Foster in "Taxi Driver." Her take on the child hooker role is that good. It's been a long time since this rather clichéd type of character has been handled with such natural and convincing ease. Heartbreaking at times, but never maudlin, "Welcome to the Rileys" is a small jewel that glitters with surprising honesty and insight... a film that sneaks up on you and delivers a firm blow to the heart.