Getting to Know You

It is obvious that director Lisanne Skyler has tremendous respect for the writings of Joyce Carol Oates. She weaves several stories together in this intriguingly conceived film about lost souls meeting in a bus station. Heather Matarazzo follows up her amazing performance in Welcome To The Doll House with a more measured, but nonetheless brilliant, essay of a displaced teen trying to make sense of what is left from her life.

Zach Braff is phenomenal in the confined role of her brainy and equally depressed brother. Bebe Neuwirth also shines as their mother, Trixie. Only Mark Blum as the father seems badly miscast.

Bo Hopkins does a wonderful supporting turn as a security guard, and Chris Noth and Celia Weston also bring great panache to their supporting characters. Skyler does a masterful job weaving the different stories and diverse characters into her quilt in the first 60% of the film. However, the pacing slows down considerably and her directorial rhythm falters when she focuses solely on the narrative explaining the siblings' predicament which quickly decays into a study of repetition.

However, viewers who persevere will be rewarded. Upon returning to the bus terminal, the characterizations are bestowed dimension in quite skillful and unexpected manners.

An unlikely concept to link together three short stories with the theme that all are waiting at the same bus depot sounds rather a cliche but the remarkable writing pulls everything together flawlessly. Almost all the acting is very strong. I think there are some future stars here. I think most Americans will be able to identify with what happens to these characters, even if their own lives are actually a little more calm. The best and the worst of the human spirit are both realistically intertwined.

This touching, beautifully photographed film is part of an interesting trend: the return of the story. roughly based on three short stories by joyce carol oates, getting to know you doesn't employ any fancy camera work, outlandish characters, or irony. The short slice of life plot against the backdrop of a decaying upstate New York town is very intesting. Bebe Neuwirth and Mark Blum are terrific, as is heather matarazzo. FOr those of you with digital cable, this film is in heavy rotation on the sundance channel. I can't wait to see lisette's next film. She is a major, talent (for an interesting contract watch this film then hysterical blindness)

this is now one of my favorite films of all time. the way everything played out was amazing. not to mention, the movie kept my interest the entire time. this was, without a doubt, heather matarozzo's best work.

One of the smartest adaptations of previously published material, "Getting to Know You" is a powerful look at family dysfunction, and perserverence in the face of abject personal adversity. Director Lisanne Skyler and sister Tristine (who also appears in the film) not only get the essence of Joyce Carol Oates' stories, but in fact improve upon their emotional resonance. Beautifully shot, beautifully acted (Michael Weston is a revelation in his film)... just a gorgeous and stirring film.