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Unhook the Stars

  • 1996
  • R
  • 1h 43m
IMDb RATING
6.5/10
2.5K
YOUR RATING
Marisa Tomei and Gena Rowlands in Unhook the Stars (1996)
DramaRomance

After her abusive husband leaves, Monica asks her neighbor to look after her son while she's at work. Mildred's angry daughter's just moved out, so she's happy to have JJ.After her abusive husband leaves, Monica asks her neighbor to look after her son while she's at work. Mildred's angry daughter's just moved out, so she's happy to have JJ.After her abusive husband leaves, Monica asks her neighbor to look after her son while she's at work. Mildred's angry daughter's just moved out, so she's happy to have JJ.

  • Director
    • Nick Cassavetes
  • Writers
    • Helen Caldwell
    • Nick Cassavetes
  • Stars
    • Gena Rowlands
    • Marisa Tomei
    • Gérard Depardieu
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.5/10
    2.5K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Nick Cassavetes
    • Writers
      • Helen Caldwell
      • Nick Cassavetes
    • Stars
      • Gena Rowlands
      • Marisa Tomei
      • Gérard Depardieu
    • 24User reviews
    • 18Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 2 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Unhook The Stars
    Trailer 2:19
    Unhook The Stars

    Photos23

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    Top cast26

    Edit
    Gena Rowlands
    Gena Rowlands
    • Mildred
    Marisa Tomei
    Marisa Tomei
    • Monica
    Gérard Depardieu
    Gérard Depardieu
    • Big Tommy
    • (as Gerard Depardieu)
    Jake Lloyd
    Jake Lloyd
    • J.J.
    Moira Kelly
    Moira Kelly
    • Ann Mary Margaret
    David Sherrill
    David Sherrill
    • Ethan
    David Thornton
    David Thornton
    • Frankie
    Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
    Bridgette Wilson-Sampras
    • Jeannie
    • (as Bridgette Wilson)
    Bobby Cooper
    Bobby Cooper
    • Bernt
    Clint Howard
    Clint Howard
    • Gus
    David Rowlands
    David Rowlands
    • George
    • (as Dave Rowlands)
    Jamie Bozian
    Jamie Bozian
    • Jason
    • (as James Bozian)
    Christy Lenk
    • Miss Mannis
    Brittney Lewis
    • Hospital Receptionist
    Vinnie Curto
    • Danny
    • (as Vinny Curto)
    D. Chance Williams
    • Bartender
    Gérard L'Heureux
    • Mover
    • (as Gerard L'Heureux)
    Tom Proctor
    Tom Proctor
    • Duncan
    • Director
      • Nick Cassavetes
    • Writers
      • Helen Caldwell
      • Nick Cassavetes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews24

    6.52.4K
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    Featured reviews

    6pkpera

    Good idea for story, not well developed

    Will start with what did not like from what is visible at IMDB: the title - sounds pretentious. Poster - why Marisa's hair is black ?

    Started with showing bad relation with about 20 y. daughter, and by me not that realistic dialog in it. Things gone better and more interesting when loud-mouth neighbor mother came in her life, with her son and marriage problems. While relation with young boy was presented well, and there was developing shown, it missed completely with other and close people. So, we don't have clue why was it bad with her daughter - well, did they think that it is enough that at one point Mildred said that she is good with young children and bad with those older ones ?

    I hated that drunk bar scene, especially that goat laughing. Actually, sound was overall pretty bad quality and often irritating.

    Whole romance with truck driver seemed very unlikely. Really not sure who to blame more: script or direction. Actors did great job considering given dialogs and direction. And that's for sure best part. Marisa managed to keep it on decent level, even if there was way too much f* word and all kind of trashy talk. Did not see much of comedy in this.

    The ending was really weak, better said last 20 minutes. Although it was clearly shown where she will move, but all it was somehow bland and stiff. No wonder that many reviewers asking here where she headed at the end. Well, to the stars, I guess. Or was it alligators ? :-)))
    9MarieGabrielle

    Gena Rolands is superb...

    the title of this film goes along with the song ..."nothing left to do here, but unhook the stars".... After the death of her husband, Gena Rowlands finds herself in a big house, with no family, and nothing to take care of.

    She begins to care for the young son of Marisa Tomei, who is involved with an abusive soon to be ex-husband. The actor playing her son does very well, he develops a relationship with Rolands, she becomes a surrogate grandmother.

    Such a nice story, because it is realistic, and not overdone. Rolands has another son who lives in San Francisco, and wants her to move into his penthouse; when she realizes her daughter-in-law just wants a live-in babysitter, she says ..."No-I'm done"...; While she loves her children she now realizes it is her turn; her time to do something SHE actually wants.

    At the end we see her packing up the house; her younger daughter is upset; there will be no more family home. But Rowlands realizes she is doing the right thing; her relationship with the young boy has faded; she now needs to do something for herself.

    There are also a few amusing scenes with Gerard Depardieu, as a truck driver who she meets at a bar with Tomei and her friends. Overall a bittersweet movie which is a nice change, showing a mature woman re-discovering her life, and not taking care of everyone else, at the expense of her own identity. 9/10.
    7helpless_dancer

    Sometimes you deserve to have your stars unhooked

    What a collection of screwed up folks. Here we have a woman who has lost control of her life, not to mention her mouth; a permanently aggravated daughter; a goofy wife beater who sings Cocker atrociously; and a hot to trot trucker and his blinky, well meaning girlfriend. Together they form one of the best dramas I've seen in a good while as they try, try, try to get their lives on track so they can just be whole and happy. First rate.
    8Sebastian-20

    nice drama,good acting

    This is a story of a mature woman who gets to take care of a little boy,after her own daughter moves out.The two have a great time,and the woman even becomes friends with the boy's mother, who is completely different from her.The older woman is very proper,but caring and the boy's mother is the wilder type. Then there also is a truck-driver, who is a friend of the wild woman,and he falls in love with the older woman.By that time her life isn't what it used to be anymore!

    The acting was very good,especially Marisa Tomei was great as Monica Warren,the little boy's mom! Also I very much liked Gerard Depardieu as the truck-driver,but then again, he is always funny. Jake Lloyd put on a great show too,as "JJ" Warren,and also I liked the acting of daughter Annie (Moira Kelly)!

    Overall this is a nice drama/comedy!
    DeeDee-10

    Interesting contrasts

    Two very different women, one a demure, middle-aged woman with an over-bearing son and a rebellious daughter; the other, an "in -your-face" young woman. They are neighbors and find a need for each other in a very human way. Depardieu is the fellow who makes a difference in Rowland's life -we never know how much. I wish more had been made of the relationship between Rowland and her daughter. It never becomes clear what their problem really is, and nothing is really resolved. Another exit to the airport ending leaving the viewer with many questions unanswered -very annoying, but overall a good film.

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    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      During filming, Marisa Tomei played Dinosaurs with Jake Lloyd on the set.
    • Quotes

      Mildred: Love, I have found, is temporary. It's stupid, but it's like a weed. You know, if it's there you don't have to pay that much attention to it, it just grows, with just a little bit of water. But if you really try, you can kill it. It doesn't have a home, you know, it's tragic. If it's not wanted, it'll just move on.

    • Connections
      Featured in Siskel & Ebert: Larger Than Life/Unhook the Stars/Romeo+Juliet/Dear God/Vertigo (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Create or Destroy
      Written by Xan, Steven Hufsteter, Kelly Lemieux, Stephen Klong

      Performed by Shrine

      Courtesy of Malicious Vinyl

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    FAQ19

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 14, 1997 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Ta ned stjärnorna
    • Filming locations
      • Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
    • Production companies
      • Hachette Première
      • Miramax
      • Sheen/Michaels Entertainment
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $272,542
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $33,258
      • Nov 3, 1996
    • Gross worldwide
      • $272,542
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 43m(103 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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