Unhook the Stars
| Unhook the Stars | |
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Theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Nick Cassavetes |
| Produced by | René Cleitman,Panos Nicolaou co-producer |
| Written by | Helen Caldwell Nick Cassavetes |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Steven Hufsteter |
| Cinematography | Phedon Papamichael Jr. |
| Edited by | Petra von Oelffen |
| Distributed by | Miramax Films |
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Release date
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Running time
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103 min. |
| Country |
France United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $272,542 |
Unhook the Stars is a 1996 American drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes and starring his mother Gena Rowlands, Marisa Tomei, and Gérard Depardieu. Rowlands plays Mildred, a widow who befriends the wayward Monica (Tomei), a single mother from across the street, and eventually finds herself babysitter of Monica's young son, J.J. Throughout the film, Monica and J.J. inadvertently teach Mildred valuable life lessons about herself and her relationships with others.
Rowlands and Tomei both received SAG Award nominations for their performances. The film's title refers to a song of the same name by Cyndi Lauper, which can be heard over the closing credits.
Mildred (Gena Rowlands) is a widow living with her rebellious, irresponsible twentysomething daughter Annie (Moira Kelly) in Salt Lake City. One day after a fight, Annie goes to live as a vagrant with her boyfriend, leaving Mildred alone for the first time in her life. Her wayward neighbor Monica (Marisa Tomei) knocks on Mildred's door, begging her to watch her young son, J.J (Jake Lloyd) so she can go to her work shift. Monica has kicked her abusive husband, Frankie, out of their house.
Mildred agrees to watch J.J., and offers to babysit and take him to school whenever Monica needs her to. Mildred establishes a close relationship with J.J. and Monica, and J.J. eventually comes to refer to her as "Auntie Mildred." Mildred reads to him, takes him to the park, and educates him on history by reading from her encyclopedias. At Thanksgiving, Mildred has Monica and J.J. over for dinner as well as her yuppie son Ethan (David Sherrill) and his wife Jeannie (Bridgette Wilson). Jeannie is perturbed by Monica's brash behavior and cursing, though Ethan and Mildred seem disaffected by her personality. Ethan suggests that Mildred should move to San Francisco with him and Jeannie.
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