GreenCine Staff Pick: What could be better for Thanksgiving than to watch another family more dysfunctional than yours or mine? What's surprising about Peter Hedges' directorial debut (he's been a standout scriptwriter) Pieces of April isn't the family dysfunction, though, but the thoughtful and realistic way every character is composed. Hedges never panders, showing considerable empathy for these people, who create the situations but rarely in a contrived way. The whole cast is fine, from the now-ubiquitous Oliver Platt as the put-upon dad, to the surprisingly good Katie Holmes [put Tom Cruise out of your mind - ed.] as the black sheep daughter trying to make amends with her first, and nearly disastrous, stab at cooking Thanksgiving dinner - but it's Oscar-nominee Patricia Clarkson who, as is her custom, steals the show as April's cancer-battling mother with a sick sense of humor. Also wonderful are the neighbors in April's New York apartment building, who range from hostile to saviors. There's the expected "importance of Thanksgiving" message here but the film isn't filled with stuffing. You will wonder, however, what the heck's in that faux turkey leg. Pieces of April may end a tad abruptly, but you're still left with a feeling of warmth and redemption that the film entirely earns. -- Craig Phillips

Special Features:

• Commentary by Writer-Director Peter Hedges
• "All the Pieces Together" Featurette
• Theatrical Trailer