In New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.In New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.In New York City, a young girl is caught in the middle of her parents' bitter custody battle.
- Awards
- 3 wins & 8 nominations
Jesse Stone Spadaccini
- Martin
- (as Jesse Spadaccini)
Diana García
- Cecelia
- (as Diana Garcia Soto)
- Directors
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaIn an interview on the NPR program "Fresh Air", Julianne Moore said that she drew on Courtney Love and Patti Smith for inspiration for her character in this movie, who is (like Love and Smith) a rock star who is also a mother.
- ConnectionsFeatured in At the Movies: Episode #10.26 (2013)
- SoundtracksRockabye Baby
Performed by Julianne Moore
Featured review
What Parents Say
This film is mildly recommended.
What Maisie knew was her divorcing parents were constantly at odds with each other. Based on the Henry James novel and given a substantially modern revision, the film depicts scenes from a young girl's point of view as these dysfunctional adults use their daughter's unconditional love as a emotional pawn to hurt each other and selfishly gain the upper hand. The story may be old and predictable, but sadly, the battle between the separating spouses is a well known commodity and still being enacted in many broken homes today. What Maisie Knew is a film that takes an unflinching glimpse at the carnage left in the aftermath.
By focusing on the littlest survivor's struggle in dealing with this bitter custody wars, the film already lays bias to Maisie's parents as evil and self-serving types. Both parents are egomaniacs and creepy. Susanna (Julianne Moore) is a narcissistic rock star and Beale ( Steve Coogan) is a successful art dealer. Both are better suited for their jobs than as Maisie's parents. As their hatred builds for each other, Maisie's world begins to implode as new people enter her parents' lives and now become part of hers: Beale remarries Margot (Joanna Vanderham), Maisie's nanny, and Susanna remarries a younger man, Lincoln ( Alexander Skarsgard). Their interactions and relationships are the mainstay of the film.
While the parent roles are wholly unsympathetic and truly unlikable characters, the actors playing them are quite good at giving them some redeeming qualities. Moore's Susanna is such a self absorbed diva, jealous of any attention going to anyone other than herself, including her own daughter and Moore plays the role with disturbing intensity. Coogan's Beale is the father in absentia, more interested in worldly fortune and travel plans. As their supporting spouses, Skarsgard and Vanderham bring their charm and appeal to their more congenial roles. But at the core of the film is Onata Aprile as the young child. The young actress manifests a believability and naturalism to her role as Maisie. Her solemn looks and inquisitive manner elicit the perfect degree of empathy and concern.
What Maisie Knew is solidly directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel and co-written by Nancy Doyne and Carroll Cartwright. One could see that this film was a labor of love by the filmmakers. The film is fragmented and filmed in a stream of conscience structure as Maisie observes various changes in her own life. Subtle touches help to capture the chaos forming around Maisie's daily life: the loud arguments going on in the next room while she tries to sleep, her long waits for either parent to take their turns for custody duties, her independent skills in making herself a grown-up sandwich for dinner, etc.
What Maisie Knew begins to lose itself in the last third of the film. It was there that a lack of credibility set in for me and the actions became contrary to the characters' nature. Their reactions registered as untrue and served only as a means to concoct a more positive ending. The melodrama overtook the genuine drama that was so successfully established for most of the film. Still there is much to admire in What Maisie Knew, a film that values the innocence of the young while constantly realizing that a child's world is always trumped by the power of parenthood, be they good parents, or in this case, very bad ones. GRADE: B-
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com
What Maisie knew was her divorcing parents were constantly at odds with each other. Based on the Henry James novel and given a substantially modern revision, the film depicts scenes from a young girl's point of view as these dysfunctional adults use their daughter's unconditional love as a emotional pawn to hurt each other and selfishly gain the upper hand. The story may be old and predictable, but sadly, the battle between the separating spouses is a well known commodity and still being enacted in many broken homes today. What Maisie Knew is a film that takes an unflinching glimpse at the carnage left in the aftermath.
By focusing on the littlest survivor's struggle in dealing with this bitter custody wars, the film already lays bias to Maisie's parents as evil and self-serving types. Both parents are egomaniacs and creepy. Susanna (Julianne Moore) is a narcissistic rock star and Beale ( Steve Coogan) is a successful art dealer. Both are better suited for their jobs than as Maisie's parents. As their hatred builds for each other, Maisie's world begins to implode as new people enter her parents' lives and now become part of hers: Beale remarries Margot (Joanna Vanderham), Maisie's nanny, and Susanna remarries a younger man, Lincoln ( Alexander Skarsgard). Their interactions and relationships are the mainstay of the film.
While the parent roles are wholly unsympathetic and truly unlikable characters, the actors playing them are quite good at giving them some redeeming qualities. Moore's Susanna is such a self absorbed diva, jealous of any attention going to anyone other than herself, including her own daughter and Moore plays the role with disturbing intensity. Coogan's Beale is the father in absentia, more interested in worldly fortune and travel plans. As their supporting spouses, Skarsgard and Vanderham bring their charm and appeal to their more congenial roles. But at the core of the film is Onata Aprile as the young child. The young actress manifests a believability and naturalism to her role as Maisie. Her solemn looks and inquisitive manner elicit the perfect degree of empathy and concern.
What Maisie Knew is solidly directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel and co-written by Nancy Doyne and Carroll Cartwright. One could see that this film was a labor of love by the filmmakers. The film is fragmented and filmed in a stream of conscience structure as Maisie observes various changes in her own life. Subtle touches help to capture the chaos forming around Maisie's daily life: the loud arguments going on in the next room while she tries to sleep, her long waits for either parent to take their turns for custody duties, her independent skills in making herself a grown-up sandwich for dinner, etc.
What Maisie Knew begins to lose itself in the last third of the film. It was there that a lack of credibility set in for me and the actions became contrary to the characters' nature. Their reactions registered as untrue and served only as a means to concoct a more positive ending. The melodrama overtook the genuine drama that was so successfully established for most of the film. Still there is much to admire in What Maisie Knew, a film that values the innocence of the young while constantly realizing that a child's world is always trumped by the power of parenthood, be they good parents, or in this case, very bad ones. GRADE: B-
ANY COMMENTS: Please contact me at: jadepietro@rcn.com
helpful•1911
- jadepietro
- Jun 26, 2013
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official sites
- Language
- Also known as
- Arada Kalan
- Filming locations
- The High Line, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA(Maisie and Lincoln play at the High Line)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $6,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,066,471
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $21,480
- May 5, 2013
- Gross worldwide
- $2,711,379
- Runtime1 hour 39 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.35 : 1
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content