"Warm up your belly muscles and grab a box of tissues. When it doesn’t have you aching with laughter, The Family Stone will have you sobbing like a little girl." Robert W Butler KANSAS CITY STAR "This is wonderful; it has heart and humor." Cherryl and Leigh Ann THEMOVIECHICKS.COM "The Family Stone is an excellent second feature by writer/director Thomas Bezucha (Big Eden). It is also a courageous film, full of spot-on performances and moreover, accurate observations about family, romantic relationships and the fragility of life." Megan Spencer SBS THE MOVIE SHOW "This is a family, and a movie, where everyone talks at once -- and more often than you'd think, its characters actually come up with something worth saying." Stephanie Zacharek SALON.COM "Sarah Jessica Parker's nimble performance is reason alone to see this creaky fairy tale about a Manhattan executive marrying into an unhappy family." Manohla Dargis NEW YORK TIMES

"Richly satisfying, The Family Stone takes us from laughter to tears and back again. Smart writing balances the fine line between comedy and tragedy. Writer director Thomas Bezucha judges the tone perfectly, allowing the honesty of family interaction to be prevalent, first and foremost. The Family Stone is a multi-faceted gem - showcasing the light and shade of relationships, encased in the precious setting of family." Louise Keller URBANCINEFILE "a rare family comedy for grown-ups that's worth your time." Luke Y Thompson LOS ANGELES CITYBEAT "Thomas Bezucha weaves a cozy blanket of loving dysfunction and wraps it around a delightfully funny cast." Sean O'Connell CHARLOTTE WEEKLY "Moments of high hilarity and cringe-inducing honesty are scattered throughout The Family Stone." Bob Strauss LOS ANGELES DAILY NEWS "Sometimes laugh out loud funny, sometimes briefly contemplative, other times plain sad, the film is well paced and cleverly edited. ... The Family Stone (including the title's play on words) is an entertaining diversion, sometimes darker than most romantic comedies and well pitched at mainstream audiences wanting some Christmas settings and therapeutic laughs." Andrew L Urban URBANCINEFILE

The Inside Story

"If you want to spend some holiday time with a fairly normal family in the middle of a chaotic mess, shedding a few tears in the process, then The Family Stone is a film for you." Margaret Pomeranz ABC AT THE MOVIES

If you're looking for a film of substance, one which will give all your emotions a good workout, one which features a super cast, a wickedly wicked and witty storyline and yes, is highly entertaining, look no further than "The Family Stone". "The Family Stone" is defined by its characters and no doubt, roles to die for. These people who make up the family really do attach themselves to the viewer. "Our story unfolds during a holiday when you are supposed to be giving, hospitable and on your best behavior," says Producer Michael London. "But when it comes to Meredith, the Stones can’t seem to get in the spirit of the holiday." Leading the cast in the role of the rigid, controlling New Yorker Meredith Moreton, is four time Golden Globe Award winner, 2006 Golden Globe Award nominee and EMMY Award winner Sarah Jessica Parker. "Meredith is different from most of the characters I’ve played," says Sarah Jessica Parker. "She’s controlling, rigid and tightly wound. She’s also intractable and inflexible, and when she finds herself out of her element at the Stone house, she turns into a wreck of a person." Head of the Stone family is Sybil played by Golden Globe and Cannes International Film Festival 2004 Palm d’Or Award winner, 1977 Academy Award & BAFTA winner winner ["Annie Hall"] winner Diane Keaton. "I was drawn instantly to the character of Sybil because of the many layers to her personality," Keaton said. "This role allowed me to explore so many, often conflicting, emotions. It was fun playing the character who maintains a semblance of order within the chaos that prevails in her household. Sybil is the glue that holds the family together." Sybil's instincts tell that Meredith is not the right woman for her son Everett played by Dermot Mulroney who recently appeared alongside Diane Lane in the romantic comedy "Must Love Dogs". "Playing Everett was a challenge because he starts out very button-downed and straight-laced, but by the end of the story he returns to his real personality," Mulroney explained. "Deep down in his heart, Everett isn’t the over-achieving, submissive ‘suit’ we see at the start of the film; he is really like the rest of the Stone family: loose and kind of Bohemian, with a fondness for free-flowing candid conversation and the laughter that often results." Meredith's chief protaganist is Everett's youngest sister Amy, played by rising star and 2004 Gemini Award winner Rachel McAdams. "I was drawn to the dramatic arc that Amy goes through, which eventually brings her full circle," says McAdams. "Amy sees herself as honest, not mean, and expresses that uncensored candor in her sardonic wit. "Amy instantly rejects Meredith as unsuitable for her brother, because Meredith represents a whole way of living, fashionable yuppie success, that Amy has worked hard to reject. Eventually, she comes to realize that she would reject anyone who was brought into the family from outside, because outside is about change. Amy wants everything to stay the same." Someone who does find a connection with Meredith is Ben tone, played by the likeable actor Luke Wilson. "Compared to his siblings, Ben is a looser character," says Wilson. "He’s the free spirit of the family who lives in California, and he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Ben provides a dramatic contrast to his straight-and-narrow brother Everett." At the first sign of trouble Meredith calls for backup. She invites sister Julie, played by the delightful Claire Danes, to New England. To Meredith's shock, the Stone family fall all over her very attractive sister. "Julie is not under the same pressure that Meredith is experiencing," says Claire Danes. "She’s just there to provide moral support. She arrives when her sister’s life is in a state of chaos, and the Stone family, quite eccentric in the first place, seems to be unraveling, and Julie is initially disoriented. I found working on the film an exhilarating experience, because it forced me as an actor to be as honest as possible. You can’t hide behind a comic or dramatic acting approach, because you would never be able to create and sustain the wide spectrum of dynamic moments throughout the film." Patriarc of the family is Professor Kelly Stone played by well known screen and television actor Craig T Nelson. "I was attracted to this character because Kelly appears to be the traditional titular head of the Stone household, but it is Sybil who really dominates the family," says Nelson. "Despite his low-key personality, Kelly’s calming yet offbeat influence on each of his five children is obvious." Ty Giordano portrays Thad Stone, the Stones youngest son, who is both deaf and gay. Ty, who happens to be deaf, also reads lips and speaks, in addition to signing. "This is not a story centering on a deaf character," Writer-Director Thomas Bezucha explained. "Thad just happens to be deaf. With a deaf member in the family, it is natural that the Stones would be proficient at sign language." So with all that in mind, will audiences see themselves in these onscreen characters. "Anybody who has a family will be able to relate to this story,"says Director and Screenplay Writer Thomas Bezucha. "Audiences may see themselves as one or more of the characters." And is there a connection between the film and any real life experiences he may have had while growing up in Amherst, Massachusetts. The son of a college professor quickly points out, "The story is not about my family, but it is definitely about my people. I grew up among academics on the East Coast." Having now seen the film on four occassions, I can see why the cast members were quick to sign on. "The actors all told us the same thing when they joined the film," the director/writer recalls. "They wanted to be in this movie because they loved the script and were passionate about making the film. Their attitude felt simple and pure, and that’s why all of the elements of the project began to fall into place." That certainly shows throughout this excellent film. Watching it one can sense that the whole cast are really enjoying themselves. They do a wonderful job and the finished product is superbly strung together. I am sure audiences will thoroughly enjoy the experience of "The Family Stone" and like me, want to see it again and again. Cast & Crew Bytes "THE FAMILY STONE" stars .......
Sarah Jessica Parker ["Ed Wood", "State and Main", "Life Without Dick" and "Strangers with Candy"]; Dermot Mulroney ["How to Make an American Quilt", "Lovely & Amazing", "About Schmidt", "The Wedding Date" and "Must Love Dogs"]; Diane Keaton ["Father Of The Bride I & II", "The First Wives Club", "Town & Country" and "Something's Gotta Give"]; Luke Wilson ["The Royal Tenenbaums", "Masked and Anonymous", "Charlie's Angels I & II", "Legally Blonde 2" and "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy"]; Craig T 'Fish' Nelson ["Private Benjamin", "Poltergeist", "Turner & Hooch", "Ghosts of Mississippi" and "The Skulls"]; Rachel McAdams ["My Name Is Tanino", "Mean Girls", "The Notebook", "Wedding Crashers" and "Red Eye"]; Elizabeth Reaser ["The Believer", "Thirteen Conversations About One Thing", "Stay" and "Sweet Land"]; Tyrone Giordano ["A Lot Like Love"]; Brian White ["Me and Mrs. Jones", "The Movie Hero", "Mr 3000" and "Venice Underground"]; Claire Danes ["Igby Goes Down", "The Hours", "Terminator 3", "Stage Beauty" and "Shopgirl"] and Paul Schneider ["George Washington", "Pleasant Grove", "All the Real Girls" and "Elizabethtown"] as Brad Stevenson.
"THE FAMILY STONE" was .......
directed by Thomas Bezucha ["Big Eden"]; screenplay by Thomas Bezucha ["Big Eden"]; costume design by Shay Cunliffe ["The Man Without A Face", "City of Angels", "Spartan" and "Spanglish"]; production design by Jane Ann Stewart ["Candyman", "Election", "About Schmidt" and "Sideways"]; edited by Jeffrey Ford ["The Yards", "One Hour Photo", "Shattered Glass" and "Hide and Seek"]; cinematography by Jonathan Brown ["Big Fat Liar", "Just Married", "Cheaper By The Dozen" and "Without A Paddle"]; original music by Michael Giacchino ["My Brother the Pig", "Redemption Of The Ghost", "Phenomenon II" and "The Incredibles"] produced by Michael London ["40 Days and 40 Nights", "The Guru", "Thirteen" and "Sideways"] and execuitve produced by Jennifer Ogden ["Family Business", "Prelude To A Kiss", "The Rich Man's Wife" and "How Stella Got Her Groove Back"]. What It's All About

"I love it dearly. I have seen it twice. I will see it again. If there is any hope for the longevity of movies, it will become an annual holiday classic." .... Rex Reed NEW YORK OBSERVER

It's Christmas and once again, members of the Stone family are making the journey home to celebrate the festive season with their parents Sybil and Kelly. This year, eldest son Everett is bringing home his future bride, New Yorker Meredith Morton. Everett's sister Amy has already met her over dinner in New York. She sees her brothers fiance as uptight, pushy and humourless. To make matters worse, Meredith is a throat clearer. Fortunately it only affects her when she is nervous. After arriving at the Stone's New England home Meredith is given a cool reception from both Sybil and Amy. Amy is less than impressed when Meredith is given her room. Totally out of sorts, Meredith rings her sister Julie and invites her to New England for Christmas. At least that way she'll have one person who will treat her decently. She's about to find out that things can only get worse. Ganging up on Meredith is not the reception Everett expected. When his fiance moves out of the house and into the local Inn he's furious and confronts the family who, shocked by his anger, agree to back off. Then a Christmas Eve family dinner goes horribly wrong. Meredith is once again forced to flee the Stone family. Upset, she crashes Everett's car in the driveway. His brother Ben comes to her rescue. He takes her to a local bar where amongst other things she gets drunk and meets Brad Stevenson. Brad? Now wasn't he the guy who popped Amy's cherry. The Family Stone are about to have one hell of a Christmas Day. The Verdict "If you haven't seen "The Family Stone" you really are missing out on a wickedly, delicious experience. 2006 Golden Globe nominee Sarah Jessica Parker heads a superb cast which includes Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Craig Theodore Nelson and Dermot Mulroney. "The Family Stone" is filled with surprises and as such, will run you through a range of emotions from laughter, to tears, and quiet reflection. This is one Christmas worth experiencing over and over again. Highly Recommended. Not to be missed Who's Who?

Sarah Jessica Parker Dermot Mulroney Luke Wilson Diane Keaton Craig T Nelson Rachel McAdams Elizabeth Reaser Tyrone Giordano Brian White Claire Danes Paul Schneider Savannah Stehlin Jamie Kaler Robert Dioguardi Carol Locatell Ginna Carter Gus Buktenica Christopher Parker

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Meredith Morton Everett Stone Ben Stone Sybil Stone Kelly Stone Amy Stone Susannah Stone Trousdale Thad Stone Patrick Thomas Julie Morton Brad Stevenson Elizabeth Trousdale John Trousdale David Silver Jeweler Jittery Cashier Bartender Inn Receptionist

The Crew Directed by Thomas Bezucha Written by Thomas Bezucha Produced by Michael London Executive Produced by Jennifer Ogden Original Music by Michael Giacchino Cinematography by Jonathan Brown Film Editing by Jeffrey Ford Casting by Mindy Marin Production Design by Jane Ann Stewart Art Direction by Mario Ventenilla Costume Design by Shay Cunliffe Run Time 103 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2006 - 20th Century Fox - All Rights Reserved Copyright Protected © 2006 - Impact Internet Services & The Movie Pages - All Rights Reserved