What Do The Critics Say?

"It is a bittersweet experience watching the uniquely adorable "Waitress" because indie actress Adrienne Shelly, murdered in New York City this past November, has come into her own as a filmmaker with this, her third film. Laura Clifford REELINGREVIEWS "Watching 'Waitress,' we can believe Shelly herself was a 'queen of kindness and goodness,' and we can be thankful she left us such a fine film." John Beifuss COMMERCIAL APPEAL "It is the work of a brilliant humanist." Tim Brayton ANTAGONY & ECSTACY "A young filmmaker whose life met a tragic end has served up what is bound to be one of the most sumptuous movies of the year." Linda Cook QUAD CITY TIMES "Waitress is a wee romantic charmer, a delectable Dixie screwball romp that never loses its spry sense of discovery." Owen Gleiberman ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY "Does what a great romantic comedy should do: steal your heart and send you on your way rejoicing. One of the best films of the year." Frederic and Mary Ann SPIRITUALITY & PRACTICE "It's the kind of sly, witty independent gem that rolls through every few years, lighting up crowds and forcing men to admit they were wrong when they thought they were being dragged to another chick flick." Bill Clark FROMTHEBALCONY

"If "Waitress", like "Alice", is sitcomish, then let's hear it for sitcoms. The pic is a delight from start to finish." Harvey S Karten COMPUSERVE "Like a healthy slice of pie, it is meant to be savored. Marvelous performances not only by Russell, but by the whole cast. Griffith, who hasn't been seen on the big screen in years, is beguiling as the town's rich man who takes a shine to Jenna. And Hines and Shelly, as the other waitresses, create comical supporting characters who are a pleasure to watch." Daniel M Kimmel WORCESTER TELEGRAM & GAZETTE "Irreverently funny, with a cast of characters that go together like homemade pie and ice cream. There’s a lot to like in this movie. Andy Griffith steals scene after scene." Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone THEMOVIECHICKS "A bright , easy to like technicolored comedy that details the simple truths of trying to find happiness when you live in nowheresville and everyone is in your shit." Pete Hammond MAXIM "This is an ensemble piece in which everyone is allowed to shine." John Hartl SEATTLE TIMES "A longtime indie favorite as an actress, Shelly was really growing as a filmmaker. This is a very good film with a terrific performance from Keri Russell." Richard Roeper EBERT & ROEPER "Its heart is absolutely in the right place, and it strikes some real emotional truths. It will make you laugh, it might even make you cry, but it definitely will make you hungry." Christy Lemire ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Late - Adrienne Shelly When "Waitress" premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in January of 2007, the audience immediately responded to its mouth-watering, funny and ultimately uplifting story about a small-town Southern 'pie genius' who finds herself caught between a husband who leaves a bad taste and a scrumptious but totally inappropriate affair, and beats her own path to a future she never imagined. Yet the film’s success was also a bittersweet triumph for everyone involved in the production because the writer and director, Adrienne Shelly, wasn’t there to share in the joy of the occasion. Tragically, Shelly died in November of 2006, before she even had been informed that her dream had come true and "Waitress" had been accepted to the Sundance Film Festival. As producer Michael Roiff told The New York Times during Sundance: "It’s unbelievable to me that I’m in Park City and she’s not. She so much wanted this movie to get in here, to be seen; [it was] a huge turning point in her career." For Shelly, "Waitress" had been a true labor of love, written while she was pregnant with her own daughter Sophie, and a breakthrough film that revealed the stylistic strength and charm of her vision; and especially, her distinctive way of tapping into the magic and humor of ordinary working lives. She had started her career as an acclaimed actress, garnering the spotlight with fiery performances in Hal Hartley’s indie classics "The Unbelievable Truth" and "Trust", and had most recently starred in "Factotum" with Matt Dillon and Lili Taylor. In 1996, Shelly made her feature film debut as a writer-director with "Sudden Manhattan", a soul-searching New York comedy, following that with the award-winning, unconventional romantic comedy "I'll Take You There", starring Ally Sheedy as a woman who kidnaps the man who rejected her. "Waitress" is Shelly’s third and final film and the rare sparkling comedy that brings a fresh view to something that happens all the time: impending motherhood under less than ideal circumstances. Shelly said she set out to make a film "that roots for people who do the right thing. I really like putting that sort of thing out into the world." She also stated: "Ultimately, "Waitress" is a love letter to my baby, Sophie." Born Adrienne Levine in Queens, NY, on the 24th June 1966, Shelly (who is of Russian heritage), was raised on Long Island. Her upbringing was influenced by a love of baseball and the death of her father when she was 12 (his first name Shelly, became his daughter's professional surname). She began acting at performing arts camp when she was ten years old and got her first professional job in a summer stock production of Annie while still in high school. After studying at Boston University, she entered the world of independent filmmaking. On November 1st 2006, while working in her apartment at 15 Abingdon Square, Shelley complained to 19 year old New York City construction worker Diego Pillco about noise coming from the apartment he was working on. It led to an altercation between them. He pushed her from the apartment he was working on, she slapped him. He then repeatedly struck her, strangled her with a sheet, and hung her up in her shower, hoping it would look like she had killed herself. Following his wife's death, Ostroy established the Adrienne Shelly Foundation, a non-profit organization that will award film school scholarships and grants to women filmmakers. "Waitress" will no doubt provide much inspiration to young women embarking upon a career in the film industry. The Inside Story It was getting pregnant that inspired Shelly to dream up the indelible characters of "Waitress", and to boldly create a predicament for her heroine, Jenna, she’d never seen anyone really tackle before in a comedy: being scared out of her mind at the very thought of giving birth. "I wrote "Waitress" when I was about eight months pregnant, and I was really scared about the idea of having a baby," she explained. "I couldn’t imagine how my life was going to be, that it would change so drastically that I wasn’t even going to recognize myself anymore. I was terrified and I really had never seen that reflected in anything, not in a book or in a movie." That’s when Shelly decided to undo the taboo. Shelly notes that "it’s almost like a sacrilege to say that becoming a mother is scary. So I wanted to write a movie about those fears and give them a voice. But I also knew that when you actually have a child this other kind of love kicks in that you couldn’t have ever imagined." Shelly knew that her small-town comedy would hinge on her sharply drawn, working-class characters coming vibrantly alive, and that casting the film would be key. The very first character she cast was the heroine, Jenna. The role went to Keri Russell, who began her career as a youngster on the New Mickey Mouse Club variety show and has gone on to appear with Mel Gibson in "We Were Soldiers" and Tom Cruise in "Mission: Impossible III". "The second I sat down with her I knew that she was our Jenna," says Shelly. "I thought it was funny and sad at the same time, and one of the best scripts I’d read. It was also a chance for me to play the 'straight man' while everyone around me is so funny. It was a challenge just not to laugh during the scenes," Russell recalls. Jenna is one of the three waitresses working at Joe's Diner. Her co-workers are the mousy Dawn, played by Adrienne Shelly herself with an affectionate, unabashed sense of female geekiness and, the brassy Becky, played with spunk by two-time Emmy ® nominee Cheryl Hines. "I’m a big, big fan of Cheryl Hines, so I was really, really excited when she joined us, and she’s just hilarious," Shelly said during production. "I was drawn to this film because Adrienne wrote such a moving script," Hines recalls. "I thought it was funny and thoughtful and a lot like life. As soon as I read it, I was passionate about doing this project." Hines especially enjoyed the camaraderie that developed between herself, Russell and Shelly on the set. "Everybody was so great and talented, it was a true privilege to work with the other actors in this movie," she says. "We all became really good friends and it was a lot of fun just to come and live in this very different world of Joe’s Diner for awhile." In addition to Keri Russell, Adrienne Shelly and Cheryl Hines, there was another key female character who joined the cast towards the end of production. This was Shelly’s then twenty two month old daughter Sophie, who plays Jenna’s infant in the climactic scenes of the film; scenes that remain especially moving as a final reminder of the bonds between mother and child. While the films 'power' is in its female characters, the story is enhanced by the men in the womens lives and in particular those involved with Jenna. Shelly only had one actor in mind when it came to playing Jenna’s louse of a selfish, jealous, controlling husband, Earl. That actor was Jeremy Sisto, with whom she had first worked in 1999 on a small New York thriller entitled "Dead Dog" and has since gone on to appear in "Six Feet Under" (29 episodes between 2001-2005); "Law & Order" (23 episodes during 2007) an, the acclaimed feature film "Thirteen" with Holly Hunter. "I knew Jeremy would be really powerful as Jenna’s husband, and he is," Shelly told an interviewer during the production of "Waitress". It was Shelly’s script that convinced Sisto to do something he has long avoided; try his hand at comedy. "I’d always admired Adrienne’s work as an actress and a director and I thought the script was really sweet and funny and quite different from the stuff I’ve done," he says. "This was real life comedy, so I could handle something like that. It’s not about punch-lines. It’s about character quirks and personalities." Nathan Fillion was cast as in the film’s most romantic role as the new and only OB-GYN in town, Dr Pomatter. "He’s really a big dork," says Shelly, "but he looks like Harrison Ford or something. He was perfect for the role." Fillion, who recently appeared in big-screen version of "Serenity" with "Death At A funeral" star Alan Tudyk said, "I’ve played space captains and chiefs of police, but this is the first time I’ve played a gynecologist!" Like his cast mates, it was the humour and poignancy of the story that drew him to the part. "My favorite thing about the screenplay is that this isn’t a story about presidents or spies: it’s about real people in a real cafés. It’s a slice of life, a slice of life pie." Shelly biggest coup was being able to recruit the legendary Andy Griffith to take on the role of Joe, the cantankerous owner of Joe's Pie Diner, who has a secret sweet spot for Jenna and her plight, even if he never quite lets it show. At the time Shelly noted that having Griffith on-board was "an exciting dream, one that came true. When he came aboard we just kept pinching ourselves and constantly walked around whistling the theme from "The Andy Griffith Show". He really does such a beautiful job in the film. He's heartbreaking, really heartbreaking." For the cast, having Andy Griffith on the set lent a unique aura. "You hear his voice and it’s strangely calming. It’s like listening to your uncle or you grandfather tell you something, there’s something about him that makes you feel you’ve known him your entire life," Fillion explained. Griffith says that like everyone else, he was lured in by Shelly’s way with characters, then further impressed by her confidence as a director. "I really liked the script. Adrienne is a good writer, but she’s also very creative in the way that she directs. She really got after me about playing Joe the way she heard my character in her head." Everyone was doing this movie for all the right reasons," Russell explained. "Watching the film with an audience, you see that there’s really a lot of hope and sweetness in this film and I think people want to feel that." Synopsis

As a favorite waitress at 'Joe’s Pie Diner', Jenna is also a 'pie genius', naming her tantalizing confections after the tumultuous events and emotions of her daily life. Stuck in a lousy marriage whose only solace is baking out of this world pies. She’s hoping that one of her pastries, like her 'Kick In The Pants' Pie, might even change her life; if she can just win that $25,000 pie contest. But when Jenna discovers that she’s pregnant, she immediately bakes an 'I Don’t Want Earl’s Baby' Pie; a quiche of egg and cheese with a smoked ham center. After all, her husband Earl is a jealous jerk, a dominating bad tempered man who is essentially a child himself. The last thing Jenna needs is to start a family together. Her pregnancy eventually changes the course of events in her life, giving her an unexpected and newfound confidence via letters to her unborn baby. Then help comes from an unexpected source.

The Verdict "A heart-touching story anchored by a terrific cast. "Waitress" is the third and last feature film from actress/writer/director Adrienne Shelly who was tragically murdered on November 1st 2006. The film was written as an ode to her young daughter Sophie. There are so many standouts in the film it is hard to set them apart. Golden Globe winner Keri Russell (TV'S "Felicity") is as delicious in in the lead role of Jenna as the wonderful pies her character creates; Nathan Fillion is most praiseworthy for his role as Dr Pomatter; Jeremy Sisto who plays Jenna's husband Earl delivers up a character who truly is the loathsome husband from hell and a total arsehole but the surprise role comes from legendary TV and sometimes film actor, 1987 People's Choice Award winner, octogenarian Andy Griffith who plays Diner owner, Old Joe. Adrienne Shelly, Cheryl Hines, Eddie Jemison and Lew Temple all add to the flavour of what is a very entertaining film. Highly recommended. 4 STARS." Cast & Crew Bytes "WAITRESS" stars .......
1999 Golden Globe & 2006 Camie Award winner Keri Russell ["We Were Soldiers", "The Upside Of Anger", "Mission: Impossible III" and TV'S "Felicity"]; Adrienne Shelly ["Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me", "Wrestling with Alligators" and "The Shadows of Bob and Zelda"]; 2005 Gracie Allen Award winner Cheryl Hines ["Along Came Polly", "Herbie Fully Loaded" and "RV"]; Nathan Fillion ["Dracula 2000", "Serenity" and "Slither"]; 2003 D.I.F.F. Jury Award winner Jeremy Sisto ["Clueless", "The Movie Hero" and "Wrong Turn"]; Eddie Jemison ["Bruce Almighty", "The Punisher" and "Ocean's Thirteen"]; Lew Temple ["The Newton Boys", "21 Grams" and "Halloween"] and 2004 Legend Award winner Andy Griffith ["A Face in the Crowd", "Hearts of the West" and "Spy Hard"] as Joe.
"WAITRESS" was .......
directed by 2000 U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Best Director Award winner Adrienne Shelly ["Urban Legend", "I'll Take You There", "Sudden Manhattan" and "The Shadows of Bob and Zelda"]; screenplay by 2007 Sarasota Film Festival Award winner Adrienne Shelly ["Urban Legend", "Lois Lives a Little" and "I'll Take You There"]; set decoration by Susan Lynch ["Clerks II"]; costume design by Ariyela Wald-Cohain ["The Cactus Kid", "U.S. Air Marshals" and "Receiver"]; production design by Ramsey Avery ["Right at Your Door" and "Taking 5"]; edited by Annette Davey ["Eternity", "Drowning On Dry Land", "Race You to the Bottom" & TV'S "Battlestar Galactica"]; cinematography by Matthew Irving ["The Shy and the Naked", "Love Without Socks" and "My Best Friend's Wife"]; original music by Andrew Hollander ["Wrestling with Alligators", "I'll Take You There" and "The Shadows of Bob and Zelda"]; produced by Michael Roiff ["Waitress"]. Who's Who?

Keri Russell Adrienne Shelly Cheryl Hines Nathan Fillion Jeremy Sisto Andy Griffith Eddie Jemison Lew Temple Darby Stanchfield Heidi Sulzman Lauri Johnson Sarah Hunley Cindy Drummond Nathan Dean

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Jenna Dawn Becky Dr Pomatter Earl Old Joe Ogie Cal Francine Pomatter Exhausted Mother Nurse Norma Dr Lily Mueller Hospital Nurse Minister

Run Time 108 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2007 - Fox Searchlight Films - All Rights Reserved ©2007 All Rights Reserved - Protected by Australian & International Copyright. Trademark Laws Apply.