The Rileys are Doug and Lois (James Gandolfini & Melissa Leo), whose life together has a hollow emptiness since their daughter Emily was killed eight years ago…
After their loss, the Rileys have become distant to each other, with both not truly speaking or sharing, the inner thoughts they each are harboring.
On a business trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Doug a frequent visitor to strip clubs, eyes a 16 years old lap-dancer Mallory (Kristen Stewart) who agrees to provide Doug the extra services he hints at in a private room. Once in the room, he turn’s her down, makes his own proposition and offer’s her $100 a day for staying at her place in order to get his head together. No sex. No strings. And Mallory agrees.
Once Lois learns of the unusual arrangement, her reaction is not the expected; instead she feels an ulterior motive might be the catalyst for what she believes is her husband’s misplaced guilt.
I call the style of presentation that director Jake Scott uses to tell his story ‘slice of life’ films where one drifts into the story ‘in progress’, stays for a while and drifts back out again. We get insight into Doug and Lois along with the ‘burden of pain’ each of them is carrying, and the influence of 16 years old lap-dancer Mallory (Kristen Stewart) has on the Rileys. Director Jake Scotts' style of intuitive character development provides 'soul searching' moments in this 'slice of life' film! 3 of 5 stars.
Starring James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart, Melissa Leo, Joe Chrest, Ally Sheedy, Tiffany Coty, Eisa Davis, and Lance E. Nichols.
