The Kids Are All Right

Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Writer: Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
Cast: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson
Theatrical Release Date: July 9, 2010 6:18 AM
Distributor: Focus Features
Criticwire: B+
On The Web IMDB Entry

Synopsis: A couple, Nic and Jules (Annette Benning and Julianne Moore), live with their teenage children, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson), in a cozy craftsman bungalow in Los Angeles. As Joni prepares for college, her younger brother pesters her for a big favor—help him find their biological father. Against her better judgment, she makes a call to the sperm bank; the bank, in turn, calls Paul (Mark Ruffalo) and asks him if he’s willing to meet his daughter. He agrees, and a complicated new chapter begins for the family. Director Lisa Cholodenko returns to Sundance (Laurel Canyon played at the 2003 Festival, and High Art won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1998 Festival) with this vibrant, astute, and richly drawn portrait of a modern family. Once again, Cholodenko demonstrates her uncanny ability to reach beneath the gloss of Southern California to illuminate the emotional and transformative power of human vulnerability and, in doing so, establishes herself as one of America’s most formidable auteurs.

trailers & clips

Reviews

Small Screen: "The Kids," The "Worst Movie," The Little Tramp, and More

This week's top five on the small screen spans America's favorite lesbian couple, Annette Benning and Julianne Moore, a look at the making of "Troll 2," and more. TCM's "Moguls and Movie Stars" returns with a look at the years following the advent of sound films.
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News

Focus Seals "Kids" Deal at Sundance

Confirming reports that it was acquiring rights to "The Kids Are All Right," Focus Features said Thursday afternoon it picked up U.S. rights as well as rights for the U.K., Germany and South Africa, the distributor's head James Schamus announced Thursday. Bart Walker and John Sloss of Cinetic Media ...
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"Kids Are All Right" Wins Berlin's Teddy Award

Lisa Cholodenko's "The Kids are All Right" took the best feature film prize at Berlin International Film Festival's Teddy Awards, handed out the best queer works featured in all sections of the festival. The film - which stars Annette Bening and Julianne Moore as a couple negotiating the newfound p...
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Interviews

Interview | Pop Art: Lisa Cholodenko Aims for the Mainstream with "The Kids Are All Right"

Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll -- while all three appear to lesser and greater degrees in the work of indie auteur Lisa Cholondenko, what's always constant is a keen insight into the complexity and fragility of our closest relationships. From her breakout debut "High Art" (1998), a dance of seduction ...
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3 Comments

| Reply
Laura | April 11, 2011 8:09 AMReply

The Killer Within is, among things, a terrible adaptation of the book, and I'm not surprised you guys got passed over. Deal with it - your film was not good. I also saw "Kids" and it definitely merited the attention. Take your lying and your whining elsewhere.
martyfly | January 27, 2010 5:08 AMReply

The killer within was our choice for best! I hate influential friends. Don't think it was the best film, just THE only GAY ONE. I'm gay, but still that's not fair! It should be the best entry! Also, the tranny thing, come on boys!! You can be gay, but not dress that way. I wear Armani! Some of you make the rest of us that are gay, look like idiots.
martyfly | January 27, 2010 5:02 AMReply

They had a secret friend, in power, who helped push it through. We were in the private meeting with Redford, and she looked at the film entries, and focused on theirs, don't know why. But, it created more buzz, and gave them a shot. We wanted Killers on the VIP list, for promo, but didn't get it.