What Maisie Knew

This sweetly romantic, R-rated sleeper surprised us. Based on Henry James' 1897 novel, our 2013 Seattle International Film Festival screening audience was NOT expecting to see such a contemporary and satisfying story.

Co-directed by Scott McGehee and David Siegel, we were skillfully manipulated into caring a LOT about a little bitty girl in a great big city.

Here is the cast:

• Onata Aprile ("Law & Order") is Maisie, an obedient, compliant, smart little girl who happens to be the battlefield between her warring parents. They don't want custody of her so much as they want to hurt each other!
• Julianne Moore ("30 Rock") is Susanna, a shallow, possessive, rude mother who showers her little girl with kisses, then drops her off with strangers so she can pursue her own career.
• Steve Coogan ("Ruby Sparks") is Beale, Maisie's promiscuous, selfish father who showers his little girl with gifts, toys, and furniture, but leaves her with an au pair (whom he soon marries) and goes on a trip.
• Joanna Vanderham (Lots of TV) is Margo, the loving, dependable au pair who has the poor judgment to marry Maisie's father.
• Alexander Skarsgård ("Disconnect") is Lincoln, the handsome, kind bartender who moves in with Maisie's mother.

I was constantly reminded of the saying: "Actions speak louder than words." As we watched two self-centered, superficial people shuttle our little heroine back and forth, all the while proclaiming their devotion to her, we couldn't help but want to shuffle the deck a bit. Any fool could tell what would be best for Maisie!

Don't miss this one!

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Hurrah! Here is a preview:
http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi633120281/
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