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THE SISTERS (2006) (***)

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Based on Richard Alfieri’s play, which was based on Anton Chekov’s THE THREE SISTERS, director Arthur Allan Seidelman brings together a talented cast for what amounts to a filmed play.

Olga Prior (Mary Stuart Masterson, FRIED GREEN TOMATOES) is the oldest sister and is called the “serious one.” Marcia (Maria Bello, A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE) is the middle sister — the “pretty one” — who has married psychiatrist Dr. Harry Glass (Steven Culp, TV’s DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES), who wed Marcia to “save” her. Irene (Erika Christensen, TRAFFIC) is the youngest sister, who has a dark secret she is keeping from her family. Andrew (Alessandro Nivola, JUNEBUG) is the brother, whose trophy fiancée Nancy (Elizabeth Banks, SLITHER) is not liked at all by the family.

The family is gathering with friends in the faculty lounge of the university where Olga and Andrew teach to celebrate the birthday of Irene, who is about the graduate from the same university where their father was a famed president. At the party are snide teacher Gary Sokol (Eric McCormack, TV’s WILL & GRACE), reserved teacher David Turzin (Chris O’Donnell, KINSEY) and elder teacher Dr. Chebrin (Rip Torn, MEN IN BLACK), who has a funny fascination with all the strange bad news in the paper. Both Gary and David desire Irene, but have a hard time expressing their feelings. Also showing up for the party is their father’s old teaching assistant Vincent Antonelli (Tony Goldwyn, THE LAST SAMURAI), who has fancied Marcia for ages.

The lightning rod of the family’s tension comes from Marcia, who likes to provoke arguments and has no problem airing her dirty laundry in public. The influence of their father hangs over all the siblings and their relationships with each other and with other people. Through the story, the three sisters try to move past their notions of each other and hopefully themselves.

The entire cast is excellent. However, with the stageplay dialogue still in tact, the delivery sometimes comes off stilted. Dramatically the film works, but cinematically it’s weak. Most of the film takes place in the faculty lounge, which isn’t the most powerful of settings. However, the characters are well-defined and the performers give them life. It’s intriguing to watch the verbal battles between Marcia and Nancy, and Marcia and about everyone else in the tale. McCormack’s snide asides also provide some great moments. Seidelman does the best he can with the confined setting, allowing his cast to truly make the experience worth your while.

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Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
Creator of Rick's Flicks Picks