Doug and Lois Riley (James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo) have been quite miserable since the death of their daughter. Lois no longer leaves the house and Doug has found comfort with a waffle house waitress. When he attends a plumbing supply convention in New Orleans, he meets Mallory (Kristen Stewart), a stripper who reminds him of his daughter. Doug fixes her place up and starts paying rent. Lois goes on a solo road trip from Indianapolis to find him and the 3 briefly form a highly dysfunctional family . . .Leo is quietly brilliant, subdued but with emotion brimming - a 180 degree turn from The Fighter. Gandolfini is fine as the miserable but moral man who finds a reason to stay alive. Stewart's vulgar dialogue distracts from an otherwise good performance - she actually channels Jodie Foster's Iris from Taxi Driver in a short scene at a restaurant (the white sunglasses are a huge help). Director Jake Scott seems more interested in character than his father Ridley. While Jake's visuals aren't up to his old man (very few are), he takes the time and finds the editing beats and rhythms to make it emotionally satisfying. B
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