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{{short description|2008 film}}
{{Infobox film
{{Infobox film
| name = The Poker House
| name = The Poker House
Line 12: Line 13:
| editing = Tirsa Hackshaw
| editing = Tirsa Hackshaw
| studio =
| studio =
| distributor = Phase 43 Films
| distributor = [[Phase 4 Films]]
| released = {{Film date|2008|09|29|[[limited release]]}}
| released = {{Film date|2008|09|29|[[limited release]]}}
| runtime = 93 minutes
| runtime = 93 minutes
Line 20: Line 21:
| gross =
| gross =
}}
}}
'''''The Poker House''''', subsequently retitled as '''''Behind Closed Doors''''', is a 2008 American [[drama film]] written and directed by [[Lori Petty]], in her [[List of directorial debuts|directorial debut]]. The film depicts a painful day in the life of a teenaged girl who is raising her two younger sisters in their mother's [[brothel|whorehouse]]. The story is based on Petty's own early life during the mid-1970s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/19/entertainment/et-petty19|title=AT THE MOVIES Lori Petty's hard look|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|publisher=latimes.com|first=Lisa|last=Rosen|accessdate=November 15, 2016}}</ref>
'''''The Poker House''''', subsequently retitled as '''''Behind Closed Doors''''', is a 2008 American [[Independent film|independent]] [[drama film]] written and directed by [[Lori Petty]], in her [[List of directorial debuts|directorial debut]]. Based on Petty's early life during the 1970s,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-19-et-petty19-story.html|title=AT THE MOVIES Lori Petty's hard look|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|first=Lisa|last=Rosen|date=19 June 2008 |access-date=November 15, 2016}}</ref> the film depicts a painful day in the life of Agnes ([[Jennifer Lawrence]]) a teenage girl who is raising her two younger sisters, Bee (Sophi Bairley) and Cammie ([[Chloë Grace Moretz]]), in their mother's [[brothel|whorehouse]].

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the characters, writing and performances of the ensemble cast (particularly that of Lawrence) although the plot was criticized. At the [[Los Angeles Film Festival]], Lawrence won an Outstanding Performance Award for her performance.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2014-10-14|title=LA Film Fest 2014|url=http://www.lafilmfest.com/about/festival-history/festival-timeline-2000-2009/|access-date=2021-06-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141014145950/http://www.lafilmfest.com/about/festival-history/festival-timeline-2000-2009/|archive-date=2014-10-14}}</ref>


==Plot==
==Plot==
The film focuses on one single day in the life of three abused and neglected sisters, Agnes (age 14) ([[Jennifer Lawrence]]), Bee (age 12) (Sophi Bairley), and Cammie (age 8) ([[Chloë Grace Moretz]]). Their mother, Sarah ([[Selma Blair]]), addicted to alcohol and drugs, has been coerced into [[prostitution]] to support her pimp, Duval ([[Bokeem Woodbine]]). Sarah is unable to care for the girls, forcing Agnes to take responsibility for her two younger sisters. Sarah’s house has become known as the Poker House, where neighborhood pimps and criminals gather to play poker, as well as buying sex. Agnes believes Duval loves her, as a boyfriend would, despite his abuse towards her mother.
Sarah, a woman addicted to alcohol and drugs, is the mother of three abused and neglected daughters, 14-year-old Agnes, 12-year-old Bee, and 8-year-old Cammie. She has been coerced into [[prostitution]] to support her pimp, Duval. Sarah is unable to care for the girls, forcing Agnes to take responsibility for her two younger sisters. Sarah's house has become known as the Poker House, where neighborhood pimps and criminals gather to play poker, as well as buying sex.

⚫
Agnes arrives home very early one morning to tidy the house and wakes Bee, after preparing her paper route for her. As Bee gets ready to leave they reveal that Cammie often stays the night at her friend Sheila's house, and before they left their father, who was a preacher, he used to beat Sarah and the girls. The four fled, and Sarah, struggling to take care of the girls on her own, became a prostitute after meeting Duval.

⚫
The day shifts from girl to girl. Little interaction occurs among the three. Bee speaks of moving into a foster home, hoping to be adopted. Cammie spends the day at a bar, making friends with Dolly (Natalie West), the bar owner, and Stymie ([[David Alan Grier]]), an alcoholic. Agnes rides through town, talking with a few friends, playing a game of basketball, and picking up a couple of paychecks from her part-time jobs.


⚫
Agnes believes Duval is her boyfriend and that he loves her, despite being much older and his abuse towards her mother. Agnes wakes Bee and prepares her for her paper route. Cammie has stayed the night at her friend Sheila's house. It is revealed that before they left their father, who was a preacher, he used to beat Sarah and the girls. The four fled, and Sarah, struggling to take care of the girls on her own, became a prostitute after meeting Duval.
Towards the end of the day, Agnes climbs through Bee's window, avoiding the living room, which is full of gamblers, pimps, and drunks. Bee has locked herself in her room, and like Agnes, avoids the downstairs chaos. Agnes makes Bee leave the house, telling her not to come back for a while. She then makes her way into the living room, and a stranger begins to talk to her. He asks her why she is there, and she responds by telling him that this is where she lives and that Sarah is her mother. When the man finds out that Agnes is a star basketball player for her high school team, with an important game that night, the man gives her a sympathetic look and tells her to get out of the house and go to the game, but she ignores him.


⚫
Bee speaks of moving into a foster home, hoping to be adopted. Cammie spends the day at a bar, making friends with Dolly, the bar owner, and Stymie, an alcoholic. Agnes rides through town, talking with a few friends, playing a game of basketball, and picking up a couple of paychecks from her part-time jobs. Towards the end of the day, Agnes climbs through Bee's window, avoiding the living room, which is full of gamblers, pimps, and drunks. Bee has locked herself in her room, and like Agnes, avoids the downstairs chaos. Agnes makes Bee leave the house, telling her not to come back for a while.
Later that evening, Duval and Agnes begin kissing again, Agnes narrates over the entire scene, after a few minutes, Duval then rapes Agnes. As Duval releases her, she runs to the bathroom to clean herself, horrified by the thoughts of the violence and possibility of pregnancy. She is completely traumatized. Her mother enters the bathroom, and as Agnes reaches for her in utter distress, Sarah refuses to touch her, and instead tells Agnes to go to the store to pick up alcohol after reminiscing on Agnes being a handful as a young child, showing intelligence even when she was a one-year-old.


Soon after, Agnes overhears Duval telling Sarah that he will begin pimping and selling Agnes, as well. Agnes threatens to shoot Duval, firing a couple of shots to prevent Duval from leaving, screaming to her mother that he raped her and deserves to be shot for what he does to Sarah, too. Sarah only tells Agnes that she will defend him. Agnes leaves for her basketball game.
Later that evening after Duval and Agnes begin kissing, Duval then rapes her. As Duval releases her, she runs to the bathroom to clean herself, horrified by the thoughts of the violence and possibility of pregnancy. She is completely traumatized. Her mother enters the bathroom, and as Agnes reaches for her in utter distress, Sarah refuses to touch her, and instead tells Agnes to go to the store to pick up alcohol. Soon after, Agnes overhears Duval telling Sarah that he will begin pimping and selling Agnes. Agnes threatens to shoot Duval, firing a couple of shots and screaming to her mother that he raped her. Sarah tells Agnes that she will defend him.


Agnes scores 27 points in the second half alone, a record that lasts for years to come. However, she falls when she scores the last goal, limps to the car, and has a meltdown. She then wipes her tears and puts the horrific events of the night in the back of her mind. She drives off and finds Bee and Cammie at a nearby bridge. The two get in the car, with Agnes not telling her young sisters of events that took place that evening, and instead takes them to get dinner. Bee reveals that she went to the bar after she went to a friend's house and that she found Cammie. Cammie then plays "[[Ain't No Mountain High Enough]]", and the movie closes as the three girls sing together.
Agnes, a school basketball star, scores 27 points in the second half alone, a record that lasts for years to come. However, she falls when she scores the final basket (field goal), limps to the car, and has a meltdown. She then drives off and finds Bee and Cammie at a nearby bridge. The two get in the car, with Agnes not telling her young sisters of events that took place that evening, and instead takes them to get dinner. Cammie then plays "[[Ain't No Mountain High Enough]]", and the three girls sing together.


At the start of the film credits, Agnes is revealed to have left Iowa to go to New York and become an actress and artist. Some 20 years later, she is shown to have directed the movie, and the movie is the true story of director and actress Lori Petty's childhood.
Agnes later leaves Iowa to go to New York and become an actress and artist. Some 20 years later, she is shown to have directed the movie, revealing the movie is the true story of director Lori Petty's childhood.


==Cast==
==Cast==
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==Reception==
==Reception==
===Critical response===
===Critical response===
''The Poker House'' has received mixed reviews from film critics. Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 57% of critics have given the film a positive review based on seven reviews, with an average score of 6.2/10.<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes|1214588-poker_house}}</ref>
''The Poker House'' has received mixed reviews from film critics. Review aggregator [[Rotten Tomatoes]] reports that 63% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 8 reviews, with an average score of 6.2/10.<ref>{{Rotten Tomatoes|1214588-poker_house}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Poker House, The}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Poker House, The}}
[[Category:2000s drama films]]
[[Category:2008 drama films]]
[[Category:American coming-of-age films]]
[[Category:American coming-of-age drama films]]
[[Category:American films]]
[[Category:2000s coming-of-age drama films]]
⚫
[[Category:American drama films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:American independent films]]
[[Category:Directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2008 directorial debut films]]
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:Films about prostitution in the United States]]
[[Category:Films about prostitution in the United States]]
[[Category:Films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films about rape in the United States]]
[[Category:American films based on actual events]]
[[Category:Films directed by Lori Petty]]
[[Category:Films directed by Lori Petty]]
[[Category:Films set in 1976]]
[[Category:Films set in 1976]]
[[Category:Films set in Iowa]]
[[Category:Films set in Iowa]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chicago]]
[[Category:Films shot in Chicago]]
[[Category:Films about rape]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
⚫
[[Category:2000s American films]]

Latest revision as of 15:28, 16 October 2024

The Poker House
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLori Petty
Screenplay byLori Petty
David Alan Grier
Story byLori Petty
Produced byStephen J. Cannell
Michael Dubelko
StarringJennifer Lawrence
Selma Blair
Chloë Grace Moretz
Bokeem Woodbine
David Alan Grier
Sophi Bairley
CinematographyKen Seng
Edited byTirsa Hackshaw
Music byMike Post
Distributed byPhase 4 Films
Release date
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Poker House, subsequently retitled as Behind Closed Doors, is a 2008 American independent drama film written and directed by Lori Petty, in her directorial debut. Based on Petty's early life during the 1970s,[1] the film depicts a painful day in the life of Agnes (Jennifer Lawrence) a teenage girl who is raising her two younger sisters, Bee (Sophi Bairley) and Cammie (Chloë Grace Moretz), in their mother's whorehouse.

The film received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the characters, writing and performances of the ensemble cast (particularly that of Lawrence) although the plot was criticized. At the Los Angeles Film Festival, Lawrence won an Outstanding Performance Award for her performance.[2]

Plot

[edit]

Sarah, a woman addicted to alcohol and drugs, is the mother of three abused and neglected daughters, 14-year-old Agnes, 12-year-old Bee, and 8-year-old Cammie. She has been coerced into prostitution to support her pimp, Duval. Sarah is unable to care for the girls, forcing Agnes to take responsibility for her two younger sisters. Sarah's house has become known as the Poker House, where neighborhood pimps and criminals gather to play poker, as well as buying sex.

Agnes believes Duval is her boyfriend and that he loves her, despite being much older and his abuse towards her mother. Agnes wakes Bee and prepares her for her paper route. Cammie has stayed the night at her friend Sheila's house. It is revealed that before they left their father, who was a preacher, he used to beat Sarah and the girls. The four fled, and Sarah, struggling to take care of the girls on her own, became a prostitute after meeting Duval.

Bee speaks of moving into a foster home, hoping to be adopted. Cammie spends the day at a bar, making friends with Dolly, the bar owner, and Stymie, an alcoholic. Agnes rides through town, talking with a few friends, playing a game of basketball, and picking up a couple of paychecks from her part-time jobs. Towards the end of the day, Agnes climbs through Bee's window, avoiding the living room, which is full of gamblers, pimps, and drunks. Bee has locked herself in her room, and like Agnes, avoids the downstairs chaos. Agnes makes Bee leave the house, telling her not to come back for a while.

Later that evening after Duval and Agnes begin kissing, Duval then rapes her. As Duval releases her, she runs to the bathroom to clean herself, horrified by the thoughts of the violence and possibility of pregnancy. She is completely traumatized. Her mother enters the bathroom, and as Agnes reaches for her in utter distress, Sarah refuses to touch her, and instead tells Agnes to go to the store to pick up alcohol. Soon after, Agnes overhears Duval telling Sarah that he will begin pimping and selling Agnes. Agnes threatens to shoot Duval, firing a couple of shots and screaming to her mother that he raped her. Sarah tells Agnes that she will defend him.

Agnes, a school basketball star, scores 27 points in the second half alone, a record that lasts for years to come. However, she falls when she scores the final basket (field goal), limps to the car, and has a meltdown. She then drives off and finds Bee and Cammie at a nearby bridge. The two get in the car, with Agnes not telling her young sisters of events that took place that evening, and instead takes them to get dinner. Cammie then plays "Ain't No Mountain High Enough", and the three girls sing together.

Agnes later leaves Iowa to go to New York and become an actress and artist. Some 20 years later, she is shown to have directed the movie, revealing the movie is the true story of director Lori Petty's childhood.

Cast

[edit]

Jennifer Lawrence's father, Gary Lawrence, appears uncredited in the film as the basketball coach of the other team.[3]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

The Poker House has received mixed reviews from film critics. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reports that 63% of critics have given the film a positive review based on 8 reviews, with an average score of 6.2/10.[4]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Rosen, Lisa (19 June 2008). "AT THE MOVIES Lori Petty's hard look". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 15, 2016.
  2. ^ "LA Film Fest 2014". 2014-10-14. Archived from the original on 2014-10-14. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  3. ^ "The Poker House (2008) – Trivia". IMDb. Amazon.com. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  4. ^ The Poker House at Rotten Tomatoes
[edit]
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