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      The Cake Eaters

      R Released Mar 13, 2009 1 hr. 35 min. Drama List
      64% 25 Reviews Tomatometer 48% 10,000+ Ratings Audience Score The death of the Kimbrough family matriarch affects the three male survivors of the clan. Widower Easy (Bruce Dern) tries to reconnect with his old flame, Marg (Elizabeth Ashley). Eldest son and struggling musician Guy (Jayce Bartok) moves back to town, feeling guilty that he missed the funeral. His brother, Beagle (Aaron Stanford), who was his mother's caretaker, falls for Marg's granddaughter, Georgia (Kristen Stewart), a chronically ill girl who fears her time is growing short. Read More Read Less
      The Cake Eaters

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      Critics Consensus

      Though light on theme and craftsmanship, The Cake Eaters relies on fine performances and brisk direction to provide an affecting tale of small-town life.

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      Audience Reviews

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      Audience Member I remember watching this 14 years ago and liking it Kristen Stewart, Bruce Dern, and Jayce Bartok directed by Mary Stuart Masterson It works as an affecting tale of small town life focusing on small people Guy is a struggling artist living with his father meanwhile Georgia is a young teenage girl living with her mother who's very overprotective, after all shes got a condition that throws her off balance Both Guy and Georgia are in high school but completely sheltered from everyone else They fall in love but Guy isn't so sure he's ready A cute little indie flick short, sweet and to the point this is one of Kristen Stewart's finest performances The characters battle their own ghosts and come to grips with their own realities This shows that dysfunctional families can still be families no matter how much damage there is 1st time director Masterson shows plenty of character elements in people that we believe can be real at times it feels like real life and not just a film Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/13/24 Full Review Audience Member super sweet, kristen was great. worth watching. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review steve d The script is fairly weak but the performances and direction are good. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Mary Stuart Masterson directed this slow-moving drama. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Audience Member Heart-warming, heart wrenching This is an emotional story about human love in a rural American setting. As such it will probably bring tears to your eyes. I know it did to mine. The script by Jayce Bartok and the direction by Mary Stuart Masterson are carefully composed to create a celebration of love that defies convention. BEWARE SPOILERS Georgia (Kristen Stewart) is a 15-year-old girl suffering from Friedreich's ataxia. When her to-be lover, cafeteria worker Beagle (Aaron Stanford), asks if she is going to get better, Georgia says, "No, this is pretty much as good as it's gonna get until my heart gives out." She has invited him into her bedroom to help her with her homework. At one point she says, "You can kiss me if you want to." Stewart plays the part with limbs all askew and dangling almost helplessly. Yet her face is so, so pretty and healthy looking that the contrast is striking. The next day they go to a motel. She is determined to experience love before she dies. The idea is so touching. Also sure to pull your heart strings is the older and mostly secret love affair between Easy Kimbrough (Bruce Dern) and Marg Kaminski (Elizabeth Ashley). Bittersweet is Guy Kimbrough's (Jayce Bartok) realization that his girlfriend Stephanie (Miriam Shor) has married and started a family in his absence. All of this could easily go from pathos to bathos to the maudlin except for the careful direction by Masterson and the fine acting all around. What I have been trying to figure out is why the movie is entitled "The Cake Eaters." What came to mind was Marie Antoinette's infamous, "Let them eat cake," but I couldn't see the connection. --Dennis Littrell, author of the movie review book "Cut to the Chaise Lounge or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote" Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member Very Scattered Movie. A disabled teenager on the hunt too lose her virginity, played by Stewart and not well at all. The guy she wants too lose it too is taking care of his elderly father, who's wife just past away. He's been cheating on his wife for years with a booze hag Who apparently is his dream girl. The so called bad ass musican brother pops in Bec he failed at being a rock star. Oh how bad ass he is with his guitar pick neckless and turtle tattoo!! Not! Not one character is likable. Just Yuck acting and pointless. Rated 1 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews Post a rating

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      The Cake Eaters

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      Critics Reviews

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      Joshua Land Time Out Rated: 3/5 Nov 18, 2011 Full Review Ben Kenigsberg Time Out Rated: 2/5 Nov 17, 2011 Full Review Michael Esposito Chicago Tribune In her first feature film, Masterson creates a slice of life that is very believable (especially if you've ever seen The Jerry Springer Show), and often endearing. Rated: 3/4 Apr 10, 2009 Full Review MaryAnn Johanson Flick Filosopher [W]hat seems at first like a lean, spare psychic space in which much is left unspoken swells to burn white-hot. Jul 6, 2010 Full Review Jason McKiernan Filmcritic.com formulaic tripe, catharsis-by-the-numbers. Rated: 2/5 Apr 17, 2009 Full Review Jeff Vice Deseret News (Salt Lake City) The Cake Eaters mistakes characters and story quirks for character and story development. Rated: 2/4 Apr 9, 2009 Full Review Read all reviews

      Movie Info

      Synopsis The death of the Kimbrough family matriarch affects the three male survivors of the clan. Widower Easy (Bruce Dern) tries to reconnect with his old flame, Marg (Elizabeth Ashley). Eldest son and struggling musician Guy (Jayce Bartok) moves back to town, feeling guilty that he missed the funeral. His brother, Beagle (Aaron Stanford), who was his mother's caretaker, falls for Marg's granddaughter, Georgia (Kristen Stewart), a chronically ill girl who fears her time is growing short.
      Director
      Mary Stuart Masterson
      Executive Producer
      Carol Morris, Patrick Morris
      Screenwriter
      Jayce Bartok
      Production Co
      The 7th Floor
      Rating
      R (Some Language|Sexual Material Inv a Teen)
      Genre
      Drama
      Original Language
      English
      Release Date (Theaters)
      Mar 13, 2009, Limited
      Release Date (Streaming)
      Aug 10, 2016