Margaret (2011)

Margaret is a 2011 American drama film written & directed by Kenneth Lonergan, starring Anna Paquin, Matt Damon, Mark Ruffalo, J. Smith-Cameron, Kieran Culkin, Olivia Thirlby, Allison Janney and Matthew Broderick.

The film title refers to a poem by Gerard Manley that is read in the film.

Plot
The film is about a teenage high school student (Anna Paquin) whose life changes after she witnesses a bus accident that ends the life of a pedestrian (Allison Janney) and wonders if she was inadvertently responsible for the woman's death.

Cast

 * Anna Paquin as Lisa Cohen
 * Matt Damon as Aaron Caije
 * Mark Ruffalo as Gerald Maretti
 * Kieran Culkin as Paul Hirsch
 * Olivia Thirlby as Monica Sloane
 * Rosemarie DeWitt as Mrs. Marretti
 * J. Smith-Cameron as Joan Cohen
 * Matthew Broderick as John Andrew Van Tassel
 * Allison Janney as Monica Patterson
 * Jean Reno as Ramon Cameron
 * Jeannie Berlin as Emily
 * John Gallagher Jr. as Darren Rodifer
 * Matt Bush as Kurt Masur

Production
"Margaret" was filmed in New York City, New York from September 12th to November 23, 2005. It was scheduled to be released in 2007, but the post-production launched multiple lawsuits causing the release date to be delayed.

In July of 2010, Fox Searchlight films announced the film was completed and scheduled to be released in 2011.

Box Office
The movie was given a limited release in theaters with only two venues showing it. It opened at #86 at the box office, grossing $7,525 during its opening weekend. Its widest release was in 14 theaters and closed on October 27, 2011.

Domestically & worldwide, it only made $46,495.

Critical Reception
"Margaret" received mostly positive reviews from critics and was given a 75% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 91 reviews with an average rating of 7.1 out of 10.

The critical consensus states: "A surfeit of ideas contributes to Margaret's excessive run time, but Anna Paquin does a admirable job of guiding viewers through emotional hell".

On Metacritic, it was given a score of 61 out of 100 based on 27 critics.

The Washington Post's Ann Hornaday described it as "ambitious, affecting, unwieldy and haunting" and called it "an eccentric, densely atmospheric, morally hyper-aware masterpiece that refuses to follow the strictures of conventional cinematic structure, instead leading the audience on a circuitous journey down the myriad rabbit holes that comprise modern-day Manhattan".

Rolling Stone called it "a film of rare beauty and shocking gravity".

The New York Post's Kyle Smith said, "For a 90-minute movie, Margaret has a thin story. So it's unfortunate that it runs 2 1/2 hours".

Accolades
2011 Boston Society of Film Critics Awards
 * Best Supporting Actress: Jeannie Berlin (2nd place)
 * Best Ensemble Cast (2nd place)
 * Best Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan (2nd place)
 * Best Film (2nd place)

2012 Central Ohio Film Critics Association
 * Best Overlooked Film: Kenneth Lonergan (won)

2011 Chicago Film Critics Association Awards
 * Best Actress: Anna Paquin (nominated)

2012 International Cinephile Society Awards
 * Best Actress: Anna Paquin (won)
 * Best Supporting Actress: J. Smith-Cameron (won)
 * Best Picture (nominated)
 * Best Original Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan (nominated)
 * Best Ensemble (nominated)

2012 London Critics Circle Film Awards
 * Actress of the Year: Anna Paquin (won)
 * Screenwriter of the Year: Kenneth Lonergan (nominated)

2012 National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA
 * Best Supporting Actress: Jeannie Berlin (2nd place)

2011 Village Voice Film Poll
 * Best Actress: Anna Paquin (won)
 * Best Supporting Actress: Jeannie Berlin (won)
 * Best Screenplay: Kenneth Lonergan (won)
 * Best Film (nominated)