Riding the Bus with My Sister

Last updated

Riding the Bus with My Sister
Directed by Anjelica Huston
Written by Joyce Eliason
Based onRiding the Bus with My Sister
by Rachel Simon
Produced bySherri Saito
Starring Rosie O'Donnell
Andie MacDowell
Cinematography Anthony B. Richmond
Edited byRoberto Silvi
Music by Stewart Copeland
Production
company
Blue Ridge Motion Pictures
Distributed by Hallmark Channel
Release date
  • May 1, 2005 (2005-05-01)(U.S.)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Riding the Bus with My Sister is a 2005 television film that aired on CBS as part of the Hallmark Hall of Fame anthology series, based on the 2002 memoir of the same name by Rachel Simon. The film, like the book, is about the time Simon spent with her sister Beth, who has a developmental disability, and whose lifestyle revolves around riding buses in her home city of Reading, Pennsylvania. Andie MacDowell plays Rachel Simon, while Rosie O'Donnell plays Beth. It was directed by Anjelica Huston, with a screenplay by Joyce Eliason.

Contents

Riding the Bus with My Sister was filmed in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. [1]

Plot

Beth, a woman with an intellectual disability, is dependent on her father, and spends her days riding the fixed route buses in the city of Reading, Pennsylvania where she lives. When her father dies, her sister Rachel comes to stay with her. At first, they fight about Beth's rampant consumption of junk food, resulting in bringing her cholesterol levels up, but after six months Rachel realizes that Beth is content with her life.

Differences from the book

Many aspects of the book were altered for the film. These include turning Rachel into a fashion photographer, eliminating an older sister and changing the name of the brother, and having the sisters' father die early in the story (whereas, in real life, he was still alive when the movie aired). The civil rights aspect of the story was also less explicit, the backstory was compressed, both characters were presented as more extreme than they are in the book, and several other characters were composites.

Cast

Production

In May 2004, it was announced Anjelica Huston would direct an adaptation of the book Riding the Bus with My Sister. [2]

Reception

Unlike the book, the film received negative reviews. O'Donnell's performance as Beth has been criticized for being "over the top." [3] [4] [5] Howard Stern, Variety , and Opie and Anthony all commented that O'Donnell sounded like Pee-wee Herman. [6]

Despite the negative reviews, Riding the Bus with My Sister was a ratings success with 15 million viewers and a 3.5/8 share. [7]

Simon said of the movie: "It's a poignant, moving, and powerful film. It also portrays both characters, as well as the struggles of the special sibling relationship, in a more realistic way than we usually get to see in film, and presents bus drivers as the everyday heroes that I now know them to be. In addition, the movie highlights some of the main themes from my book: Beth's right to live her life by her own choices, the importance of public transportation for a fully independent life, the essential need for friendships in the community, and the challenges and rewards of the sibling bond." [8]

Awards

In 2006 the film was nominated for a Young Artist Award for Best Family Television Movie or Special. [9]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andie MacDowell</span> American actress and model (born 1958)

Rosalie Anderson MacDowell is an American actress and former fashion model. MacDowell is known for her starring film roles in romantic comedies and dramas. She has modeled for Calvin Klein and has been a spokeswoman for L'Oréal since 1986.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Walter Huston</span> Canadian actor and singer

Walter Thomas Huston was a Canadian actor and singer. Huston won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, directed by his son John Huston. He is the patriarch of the four generations of the Huston acting family, including his son John, grandchildren Anjelica Huston and Danny Huston, as well as great-grandchild Jack Huston. The family has produced three generations of Academy Award winners: Walter, his son John, and granddaughter Anjelica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anjelica Huston</span> American actress (born 1951)

Anjelica Huston is an American actress, director and model known for often portraying eccentric and distinctive characters. She has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award, as well as nominations for three British Academy Film Awards and six Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2010, she was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dylan Neal</span> Canadian actor (born 1969)

Dylan Jeremy Neal is a Canadian actor. He is known for his portrayal of the character Dylan Shaw on the soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful, Doug Witter on Dawson's Creek, and Detective Mike Celluci in the supernatural series Blood Ties. He also played Aaron Jacobs on Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.

Rachel Simon is an American author of both fiction and non-fiction. Her six books include the 2011 novel The Story of Beautiful Girl, and the 2002 memoir Riding the Bus with My Sister. Her work has been adapted for film, television, radio, and stage.

Kate Harrington was an American television and movie actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramona Pringle</span> Canadian journalist, producer and actress

Ramona Pringle is a Canadian digital journalist, television host, multiplatform media producer, actress and professor. Currently she is the Director of the Transmedia Zone at Toronto Metropolitan University, an incubator for innovation in media, and a Technology Columnist for CBC.

<i>Unstrung Heroes</i> 1995 American film

Unstrung Heroes is a 1995 American comedy-drama film directed by Diane Keaton and starring Andie MacDowell, John Turturro, Michael Richards, and Maury Chaykin. The screenplay by Richard LaGravenese is based on the memoir of the same name by journalist Franz Lidz.

<i>When in Rome</i> (2010 film) 2010 film by Mark Steven Johnson

When in Rome is a 2010 American romantic comedy film directed by Mark Steven Johnson, co-written by Johnson, David Diamond and David Weissman. It stars Kristen Bell and Josh Duhamel. It was released by Touchstone Pictures in the United States on January 29, 2010. Despite receiving negative reviews from critics, it was a small box office success, opening at number three in the U.S. behind one other new entry and ultimately grossing $43,042,835 worldwide against a $28 million budget.

<i>The Addams Family</i> (1991 film) 1991 film by Barry Sonnenfeld

The Addams Family is a 1991 American supernatural black comedy film based on the characters from the cartoon created by cartoonist Charles Addams and the 1964 television series produced by David Levy. Directed by former cinematographer Barry Sonnenfeld in his feature directorial debut, the film stars Anjelica Huston, who was nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance as Morticia Addams, Raul Julia as Gomez Addams, and Christopher Lloyd as Fester Addams. The film focuses on a bizarre, macabre, aristocratic family who reconnect with someone whom they believe to be a long-lost relative, Gomez's brother Fester Addams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beth Raymer</span> American writer

Beth Anne Raymer is an American writer and journalist. Her work in both fiction and non-fiction explores subcultures and issues relevant to the lives of lower and middle-class families. Raymer received an MFA from Columbia University. As a Fulbright fellow, she studied offshore gambling operations in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. Raymer is the author of several books including Lay the Favorite, a memoir of her experience in the sports-betting industry. The memoir was adapted into a film in 2012. Her journalism has been published in The Atlantic, Lapham’s Quarterly, Sports Illustrated, and The New York Times Magazine.

The 24th National Society of Film Critics Awards, given on 8 January 1990, honored the best filmmaking of 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barbara Niven</span> American actress (born 1953)

Barbara Lee Niven is an American actress, writer, and producer, best known for her performances in Hallmark and Lifetime movies, and for television roles in Pensacola: Wings of Gold, One Life to Live, Cedar Cove, and Chesapeake Shores. Niven had the leading role in the independent film A Perfect Ending (2012). She is also a motivational speaker, media trainer and animal rights activist, and a National Ambassador for American Humane.

<i>Cedar Cove</i> (TV series) American-Canadian drama television series

Cedar Cove is a drama television series on the Hallmark Channel that aired from July 20, 2013 to September 26, 2015. Based on author Debbie Macomber's book series of the same name, Cedar Cove focused on Municipal Court Judge Olivia Lockhart's professional and personal life and the townsfolk surrounding her. It was the network's first original scripted series, and lasted three seasons.

<i>In My Dreams</i> (film) Canadian TV series or program

In My Dreams is a Hallmark Hall of Fame television film. It premiered on ABC on April 20, 2014, and stars Katharine McPhee, Mike Vogel and JoBeth Williams. It is directed by Kenny Leon from a story by Teena Booth and screenplay by Booth and Suzette Couture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Margaret Qualley</span> American actress (born 1994)

Sarah Margaret Qualley is an American actress. A daughter of actress Andie MacDowell, she trained as a ballet dancer in her youth. She made her acting debut in the 2013 drama film Palo Alto and gained recognition for her supporting role in the HBO drama series The Leftovers (2014–2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainey Qualley</span> American actress and singer (born 1989)

Rainsford Dubose Qualley is an American actress and singer. The daughter of actress Andie MacDowell and the sister of actress Margaret Qualley, she made her acting debut in the 2012 film Mighty Fine. She is best known for her music, which she releases under the name Rainsford.

<i>The Other Zoey</i> 2023 film by Sara Zandieh

The Other Zoey is a 2023 American romantic comedy film directed by Sara Zandieh and written by Matt Tabak. The film stars Josephine Langford, Drew Starkey, Archie Renaux, Mallori Johnson, Patrick Fabian, Heather Graham and Andie MacDowell.

References

  1. ↑ "Riding the Bus With My Sister - The Movie - Interviews". Hallmark Hall of Fame. May 2005 – via YouTube.
  2. ↑ "Huston to drive 'Bus'". Variety. May 26, 2004. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Miscellaneous TV: Hallmark Hall of Shame". TVgasm. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  4. ↑ Heffernan, Virginia (April 29, 2005). "A Misfit Sister, and Life Lessons She Inadvertently Imparts". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  5. ↑ Owen, Rob (May 1, 2005). "TV Review: 'Riding the Bus' lurches along a well-worn route". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  6. ↑ Lowry, Brian (April 28, 2005). "Riding the Bus With My Sister TV Show Review". Variety.
  7. ↑ Kissell, Rick (May 2, 2005). "'Family' value pays off for Fox". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Rachel Simon Author of the Story of Beautiful Girl and Riding the Bus with My Sister". Archived from the original on November 7, 2009.
  9. ↑ "27th Young Artist Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on July 4, 2010. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.