Mighty Fine

Mighty Fine is a 2012 American comedy-drama film written and directed by Debbie Goodstein-Rosenfeld,[3] starring Chazz Palminteri, Andie MacDowell, Jodelle Ferland, and Rainey Qualley. It was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on May 25, 2012, by Adopt Films.

Mighty Fine
Theatrical release poster
Directed byDebbie Goodstein-Rosenfeld
Written byDebbie Goodstein-Rosenfeld
Produced by
  • Ajae Clearway
  • Kathryn Wallack
  • Debbie Goodstein-Rosenfeld
Starring
CinematographyBobby Bukowski
Edited bySuzy Elmiger
Music byMax Avery Lichtenstein
Production
company
Mighty Fine Productions
Distributed byAdopt Films
Release date
  • May 25, 2012 (2012-05-25) (United States)
Running time
79 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$3.7 million[1]
Box office$27,900[2]

Synopsis

In 1974, Joe Fine, a Jewish-American businessman from Brooklyn, New York, moves his wife Stella and his two daughters, Natalie and Maddie to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he has relocated his textile factory, in order to try to save it due to the decline of the textile industry.[3] The cost of living is lower in the South and he can avoid travel, but he proceeds to live beyond his means including large extravagances. When a big investor decides to pull out of the deal,[3] he takes a loan from the local mob. Joe has always suffered from anger management issues, but now stress is leading to depression and emotionally lashing out at his wife and daughters. He sees a psychologist upon his wife's urging, but he assures him that he is fine and his wife must be unduly concerned, because she is a Holocaust survivor. However, after he attempts to commit suicide, his wife pushes the panic button that Joe himself had installed, the police come and send him to a psychiatric hospital to deal with his anxiety disorder. Meanwhile, his younger daughter Natalie, who is the narrator of the story and suffers from a fear of public speaking, slowly learns to move on, and wins a US$500-poetry competition sponsored by the Campbell Soup Company. Eventually, she sees her father again when he has recovered from stress.

Cast
  • Chazz Palminteri as Joe Fine
  • Andie MacDowell as Stella Fine
  • Jodelle Ferland as Natalie Fine
  • Rainey Qualley as Madie Fine
  • Paul Ben-Victor as Bobby
  • Arthur J. Nascarella as Lennie
  • Richard Kohnke as Earl
  • Kent Jude Bernard as Louie
  • Monica Acosta as Elvis concert goer
  • Erin Booth as high school student
  • Beau Brasseaux as restaurant customer (as Beau Brasso)
  • Edward J. Clare as patient
  • Rebecca Collins as high school student
  • Miles Doleac as Mr. Smith
  • Ron Flagge as Sam
  • Emily D. Haley as auditions member
  • Lee Hardee as Southern boy
  • Cynthia LeBlanc as hospital patient
  • Elton LeBlanc as hospital patient
  • Ann McKenzie as poetry contest judge
  • Joseph Meissner as veterinarian
  • Melody Noel as high school student
  • Geraldine Singer as Gracie
  • Lauren Rae Sullivan as high school student
  • Brandon the Teir as Buddy the family dog
  • Stefan Terrell as store clerk
  • Lloyd Watts as man on car
  • Todd Williams as Boris
  • John T. Wilson Jr. as wiseguy
  • Janeane Garafalo as narrator

Critical reception

The film received a rating of 18% on Rotten Tomatoes.[3] The Hollywood Reporter gave a scathing review, suggesting it stood "a slim chance of carving out much of a niche from an anticipated Memorial Day weekend limited release."[4] The Los Angeles Times published a similarly bad review, commenting that Andie MacDowell seemed "so constricted by her awkward Polish accent and timid persona that she tends to disappear in front of us."[5] Stephen Holden of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, writing, calling it an "incisive portrait of an insecure, manic-depressive tyrant that Mr. Palminteri makes entirely believable."[6] Kyle Smith of the New York Post also gave the film a positive review, writing that it "has some quiet charms."[7] The film also won best in show (first place) in Toronto's Female Eye Film Festival.

References
  1. "Fastlane NextGen: Initial Certification Search" (Type "Mighty Fine" in the search box). Louisiana Economic Development. Retrieved May 10, 2020.
  2. "Mighty Fine (2012) – Financial Information". The Numbers.
  3. Rotten Tomatoes
  4. Lowe, Justin (March 21, 2012). "Mighty Fine: Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
  5. Goldstein, Gary (May 25, 2012). "Review: Jewish family faces crisis in 'Mighty Fine'". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012.
  6. Holden, Stephen (May 24, 2012). "When Dad's Temper Was the Problem". The New York Times. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012.
  7. Smith, Kyle (May 25, 2012). "Mighty Fine". New York Post. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
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