Margaret Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A teenage girl causes a bus accident, then decides to make everyone else’s life miserable about it for approximately three hours.

🍿 Margaret: Detailed Plot Synopsis

A Fatal Distraction

Lisa Cohen, a 17-year-old New York City high school student, seeks a cowboy hat. While running alongside a bus driven by Maretti to ask about his hat, she distracts him. He runs a red light, resulting in a tragic accident where a woman, Monica Patterson, is struck and killed. Lisa witnesses the event and holds Monica as she dies.

Guilt and Moral Conflict

Haunted by the accident, Lisa grapples with guilt and the consequences of her actions. She initially provides a false statement to the police, influenced by her mother’s advice. However, she later regrets this decision and becomes determined to set things right, leading her to emotionally lash out at her family, friends, and teachers.

Seeking Justice and Truth

Lisa embarks on a quest for justice, seeking to amend her statement and hold the bus driver accountable. She confronts opposition at every turn, facing the realities and compromises of the adult world that clash with her youthful ideals. This journey leads her to explore complex moral and ethical dilemmas.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Lisa Cohen (Anna Paquin): A 17-year-old New York City high-school student who grapples with guilt after inadvertently contributing to a fatal bus accident.
• Mr. Aaron (Matt Damon): Lisa’s math teacher who engages in a compromising relationship with her.
• Maretti (Mark Ruffalo): The bus driver involved in the accident, haunted by its consequences.
• Joan (J. Smith-Cameron): Lisa’s mother, a stage actress navigating her own personal and professional challenges.
• Monica Patterson (Allison Janney): The woman who dies in the bus accident, triggering Lisa’s moral crisis.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Emily: “Because… this isn’t an opera! And we are not all supporting characters to the drama of your amazing life!” – Emily says this to Lisa during an argument, frustrated with Lisa’s self-centered behavior after the accident.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $14,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $46,495
• Worldwide Gross: $469,264

💥 Margaret Reviews

Personal Review

I was completely engrossed in ‘Margaret’ even though it’s a long movie. Anna Paquin’s performance as Lisa is captivating. The bus accident scene shook me. I especially loved the scenes with her mom; their relationship felt so real and complicated. It’s a movie that stays with you long after it ends.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of character-driven dramas”
  • “Viewers interested in coming-of-age stories”
  • “Those who appreciate complex moral dilemmas”
  • “People who enjoy films set in New York City”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Depiction of a graphic bus accident”
  • “Mature themes including death, guilt, and sexuality”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Brief drug use”
  • “Some sexual content”

Professional Reviews

• Variety: “Kenneth Lonergan’s gifts for dialogue, story, and his ability to treat the most dramatic themes with artful humor, awareness and perception are on full display. The acting is exceptional, showcasing both the actors’ remarkable abilities as well as Lonergan’s attention to detail. Anna Paquin delivers a fierce performance.
• The New York Times: “A sophisticated examination of one girl’s post-traumatic transformation as part of a larger point about how one’s notion of importance is dwarfed by the larger worldview. Though it has flaws it contains some of the most sophisticated dialogue and philosophical points.
• IMDB: “With the A-list cast, it is incredible that no one noticed that this film makes very little sense. Scenes run on and on without advancing the story. Scenes are cut without reason. This film is badly in need of editing. Margaret is a very long movie with very little story to tell.

Audience Reactions

Anna Paquin’s incredible performance drives the story.: Viewers praise its deep, thought-provoking exploration of guilt, morality, and the complexities of human nature.

Overall Consensus: A polarizing film appreciated for its ambition, strong performances, and complex themes, but criticized for its length and unevenness.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film was shot in 2005 but was delayed for release until 2011 due to extensive legal battles between writer/director Kenneth Lonergan and Fox Searchlight over the final cut.”
• “Martin Scorsese and his editor Thelma Schoonmaker were brought in to help edit the film, contributing to the final cut after Lonergan struggled with the studio for years.”
• “The title ‘Margaret’ is derived from the Gerard Manley Hopkins poem ‘Spring and Fall: to a young child’, which is about a child coming to terms with mortality.”

🖥️ How to Watch Margaret?

Margaret is available for purchase or rental on various platforms including Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV. Check your local listings for streaming options.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Margaret, you might like these similar films:

• You Can Count on Me (2000): Also written and directed by Kenneth Lonergan, it explores complex family relationships and moral dilemmas with a similar focus on realistic dialogue and character development.
• Manchester by the Sea (2016): Deals with grief, guilt, and the struggles of dealing with tragedy in a raw and emotionally honest way.
• Synecdoche, New York (2008): Explores the complexities of human experience, mortality, and the difficulty of communication through a sprawling, ambitious narrative.

🛒 Margaret Related Products

• You Can Count on Me (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]: Kenneth Lonergan’s debut film. A great addition to any film lover’s collection and provides context for ‘Margaret’.
• Gerard Manley Hopkins: Poems (Penguin Classics): Dive deeper into the poetic influences behind the movie. The poems of Hopkins offer a window into the themes of grief, innocence, and loss explored in ‘Margaret’.
• New York City Movie Poster: A high-quality print showcasing the iconic New York City skyline featured prominently in the film. Bring the visual atmosphere of the movie into your home with a striking piece of wall art.
• True Blood: The Complete Series [DVD]: Relive Anna Paquin’s memorable performance as Sookie Stackhouse. See Anna Paquin in a very different yet iconic role.

🎧 Soundtrack

Margaret features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Recuérdos de la Alhambra” – performed by Francisco Tárrega
• “Casta Diva from Norma” – performed by Vincenzo Bellini
• “Barcarolle from Tales of Hoffman” – performed by Jacques Offenbach

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

How This Film Was Ruined in Editing

Ever wonder how a movie can go from Oscar-worthy to… something else? This video breaks down how studio meddling completely changed ‘Margaret’ in the editing room. It’s a fascinating look at the power struggles behind the scenes, and honestly, it makes you appreciate a director’s cut so much more!

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