The Great Gilly Hopkins

Passionately beautiful, I mistakenly thought it was a cute children's movie, however the story is heavy and sad, portrayed in a lighter, but no less painful way, based on the children's book, but with a very adult theme and many pains of abandonment and loneliness ...

Gilly Hopkins is a tough 12-year old who's been shuffled from foster home to foster home due to her troubled behavior. That is until she's taking in by kindly Kathy Bates. This story could easily have been a dull ABC After School Special type of story, but it's elevated by the presence of Bates as the tough but caring foster parent as well as a strong performance by Glenn Close as Gilly's grandmother. Another surprise was the a rather unsentimental and realistic portrayal of Gilly's addict mom by Julie Stiles. There's also strong performance by Octavia Spencer as a caring teacher who connects with Gilly by telling her she sees that she's an angry person just like her and helps her to make that anger constructive. Character actor Bill Cobbs also delivers a strong supporting performance as a blind neighbor. Admittedly, I don't think I was the target audience for this film, but I'll say my 10-year old daughter was completely wrapped up in the film, so although it may not be all that good of a film for adults, it's made watchable by some strong performances, and your pre-teen kids will probably enjoy it more than you.

First time seeing Sophie Nelisse, she was terrific as the star of this movie! Based on the 1978 book! It is heart touching movie that suppose to be a comedy but I find it more close to that of a drama. I give it 5 stars! Takes you back when you were a 12 year old.

Gilly Hopkins has bounced from foster home to foster home, which has turned into someone with a callous shell that no one has dared to break through. Are Mamie & W.E. the ones who will crack Gilly? All Gilly wants is to be with her mother, but her mother seems to want nothing to do with her. Fantastic family movie! Bonus points look for the author of the book to have a cameo in the bus station scene as they clerk in the shop!

This really is a good movie for the entire family when a flare for the dramatic is appreciated. The script is well written and directed. It's always a pleasure to watch Kathy Bates do her thing as she lights up the screen once again with a brilliant performance. Bill Cobbs didn't disappoint as this role seemed tailor made for him. Octavia Spencer, Julia Stiles, and Glenn Close as well as the rest of the cast did a terrific job--Bravo! I look forward to seeing more in the future from Zachary Hernandez, Clare Foley, and Sophie Ne'lisse. This part played by Sophie Ne'lisse was very impressive. Great job by this up and coming actress.

Kathy Bates is one of my favorite actresses. She's so authentic in every role I've seen her play. Glenn Close, though a small part, was equally believable and played her role well. Sophie Nelisse played the bad girl role and her transformation was nearly believable. The message of this movie hit me about half way through. What you want might not be better than what you have. Only two real criticisms - most of the film was believable less these two things: One was the miraculous transformation of Gilly, and the other was the total indifference of her mother.

An afternoon session movie, but cool, has a footprint, even though it is simple, the performances involve and in fact has an enviable team of actors, and the new ones, act the height. A good drama of children left in society, some who must be ordinary, unprepared for parenthood, can not hold, keep, and educate their offspring. But a film of overcoming, where we see the good and win is always good, it is always good to see films that we have won the chaos. It's good to win, I always like it, I always want happy endings, I always thank that, even if we do not have it and it's not so, at least at our leisure we can dream and have the best time !!! Well, that's it, I liked it

My wife and I watched this at home on Netflix streaming. It is a pleasant and entertaining movie about a bright teenage girl who is mad at the world because she remains separated from her mother. We don't get much of a backstory but Sophie Nélisse as Gilly Hopkins has been in a series of foster homes. She is very bright but angry because she feels the system is keeping her away from her mother. So she resists new friendships and learns ways to manipulate teachers and other authority figures. She also hates to see boys acting as bullies and can quickly kick and punch them into submission. Which she apparently has done on numerous occasions. We pick up the story when she is placed with Kathy Bates as Maime Trotter who never backs away from a challenge. After a series of learning experiences quite accidentally Gilly finds an address "last known address for her mother Courtney" (Julia Stiles) and writes a letter to that address. She explains how she is living with a religious fanatic who makes her do chores all the time and strangers come and go all night making it impossible to do her homework. It was all a lie, designed to get her out of there and with her mother. Instead it comes to the attention of her grandmother, Glenn Close as Nonnie Hopkins, and the system places Gilly with her grandmother. The coming-of-age moment for Gilly was when her mother showed up but it was clear after a minute that she didn't really want to be there, she had no interest in a relationship with her daughter. Gilly found herself wanting to be back with Trotter, realizing it was the only "home" she ever had. In the end Gilly, Trotter, Nonnie, and a few others learn how to make "family" where you have it. Good movie, first-rate acting.