Victor is a cook who works in a greasy roadside restaurant owned by his mother, Dolly. It's just the two of them, a waitress named Delores, and a heavy drinking regular, Leo. But things change when Callie, a beautiful college dropout, shows up as a new waitress and steals Victor's heart. But Victor is too shy to do anything about it, and too self-consciously overweight to dream of winning Callie away.
Acting
Pruitt Taylor Vince says everything with his eyes — devastating.
Direction
Mangold's debut: patient, empathetic, no false notes.
Cinematography
Drenched in golden-hour longing, every frame aches.
Director
James Mangold
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Liv Tyler was 17 during filming; this was her first significant role, discovered while visiting her father Steven Tyler on a film set.
Mangold based the film on his own short 'Bring on the Dancing Horses' and his observations of lonely men in upstate New York diners.
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