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Critics Embrace Matthew Shear’s Fantasy Life as Amanda Peet Makes Film Return

Early reviews point to a quiet New York story that swaps genre beats for frank portraits of anxiety.

Overview

  • Critics describe Matthew Shear’s feature debut as a small, performance-led character study with warm notices for Amanda Peet.
  • The film follows Sam, an anxious former law student who becomes a nanny and grows close to Dianne, an out-of-work actress.
  • Reviewers single out Peet, Shear, and Alessandro Nivola, while noting an ensemble that includes Judd Hirsch, Andrea Martin, Bob Balaban, and Jessica Harper.
  • Assessments vary on tone and originality, with Film Festival Today calling it low-key and But Why Tho praising its genre subversions, while FandomWire finds it charming yet familiar.
  • Peet draws added attention for her first film credit in about a decade and a producer role, with coverage noting she recently said she is in remission from breast cancer as the film begins a select-theater run.