''Our Very Own'' is a 2005 American independent coming-of-age drama film directed, co-produced, and written by Cameron Watson. It stars Allison Janney, Cheryl Hines, Jason Ritter, Hilarie Burton, Beth Grant, and Keith Carradine. The film follows five teenagers in Shelbyville, Tennessee whose dreams of a better life have been inspired by the success of the Hollywood actress Sondra Locke. ''Our Very Own'' premiered at the LA Film Festival on June 22, 2005. It had its television premiere on December 11, 2006 and was released on DVD on July 3, 2007. At the

21st Independent Spirit Awards The 21st Independent Spirit Awards, honoring the best in independent filmmaking for 2005, were announced on March 4, 2006. It was hosted by Sarah Silverman. Winners and nominees Films with multiple nominations and awards Special awa ...

, Janney was nominated for Best Supporting Female for her performance in the film.

Plot

Set in Shelbyville, Tennessee in 1978, the film centers on high school student Clancy Whitfield, whose family is facing financial ruin due to his father Billy's inability to hold a job because of his drinking. His mother Joan desperately is trying to make ends meet while their dining room furniture is repossessed and the bank is threatening to foreclose on the house. She finds herself the subject of gossip but supported by Sally Crowder, her friend since childhood. A rumor that former resident Sondra Locke will be returning to town to attend the annual Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration and the opening of her film '' Every Which Way but Loose'' at the local movie house has Clancy and his friends Melora, Bobbie, Ray, and Glen eagerly anticipating her arrival. In the hope she'll see it and help them escape their small town and achieve fame of their own, the quintet decides to present a musical tribute to her at the

Chamber of Commerce A chamber of commerce, or board of trade, is a form of business network. For example, a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to ad ...

-sponsored talent show. Their performance is applauded wildly by the audience, but they have less success meeting the elusive Locke.

Cast

Critical reception

Robert Koehler of '' Variety'' called the film "a sensitive if not fully developed dramatization of the downside of the American Dream" and added, "An authentic sense of place - as well as a stirring performance by Allison Janney leading an impressive cast - aid an otherwise light and unresolved novelistic film." Derek Armstrong of '' TV Guide'' wrote the film "just so happens to be one of the most warmly nostalgic hidden treasures of 2005", and that Watson has "got a real sense of these people -- how they carry on humorously mundane conversations at the greasy spoon diner, and how they push each other in shopping carts as the main source of Friday-night entertainment."

Awards and nominations

The movie was named Best Feature Film at the Bluegrass Independent Film Festival, won an award for Ensemble Acting at the Sarasota Film Festival, and garnered Prism Awards for Allison Janney and Keith Carradine. Janney was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Female but lost to Amy Adams in '' Junebug''.

References

External links

* * {{IMDb title, 0407095, Our Very Own 2005 films 2005 independent films 2005 drama films 2000s coming-of-age drama films American coming-of-age drama films Films scored by John Swihart Films set in Tennessee Shelbyville, Tennessee Films set in 1978 2000s English-language films 2000s American films