Kristen Stewart Calls Role in 'Rileys' 'Defining' (Popeater)

It's no industry secret that a film starring three Hollywood powerhouses is sure to attract attention, regardless of what it's about. And when James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart and Melissa Leo stepped away from the familiar to star in the unexpectedly poignant 'Welcome to the Rileys,' the result stunned audiences and critics alike. 

"All went three went deep into themselves, and I think they may be playing more themselves than we've seen before," says director Jake Scott, who cast the three actors best known for their career-making roles on 'The Sopranos,' 'Twilight' and 'Frozen River,' respectively.

A powerful drama, 'Welcome to the Rileys' opens with a couple desperately trying to salvage their marriage eight years after the death of their only child. As a result of the guilt over her daughter's death, Lois (Leo) suffers from agoraphobia, and when her husband, Doug (Gandolfini), visits New Orleans on a business trip, this quiet portrait of a struggling couple gets interesting. Doug meets Mallory (Stewart), a 17-year-old runaway, working in a dingy strip club and the two form a questionable-but-unbreakable bond. 

PopEater spoke to Jake Scott, Kristen Stewart and Melissa Leo about what to expect from 'Welcome to the Rileys.