more "coverage" (camera perspectives, such as "close-ups"), and thus more editing choices to convey the emotional content of some scenes. Leelee Sobieski's character, Jennifer, has a number of facial piercings and cartilage piercings in both ears, but does not have her earlobes pierced—to which a reference is made in the movie. At the time the movie was made, Sobieski herself did not have pierced earlobes, as she did not have them done until 2006. Specially for her part in this movie, she did, however, have both nostrils, both eyebrows and her lower lip pierced, along with her navel and the cartilage of both ears. After filming was completed, she removed the piercings and allowed them to close up again, but kept the jewelry as a souvenir of the movie. Reception Release My First Mister premiered at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. It was given a limited release in the United States on October 12, 2001. Critical response Film critic Roger Ebert praised the film, writing, "These two characters are so particular and sympathetic that the whole movie could simply observe them...The bravest thing about the movie is the way it doesn't cave in to teenage multiplex demographics with another story about dumb adults and cool kids. My First Mister is about reaching out, about seeing the other person, about having something to say and being able to listen. So what if the ending is in autopilot? At least it's a flight worth taking." Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times wrote, "Of all the odd couples who inhabit film, surely among the most endearing are Jennifer and Randall, the lost souls and repressed good hearts at the sweet, sentimental center of Christine Lahti's life-affirming My First Mister." On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 53% based on 81 reviews. The site’s critical consensus reads, "Though well-acted, My First Mister succumbs to contrived sentimentality in its last half." See also Lost in Translation References External links My First Mister film info at Leelee Sobieski website 2001 films 2001 comedy-drama films 2001 directorial debut films 2001 independent films 2000s American films 2000s English-language films 2000s teen comedy-drama films American independent films American teen comedy-drama films Films directed by Christine Lahti Films scored by Steve Porcaro Films set in Los Angeles Films set in New Mexico Midlife crisis films Paramount Vantage films Workplace comedy films