'Welcome to the Rileys' first look

Don't be surprised here. This is just Kristen being Kristen. Take a look at her resume. She's been taking questionable indie roles from day one. I mean, who can forget the controversy Catch That Kid stirred?

First Looks at Kristen Stewart in Sundance Entry 'Welcome to the Rileys'

Bella stops chasing vampires and does a little lap dancing

BY: Brad Brevet | December 2nd 2009 at 7:39 PM

Kristen Stewart in Welcome to the Rileys
Photo: Argonaut Pictures

One film sure to make a splash at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival, whether it is liked or not, is Jake Scott's Welcome to the Rileys starring James Gandolfini, Kristen Stewart and Melissa Leo and I have your first five looks at the film. Yes, it's because it stars the Twilight star Kristen Stewart, but it's the role she is playing that is going to attract watchful eyes.

Stewart plays a lap dancer and prostitute in the film, which follows a damaged man (Gandolfini) who seeks salvation while on a business trip to New Orleans. Salvation is apparently sought by caring for Stewart's character, Mallory, a troubled young woman. Gandolfini's character and his wife (Leo) were driven apart by grief after losing their daughter.

The first stills from the film have just come in and while they don't show any skin, that is exactly what speculation says viewers are going to get according to an article at UK's Digital Spy.

"It's an independent movie that nobody would normally see," Stewart said. "Now it's like, 'Oh, let's go see Bella in this stripper movie – it'll be crazy!' Working with James Gandolfini and Melissa Leo, who is just incredible, was the most fruitful life-changing experience on a movie that I've ever had."

It makes sense Stewart would be nervous about taking on the role considering her superstar position right now thanks to the Twilight franchise and the recent success of The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Commenting on the role and the film she said, "It was just the hardest subject matter I've ever had to deal with – I play a very broken young girl who is a runaway. She's a street kid. She's working in a strip club and James Gandolfini's character is just as dead inside as she is – and they wake each other up."

The film doesn't have a distributor as of yet, but is in the Dramatic Competition at Sundance.

You can get our full gallery of images from the film right here and the line-up of films at the Sundance Festival here.

Related post categories: Pictures and a Paragraph, Sundance Film Festival : Kristen Stewart, Welcome to the Rileys

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