Adopt a Highway (film)

Last updated
Adopt a Highway
Adopt a Highway.jpg
Film poster
Directed by Logan Marshall-Green
Written byLogan Marshall-Green
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyPepe Avila del Pino
Edited byClaudia Castello
Music by Jason Isbell
Production
companies
Distributed by RLJE Films
Release dates
  • March 10, 2019 (2019-03-10)(SXSW)
  • November 1, 2019 (2019-11-01)(United States)
Running time
81 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Adopt a Highway is a 2019 American drama film written and directed by Logan Marshall-Green in his directorial debut. [1] It stars Ethan Hawke, Elaine Hendrix, Diane Gaeta, Betty Gabriel, Mo McRae, Chris Sullivan, Nate Mooney, Christopher Heyerdahl, Loni Love and Anne-Marie Johnson. [2] Jason Blum produced the film, through his Blumhouse Productions banner and Adam Hendricks and Greg Gilreath produced the film through their Divide/Conquer banner.

Contents

It had its world premiere at South by Southwest, in Austin, Texas, United States, on March 10, 2019. [3] The film was released on November 1, 2019, by RLJE Films.

Plot

Having spent the last 21 years in a Californian prison for possession of marijuana, a middle-aged man named Russell Millings must find his way in a world that has changed completely since he was incarcerated in the 1990s.

Upon his release, Russell finds employment in a burger restaurant. He visits an internet café and searches for his father, who died in 2001. One night whilst locking up the restaurant, he finds an abandoned baby in the dumpster; a note kept in the bag with the baby reveals the baby's name is Ella. Russell attempts to care for Ella himself and bonds with her, telling her of his father's hobby of stamp collecting.

The baby falls from the bed and is injured, and Russell takes her to a clinic, where Ella is taken away and he is interviewed by the police. After losing Ella, Russell travels to Casper, Wyoming, by bus, meeting a woman on the bus who invites him to join her if he ever visits Denver. In Casper, he visits his father's grave.

He visits a bank to open his father's safety deposit box, for which he has been left the key. In the box are a letter professing his father's love and valuable stamps, including a Tyrian plum. He opens a storage unit also left to him by his late father, which contains the rest of his father's stamp collection and clothes.

Russell visits Family & Child Services in Los Angeles to check up on Ella and give them an envelope containing details of a trust he has set up in her name, to be given to her on her 18th birthday. Russell leaves LA buying a ticket for a bus trip. When asked where he would like to go, he smiles at the possibilities ahead.

Cast

Release

The film had its premiere at SXSW on March 10, 2019. [4] Shortly after, RLJE Films acquired distribution rights to the film, and released it on November 1, 2019. [5]

Critical reception

As of October 2021, 69% of the 32 reviews compiled by Rotten Tomatoes are positive, with an average of 6.5/10. The site's critical consensus states, "Adopt a Highway might have done more to fill in its sparsely sketched story, but Ethan Hawke's performance is often enough to fill in the blanks." [6] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 53 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Hamlet</i> (2000 film) 2000 film by Michael Almereyda

Hamlet, also known as Hamlet 2000, is a 2000 American drama film written and directed by Michael Almereyda, set in contemporary New York City, and based on the Shakespeare play of the same name. Ethan Hawke plays Hamlet as a film student, Kyle MacLachlan co-stars as Uncle Claudius, with Diane Venora as Gertrude, Liev Schreiber as Laertes, Julia Stiles as Ophelia, Steve Zahn as Rosencrantz, Bill Murray as Polonius, and Sam Shepard as Hamlet's father.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Hawke</span> American actor and film director (born 1970)

Ethan Green Hawke is an American actor, author and film director. He made his film debut in Explorers (1985), before making a breakthrough performance in Dead Poets Society (1989). Hawke starred alongside Julie Delpy in Richard Linklater's Before trilogy from 1995 to 2013. Hawke received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Training Day (2001) and Boyhood (2014) and two for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013). Other notable roles include in Reality Bites (1994), Gattaca (1997), Great Expectations (1998), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), Maggie's Plan (2015), First Reformed (2017), The Black Phone (2021) and The Northman (2022).

<i>Before Sunset</i> 2004 American romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater

Before Sunset is a 2004 American romantic drama film directed by Richard Linklater, who co-wrote the screenplay with Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, from a story by Linklater and Kim Krizan. It is the first film by Warner Independent Pictures. The sequel to Before Sunrise (1995) and the second installment in the Before trilogy, Before Sunset follows Jesse (Hawke) and Céline (Delpy) as they reunite nine years later in Paris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Logan Marshall-Green</span> American actor (born 1976)

Logan Marshall-Green is an American actor and filmmaker. He is known for his roles in the television series 24, The O.C., Traveler, Dark Blue and Quarry, as well as his roles in the films Devil, Prometheus, The Invitation, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Upgrade and When They See Us.

<i>The Woman in the Fifth</i> 2011 "`UNIQ--templatestyles-00000004-QINU`" film

The Woman in the Fifth is a 2011 French-British-Polish drama film directed and written by Paweł Pawlikowski. Adapted from Douglas Kennedy's 2007 novel of the same name, the film centers on a divorced American writer who moves to Paris to be closer to his young daughter. As he embarks on an affair with a mysterious widow, a dark force seems to be taking control of his life.

<i>Sinister</i> (film) 2012 film by Scott Derrickson

Sinister is a 2012 supernatural horror film directed by Scott Derrickson and written by C. Robert Cargill and Derrickson. It stars Ethan Hawke as a struggling true-crime writer whose discovery of snuff films depicting gruesome murders and strange supernatural elements in his new house puts his family in danger. Juliet Rylance, Fred Thompson, James Ransone, Clare Foley, Michael Hall D'Addario, and Vincent D'Onofrio appear in supporting roles.

<i>Predestination</i> (film) 2014 film directed by the Spierig brothers

Predestination is a 2014 Australian science fiction action-thriller film written and directed by Michael and Peter Spierig. The film stars Ethan Hawke, Sarah Snook, and Noah Taylor, and is based on the 1959 short story "'—All You Zombies—'" by Robert A. Heinlein.

<i>Ten Thousand Saints</i> 2015 American film

Ten Thousand Saints is a 2015 American drama film written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. It is based on the novel of the same name by Eleanor Henderson. The film stars Asa Butterfield as Jude Keffy-Horn, the protagonist of the story.

<i>In a Valley of Violence</i> 2016 film

In a Valley of Violence is a 2016 American Western film written and directed by Ti West. Jason Blum serves as producer through his production company Blumhouse Productions. The film stars Ethan Hawke, Taissa Farmiga, James Ransone, Karen Gillan, and John Travolta.

<i>The Calling</i> (2014 film) 2014 Canadian crime thriller film

The Calling is a 2014 Canadian crime thriller film adapted from the 2008 novel of the same name by Michael Redhill. The film stars Susan Sarandon, Gil Bellows, Ellen Burstyn, Topher Grace, Donald Sutherland, and Christopher Heyerdahl.

<i>Mothers Day</i> (2016 film) 2016 film by Garry Marshall

Mother's Day is a 2016 American romantic comedy film directed by Garry Marshall and written by Marshall, Tom Hines, Lily Hollander, Anya Kochoff-Romano, and Matt Walker. It features an ensemble cast including Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Shay Mitchell, Julia Roberts, Jason Sudeikis, Timothy Olyphant, Britt Robertson, Jack Whitehall, Héctor Elizondo, and Margo Martindale. Filming began on August 18, 2015, in Atlanta. It was the final film of Marshall's career prior to his death in July 2016 as well as the final film appearance of his sister Penny before her death in December 2018.

<i>Hush</i> (2016 film) 2016 film by Mike Flanagan

Hush is a 2016 American slasher film directed and edited by Mike Flanagan, and starring Kate Siegel, who also co-wrote the film with Flanagan. The film co-stars John Gallagher Jr., Michael Trucco, Samantha Sloyan, and Emilia "Emma" Graves. It was jointly produced by Trevor Macy through Intrepid Pictures and Jason Blum through Blumhouse Productions.

<i>Stockholm</i> (2018 film) 2018 film by Robert Budreau

Stockholm is a 2018 crime comedy-drama film written, produced and directed by Robert Budreau. It stars Ethan Hawke, Noomi Rapace, Mark Strong, Christopher Heyerdahl, Bea Santos and Thorbjørn Harr. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 19, 2018, and was released on April 12, 2019, by Smith Global Media. The film is loosely based on the true story of the 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm.

<i>Juliet, Naked</i> (film) 2018 American romantic comedy film

Juliet, Naked is a 2018 romantic comedy film directed by Jesse Peretz based on Nick Hornby's 2009 novel of the same name. It centers on the story of Annie and her unlikely romance with singer-songwriter Tucker Crowe, who is also the subject of her boyfriend Duncan's long-time music obsession. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2018.

<i>Sextuplets</i> (film) 2019 American film

Sextuplets is a 2019 American comedy film directed by Michael Tiddes from a screenplay by Mike Glock, Rick Alvarez and Marlon Wayans. It stars Marlon Wayans and Bresha Webb, and follows a man who sets out to find his long-lost siblings after discovering he is one of sextuplets his mother had.

<i>A Dogs Journey</i> (film) 2019 film by Gail Mancuso

A Dog's Journey is a 2019 American adventure comedy drama film directed by Gail Mancuso in her feature film directorial debut and written by W. Bruce Cameron, Cathryn Michon, Maya Forbes, and Wally Wolodarsky. The film is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Cameron and is the sequel to the 2017 film A Dog's Purpose. The film stars Josh Gad, Dennis Quaid, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott, and Henry Lau.

<i>Cut Throat City</i> 2020 film directed by RZA

Cut Throat City is a 2020 American heist film directed by RZA from a screenplay by Paul Cuschieri. The film stars Shameik Moore, T.I., Demetrius Shipp Jr., Kat Graham, Wesley Snipes, Terrence Howard, Eiza González and Ethan Hawke.

<i>Run Sweetheart Run</i> 2020 film by Shana Feste

Run Sweetheart Run is a 2020 American supernatural horror film directed by Shana Feste from a screenplay by Feste, Keith Josef Adkins and Kellee Terrell. The film stars Ella Balinska, Pilou Asbæk, Dayo Okeniyi, Betsy Brandt, Ava Grey, Lamar Johnson, Jess Gabor, Clark Gregg, and Shohreh Aghdashloo.

<i>The Good Lord Bird</i> (miniseries) 2020 miniseries by Ethan Hawke

The Good Lord Bird is a 2020 American historical drama television miniseries, based on the 2013 novel of the same name by James McBride. Focusing on John Brown's attack on American slavery, the series was created and executive produced by Ethan Hawke and Mark Richard. Produced by Jason Blum, through Blumhouse Television, it premiered on October 4, 2020, on Showtime.

<i>The Spine of Night</i> 2021 animated fantasy horror film

The Spine of Night is a 2021 American adult animated dark fantasy horror film written and directed by Philip Gelatt and Morgan Galen King. It stars Richard E. Grant, Lucy Lawless, Patton Oswalt, Betty Gabriel, and Joe Manganiello.

References

  1. Radish, Christina (November 6, 2019). "Logan Marshall-Green on Making His Feature Directorial Debut with 'Adpot a Highway'". Collider. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  2. Puchko, Kristy (January 17, 2019). "Meet Get Out's Betty Gabriel, the fabulous queen of Blumhouse horror". SyfyWire. Syfy. Archived from the original on September 24, 2020. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  3. Kilday, Gregg (January 16, 2019). "SXSW: Olivia Wilde, Seth Rogen, Charlize Theron and Matthew McConaughey to Premiere New Work". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  4. Goldberg, Matt (January 15, 2018). "SXSW 2019 Lineup to Include 'The Beach Bum', 'Good Boys', and More". Collider . Retrieved January 17, 2019.
  5. Wiseman, Andreas (October 16, 2019). "RLJE Films Acquires Blumhouse Drama 'Adopt A Highway' Starring Ethan Hawke". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  6. "Adopt a Highway (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  7. "Adopt a Highway". Metacritic . Retrieved December 2, 2019.