Downtown Owl (film)

Last updated

Downtown Owl
Downtown Owl Poster.jpg
Release poster
Directed by
Screenplay byHamish Linklater
Based on Downtown Owl
by Chuck Klosterman
Produced by
  • Lily Rabe
  • Hamish Linklater
  • Bettina Barrow
  • Rebecca Green
Starring
CinematographyBart Cortright
Edited byNena Erb
Music by T Bone Burnett
Production
companies
Distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
  • June 8, 2023 (2023-06-08)(Tribeca)
  • April 26, 2024 (2024-04-26)(United States)
Running time
88 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Downtown Owl is a 2023 American comedy drama film directed by Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater, in their directorial debuts, from a screenplay by Linklater. It is based on the 2008 novel by Chuck Klosterman. The film is produced by Rabe, Bettina Barrow, Linklater (in his debut production), and Rebecca Green under Kill Claudio Productions, Three Point Capital and Esme Grace Media, in association with Stage 6 Films. It stars Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, August Blanco Rosenstein, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wittrock, and Henry Golding.

Contents

Downtown Owl premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 8, 2023. [2] It was released in the United States on April 26, 2024. [3]

Premise

Set in 1983, in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota, the story centers around three intangibly connected residents—Horace, an old man who spends his afternoons reminiscing better times from the past at the local coffee shop, Mitch, a depressed high school backup quarterback, and Julia, an English teacher at the local high school who recently moved to Owl—whose lives, along with those of the town’s other residents, are upended by a whiteout blizzard.

Cast

Production

In October 2012, it was announced Adam Scott and Naomi Scott had optioned rights to Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman for a planned film adaption to produce under their Gettin Rad Productions banner. [4]

In April 2022, it was announced Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, and Jack Dylan Grazer had joined the cast of the film, with Rabe directing and producing alongside Hamish Linklater who wrote the screenplay, and her producing partner Bettina Barrow under their banner, Kill Claudio Productions with Sony Pictures' Stage 6 Films overseeing production and Sony Pictures Releasing set to distribute. [5] [6] [7] The film was a part of the Sundance Institute's Feature Film Program and Creative Producing Initiative under the organization's Creative Producing Summit and Talent Forum. [6] [8] It was also announced that T Bone Burnett had signed on to compose the film score, and Rebecca Green and Michael Melamedoff were co-producing under Three Point Capital and Esme Grace Media. [5] [9] [10] The following day, it was revealed that Henry Golding had joined the cast of the film. [11] [12]

Principal photography took place throughout April 2022, in Minnesota. [13] Filming took place in Saint Paul, [14] Independence, [15] and Elko New Market. [16] [17] [18]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 50% of 14 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.2/10. [19]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chuck Klosterman</span> American author and columnist

Charles John Klosterman is an American author and essayist whose work focuses on American popular culture. He has been a columnist for Esquire and ESPN.com and wrote "The Ethicist" column for The New York Times Magazine. Klosterman is the author of twelve books, including two novels and the essay collection Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto. He was awarded the ASCAP Deems Taylor award for music criticism in 2002.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lily Rabe</span> American actress (born 1982)

Lily Rabe is an American actress. She is best known for her multiple roles on the FX anthology horror series American Horror Story (2011–2021). For her performance as Portia in the Broadway production of The Merchant of Venice, she received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vanessa Hudgens</span> American actress and singer (born 1988)

Vanessa Anne Hudgens is an American actress and singer. After making her feature film debut in Thirteen (2003), Hudgens rose to fame portraying Gabriella Montez in the High School Musical film series (2006–2008), which brought her significant mainstream media success. The success of the first film led Hudgens to acquire a recording contract with Hollywood Records, with whom she released two studio albums, V (2006) and Identified (2008).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hamish Linklater</span> American actor (born 1976)

Hamish Linklater is an American actor and playwright. He is known for playing Matthew Kimble in The New Adventures of Old Christine, Andrew Keanelly in The Crazy Ones, and Clark Debussy in Legion. He is the son of dramatic vocal trainer Kristin Linklater. In 2021, he starred as Father Paul in the horror miniseries Midnight Mass, for which he received high critical acclaim.

The National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble is an annual film award given by the National Board of Review.

<i>Downtown Owl</i> 2008 novel by Chuck Klosterman

Downtown Owl: A Novel is a novel written by Chuck Klosterman, first published by Scribner in 2008. It is the author's first all-fictional publication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stage 6 Films</span> American film producer

Stage 6 Films, Inc. is an American film production label of Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions that acquires and produces feature films that are low budget and that are being released direct-to-disc, on demand, or through streaming services. Some of their films are also being released theatrically. Once a film is finished, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions will decide if the film will be released theatrically or on a different platform.

<i>Beastly</i> (film) 2011 American film

Beastly is a 2011 American romantic fantasy drama film loosely based on Alex Flinn's 2007 novel of the same name. It is a retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast and is set in modern-day New York City. The film was written and directed by Daniel Barnz and stars Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Finn Wittrock</span> American actor

Peter L. Wittrock Jr., known as Finn Wittrock, is an American actor who began his career in guest roles on several television shows. He made his film debut in 2004, in Halloweentown High before returning to films in the 2010 film Twelve. After studying theater at The Juilliard School, he was a regular in the soap opera All My Children from 2009 to 2011, while performing in several theatrical productions. In 2011, he performed in playwright Tony Kushner's Off-Broadway play The Illusion and made his Broadway debut in 2012 as Happy Loman in the revival of Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, directed by Mike Nichols.

<i>American Horror Story: Freak Show</i> Fourth season of American Horror Story

The fourth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Freak Show, is set in 1952 Jupiter, Florida, telling the story of one of the last remaining freak shows in the United States and their struggle for survival. The ensemble cast includes Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Michael Chiklis, Frances Conroy, Emma Roberts, Denis O'Hare, Finn Wittrock, Angela Bassett, Kathy Bates and Jessica Lange, with all returning from previous seasons, except newcomers Chiklis and Wittrock. The season marks the first not to be strictly anthological, with Lily Rabe, Naomi Grossman, and John Cromwell reprising their roles from the series' second cycle, Asylum.

<i>American Horror Story: Roanoke</i> Sixth season of American Horror Story

The sixth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Roanoke, follows supernatural experiences around a haunted house and its surroundings in North Carolina. The first half of the season is presented as a paranormal documentary entitled My Roanoke Nightmare, which reenacts the experiences of a married couple who lived in the house. The second half is presented as found footage and depicts the doomed production of the documentary's sequel. The ensemble cast includes Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Cuba Gooding Jr., Lily Rabe, Adina Porter, André Holland, Denis O'Hare, Wes Bentley, Evan Peters, Cheyenne Jackson, and Angela Bassett with all returning from previous seasons, except Gooding Jr. and Holland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Dylan Grazer</span> American actor (born 2003)

Jack Dylan Grazer is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Eddie Kaspbrak in the horror film It (2017) and its 2019 sequel, Freddy Freeman in the DC Extended Universe film Shazam! (2019) and its 2023 sequel, and voicing Alberto Scorfano in the Pixar animated film Luca (2021). The Hollywood Reporter named him one of the top 30 stars under age 18 in 2018.

Tell Me Your Secrets is an American thriller drama television series created by Harriet Warner that was set to premiere on TNT before premiering on Amazon Prime Video on February 19, 2021. The series was also written by Warner who executive produced alongside Bruna Papandrea and Casey Haver.

<i>A Midsummer Nights Dream</i> (2017 film) 2017 American film

A Midsummer Night's Dream is a 2017 film adaptation of the play A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. The film is a modern rendition that relocates the story from ancient Athens to present day Los Angeles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ed Harris filmography</span>

Ed Harris is an American actor, producer, director, and screenwriter. His performances in Apollo 13 (1995), The Truman Show (1998), Pollock (2000) and The Hours (2002) earned him critical acclaim in addition to Academy Award nominations. Harris has appeared in several leading and supporting roles, such as in The Right Stuff (1983), Sweet Dreams (1985),The Abyss (1989), State of Grace (1990), Glengarry Glen Ross (1992), Nixon (1995), The Rock (1996), Stepmom (1998), A Beautiful Mind (2001), Enemy at the Gates (2001), A History of Violence (2005), Gone Baby Gone (2007), Snowpiercer (2013), and Mother! (2017). In addition to directing Pollock, Harris also directed the western Appaloosa (2008). In television, Harris is notable for his roles as Miles Roby in the miniseries Empire Falls (2005) and as United States Senator John McCain in the television movie Game Change (2012), the latter of which earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film. He starred as the Man in Black in the HBO science fiction-western series Westworld (2016–2022), for which he earned a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

<i>American Horror Story: 1984</i> Ninth season of American Horror Story

The ninth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled 1984, takes place outside Los Angeles during the 1980s and focuses on the staff of a summer camp reopening after a massacre 14 years prior. It has been described as being heavily influenced by classic slasher films, such as Friday the 13th (1980) and Halloween (1978). The ensemble cast includes Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Cody Fern, Matthew Morrison, Gus Kenworthy, John Carroll Lynch, Angelica Ross, and Zach Villa, with all returning from previous seasons, except newcomers Morrison, Kenworthy, Ross, and Villa. The season marks the first to not feature cast mainstays Sarah Paulson and Evan Peters.

<i>A Mouthful of Air</i> (film) 2021 American film

A Mouthful of Air is a 2021 American psychological drama film written, directed and produced by Amy Koppelman, based on her 2003 novel of the same name. It stars Amanda Seyfried, Finn Wittrock, Jennifer Carpenter, Michael Gaston, Amy Irving, and Paul Giamatti.

<i>American Horror Story: Double Feature</i> Season of television series

The tenth season of the American horror anthology television series American Horror Story, subtitled Double Feature, is composed of two stories, each taking up half the season. The first story, Red Tide, focuses on a family in Provincetown, Massachusetts, who meet the town's mysterious true inhabitants. The second story, Death Valley, follows a group of camping students who find themselves in the midst of a conspiracy involving extraterrestrials. The ensemble cast includes veterans Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Lily Rabe, Finn Wittrock, Frances Conroy, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Adina Porter, and Angelica Ross, as well as newcomers Macaulay Culkin, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, Neal McDonough, Kaia Gerber, Nico Greetham, Isaac Powell, Rachel Hilson, and Rebecca Dayan.

Redemption Trail is a 2013 American drama film written and directed by Britta Sjogren and starring Lily Rabe, LisaGay Hamilton, Jake Weber and Hamish Linklater.

The Nickel Boys is an upcoming American historical drama film based on the 2019 novel by Colson Whitehead. It was directed by RaMell Ross, who co-wrote the screenplay with Joslyn Barnes, and stars Aunjanue Ellis, Ethan Herisse, Fred Hechinger, Hamish Linklater and Brandon Wilson.

References

  1. ↑ "Downtown Owl (15)". BBFC . February 5, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  2. ↑ Goldsmith, Jill (April 18, 2023). "Tribeca Festival's 2023 Film Lineup Includes 'Maggie Moore(s)' With Tina Fey & Jon Hamm, 'First Time Female Director', Marvel's 'Stan Lee' Doc, More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. ↑ Kimathi, Denis (March 25, 2024). "'Downtown Owl' Trailer Reunites 'American Horror Story' Stars Lily Rabe and Finn Wittrock". Collider. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. ↑ Rose, Lacey (October 15, 2012). "Adam Scott and Wife Launch Production Co., Option Chuck Klosterman Novel, Add Adult Swim Specials (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  5. 1 2 DeVore, Britta (April 13, 2022). "Lily Rabe to Direct and Star in 'Downtown Owl' Alongside Vanessa Hudgens and Finn Wittrock". Collider. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  6. 1 2 Kroll, Justin (April 13, 2022). "Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens and Finn Wittrock To Star In Sony's Adaptation Of Chuck Klosterman's 'Downtown Owl'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  7. ↑ "Lily Rabe To Direct, Star in 'Downtown Owl' Film". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  8. ↑ Grobar, Justin (April 14, 2022). "Henry Golding Boards Sony's Drama 'Downtown Owl' From Directors Lily Rabe & Hamish Linklater". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  9. ↑ "T Bone Burnett to Compose Music for Lily Rabe's & Hamish Linklater's 'Downtown Owl' | Film Music Reporter" . Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  10. ↑ "Downtown Owl sets cast and directors for an rural 80s 'white-out' drama". Film Stories. April 14, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Henry Golding Joins Ed Harris & More in New Drama Movie Downtown Owl". ScreenRant. April 15, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  12. ↑ Galuppo, Mia (April 14, 2022). "Henry Golding Joins Sony's Chuck Klosterman Adaptation 'Downtown Owl' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Film Production Tax Credit Draws Indie Film With Star-Studded Cast To St. Paul". CBS News . April 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Film crew in St. Paul shooting adaptation of Chuck Klosterman's 'Downtown Owl'". Twin Cities. April 23, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  15. ↑ Raihala, Ross (April 23, 2022). "Film crew in St. Paul shooting adaptation of Chuck Klosterman's 'Downtown Owl'". St. Paul Pioneer Press . Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  16. ↑ Reilly, Mark (April 27, 2022). "Film crews in Minnesota shooting 'Downtown Owl,' based on Chuck Klosterman novel". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal . Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  17. ↑ Vanessa Hudgens [@vanessahudgens] (April 23, 2022). "Transported to the 80's. By @lilyrabe and @therealhamishlinklater filming Downtown Owl 🥰🥳🎥" – via Instagram.
  18. ↑ Hewitt, Chris (April 27, 2022). "Oscar nominee Ed Harris and cast finishing up Minnesota-shot movie 'Downtown Owl'". Star Tribune . Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  19. ↑ "Downtown Owl". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved April 26, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.