Hard Truths

Last updated
Hard Truths
Hardtruths.jpg
U.S. theatrical release poster
Directed by Mike Leigh
Written byMike Leigh
Produced by Georgina Lowe
Starring
Cinematography Dick Pope
Edited byTania Reddin
Music by Gary Yershon
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 6 September 2024 (2024-09-06)(TIFF)
  • 10 January 2025 (2025-01-10)(United Kingdom)
  • 28 February 2025 (2025-02-28)(Spain)
Running time
97 minutes [1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • Spain
LanguageEnglish

Hard Truths is a 2024 drama film written and directed by Mike Leigh, starring Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Michele Austin, and David Webber. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2024, and will be released in the United Kingdom in January 2025. [2] Hard Truths was theatrically released in the United States on 6 December 2024 by Bleecker Street. [3] [4] It received critical praise, with Jean-Baptiste receiving widespread acclaim for her performance, and was named one of the top 10 independent films of 2024 by the National Board of Review. [5]

Contents

Plot

Set in London, the plot follows the plight of depressed middle-aged woman Pansy and her relationship with her close ones—including the crumbling relationship with her jovial sister, Chantelle (who is a polar opposite in terms of mood), and the state of her other interpersonal relationships. [6] [7]

Cast

Production

In February 2020, it was reported that Mike Leigh would begin shooting his latest film in the summer. [9] After a delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was announced in February 2023 that the film would go into production that year. [10] In February 2024, it was reported that the film would star Marianne Jean-Baptiste and Michele Austin. Jean-Baptiste and Austin had previously collaborated with Leigh in Secrets & Lies. [11] [12]

Release

Hard Truths premiered in the Special Presentations section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival on 6 September 2024. [3] It also screened at the 72nd San Sebastián International Film Festival and the 2024 New York Film Festival. [13] [14] The film had its United Kingdom premiere at the London Film Festival on 14 October 2024. [2] In the United Kingdom, StudioCanal will release the film in January 2025. [2] In Spain, BTeam Pictures will release the film on 28 February 2025. [15] In the United States, Bleecker Street will give the film a limited theatrical release in New York on 6 December 2024 followed by a nationwide release on 10 January 2025. [4] The film was rejected by Cannes and Venice, where Leigh had in previous years taken the top prize (the Palme d'Or and the Golden Lion, respectively), in addition to the Telluride Film Festival. [16]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 97% of 63 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 8.1/10.The website's consensus reads: "Marianne Jean-Baptiste puts on a prickly masterclass in Hard Truths, another superb character study from writer-director Mike Leigh." [17] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 87 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "universal acclaim". [18]

Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian rated the film four out of five stars, describing it as "a deeply sober, sombre, compassionate drama about a black British family". [6]

Accolades

Marianne Jean-Baptiste has received critical praise for her performance. Marianne Jean Baptiste by RealTVfilms.jpg
Marianne Jean-Baptiste has received critical praise for her performance.
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)ResultRef.
San Sebastián International Film Festival 28 September 2024 Golden Seashell Hard TruthsNominated [19]
Denver Film Festival 10 November 2024Excellence in Acting Award Marianne Jean-Baptiste Won [20]
Gotham Awards 2 December 2024 Outstanding Lead Performance Nominated [21]
Best International Feature Mike Leigh, Georgina Lowe Nominated
New York Film Critics Circle 3 December 2024 Best Actress Marianne Jean-BaptisteWon [22]
National Board of Review 4 December 2024 Top 10 Independent FilmsHard TruthsWon [a] [23]
Los Angeles Film Critics Association 8 December 2024 Best Lead Performance Marianne Jean-BaptisteWon [b] [24]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards 8 December 2024 Best Actress Nominated [25]
British Independent Film Awards 8 December 2024 Best Lead PerformanceWon [26]
Best Supporting Performance Michele Austin Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society 9 December 2024 Best Actress Marianne Jean-BaptisteWon [27]
Chicago Film Critics Association 11 December 2024 Best Actress Won [28]
St. Louis Film Critics Association 15 December 2024 Best Actress Runner-up [29]
Original Screenplay Mike LeighRunner-up
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle 15 December 2024 Best Film Hard TruthsNominated [30]
Best Director Mike LeighNominated
Best Actress Marianne Jean-BaptisteWon
Best Original Screenplay Mike LeighNominated
Seattle Film Critics Society 16 December 2024 Best ActressMarianne Jean-BaptistePending [31]
New York Film Critics Online 16 December 2024Best ActressPending [32]
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards 11 January 2025 Best Actress Pending [33]
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 12 January 2025 Best Actress Pending [34]
Independent Spirit Awards 22 February 2025 Best International Film Hard TruthsPending [35]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists TBABest ActressMarianne Jean-BaptistePending [36]

Notes

  1. ↑ This award does not have a single winner, but recognizes multiple films.
  2. ↑ Since merging gendered categories for both lead and supporting, LAFCA has awarded two winners per category. Thus, Jean-Baptiste shared her win with Mikey Madison from Anora .

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Hard Truths (12A)". Irish Film Classification Office . April 2, 2024. Retrieved September 19, 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Hard Truths: Mike Leigh and Marianne Jean-Baptiste reunite for 'dazzling' film". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  3. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (22 July 2024). "TIFF Galas & Special Presentations Lineup Includes World Premieres From Angelina Jolie, Mike Leigh, Gia Coppola; Starry Pics With Jennifer Lopez, Lily James, Dave Bautista; Int'l Premieres 'Conclave' & 'Piece By Piece', More". Deadline. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  4. 1 2 Murphy, Chris (22 August 2024). ""It's a Terrifying and Freeing Way To Work": Marianne Jean-Baptiste on Making Mike Leigh's 'Hard Truths'". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
  5. ↑ "Top 10 Independent Films Archives". National Board of Review. Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  6. 1 2 Bradshaw, Peter (7 September 2024). "Hard Truths review – a Mike Leigh classic of day-to-day disillusionment and courage". The Guardian .
  7. ↑ Josh, Slater-Williams (21 October 2024). ""People should have freedom to make the films they want to make": Mike Leigh on rejection and the challenges for young filmmakers – LFF Screen Talk". British Film Institute .
  8. ↑ Larson, Sarah (2024-12-08). "Mike Leigh's Love Affair with Real Life". The New Yorker. ISSN   0028-792X . Retrieved 2024-12-12.
  9. ↑ Brew, Simon (18 February 2020). "Mike Leigh's new film to shoot this summer". Film Stories.
  10. ↑ Ritman, Alex (15 February 2023). "Mike Leigh to Start Shooting Secretive New Project This Year (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  11. ↑ Ntim, Zac (14 February 2024). "Mike Leigh Reteams With Marianne Jean-Baptiste On Latest Feature 'Hard Truths,' First Look Revealed". Deadline.
  12. ↑ Welk, Brian (14 February 2024). "Mike Leigh Reunites with Marianne Jean-Baptiste in First Look at Director's New Film 'Hard Truths'". IndieWire. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  13. ↑ Roxborough, Scott (30 July 2024). "San Sebastian Competition Sets New Films From Mike Leigh, Edward Berger, Joshua Oppenheimer". The Hollywood Reporter .
  14. ↑ "Hard Truths". Film at Lincoln Center. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  15. ↑ "Mi única familia (Hard Truths)". BTeam Pictures. Retrieved 18 October 2024.
  16. ↑ Coyle, Jake (9 September 2024). "Mike Leigh on Hard Truths and his moviemaking struggles". Associated Press . Retrieved 9 September 2024.
  17. ↑ "Hard Truths". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved December 6, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  18. ↑ "Hard Truths". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  19. ↑ Taylor, Nick. "San Sebastián Announces Their Competition Slate!". The Film Experience. Retrieved 21 August 2024.
  20. ↑ "Denver Film Festival 2024: New red-carpet venue, movies, and celebs for 47th year". The Denver Post. 2024-10-01. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  21. ↑ "AwardsWatch - 2024 Gotham Awards: 'Anora,' 'Nickel Boys,' 'I Saw the TV Glow' Lead Nominations". AwardsWatch. 2024-10-29. Retrieved 2024-10-30.
  22. ↑ Frank, Jason P. (2024-12-03). "The 2024 New York Film Critics Circle Award Winners". Vulture . Retrieved 2024-12-04.
  23. ↑ Lattanzio, Ryan (December 4, 2024). "'Wicked' and Jon M. Chu Win Big with the National Board of Review — See the Full List". IndieWire . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  24. ↑ Garner, Glenn (2024-12-08). "Anora Named Best Picture At 50th Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award: Winners List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved 2024-12-09. Anora star Mikey Madison won Best Leading Performance, along with Hard Truths star Marianne Jean-Baptiste.
  25. ↑ Neglia, Matt (2024-12-08). "The 2024 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 2024-12-09. Winner was Mikey Madison for Anora.
  26. ↑ Szalai, Georg (2024-11-05). "British Independent Film Awards: Kneecap, Love Lies Bleeding Lead Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  27. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 6, 2024). "The 2024 San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations". NextBestPicture. Retrieved December 7, 2024.
  28. ↑ "The 2024 Chicago Film Critics Association (CFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  29. ↑ "The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 2024-12-07. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  30. ↑ "2024 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". AwardsWatch. 2024-12-10. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
  31. ↑ Josh (December 6, 2024). "Seattle Film Critics Society announce 2024 nominees". The SunBreak . Retrieved December 6, 2024.
  32. ↑ "The 2024 New York Film Critics Online (NYFCO) Nominations". Next Best Picture. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  33. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (20 November 2024). "Movies for Grownups Awards: 'Conclave' Leads With 6 Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved 20 November 2024.
  34. ↑ Evans, Greg (December 12, 2024). "Conclave And Wicked Lead Critics Choice Awards Film Nominations – Full List". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 12, 2024.
  35. ↑ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (December 4, 2024). "Spirit Awards 2025 Nominations: 'Anora' and 'I Saw the TV Glow' Lead Film Categories, 'Shōgun' Rules TV". Variety . Retrieved December 5, 2024.
  36. ↑ "The 2024 EDA Award Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists . 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2024-12-13.
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