Jonathan (2018 film)

Last updated

Jonathan
Jonathan film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byBill Oliver
Written by
Produced by
  • Randy Manis
  • Ricky Tollman
Starring
Cinematography Zach Kuperstein
Edited byTomas Vengris
Music by
  • Will Blair
  • Brooke Blair
Production
companies
  • Manis Film
  • Raised by Wolves
Distributed by Well Go USA
Release dates
Running time
95 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$41,558 [1]

Jonathan, also known as Duplicate, [2] is a 2018 American drama science fiction film directed by Bill Oliver and written by Gregory Davis, Peter Nickowitz and Oliver, starring Ansel Elgort.

Contents

It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2018. It was released on November 16, 2018, by Well Go USA.

Summary

The film explores the life of an individual with two identities; each functional for 12 hours each day. They communicate via recorded video messages. They are referred to as "brothers". They live in New York City. Jonathan is a draftsman for an architect. John is a clerk in a law firm. Each works part time and their circumstance is not known to the people they interact with. To sustain this life, they have agreed to follow a strict set of rules. Jonathan is more shy and reserved while John is more lively and outgoing. Jonathan is "active" from 7 am to 7 pm while John is "active" from 7 pm to 7 am. This results in John's personality being more nightlife-oriented. A doctor, Dr. Mina Nariman, has raised the abandoned Jonathan/John since birth and she has planted a device in their brain to allocate the day equally. She counsels each man separately.

John secretly starts dating a girl, Elena. Suspicious, Jonathan hires a detective to spy on his other half. The girlfriend is seen as a betrayal and causes Jonathan to become jealous and angry, ultimately telling Elena never to come back. John, furious, disappears and stops making videos for Jonathan.

Jonathan reaches out to Elena to attempt to amend his relationship with John, which he values dearly. However, over multiple meetings, in which Jonathan tells Elena about himself and John, Jonathan and Elena begin dating. Jonathan and John then ironically make up and begin making videos for each other again but Jonathan keeps his relationship with Elena a secret. Jonathan even has sex with Elena and tells John that he has lost his virginity but keeps his secret. Jonathan, feeling guilty, tells Dr. Nairman about Elena. Dr. Nariman, who has progressively revealed to the viewer her preference for John through dialogue with Jonathan, tells John about Elena. John ruins Jonathan's architecture job by sneaking into the office at night.

The conflict between the "brothers" grows. Jonathan wants to make amends with his other half but John descends into depression and anger, eventually repeatedly attempts to commit suicide. It is revealed that a third "brother" once existed but Dr. Nariman had him "removed" or killed. John demands to be removed and threatens to take Jonathan with him via suicide if Jonathan doesn't consent to his removal.

Abruptly, Dr. Nariman tells Jonathan that he is getting weaker while John, driven by his intense emotions and his fight with depression, is becoming stronger. John's "shifts" begin to become longer while Jonathan's shorten.

Jonathan accepts this fate. John takes a taxi to JFK, and on the way Jonathan orders the cab to stop on the side of the road, then "dies" on the beach, through a discussion with the cabbie, as the "shifts" become even shorter for Jonathan and eventually stop completely. John, with the sun in his face, returns to the cab and heads to JFK.

The movie ends without clarifying for the viewer whether Dr. Nariman had Jonathan "removed" or was telling the truth about the shortening shifts.

Cast

Production

In August 2016, it was announced Ansel Elgort had been cast in the film, with Bill Oliver directing from a screenplay he wrote, alongside Gregory Davis and Peter Nickowitz. Randy Manis and Ricky Tollman served as producers on the film, while Neal Dodson served as an executive producer. [3] In September 2016, Patricia Clarkson and Suki Waterhouse joined the cast of the film. [4] [5]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2018. [6] It also screened at the Los Angeles Film Festival on September 26, 2018. [7] [8] Shortly afterwards, Well Go USA acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, and set it for a November 16, 2018, release. [9] The film was released on Netflix streaming on January 15, 2019. [10]

Reception

Review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 61% rating, based on 28 reviews. [11] Metacritic gives a score of 62 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [12]

Variety film critic, Dennis Harvey, is not sure what genre to place this offbeat dual personality film, but he states: "'Jonathan' is an intelligent absorbing tale that provides an impressive showcase for 'Baby Driver' star Ansel Elgort". [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patricia Clarkson</span> American actress

Patricia Davies Clarkson is an American actress. She has starred in numerous leading and supporting roles in a variety of films ranging from independent film features to major film studio productions. Her accolades include a Golden Globe Award and three Primetime Emmy Awards, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award and a Tony Award.

Miguel Arteta is a Puerto Rican director of film and television, known for his independent film Chuck & Buck (2000), for which he received the Independent Spirit John Cassavetes Award, and for the films The Good Girl (2002) and Cedar Rapids (2011).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ansel Elgort</span> American actor and singer (born 1994)

Ansel Elgort is an American actor and singer. He began his acting career with a supporting role in the horror film Carrie (2013). He gained wider recognition for starring as a teenage cancer patient in the romantic drama film The Fault in Our Stars (2014) and for his supporting role in The Divergent Series (2014–2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suki Waterhouse</span> English actress, model and singer-songwriter (born 1992)

Alice Suki Waterhouse is an English singer-songwriter, actress and model. Waterhouse began a career in modelling at the age of 16, and she went on to model for several major fashion labels such as Burberry, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Laura Mercier and Ferragamo. Her first feature film as an actress was a minor role in Pusher (2012), and she has since appeared in films such as Love, Rosie (2013), The Divergent Series: Insurgent (2015),The Bad Batch (2016),Assassination Nation (2018), and Detective Pikachu (2019). Waterhouse portrayed Karen Sirko in the musical drama miniseries Daisy Jones & the Six (2023).

<i>Men, Women & Children</i> (film) 2014 film

Men, Women & Children is a 2014 American comedy-drama film directed by Jason Reitman and co-written with Erin Cressida Wilson, based on a novel of the same name written by Chad Kultgen that deals with online addiction. The film stars Rosemarie DeWitt, Jennifer Garner, Judy Greer, Dean Norris, Adam Sandler, Ansel Elgort, Kaitlyn Dever, and Timothée Chalamet in his film debut.

<i>November Criminals</i> (film) 2017 American film

November Criminals is a 2017 American crime drama film, directed by Sacha Gervasi and written by Gervasi and Steven Knight, and based on Sam Munson's 2010 novel The November Criminals. The film stars Ansel Elgort, Chloë Grace Moretz, Catherine Keener, and David Strathairn.

<i>The Seagull</i> (2018 film) 2018 American film

The Seagull is a 2018 American historical drama film directed by Michael Mayer with a screenplay by Stephen Karam, based on the 1896 play of the same name by Anton Chekhov. The film stars Annette Bening, Saoirse Ronan, Corey Stoll, Elisabeth Moss, Mare Winningham, Jon Tenney, Glenn Fleshler, Michael Zegen, Billy Howle and Brian Dennehy. Filming began in June 2015 in New York City, much of it shot in Monroe, New York, 50 miles north of New York City, and the world premiere took place at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 21, 2018, prior to general release on May 11, 2018, through Sony Pictures Classics.

<i>Billionaire Boys Club</i> (2018 film) 2018 film directed by James Cox

Billionaire Boys Club is a 2018 American biographical crime drama film directed by James Cox and co-written by Cox and Captain Mauzner. The film is about the social club and Ponzi scheme of the same name. The film stars Ansel Elgort, Taron Egerton, Emma Roberts, Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irvine, Thomas Cocquerel, Rosanna Arquette, Cary Elwes, and Judd Nelson. The film is based on the real-life Billionaire Boys Club from Southern California during the 1980s, a group of rich teenagers who got involved in a Ponzi scheme and, eventually, murder. The story was previously made into a television film in 1987, which starred Judd Nelson as Joe Hunt. Nelson plays that character's father in the 2018 version.

<i>The Goldfinch</i> (film) 2019 American film by John Crowley

The Goldfinch is a 2019 American drama film directed by John Crowley. It was written by Peter Straughan, who adapted the 2014 novel The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt. It stars Ansel Elgort as Theodore Decker, whose life changes after his mother dies in a terrorist bombing at a museum and a dying man convinces him to take a famous painting called The Goldfinch from the museum. Oakes Fegley, Aneurin Barnard, Finn Wolfhard, Sarah Paulson, Luke Wilson, Jeffrey Wright, and Nicole Kidman appear in supporting roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eva Vik</span> Czech screenwriter and director

Eva Vik is a Czech filmmaker, film director, screenwriter, and producer, represented by Ridley Scott Creative Group worldwide. She is known for films such as Serpentine (2023), Raven (2022) and Carte Blanche (2019). She has been recognized with numerous film awards for her rapidly rising career including the Breakout Director's Award at the Hollywood Film Festival, the Audience Award and the Best Genre Film Award at the Mammoth Film Festival, and the Best Director at HollyShorts Film Festival. Eva Vik's short film Serpentine (2023) has been nominated at the Tribeca Film Festival for the X Award and has over 2 million views on Nowness. Moreover, Eva Vik was awarded at Centre Pompidou for her Transformational Trilogy Sounds of Sun, Somnio, Samice in 2019. In 2021, Forbes magazine ranked Eva Vik among the 30 most influential people under 30.

<i>Zoe</i> (film) 2018 American science fiction film

Zoe is a 2018 American romantic science fiction film directed by Drake Doremus and starring Ewan McGregor, Léa Seydoux, Christina Aguilera, Rashida Jones, and Miranda Otto.

<i>The Miseducation of Cameron Post</i> (film) 2018 film by Desiree Akhavan

The Miseducation of Cameron Post is a 2018 coming-of-age drama film directed by Desiree Akhavan and written by Akhavan and Cecilia Frugiuele, based on the 2012 novel by Emily M. Danforth. It stars Chloë Grace Moretz, John Gallagher Jr., Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, Marin Ireland, Owen Campbell, Kerry Butler, Quinn Shephard, Emily Skeggs, Melanie Ehrlich, and Jennifer Ehle. Moretz plays a teenager sent to a gay conversion therapy centre. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2018. It was released in the United States on August 3, 2018, by FilmRise, and United Kingdom on September 7, 2018, by Vertigo Releasing. It received positive reviews and has grossed $2 million globally.

<i>Assassination Nation</i> 2018 film by Sam Levinson

Assassination Nation is a 2018 American satirical black comedy horror thriller film written and directed by Sam Levinson. It stars an ensemble cast led by Odessa Young, Suki Waterhouse, Hari Nef, and Abra. The film takes place in the fictional town of Salem, which devolves into chaos and violence after a computer hacker discovers and leaks personal secrets about many of its residents.

<i>Charlie Says</i> (2018 film) 2018 American biographical drama film by Mary Harron

Charlie Says is a 2018 American biographical drama film directed by Mary Harron and starring Hannah Murray as Leslie Van Houten and Matt Smith as infamous cult leader Charles Manson.

<i>Lost Transmissions</i> 2019 drama film

Lost Transmissions is a 2019 drama film written and directed by Katharine O'Brien. It stars Simon Pegg, Juno Temple, and Alexandra Daddario. It premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 28, 2019 and it was released on March 13, 2020 by Gravitas Ventures.

<i>The Kill Team</i> (2019 film) 2019 American war drama film

The Kill Team is a 2019 American war drama film written and directed by Dan Krauss. It is a fictionalized adaptation of the Maywand District murders, which were also explored by Krauss's 2013 documentary of the same name. It stars Alexander Skarsgård, Nat Wolff, Rob Morrow, Adam Long, Jonathan Whitesell, Brian Marc, Osy Ikhile, and Anna Francolini. The film follows a young U.S. Army recruit (Wolff) who becomes conflicted with his morals when his platoon, under his superior, Sergeant Deeks (Skarsgård), participate in murdering civilians in Afghanistan.

Katharine O'Brien is an American film director, screenwriter, film editor, camera operator, art director, and executive producer best known for her work on The Automatic Hate and Lost Transmissions.

<i>The God Committee</i> 2021 American film

The God Committee is a 2021 American drama film, adapted and directed by Austin Stark, based on the play of the same name by Mark St. Germain. It stars Kelsey Grammer, Julia Stiles, Janeane Garofalo, Dan Hedaya, and Colman Domingo. The film focuses on organ transplant systems and the impact they have on the people involved.

<i>Dalíland</i> 2022 American film

Dalíland is a 2022 American biographical film directed by Mary Harron. It is based on the true story of surrealist painter Salvador Dalí and his tempestuous marriage to muse and wife Gala during the 1970s. The film stars Ben Kingsley, Barbara Sukowa, Christopher Briney, Rupert Graves, Alexander Beyer, Andreja Pejić, Suki Waterhouse, and Ezra Miller.

<i>The Perfect Find</i> 2023 film by Numa Perrier

The Perfect Find is a 2023 American romantic comedy film written by Leigh Davenport and directed by Numa Perrier. It is based on the book of the same name by Tia Williams. The film stars Gabrielle Union, Keith Powers, Aisha Hinds, D. B. Woodside, La La Anthony and Gina Torres.

References

  1. ↑ "Jonathan (2018)". Box Office Mojo . Retrieved November 8, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Duplicate". Amazon UK.
  3. ↑ McNary, Dave (August 3, 2016). "Ansel Elgort Will Play Twins in Indie Drama 'Jonathan'". Variety . Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  4. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (September 15, 2016). "Patricia Clarkson Joins Ansel Elgort In 'Jonathan' Pic". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  5. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 28, 2016). "Suki Waterhouse Schedules A Date With 'Jonathan'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Jonathan | Tribeca Film Festival 2018". Tribeca Film Festival. Archived from the original on June 17, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  7. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (August 22, 2018). "Ike Barinholtz & Tiffany Haddish's 'The Oath' To World Premiere At Los Angeles Film Festival". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  8. ↑ "Jonathan". Los Angeles Film Festival . Retrieved August 22, 2018.
  9. ↑ McNary, Dave (September 25, 2018). "Ansel Elgort-Starrer 'Jonathan' Bought by Well Go for North America (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Jonathan" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  11. ↑ "Jonathan (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango . Retrieved October 30, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Jonathan Reviews". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  13. ↑ Harvey, Dennis (April 21, 2018). "Film Review: 'Jonathan'" . Retrieved April 16, 2019.
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.