Lemon (2017 film)

Last updated
Lemon
Lemon film poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Janicza Bravo
Written by
Produced by
  • David Bernon
  • Paul Bernon
  • Houston King
  • Sam Slater
  • Han West
Starring
CinematographyJason McCormick
Edited by Joi McMillon
Music byHeather Christian
Production
companies
Distributed by Magnolia Pictures
Release dates
  • January 22, 2017 (2017-01-22)(Sundance)
  • August 18, 2017 (2017-08-18)(United States)
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Lemon is an American comedy-drama film directed by Janicza Bravo in her feature directorial debut, from a screenplay by Bravo and Brett Gelman. It stars Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera, Shiri Appleby, Fred Melamed, Rhea Perlman, David Paymer, Gillian Jacobs, Jon Daly, Martin Starr, Megan Mullally, Jeff Garlin, Elizabeth De Razzo, Marla Gibbs and Nia Long.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2017. It was released in a limited release and through video on demand on August 18, 2017, by Magnolia Pictures.

Plot

Isaac is a middle-aged actor who lives with his girlfriend, Ramona, who is blind and works for a pharmaceutical company that requires her to travel frequently.

Isaac leads an acting workshop where he routinely lavishes praise on Alex, his star pupil who is also a working actor, while either denigrating or ignoring Tracy, another one of his students. He is secretly jealous of Alex as his own acting career has devolved into commercial and modeling work for pharmaceutical products.

After overhearing a message from Ramona in which a man can be heard in the background, Isaac has a breakdown. He invites Alex over for dinner, accusing him of using him and then trying to kiss him. Afterward, Ramona returns home from her trip and breaks up with Isaac ending their 10-year relationship.

Isaac goes to his family's home for Passover. His entire family is involved in petty grievances with one another and Isaac fails to mention that he and Ramona have broken up.

Isaac decides to ask out Cleopatra, a makeup artist he met on a photo shoot. The date does not go well but after Isaac admits he was nervous Cleopatra decides to give him a second chance. Their follow-up date does not go well either, but Isaac continues to worm his way into Cleopatra's life.

Attending a barbecue with Cleopatra's family, Isaac has awkward conversations with her family, and eventually takes a couple hits from a blunt. While high, Isaac converses with Cleopatra's aunt, who he seems to hear tell him she is lonely, and she urges him to "run". He tries to escape with her, but Cleopatra tracks them down and returns home with her aunt.

After rushing home to go to the bathroom he hears Ramona entering the house and pleads with her to come back. She tells him she has only come to return her house key and leaves.

Cast

Production

In August 2016, it was announced that Brett Gelman, Judy Greer, Michael Cera, Nia Long, Fred Melamed, Shiri Appleby, Rhea Perlman, David Paymer, Gillian Jacobs, Megan Mullally, Martin Starr, Jeff Garlin and Marla Gibbs would star in the film, with Janicza Bravo directing and executive producing the film from a screenplay she wrote alongside Gelman. Paul Bernon, Sam Slater, David Bernon, Han West, Houston King, Christine Vachon, and David Hinojosa would serve as producers and executive producers, respectively, under their Burn Later Productions and Killer Films banners. [1] [2] [3]

Filming

Principal photography concluded in August 2016. [1]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2017. [4] [5] The film also opened the 46th International Film Festival Rotterdam January 25, 2017. [6] It also screened at South by Southwest on March 10, 2017. [7] [8] Shortly after, Magnolia Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film. [9] It was released on August 18, 2017. [10]

Critical reception

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 55% based on 47 reviews, with an average rating of 5.3 out of 10. The site's critical consensus says "Lemon succeeds in its aim as a tart satire, but audiences may find this foray into abrasiveness too sour to swallow." [11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 59 out of 100 based on reviews from 20 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". [12]

Todd McCarthy of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, and wrote: "Lemon represents a feature debut of unusual assurance and control with a style all its own." [13]

Owen Gleiberman of Variety gave it a mixed review: "Lemon is a comedy of miserablism that keeps poking you in the ribs — and, quite often, fails to hit the rib it’s aiming for. Yet it’s a watchable curio, because beneath it all the director, the Panamanian-born Janicza Bravo, has a more conventional sensibility than she lets on." [14]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shiri Appleby</span> American actress (born 1978)

Shiri Freda Appleby is an American actress and television director. She is best known for her leading roles as Liz Parker in the WB/UPN science fiction drama series Roswell (1999–2002) and Rachel Goldberg in the Lifetime/Hulu drama series Unreal (2015–2018).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Cera</span> Canadian actor (born 1988)

Michael Austin Cera is a Canadian actor. He is known for frequently portraying awkward, shy, quirky, and offbeat characters on stage and screen. Over his career he has received include nominations for a British Academy Film Award, three Critics' Choice Movie Awards, and four Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christine Vachon</span> American film producer

Christine Vachon is an American film producer active in the American independent film sector.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Melamed</span> American actor (born 1956)

Fred Melamed is an American actor. After spending most of his early career primarily as a renowned voice over artist, and occasionally playing small roles in films, notably in seven films directed by Woody Allen, he established himself as a revered character actor, with his role as Sy Ableman in the Coen Brothers' A Serious Man (2009). Other notable film credits have included In a World... (2012), Hail, Caesar! (2016), and Shiva Baby (2020).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Gelman</span> American actor and comedian (born 1976)

Brett Gelman is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his role as Murray Bauman in Netflix's horror-supernatural series Stranger Things and as Martin in the BBC comedy Fleabag.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Killer Films</span> American independent film production company

Killer Films is a New York City-based independent film production company founded in 1995 by film producers Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler. The company has produced many acclaimed independent films over the past two decades including Far From Heaven, Boys Don't Cry, One Hour Photo, Kids, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Happiness, Velvet Goldmine, Safe, I Shot Andy Warhol, Swoon, I'm Not There, Kill Your Darlings, Still Alice and Carol. Killer Films also executive produced Todd Haynes' five episode HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce, which went on to win five Emmys, a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

<i>In a World...</i> 2013 comedy film by Lake Bell

In a World... is a 2013 American comedy film written, directed, starring, and co-produced by Lake Bell. The film stars Bell as a vocal coach who does voice-overs for film trailers. The film co-stars Demetri Martin, Fred Melamed, Rob Corddry, Michaela Watkins, Ken Marino, Nick Offerman, and Tig Notaro.

<i>Gregory Go Boom</i> 2013 American film

Gregory Go Boom is a 2013 comedy drama short film, written and directed by Janicza Bravo. The film premiered at Jash during YouTube Comedy Week on May 23, 2013.

<i>Ill See You in My Dreams</i> (2015 film) Film by Brett Haley

I'll See You in My Dreams is a 2015 American comedy-drama film directed, co-written, and co-produced by Brett Haley. It stars Blythe Danner, Martin Starr, Sam Elliott, Malin Åkerman, June Squibb, Rhea Perlman, and Mary Kay Place.

<i>Wilson</i> (2017 film) 2017 American film

Wilson is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed by Craig Johnson and written by Daniel Clowes, based on Clowes' graphic novel Wilson. The film stars Woody Harrelson, Laura Dern, Isabella Amara, Judy Greer, and Cheryl Hines.

<i>Person to Person</i> (film) 2017 American drama film by Dustin Guy Defa

Person to Person is a 2017 American drama film directed and written by Dustin Guy Defa. The film stars Michael Cera, Tavi Gevinson, and Abbi Jacobson.

Janicza Michelle Bravo Ford is an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter. Her films include Gregory Go Boom, a winner of the short-film jury award at the Sundance Film Festival; Lemon, co-written with Brett Gelman; and Zola, co-written with playwright Jeremy O. Harris.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2017 Sundance Film Festival</span>

The 2017 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 19 to January 29, 2017. The first lineup of competition films was announced November 30, 2016.

Paul Bernon is an American businessman and film producer. His film Best Kept Secret was awarded a Peabody Award in 2014.

Strangers is an American comedy-drama series created by Mia Lidofsky that premiered on September 4, 2017, on Facebook Watch. The series stars Zoë Chao and Meredith Hagner and is executive produced by Lidofsky, Jesse Peretz, Michael B. Clark, Alex Turtletaub, M. Blair Brown, and Neena Beber.

<i>Zola</i> (film) 2021 American comedy film

Zola is a 2020 American black comedy crime film directed by Janicza Bravo and co-written by Bravo and Jeremy O. Harris. It is based on a viral Twitter thread from 2015 by A'Ziah "Zola" King and the resulting Rolling Stone article "Zola Tells All: The Real Story Behind the Greatest Stripper Saga Ever Tweeted" by David Kushner. Starring Taylour Paige, Riley Keough, Nicholas Braun, and Colman Domingo, the film follows a part-time stripper who is convinced by her new friend to go on a road trip to Tampa, Florida to earn money dancing, only to get in over her head.

<i>Greener Grass</i> 2019 film by Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe

Greener Grass is a 2019 American surrealist satirical black comedy film written and directed by Jocelyn DeBoer and Dawn Luebbe in their feature directorial debuts. It stars DeBoer, Luebbe, Beck Bennett, Neil Casey, Mary Holland, Janicza Bravo, and D'Arcy Carden. The film had its world premiere at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival, and was released in select theaters and on VOD in the United States on October 18, 2019, by IFC Midnight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Sundance Film Festival</span> Film festival

The 2020 Sundance Film Festival took place from January 23 to February 2, 2020. The first lineup of competition films was announced on December 4, 2019. The opening night film was Miss Americana directed by Lana Wilson and produced by Morgan Neville, Caitrin Rogers, and Christine O'Malley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dustin Guy Defa</span> American filmmaker

Dustin Guy Defa is an American independent filmmaker and actor. He is best known for directing the feature films Bad Fever and Person to Person and writing the screenplay for The Mountain.

David Hinojosa is an American film producer, and founding partner of 2AM. Hinojosa has produced Nasty Baby (2015), Beatriz at Dinner (2017), First Reformed (2017), Vox Lux (2018), Zola (2020), The World to Come (2020), Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), and Past Lives (2023).

References

  1. 1 2 Hipes, Patrick (August 17, 2016). "Brett Gelman-Starring Indie 'Lemon' Wraps; Janicza Bravo's Feature Directorial Debut". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  2. ↑ McNary, Dave (August 17, 2016). "Michael Cera, Brett Gelman Starring in Dark Comedy 'Lemon'". Variety . Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  3. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (August 17, 2016). "US Briefs: Burn Later Productions, Killer Films cast 'Lemon'". Screen International . Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  4. ↑ "2017 Sundance Film Festival: Competition And Next Lineup Announced". Sundance Film Festival . November 29, 2016. Retrieved December 2, 2016.
  5. ↑ "Printable Film Guide" (PDF). Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. Retrieved December 13, 2016.
  6. ↑ "IFFR 2017 to open with Lemon". IFFR. 2017-01-06. Retrieved 2017-01-11.
  7. ↑ "Lemon". South by Southwest . Archived from the original on February 10, 2017. Retrieved January 31, 2017.
  8. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 8, 2017). "SXSW 2017 Lineup: 'Baby Driver', 'Free Fire', 'Muppet Guys Talking' & Docus That Matter In Trump Era". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 8, 2017.
  9. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 10, 2017). "Janicza Bravo Feature Directorial Debut 'Lemon' Acquired By Magnolia – SXSW". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 10, 2017.
  10. ↑ Crust, Kevin (April 21, 2017). "Every single movie coming out this summer". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  11. ↑ "Lemon (2017)". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved August 25, 2021.
  12. ↑ "Lemon". Metacritic . Retrieved July 20, 2020.
  13. ↑ McCarthy, Todd (Jul 14, 2017). "'Lemon': Film Review | Sundance 2017". The Hollywood Reporter .
  14. ↑ Gleiberman, Owen (25 January 2017). "Film Review: 'Lemon'". Variety .
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.