MacArthur Park (film)

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MacArthur Park
Directed by Billy Wirth
Written byBilly Wirth
Tyrone Atkins
Aaron Courseault
Sheri Sussman
Produced by
  • Billy Wirth
  • Maricel Pagulayan
Starring
CinematographyKristian Bernier
Edited byTerri Breed
Music by Stephen Perkins
Production
company
Northshire Entertainment Group
Distributed by IFC Films
Release date
  • January 11, 2001 (2001-01-11)
Running time
109 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

MacArthur Park is a 2001 American independent drama film directed by Billy Wirth and written by Wirth, Tyrone Atkins, Aaron Courseault and Sheri Sussman. The film features ensemble cast stars Thomas Jefferson Byrd, Ellen Cleghorne, B-Real, Balthazar Getty, Lori Petty and Bad Azz. The film follows a homeless former jazz musician (Thomas Jefferson Byrd) trying to survive in MacArthur Park. R&B singer Macy Gray covered song “MacArthur Park” for closing credits.

Contents

MacArthur Park premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2001, where it was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize. [1] It later screened at the 2001 Taos Talking Pictures Film Festival. [2] The film received positive reviews from critics for subject matter and performances (particularly Byrd, Getty, Deary, Cleghorne and Lori Petty). [3]

Cast

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 5 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10. [4]

Film critic Dennis Harvey from Variety gave it positive review praising Wirth's feature directing debut and acting performances. [3] Film critic Dennis Schwartz also gave it positive review writing: "The film is one-part gritty urban social realism and another part art-house chic, which leaves a limited audience for a film that is dramatically flawed but bursts through at times with raw power." [5]

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References

  1. ↑ "FilmAffinity". FilmAffinity.
  2. ↑ "FESTIVALS: Taos Talking Pictures Bridges the Gap Between Makers and Audience". April 16, 2001.
  3. 1 2 Harvey, Dennis (January 24, 2001). "MacArthur Park".
  4. ↑ "MacArthur Park".
  5. ↑ "MACARTHUR PARK – Dennis Schwartz Reviews". August 15, 2020.
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