Maggie's Plan

Last updated

Maggie's Plan
Maggie's Plan Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Rebecca Miller
Screenplay byRebecca Miller
Story byKaren Rinaldi
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySam Levy
Edited bySabine Hoffmann
Music byMichael Rohatyn
Production
companies
Distributed by Sony Pictures Classics
Release dates
  • September 12, 2015 (2015-09-12)(TIFF)
  • May 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)(United States)
Running time
98 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Danish
Box office$7.1 million [2]

Maggie's Plan is a 2015 American romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Rebecca Miller, based on an original story by Karen Rinaldi (later published as the 2017 novel The End of Men). The film stars Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke, Bill Hader, Maya Rudolph, Travis Fimmel, Wallace Shawn, Ida Rohatyn, and Julianne Moore.

Contents

The film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2015. It was given a limited theatrical release in the United States on May 20, 2016, by Sony Pictures Classics.

Plot

Maggie Hardin, the director of business development and outreach for the art and design students at The New School in New York City, decides she wants to have a child, and enlists a former college acquaintance, Guy Childers, a math major and pickle entrepreneur, to donate his sperm.

At the university, she meets John Harding, a "ficto-critical anthropologist", who is married to a tenured professor at Columbia University. Repeatedly bumping into each other on campus, John confides in Maggie that he is writing a novel. Maggie begins reading it, and they start meeting on a regular basis to discuss it.

Maggie attempts to inseminate herself with Guy's sperm, but the process is interrupted by an unexpected visit from John. He confesses that he is in love with her and wants to be the father of her child.

Three years later, Maggie and John are married, and they have a daughter, Lily. She constantly finds herself having to put her professional goals on the back burner to take care of her and her two stepchildren, and to support John's writing. Taking Lily for a walk, Maggie runs into Guy, who initially thinks Lily is his daughter, but she tells him she is John's child.

At a book signing, Maggie approaches Georgette, John's ex-wife, and tells her that she knows Georgette is still in love with John, and realizes she wants to help them get back together. After initially resistant, Georgette decides to go along with the plan.

Georgette gets Maggie's help to get John to attend a conference in Canada, which she will also be attending. At the conference, the former couple make up and sleep together. Returning home, John confesses everything to Maggie, who tells him he belongs with Georgette.

John accidentally learns that Maggie had planned to reunite him with Georgette through a drunk friend of Maggie's. He leaves Maggie and Lily, and disappears for a while. Maggie goes to speak to Georgette, in order to try to find out any news about John, and ends up taking Georgette and the children to her home.

There, Georgette spends the day reading John's novel. Meeting with him later, she tells him her opinion about the novel, as she returns it to him as a bag of ash. Realizing that she knows him better than he knows himself, John forgives Georgette for her part in the scheme, and they reconcile.

Sometime later, the blended family goes out ice-skating. Maggie is surprised when Lily begins to recite numbers, as neither she nor John are mathematically inclined. She sees Guy walking towards the ice rink, with the look of revelation on her face.

Cast

Production

On January 9, 2014, it was announced that Rebecca Miller and Greta Gerwig would respectively direct and star in the romantic comedy Maggie's Plan, scripted by Miller and based on a story by Karen Rinaldi. [3] Rachael Horovitz signed on to produce through Specialty Films along with Miller and Damon Cardasis through their Round Films. [3] Julianne Moore was added to the cast of the film on January 15, 2014. [4] Clive Owen had joined on May 1, 2014, [5] although he did not appear in the finished film, while on February 2, 2015, Travis Fimmel joined the film's cast. [6] On February 3, 2015, Variety reported that Ethan Hawke, Bill Hader, and Maya Rudolph had joined the film. [7]

Filming began on February 23, 2015, in New York City. [7] [8]

Release

The film had its world premiere in the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival on September 12, 2015. [9] [10] Shortly thereafter, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film. [11] The film had its U.S. premiere at the New York Film Festival on October 4, 2015. [12] It also went on to screen at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2016, [13] [14] and the 66th Berlin International Film Festival on February 15, 2016. [15] [16] Following a special screening at the Landmark Sunshine Cinema in New York City on May 5, 2016, [17] [18] the film was released in select theaters in the United States on May 20, 2016. [19] [20]

Critical response

Maggie's Plan received positive reviews from film critics. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 183 reviews, with an average rating of 7.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "With a typically absorbing performance from Greta Gerwig leading the way, Maggie's Plan gives rom-com sensibilities a smart, subversive twist." [21] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 76 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [22]

Variety 's Dennis Harvey described it as "nicely crafted on all levels", with "Greta Gerwig, Ethan Hawke, and Julianne Moore making a pleasing triangle in Rebecca Miller's offbeat romantic comedy". [23] Richard Lawson from Vanity Fair praised the film as "a smart, goofy delight", highlighting Julianne Moore's "comedy chops" and praising the rest of the cast as being in "near-perfect harmony, creating a lively, inviting hum". [24] Other critics also pointed out Moore's performance as "scene-stealing", including Nigel M. Smith from The Guardian : "Maggie's Plan serves as a strong reminder for what a comedic force Moore can be when served by the right material." He also singled out Gerwig for "effortlessly leading most of the picture". [25]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ethan Hawke</span> American actor and film director (born 1970)

Ethan Green Hawke is an American actor, author and film director. He made his film debut in Explorers (1985), before making a breakthrough performance in Dead Poets Society (1989). Hawke starred alongside Julie Delpy in Richard Linklater's Before trilogy from 1995 to 2013. Hawke received two nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Training Day (2001) and Boyhood (2014) and two for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing Before Sunset (2004) and Before Midnight (2013). Other notable roles include in Reality Bites (1994), Gattaca (1997), Great Expectations (1998), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007), Maggie's Plan (2015), First Reformed (2017), The Black Phone (2021) and The Northman (2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julianne Moore</span> American actress (born 1960)

Julie Anne Smith, known professionally as Julianne Moore, is an American actress. Prolific in film since the early 1990s, she is particularly known for her portrayals of emotionally troubled women in independent films, as well as for her roles in blockbusters. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and two Emmy Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noah Baumbach</span> American filmmaker

Noah Baumbach is an American filmmaker. He is known for making comedies set in New York City and his works are inspired by filmmakers such as Woody Allen and Whit Stillman. His frequent collaborators include Wes Anderson, Adam Driver, and his wife, Greta Gerwig.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rebecca Miller</span> American actress and film director (born 1962)

Rebecca Augusta Miller, Lady Day-Lewis is an American filmmaker and novelist. She is known for her films Angela (1995), Personal Velocity: Three Portraits (2002), The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005), The Private Lives of Pippa Lee (2009), and Maggie's Plan (2015), all of which she wrote and directed, as well as her novels The Private Lives of Pippa Lee and Jacob's Folly. Miller received the Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize for Personal Velocity and the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Director for Angela.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elle Fanning</span> American actress (born 1998)

Mary Elle Fanning is an American actress. She made her film debut as a child as the younger version of her sister Dakota Fanning's character in the drama film I Am Sam (2001). She appeared in several other films as a child actress, including Daddy Day Care (2003), Babel (2006), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Phoebe in Wonderland, and the miniseries The Lost Room (2006). She then had leading roles in Sofia Coppola's drama Somewhere (2010) and J. J. Abrams' science fiction film Super 8 (2011).

Nicole Holofcener is an American film and television director and screenwriter. She has directed seven feature films, including Walking and Talking, Friends with Money and Enough Said, as well as various television series. Along with Jeff Whitty, Holofcener received a 2019 Academy Award nomination for Adapted Screenplay, a BAFTA nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay, and won the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the film Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018).

<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">Travis Fimmel</span> Australian actor and model

Travis Fimmel is an Australian actor and former model. He is known for his role as Ragnar Lothbrok in the History Channel television series Vikings (2013–2017), and as Anduin Lothar in the live-action adaptation of Warcraft (2016). He also starred in the HBO Max science fiction series Raised by Wolves (2020–2022).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greta Gerwig</span> American actress and filmmaker (born 1983)

Greta Celeste Gerwig is an American actress, writer, and director. Initially known for working on mumblecore films, she has since expanded from acting in and co-writing independent films to directing major studio films. Gerwig was included in the annual Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julianne Moore filmography</span>

Julianne Moore is an American actress who made her acting debut on television in 1984 in the mystery series The Edge of Night. The following year she made her first appearance in the soap opera As the World Turns, which earned her a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Ingenue in a Drama Series in 1988. Following roles in television films, Moore had her breakthrough in Robert Altman's drama film Short Cuts (1993). Her performance garnered critical acclaim as well as notoriety for a monologue her character delivers while nude below the waist. She played lead roles in 1995 in Todd Haynes' drama Safe and the romantic comedy Nine Months. In 1997, Moore portrayed a veteran pornographic actress in Paul Thomas Anderson's drama film Boogie Nights, which earned her her first nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in Steven Spielberg's adventure sequel The Lost World: Jurassic Park—Moore's biggest commercial success to that point. Two years later, she played a wartime adulteress in The End of the Affair, for which she received her first Academy Award for Best Actress nomination.

<i>Ten Thousand Saints</i> 2015 American film

Ten Thousand Saints is a 2015 American drama film written and directed by Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini. It is based on the novel of the same name by Eleanor Henderson. The film stars Asa Butterfield as Jude Keffy-Horn, the protagonist of the story.

<i>Mistress America</i> 2015 film by Noah Baumbach

Mistress America is a 2015 American comedy film directed by Noah Baumbach. It was written by Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, who stars alongside Lola Kirke. The film was released on August 14, 2015, by Fox Searchlight Pictures.

<i>Wiener-Dog</i> (film) 2016 American film by Todd Solondz

Wiener-Dog is a 2016 American anthology comedy film directed and written by Todd Solondz. Starring an ensemble cast led by Ellen Burstyn, Kieran Culkin, Julie Delpy, Danny DeVito, Greta Gerwig, Tracy Letts, and Zosia Mamet, the film serves as a spin-off from Solondz's 1995 film Welcome to the Dollhouse, which also features the character of Dawn Wiener. The film is also inspired by the 1966 French drama Au Hasard Balthazar, directed by Robert Bresson.

<i>Lady Bird</i> (film) 2017 film by Greta Gerwig

Lady Bird is a 2017 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Greta Gerwig in her solo directorial debut, starring Saoirse Ronan, Laurie Metcalf, Tracy Letts, Lucas Hedges, Timothée Chalamet, Beanie Feldstein, Stephen McKinley Henderson, and Lois Smith. Set in Sacramento, California from fall 2002 to fall 2003, it focuses on a high school senior who shares a turbulent relationship with her mother.

The 12th Annual Gotham Independent Film Awards, presented by the Independent Filmmaker Project, were held on September 26, 2002 and were hosted by Rosie Perez and John Turturro. At the ceremony, Ang Lee and Bingham Ray were honored with Career Tributes, Whitney Dow and Marco Williams received the Anthony Radziwell Documentary Achievement Award and Julianne Moore was awarded the Actor Award.

<i>Juliet, Naked</i> (film) 2018 American romantic comedy film

Juliet, Naked is a 2018 romantic comedy film directed by Jesse Peretz based on Nick Hornby's 2009 novel of the same name. It centers on the story of Annie and her unlikely romance with singer-songwriter Tucker Crowe, who is also the subject of her boyfriend's long-time music obsession. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2018.

<i>Little Women</i> (2019 film) 2019 American film by Greta Gerwig

Little Women is a 2019 American coming-of-age period drama film written and directed by Greta Gerwig. It is the seventh film adaptation of the 1868 novel of the same name by Louisa May Alcott. It chronicles the lives of the March sisters—Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy—in Concord, Massachusetts, during the 19th century. It stars an ensemble cast consisting of Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Florence Pugh, Eliza Scanlen, Laura Dern, Timothée Chalamet, Meryl Streep, Tracy Letts, Bob Odenkirk, James Norton, Louis Garrel, and Chris Cooper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eliza Scanlen</span> Australian actress (born 1999)

Eliza Jane Scanlen is an Australian actress. She rose to prominence portraying Tabitha Ford in the Australian soap opera Home and Away (2016), before receiving critical acclaim by playing a troubled teenager in the HBO miniseries Sharp Objects (2018). In 2022, she starred in the Showtime series The First Lady as young Eleanor Roosevelt.

<i>Tesla</i> (2020 film) 2020 film by Michael Almereyda

Tesla is a 2020 American biographical drama film written and directed by Michael Almereyda. It stars Ethan Hawke as Nikola Tesla. Eve Hewson, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Jim Gaffigan, and Kyle MacLachlan also star.

Kelly O'Sullivan is an American actress, screenwriter and producer. She wrote and starred in Saint Frances (2019), which won the Audience Award and the Special Jury Award at 2019 SXSW Film Festival. She also wrote and co-directed with Alex Thompson, Ghostlight (2024).

References

  1. ↑ "Maggie's Plan (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. April 13, 2016. Archived from the original on August 4, 2016. Retrieved June 6, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Maggie's Plan (2016)". The Numbers . Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 9, 2014). "Rebecca Miller & Greta Gerwig Team For 'Maggie's Plan'". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  4. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (January 15, 2014). "Julianne Moore To Star With Greta Gerwig In Rebecca Miller-Helmed 'Maggie's Plan'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  5. ↑ Kemp, Stuart (May 1, 2014). "Cannes: Clive Owen Joins Julianne Moore and Greta Gerwig in 'Maggie's Plan'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 2, 2015). "'Vikings' Star Travis Fimmel Joins 'Maggie's Plan'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  7. 1 2 Barraclough, Leo (February 3, 2015). "Berlin: Ethan Hawke, Bill Hader Join Rebecca Miller's 'Maggie's Plan'". Variety . Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  8. ↑ "On the Set for 2/23/15: Pirates of the Caribbean 5 & Snowden Begin Shooting, Joel Edgerton Wraps On Film for Blumhouse". SSN Insider. February 23, 2015. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2015.
  9. ↑ Rich, Katey (July 28, 2015). "Emma Watson, Kate Winslet, and Many More Are Ready to Blow You Away at the Fall's Biggest Film Festival". Vanity Fair . Retrieved July 28, 2015.
  10. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (July 28, 2015). "Toronto to open with 'Demolition'; world premieres for 'Trumbo', 'The Program'" . Screen Daily . Archived from the original on April 28, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  11. ↑ Setoodeh, Ramin (September 24, 2015). "Sony Pictures Classics Buys Toronto Comedy 'Maggie's Plan'". Variety. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  12. ↑ Murphy, Mekado (October 6, 2015). "New York Film Festival: Five Questions for Rebecca Miller" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Sundance Institute Completes Feature Film Lineup For 2016 Sundance Film Festival". Sundance Film Festival. December 7, 2015. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Maggie's Plan". Sundance Film Festival. Archived from the original on January 24, 2022. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  15. ↑ Sharf, Zack (December 17, 2015). "Greta Gerwig-Starring 'Maggie's Plan' Leads 2016 Berlin International Film Festival Panorama Lineup". IndieWire . Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  16. ↑ "Maggie's Plan". Berlin International Film Festival . Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  17. ↑ Kelley, Seth (May 6, 2016). "Ethan Hawke Talks Working With A 'Powerful Group of Women' in Rebecca Miller's 'Maggie's Plan'". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  18. ↑ Reddinger, Paige (May 6, 2016). "Montblanc & The Cinema Society Host Screening of Maggie's Plan". Daily Front Row . Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  19. ↑ Vilkomerson, Sara (February 24, 2016). "See the exclusive first trailer for Maggie's Plan". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  20. ↑ Romano, Nick (February 24, 2016). "'Maggie's Plan' Trailer: Greta Gerwig Falls In and Out of Love With a Married Man". Collider . Retrieved August 29, 2023.
  21. ↑ "Maggie's Plan". Rotten Tomatoes . Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  22. ↑ "Maggie's Plan Reviews". Metacritic . Retrieved December 14, 2016.
  23. ↑ Harvey, Dennis (September 12, 2015). "Sundance Film Review: 'Maggie's Plan'". Variety. Retrieved February 25, 2016.
  24. ↑ Lawson, Richard (September 13, 2015). "Julianne Moore Shows Off Her Delightful Comedy Chops in Maggie's Plan". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  25. ↑ Smith, Nigel M. (September 13, 2015). "Maggie's Plan review: Julianne Moore steals agreeably messy comedy". The Guardian . Retrieved February 19, 2016.
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.