Nightingale (film)

Last updated
Nightingale
Nightingale poster.jpg
Television release poster
Directed by Elliott Lester
Written byFrederick Mensch
Produced by Brad Pitt
Lucas Akoskin
Elliott Lester
Josh Weinstock
Katrina Wolfe
Starring David Oyelowo
CinematographyPieter Vermeer
Edited by Nicholas Wayman-Harris
Music byMark D. Todd
Production
companies
Sea Smoke Entertainment
BN Films
Plan B Entertainment
Yoruba Saxon Productions
Distributed by HBO Films
Release dates
Running time
83 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Nightingale is a 2014 American drama film directed by Elliott Lester and written by Frederick Mensch. The film stars David Oyelowo and was premiered on HBO on May 29, 2015.

Contents

Plot

The movie follows the life of Peter Snowden, a man in his late 30s who starts the story by confessing to murdering his mother. He expresses his lack of guilt over the crime but regrets the amount of blood involved. Peter, a vlogger of sorts, decides not to upload the confession video. The next day, he goes about his daily routine, momentarily forgetting the murder as he calls out to his mother's closed bedroom door. Peter appears stuck in a different time period, singing old songs and wearing outdated clothes.

Peter tries to reach out to his old military buddy, Edward, repeatedly leaving messages but getting no response. He also receives a makeup mirror his mother ordered before her death, which becomes a symbol of her presence throughout the film. Peter lies to his sister Vickie about their mother's whereabouts and vents his frustration through phone calls to Edward's answering machine.

The smell of decomposition from his mother's room becomes unbearable, and Peter temporarily seals the door with a towel. He buys an iPhone and a Bluetooth headset and discovers his mother's blood-stained glasses while searching for his own pair. Peter finally manages to reach Edward and invites him to dinner, claiming his mother has "moved away." Miraculously, Edward is free on Friday, the day Peter set to his viewers Excited about the upcoming dinner, Peter prepares the house and eventually removes his mother's body, reflecting her fear of him through a locked bedroom door.

Peter deceives Vickie about their mother's situation and discusses his plans to redecorate the house, charging the expenses to his credit card. He interacts with various people who inquire about his mother, providing them with different stories. Peter reveals his tropical fish, Adam and Eve, to his online viewers, showcasing his anticipation for Edward's arrival.

As Peter searches for his espresso machine, he becomes increasingly frustrated and eventually finds it hidden in the attic. He shares stories about his military past and a misunderstanding with Edward that needs resolution. Peter tries to convince Vickie to send him money for a trip, suggesting they send their mother to visit a friend in Mobile, AL. He receives calls from concerned acquaintances, lies to them, and faces mounting pressure.

The much-anticipated day of Edward's visit arrives, but Peter grows anxious as he waits for his guest, who is delayed. He calls Edward and speaks to Gloria, pretending to be someone else. Frustrated, Peter loses control, damaging the dining room and revealing his violent tendencies. Feeling devastated, he plans to run away with Edward but receives news that shatters his hopes.

Peter contemplates suicide and prepares a letter to Edward, but upon discovering unopened letters he wrote in the past, he decides against it. He consumes a large amount of medication but vomits and fails to end his life by inhaling exhaust fumes. The next day, he believes someone tries to break into his house, but there's no evidence of anyone there. Peter eats breakfast, closes the mirror, and shares the news of his brother Bobby's death with his viewers.

It's revealed that Peter has been wearing Bobby's clothes throughout the film. Realizing he has lost both Edward and his mother, Peter accepts his fate. He receives a call from Vickie, seemingly confesses his mother's death, and prepares for the police's arrival. Peter shuts off the camera, recites a verse from Revelations , and waits for the police, apparently resigned to his fate.

The movie ends with the implication that Peter will be killed by the police, although the scene cuts off before showing the actual outcome.

Cast

Production

On July 9, 2013, it was announced David Oyelowo would star in the film. [1]

Release

The film premiered at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 17, 2014. [2] The film premiered on HBO on May 29, 2015. [3]

Reception

Nightingale received positive reviews from critics, with Oyelowo's performance being praised. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 82%, based on 22 reviews, with a rating of 6.67/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Nightingale serves up a breathtaking solo performance by David Oyelowo in a film served well by its modest cinematic style." [4] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 67 out of 100, based on 13 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [5]

Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film and wrote, "What makes the disturbing story gripping, beyond Oyelowo’s spellbinding performance, is its humor, defining compassion and incisive imagery." [2] Joshua Aiston of The A.V. Club wrote that "the narrow perspective creates the disconcerting intimacy on which Nightingale thrives, but Lester’s strict adherence to it often feels compensatory and makes the film come across more like a conceptual exercise than a story." [6]

The film did receive a number of negative reviews. Chuck Bowen of Slate wrote that "Nightingale is tediously literal-minded and anal-retentively 'worked out.' There's something stiflingly theoretical about the movie." [7] Matthew Gilbert of The Boston Globe wrote, "What could have been an evocative journey into the mind of a lost veteran, as he opens up his thinking across a one-man show set entirely inside his house, is more like a quasi thriller revolving around a very mad hatter." [8]

Oyelowo's performance was met with unanimous acclaim from critics. [9] [10] Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times wrote that "Mr. Oyelowo gives a riveting, disorienting and suspenseful tour of an unraveling mind". [11]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryRecipientsOutcome
2015 Critics' Choice Television Award [12] Best Movie NightingaleNominated
Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries David Oyelowo Won
Primetime Emmy Award [13] Outstanding Television Movie NightingaleNominated
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie David OyelowoNominated
2016 Golden Globe Award Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film David Oyelowo Nominated
NAACP Image Award Outstanding Actor in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special David Oyelowo Nominated
Black Reel Award Outstanding Actor, TV Movie or Limited Series David Oyelowo Won
Satellite Award Best Television Film NightingaleNominated
Best Actor in a Miniseries or TV Film David OyelowoNominated

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Oyelowo</span> British actor (born 1976)

David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo is a British-American actor, director and producer. His accolades include a Critics' Choice Award and two NAACP Image Awards as well as nominations for three Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a BAFTA Award. In 2016, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to drama.

<i>As You Like It</i> (2006 film) 2006 film by Kenneth Branagh

As You Like It is a 2006 romance film written and directed by Kenneth Branagh, and based on William Shakespeare's play of the same name. The film stars Romola Garai, Bryce Dallas Howard, Kevin Kline, Adrian Lester, Janet McTeer, Alfred Molina, David Oyelowo and Brian Blessed in a dual role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barton Gellman</span> American journalist and Sr Advisor, Brennan Center for Justice

Barton David Gellman is an American author and journalist known for his reports on the September 11 attacks, on Dick Cheney's vice presidency, and on the global surveillance disclosure. Beginning in June 2013, he authored The Washington Post's coverage of the U.S. National Security Agency, based on top secret documents provided to him by ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden. He published a book for Penguin Press on the rise of the surveillance-industrial state in May 2020, and joined the staff of The Atlantic.

<i>The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency</i> (TV series) Television series

The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency is a television comedy-drama series, produced by the BBC in conjunction with HBO, and based on the novels of the same name by Alexander McCall Smith. The novels focus on the story of a detective agency opened by Mma Ramotswe and her courtship with the mechanic Mr. J. L. B. Matekoni. The series was filmed on location in Botswana and was seen as one of the first major film or television productions to be undertaken in Botswana.

<i>NYC Prep</i> US television series

NYC Prep is an American reality television series on Bravo. The series debuted on June 23, 2009. The series follows six Manhattan teenagers in their daily lives as they attended events such as weekend parties, fashion shows, shopping sprees, charity events and dinner parties. The series drew many comparisons to the hit CW television show Gossip Girl because both shows revolved around the lives of Manhattan's "elite" teenagers. Filming was not allowed during school, nor were any school names specifically mentioned on the show, as the schools desired to distance themselves from the show.

<i>Temple Grandin</i> (film) 2010 American film directed by Mick Jackson

Temple Grandin is a 2010 American biographical drama television film directed by Mick Jackson and starring Claire Danes as Temple Grandin, an autistic woman whose innovations revolutionized practices for the humane handling of livestock on cattle ranches and slaughterhouses. It is based on Grandin's memoirs Emergence and Thinking in Pictures.

<i>Luck</i> (TV series) American television series

Luck is an American dramatic television series created by David Milch and starring Dustin Hoffman. Set in the world of horse racing, the pilot episode was directed by Michael Mann. The series premiered January 29, 2012. HBO aired the first episode on December 11, 2011, as a preview. It was immediately renewed for a second season of 10 episodes, scheduled to air beginning in January 2013. However, the series was canceled on March 14, 2012, due to animal safety concerns. Three horses died during production of the series. The first season's remaining episodes continued to air. The complete first season was released on DVD and Blu-ray November 27, 2012.

<i>Life Is But a Dream</i> (film) 2013 documentary directed by Beyoncé

Life Is But a Dream is a 2013 autobiographical television film, co-directed and executive produced by American singer Beyoncé Knowles in her directorial debut. The film was released on February 16, 2013 on the HBO network, in conjunction with Parkwood Entertainment, Knowles' management company. The film uses a combination of professional camera footage, private videos from Knowles' laptop and from her May 2012 four-night revue at Revel Atlantic City. Upon its release, the documentary opened to mixed reviews from critics. It was nominated in the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Documentary category for the 45th Annual NAACP Image Awards.

<i>Enlightened</i> (TV series) American comedy-drama television series

Enlightened is an American comedy-drama television series that premiered on HBO on October 10, 2011. The series was created by Mike White, who wrote every episode, and Laura Dern. As signaled by its tagline "About a woman on the verge of a nervous breakthrough", Enlightened follows the story of Amy Jellicoe (Dern), a self-destructive executive, who, after the implosion of her professional life and a subsequent philosophical awakening in rehabilitation, tries to get her life back together.

<i>Game Change</i> (film) 2012 television film directed by Jay Roach

Game Change is a 2012 American political drama television film based on events of the 2008 United States presidential election campaign of John McCain, directed by Jay Roach and written by Danny Strong, based on the 2010 book of the same title documenting the campaign by political journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. The film stars Julianne Moore, Woody Harrelson, and Ed Harris, and focuses on the chapters about the selection and performance of Governor of Alaska Sarah Palin (Moore) as running mate to Senator John McCain (Harris) in the presidential campaign.

<i>True Detective</i> American anthology crime drama television series

True Detective is an American anthology crime drama television series created by Nic Pizzolatto for the premium cable network HBO. The series premiered on January 12, 2014, and each season of the series is structured as a self-contained narrative, employing new cast ensembles, and following various sets of characters and settings.

<i>Phil Spector</i> (film) 2013 film

Phil Spector is a 2013 American biographical drama television film written and directed by David Mamet. The film is based on the murder trials of record producer, songwriter and musician Phil Spector, and premiered on HBO on March 24, 2013. It stars Al Pacino as Phil Spector, Helen Mirren as defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden, and Jeffrey Tambor as defense attorney Bruce Cutler. It focuses primarily on the relationship between Spector and Linda Kenney Baden, his defense attorney in 2007 during the first of his two murder trials for the 2003 death of Lana Clarkson in his California mansion, and is billed as "an exploration of the client–attorney relationship" between Spector and Kenney Baden.

<i>Citizenfour</i> 2014 documentary film by Laura Poitras

Citizenfour is a 2014 documentary film directed by Laura Poitras, concerning Edward Snowden and the NSA spying scandal. The film had its US premiere on October 10, 2014, at the New York Film Festival and its UK premiere on October 17, 2014, at the BFI London Film Festival. The film features Snowden and Glenn Greenwald, and was co-produced by Poitras, Mathilde Bonnefoy, and Dirk Wilutzky, with Steven Soderbergh and others serving as executive producers. Citizenfour received critical acclaim upon release, and was the recipient of numerous accolades, including Best Documentary Feature at the 87th Academy Awards. This film is the third part to a 9/11 trilogy following My Country, My Country (2006) and The Oath (2010).

<i>Snowden</i> (film) 2016 biographical political thriller film by Oliver Stone

Snowden is a 2016 biographical thriller film directed by Oliver Stone and written by Stone and Kieran Fitzgerald. Based on the books The Snowden Files (2014) by Luke Harding and Time of the Octopus (2015) by Anatoly Kucherena, the film stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as Edward Snowden, a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) subcontractor and whistleblower who copied and leaked highly classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) beginning in 2013. In addition to Gordon-Levitt, the film features an ensemble cast including Shailene Woodley, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Scott Eastwood, Logan Marshall-Green, Timothy Olyphant, Ben Schnetzer, LaKeith Lee Stanfield, Rhys Ifans and Nicolas Cage. An international co-production of Germany, France, and the United States, principal photography began on February 16, 2015, in Munich.

"The Wars to Come" is the first episode of the fifth season of HBO's medieval fantasy television series Game of Thrones, and the 41st overall. The episode was directed by Michael Slovis, his directorial debut for the series, and written by series co-creates David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It first aired on April 12, 2015.

<i>Captive</i> (2015 film) 2015 American film

Captive is a 2015 American crime-drama thriller film directed by Jerry Jameson and written by Brian Bird and Reinhard Denke, based on the non-fiction book Unlikely Angel by Ashley Smith.

<i>Queen of Katwe</i> 2016 film by Mira Nair

Queen of Katwe is a 2016 American biographical sports drama film directed by Mira Nair and written by William Wheeler. Starring David Oyelowo, Lupita Nyong'o, and Madina Nalwanga, the film depicts the life of Phiona Mutesi, a girl living in Katwe, a slum of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. She learns to play chess and becomes a Woman Candidate Master after her victories at World Chess Olympiads.

<i>Come Away</i> 2020 fantasy drama film

Come Away is a 2020 fantasy drama film directed by Brenda Chapman, written by Marissa Kate Goodhill, and starring David Oyelowo, Anna Chancellor, Angelina Jolie, Clarke Peters, David Gyasi, with Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Michael Caine, and Derek Jacobi. The film is an homage to the stories of Peter Pan and Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The characters of those stories are siblings who try to help their parents overcome the death of their eldest son.

<i>The Water Man</i> (film) 2020 American drama film

The Water Man is a 2020 American drama film directed by David Oyelowo, in his feature directorial debut, from a screenplay by Emma Needell. The film stars Oyelowo, Rosario Dawson, Lonnie Chavis, Amiah Miller, Alfred Molina and Maria Bello. Oprah Winfrey serves as an executive producer via her revived Harpo Films banner.

<i>The Girl Before</i> 4-part television thriller adaptation

The Girl Before is a thriller television series created by J.P. Delaney for BBC One and HBO Max, based on the 2016 novel of the same name by Delaney.

References

  1. Yamato, Jen (2013-07-09). "David Oyelowo To Star In BN Films' 'Nightingale'". Deadline. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  2. 1 2 "LAFF Film Review: 'Nightingale'". The Hollywood Reporter. 2014-06-19. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  3. "HBO Takes David Oyelowo's PTSD Drama 'Nightingale' for May 29 Premiere". Blogs.indiewire.com. Archived from the original on 2015-05-04. Retrieved 2015-05-06.
  4. "Nightingale (2015)". Rotten Tomatoes. 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  5. "Nightingale - Season 1 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 2020-05-05.
  6. Alston, Joshua (2015-05-29). "Nightingale". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  7. Cabin, Chris (2015-05-25). "Nightingale | TV Review". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  8. "'Nightingale': A soldier's torment only glimpsed". The Boston Globe. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  9. Brian Lowry (2015-05-27). "'Nightingale' Review: David Oyelowo stars in HBO drama". Variety. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  10. "'Nightingale' review: 'Selma's' David Oyelowo the reason to watch". Newsday. 2015-05-29. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  11. Stanley, Alessandra (28 May 2015). "Review: David Oyelowo, Going Mad in 'Nightingale'". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 July 2015.
  12. "Critics' Choice TV Awards 2015: The Americans, Silicon Valley & more". EW.com. 2015-05-31. Retrieved 2015-08-22.
  13. Variety Staff (2015-07-16). "Emmy Award Nominations 2015 – Full List: 67th Primetime Emmy Nominees". Variety. Retrieved 2015-08-22.