Nostalgia (2018 film)

Last updated

Nostalgia
Nostalgia poster.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Mark Pellington
Screenplay by Alex Ross Perry
Story by
  • Alex Ross Perry
  • Mark Pellington
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMatt Sakatani Roe
Edited byArndt-Wulf Peemöller
Music byLaurent Eyquem
Distributed by Bleecker Street
Release dates
  • January 6, 2018 (2018-01-06)(PSIFF)
  • February 16, 2018 (2018-02-16)(United States)
Running time
114 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Nostalgia is a 2018 American drama film directed by Mark Pellington, who also produced with Tom Gorai and Josh Braun. The screenplay, written by Alex Ross Perry, is based on a story by Perry and Pellington. The film stars an ensemble cast led by Jon Hamm, Catherine Keener, John Ortiz, Nick Offerman, James LeGros, Bruce Dern, and Ellen Burstyn. It revolves around the lives of several people who become connected through loss.

Contents

Plot

At a diner, middle-aged Daniel Kalman, an insurance agent, remarks on the beauty of sentimental jewelry worn by a waitress. He then visits Ronald Ashemore, an elderly architect living off a pension. His visit is for the purpose of evaluating Ashemore's possessions to satisfy granddaughter Bethany, and he's able to determine that a few pieces are worth enough value for an appraiser to look at.

Kalman's next visit is to Bethany and her husband. Pregnant, she is overwhelmed with being the sole decision-maker due to living the closest, but she does care deeply about her grandfather and does not wish to think of him dying. Back at the office Kalman studies the photographs he's taken that day, contemplating the lives lived.

The next day, his work takes him to meet Helen Greer, whose home has been destroyed by wildfire. She laments how very little time she had to grab what keepsakes she could. She was able to save a signed baseball Kalman determines may have some value. They discuss things at a neighbor's house over coffee with another couple who've also lost their home. Kalman remarks how he always learns something new from listening to people's stories.

Helen stays with her son Henry and his wife Lisa. Discussion to place her in assisted living is met with indignity, as is the thought of selling her things for cash before the insurance kicks in.

Helen flies to Las Vegas with a case containing the baseball to meet with an appraiser. She settles in to her hotel room, takes in some gambling and dines solo. After much emotional turmoil, she meets Will Beam to determine its worth. It is an authentic item, he says, and the signature is that of Ted Williams. Normally, most things he sees are worth $10–20,000 but he tells her this feels like it may be $80–100,000. Helen is amazed. After they converse awhile, Helen is finally able to go of her husband's priceless keepsake. Later, Will calls a potential buyer.

Will flies to his hometown in Virginia to meet older sister Donna. Will rides with Donna to their parents' house to go through things. The house is for sale and their parents have recently moved to a condo in Florida. Will is more matter-of-fact regarding the heirlooms that the quiet house holds, while Donna expresses her teen daughter Tallie's sadness over losing the one place that holds so many memories. Will stays overnight in the barren house, while Donna drives back to her own home.

The next day, Tallie tries to join them in sorting through keepsakes, but she is unable to connect with the many things that are older than she is. She leaves to join a friend, Kathleen, on a weekend trip. While disposing of many things into an onsite dumpster, Will comes across letters written by his own father, Will, to his mother, Joy, that expresses, among other things, deep love. Later he falls asleep to records playing soft jazz.

Will's sleep is interrupted by a frantic phone call from Donna. A drunk driver has hit the car the two girls were driving in and killed Tallie. Donna's husband Patrick picks up Will, and they rush back to console a distraught Donna. Later, Kathleen's parents, Peter and Marge come to console them as well.

Cast

Release

On January 22, 2017, it was announced that Bleecker Street acquired North American distribution rights at the Sundance Film Festival to the film. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]

Nostalgia had its world premiere at the Palm Springs International Film Festival on January 6, 2018. [6] [7] It was theatrically released in the United States on February 16, 2018, by Bleecker Street. [8] [9]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 39% of 56 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10.The website's consensus reads: "Nostalgia combines talented actors and honorable intentions, but poky pacing and a lack of depth make it unlikely the end result will ever inspire the titular emotion." [10] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 47 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews. [11]

Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times wrote, "Nostalgia is the kind of heartfelt wallow that you feel like a heel for attacking. A soggy string of Hallmark moments designed to interrogate the value of the objects we cherish, the movie is front-loaded with major stars and squelching with sentiment." However, Catsoulis praised the cast for their "exceptionally strong performances." [12] Sheri Linden of the Los Angeles Times called the film "a day-old news flash of a drama, delivered in weepy headlines posing as dialogue", and noted that "the actors can't turn the strained stabs at poetry into the affecting meditation that was clearly intended." [13] Michael O'Sullivan of The Washington Post described the film as "a slow, talky and only faintly moving meditation on mortality and memory", and concluded his review by writing, "Moviegoers hoping for something — anything — to take away from Nostalgia (other than a vague feeling of dysphoria, tinged with ennui) will not be similarly compensated." [14]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryNomineeResultRef.
2018 World Soundtrack Awards Discovery of the YearLaurent EyquemNominated [15] [16]
Public Choice AwardWon

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellen Burstyn</span> American actress (born 1932)

Ellen Burstyn is an American actress. Known for her portrayals of complex women in dramas, she is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, making her one of the few performers to achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting". She has also received a BAFTA Award and a Golden Globe Award.

<i>Resurrection</i> (1980 film) 1980 film by Daniel Petrie

Resurrection is a 1980 American drama film directed by Daniel Petrie, written by Lewis John Carlino, and starring Ellen Burstyn, Sam Shepard, Richard Farnsworth, Roberts Blossom, Lois Smith, and Eva Le Gallienne. It was produced by Renée Missel and Howard Rosenman. The plot involves a woman who returns to life after dying momentarily in a car crash and finds that she has the power to heal people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megan Mullally</span> American actress (born 1958)

Megan Mullally is an American actress. She is best known for playing Karen Walker in the NBC sitcom Will & Grace, for which she received eight Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, winning twice, in 2000 and 2006. She also received nominations for numerous other accolades for her portrayal, including seven consecutive Screen Actors Guild Awards nominations for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series, winning three times, in 2001, 2002, and 2003, as well as receiving four Golden Globe Award nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Pellington</span> American film director, writer, and producer

Mark Pellington is an American film director, writer, and producer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethany Platt</span> Fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street

Bethany Platt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 4 June 2000. She was played by Mia Cookson in 2000 and by twins Amy and Emily Walton from 2000 until 30 December 2007, when the character departed. The character was reintroduced with Lucy Fallon taking over the role, and Bethany made her return on 20 March 2015. On 2 May 2019, Fallon announced that she had quit the show. She filmed her last scene on 16 January 2020 and Bethany departed on 4 March 2020. In August 2023, it was announced that Fallon would be reprising the role after three years away. Bethany returned on 31 December 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Hamm</span> American actor (born 1971)

Jonathan Daniel Hamm is an American actor best known for his role as Don Draper in the period drama series Mad Men (2007–2015), for which he won numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and two Golden Globe Awards.

<i>Ira & Abby</i> 2006 American film

Ira & Abby is a 2006 American romantic comedy film directed by Robert Cary and written by Jennifer Westfeldt. The film stars Chris Messina and Westfeldt in the title roles, and co-stars Fred Willard, Frances Conroy, Jason Alexander, Robert Klein, and Judith Light.

Tom Gorai is an American film producer, screenwriter, and director.

<i>Requiem for a Dream</i> 2000 American psychological drama film by Darren Aronofsky

Requiem for a Dream is a 2000 American psychological drama film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Jared Leto, Ellen Burstyn, Jennifer Connelly, Christopher McDonald, and Marlon Wayans. It is based on the 1978 novel of the same name by Hubert Selby Jr., with whom Aronofsky wrote the screenplay. The film depicts four characters affected by drug addiction and how it alters their physical and emotional states. Their addictions cause them to become imprisoned in a world of delusion and desperation. As the film progresses, each character deteriorates, and their delusions are shattered by the harsh reality of their situations, resulting in catastrophe.

<i>Bridesmaids</i> (2011 film) Film by Paul Feig

Bridesmaids is a 2011 American comedy film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, and produced by Judd Apatow, Barry Mendel and Clayton Townsend. It stars Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Rose Byrne, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Ellie Kemper, Melissa McCarthy, and Chris O'Dowd. The film focuses on a woman who experiences a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maya Hawke</span> American actress and singer (born 1998)

Maya Ray Thurman Hawke is an American actress and singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of Hollywood actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. She began her career in modelling, and subsequently made her screen debut as Jo March in the 2017 BBC adaptation of Little Women.

<i>The Last Word</i> (2017 film) 2017 American film

The Last Word is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed by Mark Pellington, from a screenplay by Stuart Ross Fink. It stars Amanda Seyfried and Shirley MacLaine.

<i>Martha Speaks</i> (TV series) American-Canadian animated TV series

Martha Speaks is an animated children's preschool television series based on the 1992 children's book of the same name by Susan Meddaugh and debuted on September 1, 2008 on PBS Kids. The series was produced by WGBH Boston in collaboration with DHX Media Vancouver for the first four seasons and Oasis Animation for the final two seasons of the series.

<i>Beirut</i> (film) 2018 American film

Beirut, also known as The Negotiator in the United Kingdom, is a 2018 American political thriller film directed by Brad Anderson and written by Tony Gilroy.

<i>Lucy in the Sky</i> 2019 film directed by Noah Hawley

Lucy in the Sky is a 2019 American psychological drama film loosely inspired by the life of NASA astronaut Lisa Nowak, who is portrayed by Natalie Portman. The film was directed, co-produced, and co-written by Noah Hawley in his feature directorial debut. In addition to Portman, the film stars Jon Hamm, Zazie Beetz, Dan Stevens, Colman Domingo, and Ellen Burstyn.

<i>Queen Bees</i> (film) 2021 film by Michael Lembeck

Queen Bees is a 2021 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Lembeck. It features an ensemble cast, including Ellen Burstyn, James Caan, Ann-Margret, Christopher Lloyd, Jane Curtin, Loretta Devine, and Elizabeth Mitchell. It was released on June 11, 2021, by Gravitas Ventures, and received mixed reviews from critics. Screenwriter Donald Martin was nominated for a 2022 Humanitas Prize for his screenplay.

<i>The World to Come</i> 2020 drama film

The World to Come is a 2020 American drama film directed by Mona Fastvold, from a screenplay by Ron Hansen and Jim Shepard, based upon Shepard's story of the same name. It stars Katherine Waterston, Vanessa Kirby, Christopher Abbott and Casey Affleck, and follows two neighboring couples battling hardship and isolation in mid-19th century America.

<i>The Assistant</i> (2019 film) 2019 drama film directed by Kitty Green

The Assistant is a 2019 American drama film written, directed, produced, and edited by Kitty Green. The film stars Julia Garner as a junior assistant at a film production company. Matthew Macfadyen, Makenzie Leigh, Kristine Froseth, Jon Orsini, and Noah Robbins also star.

<i>Wild Mountain Thyme</i> (film) 2020 film by John Patrick Shanley

Wild Mountain Thyme is a 2020 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, based on his play Outside Mullingar. The film stars Emily Blunt, Jamie Dornan, Jon Hamm, Dearbhla Molloy and Christopher Walken.

<i>The Exorcist: Believer</i> 2023 film by David Gordon Green

The Exorcist: Believer is a 2023 American supernatural horror film directed by David Gordon Green, who co-wrote the screenplay with Peter Sattler from a story by Scott Teems, Danny McBride, and Green. The sixth installment in The Exorcist franchise, it serves as a direct sequel to The Exorcist (1973). The film stars Leslie Odom Jr., Lidya Jewett, Olivia O‘Neill in her film debut, Jennifer Nettles, Norbert Leo Butz, and Ann Dowd. Ellen Burstyn and Linda Blair reprise their roles from the original film. Its plot follows a photographer who must confront the nadir of evil when his daughter and her best friend are possessed.

References

  1. ↑ Hipes, Patrick (January 22, 2017). "Bleecker Street Acquires Mark Pellington's 'Nostalgia' – Sundance". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  2. ↑ Kilday, Gregg (January 22, 2017). "Sundance: Bleecker Street to Release Mark Pellington's 'Nostalgia'". The Hollywood Reporter . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  3. ↑ Verhoeven, Beatrice (January 22, 2017). "Bleecker Street Acquires Domestic Rights to Jon Hamm Drama 'Nostalgia'". TheWrap . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  4. ↑ Lang, Brent (January 22, 2017). "Bleecker Street Nabs 'Nostalgia' With Jon Hamm, Ellen Burstyn". Variety . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  5. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (January 23, 2017). "Bleecker Street picks up 'Nostalgia' starring Jon Hamm, Ellen Burstyn". Screen Daily . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  6. ↑ Palm Springs International Film Society. "Nostalgia". Palm Springs International Film Festival . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  7. ↑ Erbland, Kate (January 4, 2018). "'Nostalgia' Trailer: Jon Hamm and Ellen Burstyn Star in Alex Ross Perry-Penned Ensemble Drama — Watch". IndieWire . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  8. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (October 26, 2017). "Bleecker Street Sets Release Dates For 'What They Had', 'Disobedience' & More". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved October 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ Sherman, Jenn (October 26, 2017). "Bleecker Street announces 2018 release slate". Screen Daily . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Nostalgia". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  11. ↑ "Nostalgia". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ Catsoulis, Jeannette (February 15, 2018). "Review: 'Nostalgia' Asks Why We Keep Things". The New York Times . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Linden, Sheri (February 15, 2018). "Review: Jon Hamm, Catherine Keener and others can't move past 'Nostalgia's' treacly musings". Los Angeles Times . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  14. ↑ O'Sullivan, Michael (February 21, 2018). "'Nostalgia' takes a gloomy looks at a group of glum people, all connected by loss". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ Smit, Anton (October 17, 2018). "World Soundtrack Awards 2018 – Winners Announced". Soundtrack World. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  16. ↑ Horemans, Tim (October 18, 2018). "World Soundtrack Awards 2018". Film Music Site. Archived from the original on October 21, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
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.