Poolman (film)

Last updated

Poolman
Poolman 2024 poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Chris Pine
Written by
  • Chris Pine
  • Ian Gotler
Produced by
Starring
Cinematography Matthew Jensen
Edited by Stacey Schroeder
Music by Andrew Bird
Production
companies
Distributed by Vertical
Release dates
  • September 11, 2023 (2023-09-11)(TIFF)
  • May 10, 2024 (2024-05-10)(United States)
Running time
100 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$153,325 [2] [3]

Poolman is a 2023 American comedy mystery film directed, produced, co-written by and starring Chris Pine in his directorial debut. It also stars Annette Bening, DeWanda Wise, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown, John Ortiz, Ray Wise, Juliet Mills, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Danny DeVito. The film follows Darren Barrenman (Pine), an unwavering optimist and native Angeleno, who spends his days looking after the pool of the Tahitian Tiki apartment block and fighting to make his hometown a better place to live.

Contents

The film premiered at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival. It was released in the United States on May 10, 2024.

Plot

Darren Barrenman is a pool cleaner in Los Angeles, living in the old apartment complex The Tahitian Tiki owned by parental figures Jack and Diane. He is an advocate for LA, inspired by Erin Brockovich, constantly pitching his local council on potential improvements, to the disdain of councillor Stephen Toronkowski.

Darren's girlfriend Susan, fed up with his passion for causes but disinterest in progressing with their relationship, quietly and subtly says goodbye for good and leaves. Darren then proceeds to head out with Jack and Diane for another day of shooting their documentary on his quest to improve LA, which ends in Toronkowski getting him thrown in jail overnight.

Femme fatale June Del Rey reveals a real-estate and water plot by her boss Toronkowski that requires Barrenman's detective skills. She says he is corrupt accepts bribes and is in contact with a property developer. He initially turns her down, then has a psychiatric session with Diane.

Deciding to meet up with June, despite Diane's distrust of her but with Jack's support, Darren tracks her down. They have a drink in an expensive club, where she explains she sought him out as she does not know how deep the corruption goes.

Barrenman draws on his eclectic group of friends and fellow residents to track Toronkowski and photograph his misdeeds. This includes Susan, who has come with Wayne. Darren gets suspicious, although she insists they were in one of her pilates classes. After taking some surveillance photos, the group goes out for a bite. There, Wayne blurts out that he and Susan slept together. A devastated Darren looks on, as they kiss then declare their mutual love. Diane saw it coming, while Jack is also incredulous.

Darren falls into a depression. After a few days, June shows up, urging him to get back on track on the investigation. Darren tells her about Susan dumping him, so she kisses him, then leaves.

Going to see Theodore Hollandaise, Barrenman briefly meets almond farmer William Van Patterson. Invited into the study, he tries to intimidate the real estate mogul by slapping down the photos. Hollandaise insists Barreman the photos show nothing incriminating.

Next, Darren follows Toronkowski to a place where he dressed in drag as Blanche, performing a sketch with a group as The Golden Girls. Going back stage, they make peace and bond. Hinting at an article being printed in a few days exposing Hollandaise, before Toronkowski can elaborate, he is shot dead with a silencer-tipped gun. The shooter frames Darren by tossing him the gun, so he has to run.

Marching in on June, Darren tells her his subconscious made him realize she was being untruthful and that she is with Van Patterson. She is actually his illegitimate daughter, then kisses him, apologizes and leaves. Darren finds a painted portrait of June and the almond farmer labeled 'The future Mr, and Mrs...', and rushes out to the mansion.

Preventing Van Patterson from smothering his enormously wealthy wife to death, Darren intervenes. Before he can do away with both of them Wayne appears, who turns out to be FBI. He and his team arrest Van Patterson and June, the water is restored and Darren goes back to being a pool man, content.

Cast

Production

It was announced in February 2022 that Chris Pine was set to make his directorial debut on the film, which he co-wrote the screenplay for with Ian Gotler. Pine will also star in the film alongside Annette Bening and Danny DeVito. [4] [5] Pine came up with the idea for the film during a conversation with director Patty Jenkins, who will serve as a producer. [6] In May, Ariana DeBose and Jennifer Jason Leigh were added to the cast, with Matthew Jensen set as cinematographer. [7] In July, DeWanda Wise joined the cast replacing DeBose who left the project due to scheduling conflicts. [8]

Filming began in June 2022 in Los Angeles. [9] The film moved to post-production by November 2022, with the distribution rights being sold by AGC International to Paramount Pictures, StudioCanal, Lionsgate Films and other companies for multiple countries outside the United States. [10] The rights for the UK and Ireland were sold to Signature Entertainment. [5]

Release

Poolman's world premiere took place at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2023. [11] [12] In December 2023, Vertical acquired distribution rights to the film. [13]

The film was released in the United States on May 10, 2024. [14]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 21% of 47 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.0/10. [15] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 29 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [16]

Michael Rechtshaffen, writing for The Hollywood Reporter , called the film a "shrill misfire" and predicted that it would "likely have a tough time finding a home". [17] Siddhant Adlakha from IndieWire opined that the film was "disastrous" and "[i]t's only 100 minutes long, but upward of 99 of those minutes are likely to be spent in silent boredom, if not irritated disbelief at being subjected to such guileless, artless nonsense". [18]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny DeVito</span> American actor (born 1944)

Daniel Michael DeVito Jr. is an American actor and filmmaker. He gained prominence for his portrayal of the taxi dispatcher Louie De Palma in the television series Taxi (1978–1983), which won him a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. He plays Frank Reynolds on the FXX sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Pine</span> American actor (born 1980)

Christopher Whitelaw Pine is an American actor. He is best known for his roles as James T. Kirk in the Star Trek reboot film series (2009–2016) and Steve Trevor in the DC Extended Universe films Wonder Woman (2017) and Wonder Woman 1984 (2020).

<i>The Lorax</i> (film) 2012 Illumination film

The Lorax is a 2012 American animated musical fantasy comedy film produced by Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, and distributed by Universal. The film is the second screen adaptation of Dr. Seuss' 1971 children's book The Lorax following the 1972 animated television special. Directed by Chris Renaud, co-directed by Kyle Balda, produced by Chris Meledandri and Janet Healy and written by the writing team of Cinco Paul and Ken Daurio, it stars the voices of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate and Betty White.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elizabeth Olsen</span> American actress (born 1989)

Elizabeth Chase Olsen is an American actress. Born in Sherman Oaks, California, Olsen began acting at age four alongside her sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. She had her debut film role in the thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene in 2011, for which she was acclaimed and nominated for a Critics' Choice Movie Award. Olsen received a BAFTA Rising Star Award nomination and graduated from New York University two years later.

<i>Feud</i> (TV series) American anthology television series

Feud is an American anthology drama television series created by Ryan Murphy, Jaffe Cohen, and Michael Zam, which premiered on FX on March 5, 2017. Conceived as an anthology series, Feud's first season, Bette and Joan, chronicles the well-documented rivalry between Hollywood actresses Joan Crawford and Bette Davis during and after the production of their psychological horror thriller film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). Jessica Lange and Susan Sarandon star as Crawford and Davis, respectively. Judy Davis, Jackie Hoffman, Alfred Molina, Stanley Tucci, and Alison Wright feature in supporting roles. Academy Award–winning actresses Catherine Zeta-Jones and Kathy Bates also appear. Critically acclaimed, with major praise for Lange and Sarandon's performances, the first season garnered several accolades. It received 18 nominations at the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards and won two, including Outstanding Hairstyling and Makeup (Non-Prosthetic). Bette and Joan also received six Critics' Choice Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and three Television Critics Association Awards nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lashana Lynch</span> British actress (born 1987)

Lashana Lynch is a British actress. She first gained recognition for her role as Rosaline Capulet in the ABC period drama series Still Star-Crossed (2017) going on to win the BAFTA Rising Star Award in 2022. She portrayed Maria Rambeau in the Marvel Cinematic Universe beginning with Captain Marvel (2019). She has since had roles in the James Bond film No Time to Die (2021), Matilda the Musical (2022), The Woman King (2022), and Bob Marley: One Love (2024).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DeWanda Wise</span> American actress (born 1989)

DeWanda Wise is an American actress. She starred in Spike Lee's Netflix comedy-drama series She's Gotta Have It (2017–19), a contemporary adaptation of his 1986 film.

<i>Missing Link</i> (2019 film) Animated film by Chris Butler

Missing Link is a 2019 American animated adventure comedy film written and directed by Chris Butler. The film is produced by Laika, and stars the voices of Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, David Walliams, Stephen Fry, Matt Lucas, Timothy Olyphant, Amrita Acharia, Ching Valdes-Aran, Emma Thompson, and Zach Galifianakis. The plot follows Mr. Link, a Sasquatch who, with the help of British explorers Sir Lionel Frost and Adelina Fortnight, travels to the Himalayas to meet his Yeti cousins.

<i>WandaVision</i> 2021 Marvel Studios television miniseries

WandaVision is an American television miniseries created by Jac Schaeffer for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and Vision. It is the first television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise, and is set after the events of the film Avengers: Endgame (2019). It follows Wanda Maximoff and Vision as they live an idyllic suburban life in the town of Westview, New Jersey, until their reality starts moving through different decades of sitcom homages and television tropes. Schaeffer served as head writer for the series, which was directed by Matt Shakman.

<i>Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness</i> 2022 Marvel Studios film

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness is a 2022 American superhero film based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Doctor Strange. Produced by Marvel Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, it is the sequel to Doctor Strange (2016) and the 28th film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). The film was directed by Sam Raimi, written by Michael Waldron, and stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, alongside Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, Michael Stuhlbarg, and Rachel McAdams. In the film, Strange must protect America Chavez (Gomez), a teenager capable of traveling the multiverse, from the Scarlet Witch (Olsen).

Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is a group of American superhero films and television series produced by Marvel Studios based on characters that appear in publications by Marvel Comics. Phase Four features all the Marvel Studios productions released from 2021 through 2022. It is the first phase in the franchise to include television series, alongside television specials marketed as "Marvel Studios Special Presentations", with Marvel Studios developing several event series for the streaming service Disney+ in addition to the feature films that it was already set to produce. Animation in the phase was produced by Marvel Studios Animation. Phase Four began with the series WandaVision, which premiered in January 2021, while the first theatrical film in this phase is Black Widow, which was released in July 2021 by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The phase concluded with the television special The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special in November 2022. The release schedule of Phase Four was changed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kevin Feige produced every film and executive produced every series and special in this phase, alongside producers Jonathan Schwartz for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Nate Moore for Eternals and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Amy Pascal for Spider-Man: No Way Home, and Brad Winderbaum for Thor: Love and Thunder.

<i>Dune: Prophecy</i> Upcoming American television series

Dune: Prophecy is an upcoming American science fiction television series developed by Diane Ademu-John and Alison Schapker for HBO. A prequel to the film Dune (2021), which was based on the 1965 novel of the same name by Frank Herbert, the series focuses on the origins of the Bene Gesserit, an exclusive and powerful sisterhood who undergo intense physical training and mental conditioning to obtain superhuman abilities; the action in the series taking place some 10,000 years before the events of the film. The series is produced by Legendary Television, with Schapker serving as showrunner, writer, and executive producer.

<i>Hotel Transylvania: Transformania</i> 2022 Sony Pictures Animation film

Hotel Transylvania: Transformania is a 2022 American animated adventure comedy film produced by Columbia Pictures and Sony Pictures Animation and released by Amazon Studios. It is the fourth and final feature film in the Hotel Transylvania franchise and the sequel to Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation (2018), the film was directed by Derek Drymon and Jennifer Kluska from a screenplay by Amos Vernon, Nunzio Randazzo and Genndy Tartakovsky. It stars the voices of Andy Samberg, Selena Gomez, Kathryn Hahn, Jim Gaffigan, Steve Buscemi, Molly Shannon, David Spade, Keegan-Michael Key, Brian Hull, Fran Drescher, Brad Abrell, Asher Blinkoff, Tyler "Ninja" Blevins and Zoe Berri. In the film, Dracula and Johnny team up to find a crystal in South America to turn themselves back into normal, before their transformations become permanent.

Star Trek 4 is the working title of an American science fiction film in development at Paramount Pictures based on the television series Star Trek by Gene Roddenberry. It is intended to be the 15th feature film in the Star Trek film franchise and the 5th of the franchise's reboot films. There have been several different iterations of the film in development since 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AGC Studios</span> American film and television production company

AGC Studios is an American film and television production studio. It was founded and launched by Chairman and CEO Stuart Ford in February 2018 as a platform to develop, produce, finance and globally license a diverse portfolio of feature films, scripted, unscripted and factual television, digital and musical content from its dual headquarters in Los Angeles and London. The new studio's Hollywood output has a wide-ranging multicultural focus, designed for exploitation across an array of global platforms including major studio partnerships, streaming platforms, traditional broadcast and cable television networks and independent distributors, both in the U.S. and internationally.

<i>Agatha All Along</i> (miniseries) 2024 Marvel Studios television miniseries

Agatha All Along is an American television miniseries created by Jac Schaeffer for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the character Agatha Harkness. A spin-off from the series WandaVision (2021), it is the 11th television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios and the first to be released under its Marvel Television label, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise. Schaeffer serves as showrunner and lead director.

Alto Knights is an upcoming American biographical crime drama film directed by Barry Levinson and written by Nicholas Pileggi. The film stars Robert De Niro in a dual role as 1950s mob bosses Vito Genovese and Frank Costello.

<i>Woman of the Hour</i> 2023 film by Anna Kendrick

Woman of the Hour is a 2023 American crime thriller film directed by Anna Kendrick in her directorial debut and written by Ian McDonald. It is based on the true story of serial killer Rodney Alcala and his 1978 appearance on the television show The Dating Game in the midst of his murder spree. The film stars Kendrick as the game show contestant Sheryl Bradshaw and Daniel Zovatto as Alcala, alongside Nicolette Robinson and Tony Hale. At the time of the show, Alcala had murdered at least five women, and his appearance on the episode later earned him the nickname, "The Dating Game Killer".

References

  1. ↑ "Poolman (15)". BBFC . March 10, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ "Poolman". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved May 17, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  3. ↑ "Poolman". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved May 12, 2024.
  4. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (February 8, 2022). "AGC Launches Chris Pine's Directorial Debut Poolman With Patty Jenkins & Stacey Sher Producing; Pine Leads Cast With Annette Bening & Danny DeVito – EFM Hot Pic". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  5. 1 2 Wiseman, Andreas (October 26, 2022). "Chris Pine's Directorial Debut 'Poolman' Gets UK Deal". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved January 3, 2023.
  6. ↑ Odman, Sydney (March 30, 2022). "Chris Pine on How Directorial Debut Poolman Came Together". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  7. ↑ Lodderhose, Diana (May 16, 2022). "Ariana DeBose & Jennifer Jason Leigh Join Chris Pine's Directorial Debut Poolman". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved May 16, 2022.
  8. ↑ Kroll, Justin (July 7, 2022). "Jurassic World: Dominions DeWanda Wise Joins Chris Pine's Directorial Debut Poolman". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 7, 2022.
  9. ↑ Travis, Emlyn (July 1, 2022). "Prepare to Gasp Over Unrecognizable Chris Pine's New Look". E! . Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  10. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (November 1, 2022). "AGC International reports major pre-sales on Chris Pine directing debut 'Poolman' (exclusive)". Screen Daily . Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Poolman". Toronto International Film Festival . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 24, 2023). "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders Dumb Money, The Holdovers, Rustin; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  13. ↑ Grobar, Matt (December 20, 2023). "Chris Pine Comedy 'Poolman' Lands At Vertical". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  14. ↑ Wang, Jessica (March 14, 2024). "Chris Pine is a Poolman turned detective in zany trailer for his directorial debut". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Poolman". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved May 15, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  16. ↑ "Poolman". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  17. ↑ Rechtshaffen, Michael (September 12, 2023). "'Poolman' Review: Chris Pine's Noir-Drenched L.A. Comedy Is a Shrill Misfire". The Hollywood Reporter .
  18. ↑ Adlakha, Siddhant (September 13, 2023). "'Poolman' Review: Chris Pine's Disastrous Directorial Debut".
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.