Sound of Freedom (film)

Last updated

Sound of Freedom
Sound of Freedom (film) poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Alejandro Monteverde
Written by
  • Rod Barr
  • Alejandro Monteverde
Produced by Eduardo Verástegui
Starring
CinematographyGorka Gómez Andreu
Edited byBrian Scofield
Music by Javier Navarrete
Production
company
Santa Fe Films
Distributed by Angel Studios
Release date
  • July 4, 2023 (2023-07-04)
Running time
131 minutes [1]
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
Budget$14.5 million [2]
Box office$250.6 million [3] [4]

Sound of Freedom is a 2023 American Christian thriller film [5] directed and co-written by Alejandro Monteverde, and starring Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino, and Bill Camp. Caviezel plays Tim Ballard, a former U.S. government agent who embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia. [6] It is produced by Eduardo Verástegui, who also plays a role in the film. The plot centers around Ballard's Operation Underground Railroad, an anti-sex trafficking organization. While the film is purportedly based on the life of Ballard, multiple investigative journalists have written about the real-life Ballard and O.U.R., pointing out that the events in the film bear little resemblance to reality.

Contents

The film was released on July 4, 2023, by Angel Studios, and was a sleeper hit, grossing $250 million against a $14.5 million budget to become one of the most successful independent films in history. [7] It received mixed reviews from critics, [8] while audience reception was highly positive. [9] [10] [11] [12] The film attracted considerable attention for its alleged connections to QAnon conspiracy theories, although Ballard and Monteverde refute the links, despite Ballard and Caviezel's belief in said theories.

Plot

In 2013, Roberto Aguilar, a poor father of two from Tegucigalpa, Honduras, is approached by a former beauty queen, Giselle. She offers to sign his young children, Rocío and Miguel Aguilar, to child modeling contracts. He accepts and takes them to the photoshoot. When he returns to pick his children up, they are gone. It is revealed that the children have been abducted and sold to be used as sex slaves.

In Calexico, California, Tim Ballard is a Special Agent for the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), where he arrests people who possess and distribute child pornography. The painful work takes a great toll on his personal life, and this is only worsened when another agent, Chris, points out that despite arresting and prosecuting numerous child predators, they are largely unable to prevent more children from being exploited. Ballard knows that this is because most of them are outside the U.S., but Chris' words stick with him. He speaks to a suspect he arrested, Ernst Oshinsky, deceiving the man into believing he is a pedophile himself. Once he gains Oshinsky's trust, he sets up a meeting with a trafficked child, and is able to arrest Earl Buchanan, the man who purchased Miguel.

Ballard rescues Miguel and asks him for information that would help him find other missing children. Ballard learns that Miguel's sister Rocío is still missing, and the boy asks him to save her. Ballard arranges for Miguel to return home to Roberto, but not before Miguel gives Ballard his sister's Saint Timothy necklace. Ballard starts looking for Rocío, and his search leads him to Cartagena, Colombia. He meets with Vampiro ("Vampire"), a former Cali Cartel accountant who now works to save children from sex trafficking, and gains information on Giselle.

After reading about a child sex club in Thailand which was shut down, Ballard decides that this is the perfect cover story to acquire a large number of Giselle's children in a sting operation. Vampiro gets a Colombian police officer, Jorge, and a wealthy citizen named Paulo Delgado to help with Ballard's mission. Ballard's supervisor, Frost, orders Ballard to return to the U.S. as he does not have the authority to conduct such an operation on foreign soil. Ballard resigns his position rather than abandon the search for Rocío.

Sympathizing with Ballard's decision, Frost secretly persuades the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Colombia to assist him however they can. With Jorge acting as a middleman, Ballard and Vampiro pose as sex traffickers and convince Giselle to sell them 54 children, enabling the police to identify and arrest her while dismantling her operation. Rocío is not among the freed youths.

After interrogating one of Giselle's associates, Jorge learns that Rocío was sold to FARC, entrenched deep in the Amazon natural region. Jorge informs Ballard that there is no way to retrieve the girl, because the region is largely unmapped jungle wilderness, and any rebel territory is a no-fly zone for the Colombian government. Vampiro notes that medical personnel are allowed to enter on humanitarian grounds, and Jorge reluctantly agrees to help them obtain documentation to pose as doctors. The rebels refuse to let Vampiro enter, and Ballard is forced to continue by himself.

Tim gains access to the FARC camp where Rocío is being held and learns that she is the personal sex slave for a FARC leader, El Alacrán ("The Scorpion"), and along with others is required to mash coca leaves to produce cocaine. Ballard is forced to kill El Alacrán while freeing Rocío, and despite the rebels pursuing and firing on them, gets her to safety. Before they part, he gives her back the necklace Miguel gave him earlier. Rocío is finally returned to her father and brother, and the family goes home to Honduras.

An epilogue says that Tim Ballard testified before the United States Congress and claims that his testimony resulted in laws being passed that require the government to cooperate with foreign countries on sex trafficking investigations. The epilogue also claims that there are more people enslaved today than at any other time in history, including when slavery was legal.

Cast

Production

Development

Tim Ballard's career inspired the movie. Tim Ballard, 2018 (hUUIrui-DUo).jpg
Tim Ballard's career inspired the movie.

Sound of Freedom was inspired by the work of Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.,) a non-profit started to stop trafficking. Work on the script began in 2015. [2] He personally requested that Jim Caviezel portray him because he had been impressed with Caviezel's performance as Edmond Dantes in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002). [14] [15] Caviezel said that he considers Sound of Freedom the second most important film he has ever appeared in, ranking it behind his starring role as Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ (2004). [16] [15]

The film was executive produced by Mel Gibson, [17] Tony Robbins, who also partly financed the film's distribution; [18] [19] John Couch; [18] John Paul DeJoria; [18] Paul Hutchinson; [20] Patrick Slim, [18] and Andrew McCubbins, [21] [22] [23] who was convicted in 2020 of running an $89 million Medicare fraud scheme. [24]

The film's score is composed by Javier Navarrete. [25]

Filming

Principal photography began in the summer of 2018. The majority of the film was shot in Cartagena, Colombia. [26] Additional scenes were shot in Calexico, California. [27] [28]

Distribution

The film was completed in 2018 and a distribution deal was made with the Latin American subsidiary of 20th Century Fox. [29] When the studio was purchased by the Walt Disney Company, it shelved the film. Subsequently, the filmmakers bought the distribution rights back from the studio. [30]

Verástegui approached Angel Studios with the release rights. Angel presented the film to an online group of 100,000 investors in its past projects called the Angel Guild, which gave it a "yes" vote within days. [2] In 2023, Angel Studios had acquired the worldwide distribution rights, with a planned release during the second half of 2023. [30] In May of the same year, it received a release date of July 4, 2023. [31]

Angel used equity crowdfunding to raise the funds needed to distribute and market the film. Seven thousand people invested, allowing Angel to meet its $5 million goal in two weeks. [2] They also encouraged patrons to "pay it forward" to allow people who might not otherwise see the film to watch it in theaters for free. [32] Sound of Freedom is Angel Studios' second theatrical release after His Only Son . [33]

On July 26, Angel Studios confirmed that Sound of Freedom would be released in 23 international markets throughout 2023. The film was released in UAE on August 17, in South Africa, Iceland and Lithuania on August 18 and Australia and New Zealand on August 24. Other countries where the film was shown include Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Belize, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Croatia, [34] Bosnia and Herzegovina [35] and Serbia [36] on August 31. In addition, the film was released in the Philippines on September 20, [37] as well as in the United Kingdom and Ireland on September and in Spain on October 11. [38] [39]

Accuracy

The film was inspired by the life of Tim Ballard, who left the Department of Homeland Security around 2013 and founded Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) to work with local police in other countries to catch child sex traffickers. The film's central plot point, that of a brother and sister lured to a photo shoot in Honduras, is not an event that Ballard has claimed actually happened. [40] According to American Crime Journal reporters, Ballard embellished details about the story told in the film. [41]

Ballard stated that, "Some things are definitely overreported." He did not go into the jungle by himself to rescue a little girl, nor did he kill a man to rescue a child. According to Ballard, the island rescue Operation Triple Take involved both minors and adults, while the film portrays all victims as children. Ballard claimed that his team not only rescued 54 minors, but 123 individuals at two additional locations. [42] [43]

The real-life O.U.R. has been criticized for its conduct during sting operations and has been accused of exaggerating claims regarding its work. [44] The actual organization's practices have come under scrutiny, including using inexperienced donors and celebrities as part of its jump team, a lack of meaningful surveillance or identification of targets, failing to validate whether the people they intended to rescue were in fact actual trafficking victims, and conflating consensual sex work with sex trafficking. [45] Ballard himself was removed as the head of O.U.R. following an internal investigation in 2023. In a December 2023 statement posted on its website, the organization said an independent law firm reached the conclusion that Ballard had "engaged in unprofessional behavior that violated OUR's policies and values." [46]

Many experts in the anti-trafficking movement voiced concern about the movie's portrayal of human trafficking. Anti-trafficking experts noted that the movie focusses on a type of human trafficking that constitutes a very small segment of the overall problem, that trafficking is often perpetrated by people known to the victim rather than kidnapping by strangers, that anti-trafficking interventions have changed significantly since the ten-year-old story depicted in this movie, and that self-liberation rather than heroic rescues is the predominant way through which individuals escape trafficking situations. [47]

Connections to QAnon conspiracy theories

While the film does not mention any QAnon conspiracy theories, [29] [48] [49] [50] critics and anti-trafficking experts have pointed out that the film embellishes the reality of child exploitation and stokes QAnon conspiracy theories, [6] referring to a "belief that a core group of devil-worshiping elite run the world". [51] Both Ballard and star Caviezel have been public about their belief in conspiracy theories of the QAnon movement. [40] [52]

On NPR's All Things Considered , Mike Rothschild, author of The Storm Is Upon Us: How QAnon Became a Movement, Cult, and Conspiracy Theory of Everything, argued that the film is "being marketed to QAnon believers, it's being embraced by this community, and its leading actor is a huge part of the QAnon community". [5]

While promoting the film in an interview with Jordan Peterson in July 2023, Ballard claimed to have recently raided a West African "baby factory" where children are sold for organ harvesting and "Satanic ritual abuse", echoing another QAnon myth. [53] [54] In July 2020, in a video post, he lent credence to a QAnon conspiracy theory that falsely accused furniture company Wayfair of laundering money gained from child sex trafficking. [55] [56]

Ballard has criticized those drawing a connection between the film and QAnon, saying, "They make zero connection to the actual story. It's very difficult to make that connection when it's actually based on a true story." He told The New York Times , "Some of these theories have allowed people to open their eyes, so now it's our job to flood the space with real information so the facts can be shared." [41] [57]

In an interview with Variety , the film's director Alejandro Monteverde responded to the QAnon allegations, characterizing them as "misconceptions" and saying that the movie's origins came from a network TV news segment on child sex trafficking which he saw two years before the QAnon movement emerged (work on the script began in 2015). [2] He also said that he has to "keep [his] distance" from "people that are too close to the film that are in politics." [58]

Pay-it-forward scheme

During the film's theatrical run, multiple outlets and moviegoers reported theaters claiming to be sold out, though seats in the auditoriums were empty. Some attribute this to pay-it-forward sales by Angel Studios. A message at the end of the film urges viewers to buy an extra ticket "for someone who would not otherwise be able to see the film", suggesting many of the extra tickets were left unused, resulting in almost empty sold out shows and unoccupied seats. [59] [60] Supporters paid for $26.1 million in tickets (roughly 1.8 million seats) for people to see the film for free. Angel Studios said that $21.8 million, or about 84%, of those ticket purchases were redeemed by moviegoers. [61]

Reception

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 57% of 83 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10.The website's consensus reads: "Sound of Freedom is an effective and suspenseful call to action against human trafficking, yet not free of issues in its depiction of the sensitive subject matter." [62] Metacritic , which uses a weighted average , assigned the film a score of 36 out of 100, based on 11 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews. [63]

Variety 's Owen Gleiberman gave the film a positive review, writing, "Let's assume that, like me, you're not a right-wing fundamentalist conspiracy theorist looking for a dark, faith-based suspense film to see over the holiday weekend… Even then, you needn't hold extreme beliefs to experience Sound of Freedom as a compelling movie that shines an authentic light on one of the crucial criminal horrors of our time, one that Hollywood has mostly shied away from." [64] The Detroit News ' Adam Graham gave the film a C+ grade, writing "Even as the film's pacing starts to thud ... its work has been done, competently if not altogether artfully. Sometimes, obvious works just fine." [65] Film Threat 's Alan Ng recommended the film, writing, "Sound of Freedom is almost as if you're listening to Tim Ballard tell his incredible story of rescuing children and having it dramatized onscreen. It's heartfelt, informative, and inspiring." [66] National Review 's Madeleine Kearns called the film "provocative and gripping", adding that it "remind[s] us that as long as children are being abused, no matter where they are or how many there are, the rest of us ought to care." [67] Faith-based reviews were largely positive. [68]

Glenn Kenny, writing for The New York Times , gave a critical review: "The queasiness derives from the contemporary-thriller vibes of the police procedural material... Then there are the scenes in which actual child actors perform being prepped for provocative pictures by adult groomers. What are the ethics of depiction here? The makers of this film initially seem to be grappling with how to properly tell this story." He went on to say "The director Alejandro Monteverde does have some sense of flourish, what with several single-point perspective shots and considered dissolves", but concluded "Oddly, the picture's muted tone ultimately undercuts its solemn sense of mission." [69] RogerEbert.com 's Nick Allen was also negative, writing: "Sound of Freedom is a solemn, drawn-out bore with a not particularly bold narrative stance—caring about the safety of children is roughly the easiest cause for any remotely decent human being... But while being so committed to such solemnity and suffering, the truncated storytelling by co-writers Monteverde and Rod Barr neglects to flesh out its ideas or characters or add any more intensity to Ballard's slow-slow-slow burn search for two kids in particular (Lucás Ávila's Miguel and Cristal Aparicio's Rocío) whose faces haunt him." [70]

Slate 's Sam Adams said in his review that the film appears to be "a straightforward search-and-rescue thriller, in which Ballard, a special agent at the Department of Homeland Security, goes rogue to free a young girl from the clutches of a Colombian sex-trafficking ring. But it arrived in theaters surrounded by a cloud of innuendo put forth by its star and its noisiest right-wing supporters—conspiratorial insinuations about who doesn't want this story to be told and what real-world traffickers are really up to." [71] The Times of Israel 's Shira Li Bartov wrote that the film draws upon multiple conspiracy theories that include anti-Jewish canards, including the blood libel, while its star, actor Jim Caviezel, has floated antisemitic theories in interviews promoting the film. [72]

The Telegraph 's Ed Power gave the "bizarrely dull" film one star out of five, calling it a "creepy and breathtakingly dreary child trafficking thriller" whose success in American theaters "proves America is not only a different country – it's a different planet". [73] Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian also panned it as "an odd, uncertainly acted, opaquely intended movie", [74] while Wendy Ide gave it two stars out of five in a review for its sister paper The Observer , calling it both "an earnest and well-intentioned attempt to engage with a very real and harrowing issue" and "a thunderously crass and manipulative movie that is hampered by erratic pacing, pantomime bad guys and an overfondness for shots of Caviezel weeping God-fearing, manly tears." [75]

Box office

Sound of Freedom grossed $184.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $66.4 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $250.6 million. [3] It is the tenth highest-grossing film of 2023 in the U.S. and Canada. [76] By late-August 2023, it was considered "one of history's most successful independent films." [7] In March 2024, Deadline Hollywood reported that of the film's box-office gross (at that point, $249.5 million), 52% ($129.6 million) went to "theater access costs", while 8% ($18.96 million) was withheld by taxes, 19% ($47.6 million) accounted for print and advertising costs, 14% ($47.6 million) served as payment to the filmmakers, and the remaining 7% ($17.8 million) returned to Angel Studios. [61]

The film was released in the United States on July 4, 2023. Prior to its release, the film sold $10 million in ticket pre-sales at 2,626 theaters. [77] According to /Film , the film received little coverage in the mainstream media leading up to its release. [78] Originally, Sound of Freedom was projected to gross $11–15 million over its first week of release, with some estimates reaching $20 million. [79] The film grossed $14.2 million on its first day of release, $3.6 million on its second, and $3.5 million on its third, for a Tuesday—Thursday total of $21.3 million, raising six-day estimates to $36 million. It went on to make $18.2 million in its opening weekend (with a six day total of $40.2 million), finishing third at the box office. [80] [81] Its success surprised many industry experts, especially considering it was only released in 2,850 theaters, considerably fewer than Insidious: The Red Door (3,188 theaters) and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny (4,600 theaters). [6] Playing in 3,265 theaters in its second weekend, the film made $24.7 million (an increase of 26%), finishing second behind newcomer Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One . [82] Sound of Freedom crossed the $100 million mark at the box office on 16th day of release. [83] In its third weekend the film made $20.1 million, finishing third behind newcomers Barbie and Oppenheimer . [84] Playing in 3,411 theaters the film continued to hold well in its fourth weekend of release, grossing $12.8 million and finishing in fourth. [85]

After its opening week, rumors and videos on social media claimed that AMC Theatres was canceling screenings and disrupting viewing by inventing technical difficulties and disabling air conditioning. Angel Studios' head of theatrical distribution Brandon Purdie said "these rumors are not accurate" and stated that due to the positive reception and consumer demand, AMC had added 450 additional theaters on July 14. [86] [87]

Audience reception and faith-based appeal

The film is described as a "Christian thriller". [5] [88] [89] [90] [91] It received highly positive reviews from viewers, at one point holding an audience score of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. [9] [10] [11] [12] Some movie industry analysts attributed the film's success in part to its appeal to an overlooked segment of the film audience. [92] "This is yet another example of a faith-based distributor breaking the rules and coming out a winner," Comscore senior analyst Paul Dergarabedian said. "[It] also shows that a grassroots marketing strategy and tapping into the power of the faith-based audience has proven to be a very effective method to generate profits." [33]

Christian website MovieGuide attributed the film's unexpected success to its wide demographic appeal and strong moral values. [93] Variety wrote that ticket buyers have been predominately female, while more than 50% of cinemagoers were over the age of 45. [6] One third of the audience has been Hispanic. [6] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an "A+", a standard grade for faith-based titles. [79]

The Los Angeles Times noted that the film had become a part of the culture war, stating that "supporting the film has become a cause du jour for the MAGA crowd." [94] The National Post argued that the film was an example of an independent studio "beat[ing] Hollywood at its own game". [95]

Endorsements and special screening

Mel Gibson, Dana White, Elon Musk, Ben Shapiro, Jewel, Manny Pacquiao, Tim Tebow, and the Family Research Council endorsed the film. [96] [97] [98] Donald Trump hosted a special screening at Trump National Golf Club Bedminster on the night of July 19, 2023. [99] [100] [101]

Accolades

For his performance in the film, Javier Godino won Best Actor in an International Production at the 32nd Actors and Actresses Union Awards. [102]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Demi Moore</span> American actress (born 1962)

Demi Gene Moore is an American actress. A leading actress in the late 1980s and early 1990s, she was the world's highest-paid actress by 1995. Moore's accolades include nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Caviezel</span> American actor (born 1968)

James Patrick Caviezel Jr. is an American actor. He is best known for playing Jesus in The Passion of the Christ (2004) and starring as John Reese on the CBS series Person of Interest (2011–2016). He also played Slov in G.I. Jane (1997), Private Witt in The Thin Red Line (1998), Detective John Sullivan in Frequency (2000), Catch in Angel Eyes (2001), Edmond Dantès in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002), and Tim Ballard in Sound of Freedom (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lori Petty</span> American actress (born 1963)

Lori Petty is an American actress, director, and screenwriter. She made her big screen debut appearing in the 1990 comedy film Cadillac Man and later starred in films Point Break (1991), A League of Their Own (1992), Free Willy (1993), In the Army Now (1994), The Glass Shield (1994) and played the title role in Tank Girl (1995). She created and starred in the short-lived Fox sitcom Lush Life in 1996 and acted in number of independent movies in her later career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">QAnon</span> American conspiracy theory and political movement

QAnon is a far-right American political conspiracy theory and political movement that originated in 2017. QAnon centers on fabricated claims made by an anonymous individual or individuals known as "Q". Those claims have been relayed and developed by online communities and influencers. Their core belief is that a cabal of Satanic, cannibalistic child molesters is operating a global child sex trafficking ring that conspired against president Donald Trump. QAnon has direct roots in Pizzagate, an Internet conspiracy theory that appeared one year earlier, but also incorporates elements of many different conspiracy theories and unifies them into a larger interconnected conspiracy theory. QAnon has been described as a cult.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alejandro Gómez Monteverde</span> Mexican filmmaker (born 1977)

José Alejandro Gómez Monteverde is a Mexican filmmaker. His first film, Bella, took top prize at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival by winning the "People's Choice Award". He also directed the films Sound of Freedom and Cabrini.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stelio Savante</span> South African actor

Stelio Savante is a South African actor that has appeared in 140 films, TV series and video games in the last three decades. He is known for his roles as a South African/Israeli journalist and undercover Mossad agent opposite Jim Caviezel and Claudia Karvan in the political thriller Infidel, a Portuguese mayor opposite Matt Dillon in the Hawaiian drama Running for Grace, a small town deputy directly opposite Anne Heche, in her final film performance in the noir What Remains, and a rogue policeman in the South African epic drama Colors of Heaven. In 2007 he became the first male South African-born Screen Actors Guild award nominee for his recurring role on Ugly Betty followed by roles in the studio films My Super Ex-Girlfriend and Starship Troopers 3: Marauder. He is also known for the roles of Moses in the biblical series The Chosen, and the voice of Ajax in the popular video games Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 and Call of Duty: Mobile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Sawyer</span> TV personality (born 1963)

Craig Randall "Sawman" Sawyer is a Marine veteran, former Navy SEAL, sniper, combat instructor. Sawyer is the owner of Tactical Insider, which brings technical advice on weapons and combat to Hollywood films and actors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Underground Railroad</span> U.S.-based nonprofit organization

Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.) is a nonprofit United States–based anti-sex trafficking organization founded in 2013 by Tim Ballard. The organization has been criticized for its conduct during sting operations and has been accused of exaggerating claims regarding its work. There have been no actual verified rescues performed by the group, and the group's claims of rescues have misled donors and the public about what the group does. The group claims to have conducted multiple sting operations, some outside the United States, and donated technological and monetary resources to law-enforcement agencies that combat sex trafficking.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Angel Studios</span> American media company

Angel Studios, Inc. is an American independent media company and film distribution studio based in Provo, Utah. It operates the over-the-top video on-demand service Angel Studios. The streaming service is available worldwide and can be accessed via web browsers or via application software installed on smartphones, tablet computers, and smart TVs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pizzagate conspiracy theory</span> Debunked conspiracy theory about alleged child-sex ring

"Pizzagate" is a conspiracy theory that went viral during the 2016 United States presidential election cycle, falsely claiming that the New York City Police Department (NYPD) had discovered a pedophilia ring linked to members of the Democratic Party while searching through Anthony Weiner's emails. It has been extensively discredited by a wide range of organizations, including the Washington, D.C. police.

<i>Underwater</i> (film) 2020 film directed by William Eubank

Underwater is a 2020 American science fiction action horror film directed by William Eubank. The film stars Kristen Stewart, Vincent Cassel, Jessica Henwick, John Gallagher Jr., Mamoudou Athie, and T.J. Miller.

<i>A Quiet Place</i> 2018 film by John Krasinski

A Quiet Place is a 2018 American post-apocalyptic horror film directed by John Krasinski. The screenplay was written by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods from a story they conceived, with contributions by Krasinski after he joined the project. The plot revolves around a mother and father (Krasinski) who struggle to survive and raise their children in a post-apocalyptic world inhabited by blind extraterrestrial creatures with an acute sense of hearing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Ballard</span> Founder and former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad

Timothy Ballard is the founder and former CEO of Operation Underground Railroad (O.U.R.), an anti-sex trafficking organization. Ballard was removed as CEO and forced to leave O.U.R. in 2023 amid accusations of sexual misconduct by multiple employees. Shortly afterward, five women filed a lawsuit against Ballard, accusing him of coercing them into sexual acts during his sting operations. Another lawsuit was then filed against Ballard by a married couple, accusing him of sexual assault and grooming. Utah Governor Spencer Cox subsequently called for a criminal investigation into Ballard's actions.

<i>The Hunt</i> (2020 film) 2020 film directed by Craig Zobel

The Hunt is a 2020 American action comedy film directed by Craig Zobel and written by Nick Cuse and Damon Lindelof. The film stars Betty Gilpin, Hilary Swank, Ike Barinholtz, and Emma Roberts. Jason Blum was a producer under his Blumhouse Productions banner, along with Lindelof. Zobel and Lindelof have said that the film is intended as a satire on the profound political divide between the American left and right. It is about a group of elites who kidnap working class people to hunt them.

Elizabeth M. Crokin is an American columnist and conspiracy theorist. Since 2017, she has been an outspoken supporter of QAnon conspiracy theories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Isaac Kappy</span> American actor (1977–2019)

Isaac Kappy was an American actor. He had roles in the films Thor (2011) and Terminator Salvation (2009) and in the AMC television series Breaking Bad.

<i>Infidel</i> (film) 2020 film by Cyrus Nowrasteh

Infidel is a 2020 American political thriller written, directed, and produced by Cyrus Nowrasteh and starring Jim Caviezel, Claudia Karvan, Hal Ozsan, Stelio Savante, Aly Kassem, Bijan Daneshmand, and Isabelle Adriani. The film's executive producer is Dinesh D'Souza, who aided the film with his production company D'Souza Media.

<i>Q Into the Storm</i> Television series

Q: Into the Storm is an American documentary television miniseries directed and produced by Cullen Hoback. It explores the QAnon conspiracy theory and the people involved with it. It consisted of six episodes and premiered on HBO on March 21, 2021. The series received mixed reviews, with some critics praising its insight into the conspiracy theory, and others finding it to be overlong and lacking in analysis of the impacts of QAnon. Some reviewers have criticized the series for not following best practices outlined by extremism researchers for reporting on extremism and conspiracy theories.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pastel QAnon</span> Sub-community of QAnon followers

Pastel QAnon is a collection of techniques and strategies that use "soft" and feminine aesthetics – most notably pastel colors – in order to attract women into the QAnon conspiracy theory, often using mainstream social media sites like Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and YouTube.

<i>Argylle</i> 2024 film by Matthew Vaughn

Argylle is a 2024 spy action comedy film directed and produced by Matthew Vaughn, and written by Jason Fuchs. The film features an ensemble cast that includes Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O'Hara, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, John Cena, and Samuel L. Jackson. Its plot centers on a reclusive author who is drawn into the world of spies and espionage after she realizes that a new spy novel she is writing mirrors real-world events.

References

  1. ↑ "Sound of Freedom (15A)". Irish Film Classification Office . July 28, 2023. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Jurgensen, John (July 2, 2023). "A Child-Trafficking Thriller Is Taking on Hollywood. Who's Behind It?". The Wall Street Journal . Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Sound of Freedom (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Archived from the original on July 10, 2023. Retrieved November 27, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Sound of Freedom (2023) - Financial Information". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved December 1, 2023.
  5. 1 2 3 Shannon Bond. "Christian thriller 'Sound of Freedom' faces criticism for stoking conspiracy theories". NPR . National Public Radio. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Rubin, Rebecca (July 9, 2023). "How Jim Caviezel's Faith-Based 'Sound of Freedom' Became This Summer's Unlikely Box Office Hit". Variety . Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  7. 1 2 Joe Coscarelli; Marc Tracy (August 22, 2023). "How 'Rich Men North of Richmond' Reached the Top of the Charts". The New York Times . Retrieved August 22, 2023. "Sound of Freedom," [...] Its nearly $180 million in domestic box office receipts have already made it one of history's most successful independent films
  8. ↑
  9. 1 2 Little, Sarah (July 11, 2023). "Why Sound Of Freedom Has A 100% Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score". Screen Rant . Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Della Cava, Marco (July 12, 2023). "Why 'Sound of Freedom,' Jim Caviezel's controversial child sex trafficking film, is a hit". USA Today . Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  11. 1 2 Suleiman, Amina (July 4, 2023). "Controversial Thriller 'Sound of Freedom' Projected to be Most Profitable Indie Film of the Year". NNN. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  12. 1 2 Daniell, Mark (July 13, 2023). "How Jim Caviezel's 'Sound of Freedom' took on summer blockbusters to become a box office hit". Toronto Sun . Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Actuará al lado de Jim Caviezel" [Will act alongside Jim Caviezel] (in Spanish). Diario de Yucatán. November 1, 2019. Archived from the original on February 16, 2020. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  14. ↑ Borchert, Brittany (September 12, 2018). "Jim Caviezel Plays Tim Ballard in "The Sound of Freedom"". Archived from the original on March 13, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  15. 1 2 Toone, Trent (June 4, 2018). "Actor Jim Caviezel set to play second most important role in O.U.R. story 'The Sound of Freedom'". Deseret News . Archived from the original on February 15, 2022. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  16. ↑ Miller, Lindsey (September 10, 2018). "Jim Caviezel Stars in Hollywood Movie About Latter-Day Saint and Former CIA Agent Tim Ballard". LDS Living. Archived from the original on April 20, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
  17. ↑ "'Sound of Freedom', from award winning executive producer Mel Gibson". Apple TV . February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 Bond, Paul (June 15, 2018). "Blockchain Platform TaTaTu to Co-Finance 'Sound of Freedom'". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  19. ↑ Romano, Aja (July 14, 2023). "Sound of Freedom wants to raise awareness about child trafficking. Here's what it's really doing". Vox . Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  20. ↑ Merlan, Anna (September 19, 2023). "'Sound of Freedom' Producer Felt the Naked Breasts of Apparently Underage Trafficking Victim". Vice . Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  21. ↑ Long, Katherine. "'Sound of Freedom,' this summer's surprise blockbuster, is fronted by a QAnon supporter and financed by a man who defrauded Medicare". Insider. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  22. ↑ "North Brunswick man accused of violating Anti-Kickback Statute". centraljersey.com. September 30, 2020. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  23. ↑ Hutchison, Mat (July 14, 2023). "Medicare Fraudster Backs 'Sound of Freedom' - VigourTimes". vigourtimes.com. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  24. ↑ "'Sound of Freedom': What you need to know about the hit faith-based thriller as it prepares to go global". yahoo.com. Yahoo Entertainment. July 27, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Javier Navarrete Scoring Alejandro Monteverde's 'Sound of Freedom'". Film Music Reporter. Archived from the original on February 4, 2022. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  26. ↑ "Cartagena: A gorgeous location for movie makers". donde.co. Archived from the original on February 24, 2020. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
  27. ↑ "Sound of Freedom". PressReader. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  28. ↑ "'Sound of Freedom' Finally Makes it to Big Screen". Calexico Chronicle. July 4, 2023. Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  29. 1 2 Tracy, Marc (July 11, 2023). "A Film About Child Trafficking Takes on Summer Blockbusters". The New York Times . Archived from the original on July 14, 2023.
  30. 1 2 Franklin, McKinley (March 30, 2023). "Angel Studios Acquires Rights to Jim Caviezel Drama 'Sound of Freedom' Ahead of Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Archived from the original on March 30, 2023. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  31. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (May 12, 2023). "Jim Caviezel in Human Trafficking Thriller 'Sound of Freedom': Watch First Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety . Archived from the original on May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  32. ↑ ""Jim Caviezel: 'Sound of Freedom' is 'best film I've done since "The Passion of the Christ"'"". Catholic News Agency. Archived from the original on June 30, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2023.
  33. 1 2 Welk, Brian (July 6, 2023). "'Sound of Freedom' Is Cleaning Up at the Box Office Because You Can Buy Tickets for Strangers". IndieWire . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Puna dvorana na pretpremijeri 'Zvuka slobode': Dugoočekivani film o trgovini djecom s Jimom Caviezelom stigao u hrvatska kina" (in Croatian). Narod. August 31, 2023. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  35. ↑ "Zvuk slobode". blitz-cinestar-bh.ba. Retrieved September 6, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Zvuk slobode". cinestarcinemas.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved September 5, 2023.
  37. ↑ Tomada, Nathalie (September 5, 2023). "TBA hopes to drive audiences to cinemas with Past Lives, Cobweb, Sound of Freedom". Philstar.com . Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  38. ↑ Ntim, Zac (July 26, 2023). "'Sound of Freedom' Set For Release In Multiple International Markets Including UK & Australia from Angel Studios". Deadline . Archived from the original on July 27, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  39. ↑ Foust, Michael (July 26, 2023). "Sound of Freedom Goes International: 23 Countries to get hit film". Crosswalk.com . Salem Web Network. Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
  40. 1 2 Scribner, Herb; Sommer, Will (July 7, 2023). "'Sound of Freedom' is a box office hit whose star embraces QAnon". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  41. 1 2 Stolworthy, Jacob (July 11, 2023). "The controversial child trafficking drama that's become summer's unlikely hit". The Independent. Retrieved July 12, 2023.
  42. ↑ Lang, Kevin (July 6, 2023). "Sound of Freedom vs. the True Story of Tim Ballard". HistoryvsHollywood.com. Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  43. ↑ Ranker, Mike (September 29, 2023). "Can we rely on the factual accuracy of the story told in Sound of Freedom (2023)?". List23: Latest U.S. & World News. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  44. ↑ Merlan, Anna (December 10, 2020). "A Famed Anti-Sex Trafficking Group Has a Problem With the Truth". Vice News . Archived from the original on December 24, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  45. ↑ "Inside a Massive Anti-Trafficking Charity's Blundering Overseas Missions". Vice News . March 8, 2021. Archived from the original on May 13, 2021. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
  46. ↑ Beal-Cvetko, Bridger. "Operation Underground Railroad announces new leadership after Tim Ballard ouster". www.ksl.com. Deseret Digital Media. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  47. ↑ Dickson, Ej (July 12, 2023). "Why Anti-Trafficking Experts Are Torching 'Sound of Freedom'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 1, 2024.
  48. ↑ Gularte, Alejandra (July 10, 2023). "Sound of Freedom Earns $40 Million at the Box Office". Vulture .
  49. ↑ Scribner, Herb (July 13, 2023). "The man at the center of 'Sound of Freedom' abruptly leaves group he founded". The Washington Post . Archived from the original on July 13, 2023.
  50. ↑ della Cava, Marco (July 13, 2023). "Why 'Sound of Freedom,' Jim Caviezel's controversial child sex trafficking film, is a hit". USA Today.
  51. ↑ Walker, Jackson (July 12, 2023). "'Sound of Freedom' crew defends movie against media attacks: 'They're scared'". WCIV. Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  52. ↑ Bramesco, Charles (July 6, 2023). "Sound of Freedom: the QAnon-adjacent thriller seducing America". The Guardian . Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  53. ↑ Long, Katherine. "'Sound of Freedom,' this summer's surprise blockbuster, is fronted by a QAnon supporter and financed by a man who defrauded Medicare". Insider. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  54. ↑ "Jim Caviezel and Tim Ballard EP 372". YouTube. July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  55. ↑ Robinson, KiMi. "Why is Wayfair accused of trafficking children? 7 things to know about the conspiracy theory". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  56. ↑ Tiffany, Kaitlyn (December 9, 2021). "The Great (Fake) Child-Sex-Trafficking Epidemic". The Atlantic. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  57. ↑ Roose, Kevin (August 12, 2020). "QAnon Followers Are Hijacking the #SaveTheChildren Movement". The New York Times .
  58. ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (August 14, 2023). "'Sound of Freedom' Director Calls QAnon Labels 'Heartbreaking,' 'Not True,' Debunks With Details of Film's Origins". Variety . Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  59. ↑ Huggins, Katherine (July 17, 2023). "Who takes the front row? These bizarre seating charts at 'Sound of Freedom' screenings lend credence to claims fake ticket sales are boosting numbers". Daily Dot . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  60. ↑ Gabbatt, Adam (July 23, 2023). "Sound of Freedom passed the $100m mark. Who's really watching the movie?". The Guardian . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  61. 1 2 Hayes, Dade (March 4, 2024). "Sound Of Freedom Box Office: A Look Inside The Revenue Of Angel Studios' Pay-It-Forward Hit". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  62. ↑ "Sound of Freedom". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved September 4, 2024. OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
  63. ↑ "Sound of Freedom". Metacritic . Fandom, Inc. Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  64. ↑ Lang, Brent (July 3, 2023). "Sound of Freedom, Faith-Based Movie, Scores Impressive $10 Million in Presales". Variety . Archived from the original on July 5, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  65. ↑ Graham, Adam (July 13, 2023). "Review: 'Sound of Freedom' makes its point, loud and clear". The Detroit News . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  66. ↑ Ng, Alan (July 4, 2023). "Sound of Freedom". Film Threat . Archived from the original on July 9, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  67. ↑ Kearns, Madeleine (July 9, 2023). "Sound of Freedom's Moral Clarity". National Review .
  68. ↑ Belz, Emily (July 12, 2023). "What Anti-Trafficking Experts Think of the Hit Movie 'Sound of Freedom'". Christianity Today . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  69. ↑ Kenny, Glenn (July 12, 2023). "'Sound of Freedom' Review: In the Land of Child Traffickers". The New York Times . Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  70. ↑ Allen, Nick (July 7, 2023). "Sound of Freedom". RogerEbert.com . Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 7, 2023.
  71. ↑ Adams, Sam (July 10, 2023). "I Saw the Grim Child-Trafficking Movie That's Filling Theaters". Slate . Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  72. ↑ Bartov, Shira Li. "Surprise blockbuster 'Sound of Freedom' echoes antisemitic QAnon conspiracies". The Times of Israel . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  73. ↑ Power, Ed (September 1, 2023). "Sound of Freedom's success proves America is not only a different country – it's a different planet". The Telegraph . Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  74. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (August 30, 2023). "Sound of Freedom review – anti-child-trafficking thriller that plays to the QAnon crowd". The Guardian . Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  75. ↑ Ide, Wendy (September 3, 2023). "Sound of Freedom review – manipulative take on a harrowing topic". The Observer . Retrieved September 3, 2023.
  76. ↑ "Domestic Box Office For 2023". Box Office Mojo . Archived from the original on January 18, 2024. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  77. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 30, 2023). "Jim Caviezel Anti-Child-Trafficking Thriller 'Sound Of Freedom' Giving Indie Box Office A Pulse With $7M+ In Presales". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 3, 2023. Retrieved July 3, 2023.
  78. ↑ Scott, Ryan (July 10, 2023). "Faith-Based Movie Sound Of Freedom Is A Surprise Hit But One That Raises Big Red Flags". /Film . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  79. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 5, 2023). "'Sound Of Freedom' & 'Indiana Jones' Duke It Out On July 4th; Can 'Insidious: The Red Door' Upset No. 1 Next Weekend? – Box Office". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 7, 2023. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  80. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 9, 2023). "'Insidious: The Red Door' Slams On 'Indiana Jones' With $32M+ Opening – Sunday AM Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  81. ↑ Alter, Ethan (July 6, 2023). "How the faith-based thriller 'Sound of Freedom' knocked out Indiana Jones at the box office". Yahoo! Entertainment . Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  82. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 16, 2023). "'Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One' Sets Franchise 5-Day U.S. Opening Record With $80M – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  83. ↑ Rubin, Rebecca (July 20, 2023). "Jim Caviezel's Faith-Based Thriller 'Sound of Freedom' Crosses $100 Million at Box Office". Variety . Retrieved July 20, 2023.
  84. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 23, 2023). "'Barbie' Still Gorgeous With Best YTD $155M Opening; 'Oppenheimer' Ticking To $80M+ In Incredible $300M+ U.S. Box Office Weekend – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  85. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 30, 2023). "'Barbie', 'Oppenheimer' & 'Haunted Mansion' Fuel Record Final Weekend In July With $217M+: How Long Does This Box Office Boom Last As Strikes Continue? – Update". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on July 29, 2023. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
  86. ↑ "AMC Theatres CEO slams 'Sound of Freedom' conspiracy theories about screening disruptions as 'garbage'". NBC News . July 13, 2023. Retrieved July 14, 2023.
  87. ↑ Cercone, Jeff; Muñoz, Nuria Diaz (July 14, 2023). "Studio behind 'Sound of Freedom' rejects claim AMC is sabotaging movie screenings". Politifact . Retrieved July 16, 2023.
  88. ↑ Bond, Shannon (July 19, 2023). "QAnon supporters are promoting 'Sound of Freedom.'". NPR. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  89. ↑ "Christian thriller 'Sound of Freedom' faces criticism for stoking conspiracy theories". Connecticut Public Broadcasting. July 21, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2024. The Christian thriller is fueling controversy over conspiracy theories and its depiction of human trafficking.
  90. ↑ Mitchell, Ellen (September 6, 2023). "US Southern Command cancels two showings of 'Sound of Freedom'". The Hill. Retrieved January 28, 2024.
  91. ↑ Rose, Steve (August 22, 2023). "'The film the woke Nazis don't want you to see!' How the culture wars made Sound of Freedom a blockbuster". The Guardian. Retrieved January 28, 2024. Often described as a "Christian thriller", Sound of Freedom makes a few references to its protagonists' faith
  92. ↑ Ambrosino, Brandon (July 14, 2023). "Sound of Freedom: Is the child trafficking drama a watershed moment for 'faith-based' filmmaking?". BBC . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  93. ↑ Dowd, Cooper (July 12, 2023). "SOUND OF FREEDOM Shocks Hollywood, Exceeds Expectations". MovieGuide . Retrieved July 15, 2023.
  94. ↑ "How summer blockbuster 'Sound of Freedom' became a battlefield in the culture war". Los Angeles Times . July 21, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  95. ↑ J. de Souza, Raymond (July 22, 2023). "How 'Sound of Freedom' took on Hollywood — and won". National Post .
  96. ↑ Hays, Gabriel (July 11, 2023). "Singer Jewel praises 'Sound of Freedom,' bashes media politicizing film: 'You have to see it'". Fox News .
  97. ↑ Phillipson, Daisy (July 12, 2023). "Is Sound of Freedom not being promoted?". Dexerto.
  98. ↑ Gunning, Cathal (July 13, 2023). "Why Sound of Freedom Is So Controversial". Screen Rant .
  99. ↑ Mueller, Julia (July 13, 2023). "Trump to screen 'Sound of Freedom' at NJ golf club". The Hill . Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  100. ↑ Johnson, Ted (July 13, 2023). "Donald Trump to Screen 'Sound of Freedom' at Bedminster Club". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 13, 2023.
  101. ↑ Smith, David (July 20, 2023). "Trump hosts screening of Sound of Freedom, a hit with QAnon devotees". The Guardian . Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  102. ↑ "Malena Alterio, Maribel Verdú, Lola Dueñas y Quim Gutiérrez, entre los protagonistas de los 32 Premios UA". Europa Press . March 12, 2024.
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.