The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52

Last updated

The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52
The Loneliest Whale poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Joshua Zeman
Written by
  • Joshua Zeman
  • Lisa Schiller
Produced by
  • Joshua Zeman
  • Jonathan Shukat
Cinematography
  • Nelson Hume
  • Alan Jacobsen
Edited by
  • Aaron Crozier
  • J.D. Marlow
Music by
Production
company
Distributed by Bleecker Street
Release dates
  • June 17, 2021 (2021-06-17)(NFF)
  • July 9, 2021 (2021-07-09)(United States)
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$107,798 [1]

The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52 is a 2021 American documentary film, directed, written, and produced by Joshua Zeman. Leonardo DiCaprio and Adrian Grenier serve as executive producers. The film follows a group of scientists in search of the 52-hertz whale, a whale which is believed to have spent its life in solitude, calling out at a frequency different from any other whale. It was commercially released in theaters and on video on demand by Bleecker Street on July 9, 2021. [2]

Contents

Synopsis

The film follows Zeman and a team of oceanographers and scientists on a quest to find the "52-hertz whale", which scientists believe has spent its entire life in solitude calling out at a frequency that is different from any other whale. Zeman also explores the Cold War science of submarine warfare that led to the original discovery of the 52-hertz whale, the negative impact of whaling, the release and reception of the Songs of the Humpback Whale record, the detrimental effects of ocean noise on whale and their communication, and how society's dependence on technology can lead to feelings of isolation among people. [3]

Cast

It features the following scientists and oceanographers:

Production

In February 2015, it was announced Joshua Zeman would direct a documentary film revolving around the 52-hertz whale, with Adrian Grenier set to executive produce, crowdfunding funding for the film through Kickstarter. [5] In March 2015, it was announced Leonardo DiCaprio had joined the film, as an executive producer under his Appian Way Productions banner. [6] [7]

Release

In March 2021, Bleecker Street acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film. [2] The film had its world premiere at the Nantucket Film Festival on June 17, 2021. [8] It was released in a limited release on July 9, 2021, prior to video on demand on July 16, 2021. [9] On October 12, 2021, the film was released on Hulu. [10]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the series holds an approval rating of 88% based on 42 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. On Metacritic, the series holds a rating of 69 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [11] [12]

In the LA Times , Katie Walsh called the film "a modern-day Moby Dick with a conservationist bent" that "surprises, delights and will keep you on the edge of your seat." [13] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter called it "a well-rounded overview" with "bright buoyancy", and Jeannette Catsoulis of The New York Times called it a "piquant" and "unexpectedly endearing... bobbing meditation on our own species' environmental arrogance." [14] [3] Stephanie Zacharek of Time said it was "both invigorating and calming to watch" while still being "surprisingly exciting." Carlos Aguilar of The Wrap said it was an "engaging exploration" with "a satisfying conclusion that's never too convenient." [15] [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonardo DiCaprio</span> American actor (born 1974)

Leonardo Wilhelm DiCaprio is an American actor and film producer. Known for his work in biographical and period films, he is the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, and three Golden Globe Awards. As of 2019, his films have grossed over $7.2 billion worldwide, and he has been placed eight times in annual rankings of the world's highest-paid actors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adrian Grenier</span> American actor (born 1976)

Adrian Sean Grenier is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Vincent Chase in the television series Entourage (2004–2011). He has appeared in films such as Drive Me Crazy (1999), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Trash Fire (2016), and Marauders (2016). In 2021, he acted in the Netflix series Clickbait.

<i>The Devil in the White City</i> Book by Erik Larson

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America is a 2003 historical non-fiction book by Erik Larson presented in a novelistic style. Set in Chicago during the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, it tells the story of World’s Fair architect Daniel Burnham and of H. H. Holmes, a criminal figure widely considered the first serial killer in the United States. Leonardo DiCaprio purchased the film rights in 2010. The concept has since been in development hell.

<i>Teenage Paparazzo</i> 2010 American film

Teenage Paparazzo is a 2010 documentary film about the life and times of a 14-year-old paparazzi photographer named Austin Visschedyk. It was directed by actor Adrian Grenier and produced by Bert Marcus, Adrian Grenier and Matthew Cooke.

<i>Cropsey</i> (film) 2009 American film

Cropsey is a 2009 American documentary film written and directed by Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio. The film initially begins as an examination of "Cropsey", a boogeyman-like figure from New York City urban legend, before segueing into the story of Andre Rand, a convicted child kidnapper from Staten Island whose known or suspected crimes in the 1970s and '80s may have inspired or been blamed on Cropsey.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appian Way Productions</span> American film production company

Appian Way Productions is an American film and television production company founded in 2001 by actor and producer Leonardo DiCaprio. Since its launch, Appian Way has released a diverse slate of films, including Academy Award–winning films The Aviator (2004) and The Revenant (2015), and Academy Award–nominated films The Ides of March (2011) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). The company has also produced television series such as The Right Stuff (2020) for Disney+.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonardo DiCaprio filmography</span>

Leonardo DiCaprio is an American actor who began his career performing as a child on television. He appeared on the shows The New Lassie (1989) and Santa Barbara (1990) and also had long-running roles in the comedy-drama Parenthood (1990) and the sitcom Growing Pains (1991). DiCaprio played Tobias "Toby" Wolff opposite Robert De Niro in the biographical coming-of-age drama This Boy's Life in 1993. In the same year, he had a supporting role as a developmentally disabled boy Arnie Grape in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, which earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture. In 1995, DiCaprio played the leading roles of an American author Jim Carroll in The Basketball Diaries and the French poet Arthur Rimbaud in Total Eclipse. The following year he played Romeo Montague in the Baz Luhrmann-directed film Romeo + Juliet (1996). DiCaprio starred with Kate Winslet in the James Cameron-directed film Titanic (1997). The film became the highest grossing at the worldwide box-office, and made him famous globally. For his performance as Jack Dawson, he received the MTV Movie Award for Best Male Performance and his first nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Drama.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">52-hertz whale</span> Whale who calls at unusual frequency

The 52-hertz whale, colloquially referred to as 52 Blue, is an individual whale of unidentified species that calls at the unusual frequency of 52 hertz. This pitch is at a higher frequency than that of the other whale species with migration patterns most closely resembling the 52-hertz whale's – the blue whale and the fin whale (20 Hz). Its call has been detected regularly in many locations since the late 1980s and appears to be the only individual emitting a whale call at this frequency. However, the whale itself has never been sighted; it has only been heard via hydrophones. It has been described as the "world's loneliest whale", though potential recordings of a second 52-hertz whale, heard elsewhere at the same time, have been sporadically found since 2010.

<i>The Revenant</i> (2015 film) 2015 American film by Alejandro González Iñárritu

The Revenant is a 2015 American epic western action drama film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu. The screenplay by Mark L. Smith and Iñárritu is based in part on Michael Punke's 2002 novel The Revenant, which describes frontiersman Hugh Glass's experiences in 1823, and which is based on the 1915 poem The Song of Hugh Glass. The film stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy. The film is considered a remake of the film Man in the Wilderness (1971).

<i>Video Games: The Movie</i> 2014 film

Video Games: The Movie is a documentary film by Jeremy Snead about video games. After Indiegogo and Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns in 2012 and 2013 respectively, the film was released in 2014.

Bleecker Street Media LLC is an independent American film company that specializes in film distribution. The company is based in New York City and named after 65 Bleecker Street, the street address of founder Andrew Karpen's prior company Focus Features. Founded in 2014, the studio was established with the goal to distribute "smart house" films that combine the entertainment of studio blockbusters with the artistic indie allure.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio</span> Collaborations between the director and actor

Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio are frequent collaborators in cinema, with DiCaprio appearing in six feature films and one short film made by Scorsese since 2002. The films explore a variety of genres, including historical epic, crime, thriller, biopic, comedy and western. Several have been listed on many critics' year-end top ten and best-of-decade lists.

<i>Before the Flood</i> (film) 2016 film by Fisher Stevens

Before the Flood is a 2016 documentary film about climate change directed by Fisher Stevens. The film was produced as a collaboration between Stevens, Leonardo DiCaprio, James Packer, Brett Ratner, Trevor Davidoski, and Jennifer Davisson Killoran. Martin Scorsese is an executive producer.

<i>Killers of the Flower Moon</i> (film) 2023 film by Martin Scorsese

Killers of the Flower Moon is a 2023 American epic Western crime drama film co-produced and directed by Martin Scorsese, who co-wrote the screenplay with Eric Roth. It is based on the 2017 book of the same name by David Grann. Set in 1920s Oklahoma, it focuses on a series of murders of Osage members and relations in the Osage Nation after oil was discovered on tribal land. The tribal members had retained mineral rights on their reservation, but a corrupt local political boss sought to steal the wealth.

<i>The Right Stuff</i> (TV series) American drama limited-run series

The Right Stuff is an American historical drama limited television series, loosely based on the 1979 book of the same name by Tom Wolfe and its 1983 film adaptation, that premiered on October 9, 2020, on Disney+. It is the third installment in the titular franchise. It explores the origins and growth of the United States' space program. On April 3, 2021, Disney+ canceled the series due to a redesign in the NatGeo channel's focus. Show financier Warner Bros. Television is looking to shop the series to other networks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megumi Sasaki</span> Japanese filmmaker and writer

Megumi Sasaki is a Japanese filmmaker and writer. Her films include Herb and Dorothy, Herb & Dorothy 50x50, and A Whale of a Tale.

<i>Ice on Fire</i> (2019 film) 2019 documentary on potential extinction event

Ice on Fire is a 2019 documentary which explores the potential extinction level event caused by arctic methane release, and the newly developed technologies that could reverse global warming by sequestering carbon out of the atmosphere. The film premiered to a standing ovation at Cannes Film Festival on May 22, 2019. and HBO on June 11, 2019.

<i>Dont Look Up</i> 2021 American film by Adam McKay

Don't Look Up is a 2021 American apocalyptic political satire black comedy film written, co-produced, and directed by Adam McKay from a story he co-wrote with David Sirota. It stars an ensemble cast featuring Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Mark Rylance, Tyler Perry, Timothée Chalamet, Ron Perlman, Ariana Grande, Kid Cudi, Cate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep. The film tells the story of two astronomers attempting to warn humanity about an approaching comet that will destroy human civilization. The impact event is an allegory for climate change, and the film is a satire of government, political, celebrity, and media indifference to the climate crisis.

<i>Kid 90</i> 2021 American documentary film

Kid 90 is a 2021 American documentary film directed and produced by Soleil Moon Frye. The film follows Frye who carried a camera around with her everywhere she went. Leonardo DiCaprio serves as an executive producer under his Appian Way Productions banner.

Joshua Zeman is an American film director, writer and producer. He is best known for his documentaries Cropsey, The Killing Season, Murder Mountain (Netflix), and The Sons of Sam(Netflix). His most recent project is the 2024 documentary Checkpoint Zoo, which he also directed and produced. Zeman’s directorial work spans a variety of films and series that explore the intersections of folklore, true crime, and investigative journalism. Known for blending urban legends with investigative storytelling, Zeman’s narrative-driven style has redefined the true crime genre, renewing public interest in unsolved cases.

References

  1. "The Lonliest Whale: the Search for 52 (2021)". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved August 13, 2021.
  2. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 16, 2021). "Bleecker Street Acquires Documentary 'The Loneliest Whale: The Search For 52'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  3. 1 2 Catsoulis, Jeannette (July 8, 2021). "'The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52' Review: Sea Hunt". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved July 10, 2021.
  4. "About Cascadia Research Collective". cascadiaresearch.org. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  5. Hurst, Samantha (February 13, 2015). "Entourage Star Adrian Grenier Launches Kickstarter Project For New Whale Documentary". Crowdfund Insider. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  6. Abramovitch, Seth (March 11, 2015). "Leonardo DiCaprio Gives $50,000 to Adrian Grenier Kickstarter Project Seeking Elusive Whale". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  7. Busch, Anita (March 11, 2015). "Leonardo DiCaprio's $50K & Social Media Rescues 'Loneliest Whale' Documentary". Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  8. "THE LONELIEST WHALE: THE SEARCH FOR 52". Nantucket Film Festival . Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  9. Hipes, Patrick (June 8, 2021). "'The Loneliest Whale' Trailer: Happy World Oceans Day From 52". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 8, 2021.
  10. "'The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52' on Hulu". Hulu. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
  11. "THE LONELIEST WHALE: THE SEARCH FOR 52". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  12. "The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52". metacritic.com. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  13. "Review: 'The Loneliest Whale's' song resonates in the 21st century". Los Angeles Times . July 8, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  14. "'The Loneliest Whale: The Search for 52': Film Review". hollywoodreporter.com. July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  15. "The Loneliest Whale Brings Us on an Invigorating Search for an Elusive Creature of the Deep". Time . July 9, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  16. "'The Loneliest Whale' Film Review: Doc Explores the Universal Need to Be Understood". Thewrap. July 7, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.