The Overnighters

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The Overnighters
The Overnighters poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Jesse Moss
Written byJesse Moss
Produced byJesse Moss
Amanda McBaine
CinematographyJesse Moss
Edited byJeff Seymann Gilbert
Music byT. Griffin
Production
companies
Mlle End Films
Al Di La Films
Impact Partners
Distributed by Drafthouse Films
Release dates
  • January 18, 2014 (2014-01-18)(Sundance)
  • October 24, 2014 (2014-10-24)(United States)
Running time
90 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$100,022 [1]

The Overnighters is a 2014 American documentary film written, directed and produced by Jesse Moss. [2] The film premiered in competition category of U.S. Documentary Competition program at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 18, 2014. [3] [4] It won the Special Jury Award at the festival. [5] [6]

Contents

After its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, Drafthouse Films acquired distribution rights of the film. The film was released on October 24, 2014 in United States, with a portion of all box office receipts being donated to North Dakota's local affordable housing charities. [7] [8]

The film also premiered at 2014 Miami International Film Festival on March 13, 2014 and won a prize at the festival. [9]

Synopsis

The film depicts the lives of people chasing the dream of high salaries in the North Dakota oil boom, only to discover that affordable housing is almost impossible to find. Much of the focus is on the efforts of local pastor Jay Reinke, who allowed over 1,000 different people to stay at his Williston, North Dakota church over a period of about two years. [10]

Reception

The film received positive response from critics. [11] Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 98% rating based on reviews from 64 critics, with an average score of 8.6/10. [12] Metacritic gives the film a score of 89 based on reviews from 20 critics, indicating "Universal Acclaim". [13]

Justin Chang in his review for Variety said that it is "[A] tough-minded, admirably unresolved film." [14] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter gave the film positive review and said that, "A scenario with present-day echoes of The Grapes of Wrath yields perceptive insights into the way we view outsiders." [15] Katie Walsh from Indiewire in her review said that, "The Overnighters is starkly bleak and devastatingly humane, and an indelible American documentary." [16] Colin Covert in his review for the Minneapolis Star Tribune gave the film three and half star out of four and said that, "The film features stunning third-act revelations that compel viewers to rethink its characters' actions and motivations." [17]

Accolades

YearAwardCategoryRecipientResult
2014 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Grand Jury Prize: DocumentaryJesse MossNominated
U.S. Documentary Special Jury Award for Achievement for Intuitive FilmmakingJesse MossWon [18]
Miami International Film Festival Miami's Knight Documentary AwardJesse Moss (Tied with Finding Vivian Maier )Won [19]
Full Frame Documentary Film Festival Full Frame Inspiration AwardJesse MossWon [20]
Crested Butte Film Festival Best Documentary FeatureJesse MossWon

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References

  1. "The Overnighters (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  2. "Meet the Sundance Filmmakers: Jesse Moss, Director/Producer, 'The Overnighters'" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  3. "The Overnighters - Director Jesse Moss" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  4. "Sundance 2014: U.S. Documentary Competition" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  5. "Sundance: 'Whiplash' & 'Rich Hill' Win Grand Jury Awards; Dramatic Directing Goes To Cutter Hodierne For 'Fishing Without Nets'" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  6. "'Whiplash' Owns the 2014 Sundance Film Festival Awards Netting Two Top Prizes" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  7. "Drafthouse Acquires Sundance Award-Winning Doc 'The Overnighters'" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  8. "Drafthouse Nabs Sundance Award Winning Docu 'The Overnighters'" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  9. "Miami International Film Festival" (PDF). Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  10. Chang, Justin (25 January 2014). "Sundance Film Review: 'The Overnighters'". Variety. Retrieved 27 February 2015.
  11. "The Overnighters" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  12. "The Overnighters (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes . Flixster . Retrieved 2015-03-25.
  13. "The Overnighters: Reviews (2014)". Metacritic . CBS Interactive . Retrieved 2014-04-12.
  14. "Sundance Film Review: 'The Overnighters'" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  15. "The Overnighters: Sundance Review" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  16. "Sundance Review: Devastating Doc 'The Overnighters' A Humane Look At Compassion & The American Dream" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  17. "What to see at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Film Festival" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  18. "Sundance Winner 'The Overnighters' Gets U.S. Distribution" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  19. "'A Wolf at the Door,' 'Aurora' Top Miami Festival" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.
  20. "Full Frame announces 2014 award winners" . Retrieved 12 April 2014.