Song One
| Song One | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kate Barker-Froyland |
| Written by | Kate Barker-Froyland |
| Produced by | Marc Platt Jonathan Demme Anne Hathaway Adam Shulman Christopher Woodrow Molly Conners |
| Starring | Anne Hathaway Mary Steenburgen Johnny Flynn |
| Cinematography | John Guleserian |
| Edited by | Madeleine Gavin |
| Music by | Johnathan Rice Jenny Lewis |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | The Film Arcade Cinedigm |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 86 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $6 million[1] |
| Box office | $32,251[2] |
Song One is a 2014 American drama film written and directed by Kate Barker-Froyland at her directorial debut. The film follows Franny Ellis (Anne Hathaway), an anthropology student who returns to New York City after her estranged brother, Henry (Ben Rosenfield), a musician, entered a coma; to revive Henry and repair their relationship, Franny uses her anthropologist instincts. After attending a concert by Henry's favorite musician, James Forrester (Johnny Flynn), Franny shares her brother's story with James, who comes to the hospital to play at Henry's bedside.
The film premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition at the 30th Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014,[3] and opened in the United States on January 23, 2015, to mixed-to-negative critical reviews.
Plot
Franny Ellis (Anne Hathaway), an anthropology student, returns home from her PhD thesis work in Morocco to see her estranged brother, Henry (Ben Rosenfield), a musician who entered a coma after being hit by a car. To revive Henry and repair their relationship, Franny uses writings from Henry's journal to travel among New York City music clubs, where she takes notes on the phrases and music she observes. She fills Henry's sterile hospital room with familiar sounds and scents. Eventually, Franny meets Henry's favorite musician, James Forrester (Johnny Flynn), at his concert, and convinces him to play for Henry. Franny and James explore New York City through Henry's experiences, develop a romantic relationship, and Henry awakens.
Cast
- Anne Hathaway as Franny Ellis
- Mary Steenburgen as Karen
- Johnny Flynn as James Forrester
- Al Thompson as Andy
- Crystal Lonneberg as James' Friend
- Stefano Villabona as Rock Concert Goer
- Ben Rosenfield as Henry Ellis
- Steve Antonucci as Bartender
- Katrina Elizabeth Perkins as Hippie Woman
- Monna Sabouri as Bedouin Bride
- Walter DeForest as Handlebar Moustache Doorman
- J. Michael Kent as Tattooed Hipster
- Jessamine Kelley as Tess
Production
Filming of Song One began in June 2013 in New York City.[4]
Soundtrack
| Untitled | |
|---|---|
The soundtrack, released by Lakeshore Records on January 13, 2015, contained original scores written by Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice of the indie rock duo Jenny & Johnny.[5] Barker-Froyland met with the duo in Los Angeles and, after she listened to "Little Yellow Dress" before her plane ride to New York, decided that they would create the songs that Flynn would perform in-character.
During production, Song One producer Jonathan Demme instructed Lewis and Rice to record its music as Skip Spence recorded his 1969 psychedelic album Oar.[6] The duo wrote eleven songs for the film, though only seven were used in its composition.[7]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Artist | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Bulb Went Black" | Johnny Flynn | 3:09 |
| 2. | "Cumberland Gap" | The Felice Brothers | 2:31 |
| 3. | "In April" | Flynn | 3:12 |
| 4. | "One Day" | Sharon Van Etten | 4:38 |
| 5. | "What Have You Done" | Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens | 3:46 |
| 6. | "Iris, Instilled" | Flynn | 2:44 |
| 7. | "I Need You" | America | 3:06 |
| 8. | "The Crystal Cat" | Dan Deacon | 3:50 |
| 9. | "Big Black Cadillac" | Flynn | 2:30 |
| 10. | "My Baby Just Cares for Me" | Nina Simone | 3:37 |
| 11. | "Little Yellow Dress" | Flynn | 3:21 |
| 12. | "O Leãozinho" | Paul Whitty | 2:30 |
| 13. | "Marble Song" | Ben Rosenfield | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Afraid of Heights" | Flynn and Anne Hathaway | 1:53 |
| 15. | "Silver Song" | Flynn | 2:46 |
Release
Box office
Song One premiered at the 30th Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014, in the U.S. Dramatic Competition.[3] Later, the film opened in a limited release on January 23, 2015, with $20,200 in gross sales generated from twenty-seven theaters in the United States.[2][8] As of 5 April 2015[update], the film has grossed $32,251.[2]
Critical response
Song One received mixed reviews from critics. The review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a rating of 36%, based on 44 reviews, with an average score score of 5.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Song One has plenty of earnest charm, but that isn't enough to overcome its slight, familiar story."[9] The aggregator Metacritic gave the film a score of 48 out of 100, based on 22 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[10]
References
- ^ http://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Song-One#tab=summary
- ^ a b c "Song One (2015)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 25, 2015.
- ^ a b Fleming Jr., Mike (January 16, 2014). "Sundance 2014: Fest Films With Highest Wanna-See From Buyers". Deadline.com.
- ^ "Anne Hathaway begins filming Song One in New York City". SINA.com. SINA Corp. June 8, 2013.
- ^ "Song One Soundtrack Out Now Featuring Songs by Jenny Lewis & Jonathan Rice, Performed by Johnny Flynn!". Film Music Daily. Lakeshore Records. January 13, 2015.
- ^ Turman, Katherine (January 21, 2015). "Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice Give 7 'Non-Hits' to Song One". The Village Voice. Voice Media Group.
- ^ Gallo, Phil (January 21, 2015). "Exclusive: Watch Anne Hathaway & Johnny Flynn in Song One Clip". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ Bartyzel, Monika (January 23, 2015). "How Song One Rises above Lazy Cliches". The Week. The Week Publications.
- ^ "Song One (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 5, 2015.
- ^ "Song One (2014)". Metacritic. Retrieved January 22, 2015.
