C'mon C'mon (film) explained

C'mon C'mon
Director:Mike Mills
Cinematography:Robbie Ryan
Editing:Jennifer Vecchiarello
Studio:Be Funny When You Can
Distributor:A24
Runtime:108 minutes[1]
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$8.3 million[2]
Gross:$4.5 million[3] [4]

C'mon C'mon is a 2021 American black-and-white drama film written and directed by Mike Mills, and starring Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Scoot McNairy, Molly Webster, Jaboukie Young-White, and Woody Norman. It had its world premiere at the 48th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021, and was given a limited theatrical release by A24 starting on November 19, 2021. The film received critical acclaim, with praise for its performances, direction, and cinematography, but was a box-office bomb, grossing $4.5 million against a production budget of $8.3 million.

Plot

Johnny is a single, middle-aged radio journalist who is currently working on a project that entails traveling the country with his producing partners to interview children and teenagers about their lives and thoughts about the future. While in Detroit, he calls his sister Viv, with whom he has not spoken since their mother's death from dementia a year earlier. They have a nice conversation, and Viv asks Johnny if he can come to Los Angeles and watch her nine-year-old son Jesse, as she has to travel to Oakland to help Paul, her estranged husband and Jesse's father who struggles with bipolar disorder, get settled there. Johnny agrees, and he and Jesse quickly forge a bond as they get to know each other and Johnny shows Jesse how to operate his audio equipment.

Viv discovers Paul is doing worse than she had thought and feels she should stay in Oakland until she can convince him to seek medical attention, so Johnny, who needs to return to work, convinces Viv to let him take Jesse with him to his home in New York City. He finds caring for Jesse while trying to work increasingly difficult, and one night, after Jesse disappears at a store, Johnny snaps at his nephew. While trying to apologize, he lets slip that Viv is try to help Paul, rather than just for a visit, but, eventually, Viv and Johnny are able to smooth things over with Jesse. From time to time, Jesse asks Johnny questions about his relationship with Viv and his personal life, and it is revealed that Johnny and Viv fought over how to care for their mother as her health deteriorated, that Johnny told Viv to leave Paul the first time Paul had issues with his mental health, and that Johnny was once in a long-term relationship with a woman, Louisa, whom he still loves.

Paul checks himself into a treatment center, but asks Viv if she will stay nearby until he is better, so Johnny, feeling confident, agrees to keep watching Jesse. When his producing partners begin to pressure him about an opportunity to interview some children in New Orleans and he loses Jesse on the street, however, he realizes he is in over his head and buys Jesse a plane ticket back to L.A. On the way to the airport, Jesse says he needs to use the bathroom, but then locks himself inside, saying he does not want to go home yet.

Johnny takes Jesse with him to New Orleans. He apologizes for wanting to send Jesse away, and the pair get back on good terms as Johnny works and they explore the city. When Viv calls with the news that Paul is doing much better and the doctors are sending him home, so she is coming to get Jesse, Jesse becomes upset and runs off. At first, he will only say that he is "fine", but Johnny helps him vent his frustrations by yelling and kicking the air. Jesse asks Johnny if he will be like his father when he grows up, and Johnny says he does not think so, as Viv has taught him how to deal with his emotions in a healthier way.

Viv flies to New Orleans and takes Jesse home. Back in New York, while listening to the recordings from New Orleans, Johnny hears a message from Jesse, in which he says that Johnny is probably his best friend. Johnny later sends Jesse a voice recording recounting their time together and reiterates a promise to remind Jesse about anything he forgets as he grows up.

Cast

Production

In September 2019, it was announced Joaquin Phoenix had been cast in the film, which Mike Mills would direct from a screenplay he wrote, and that A24 would handle distribution.[7] Gaby Hoffmann joined the cast the following month,[8] and Woody Norman's involvement was announced in February 2020.[9]

Principal photography began in November 2019 and ended in January 2020. The film was shot, largely in sequence, in Detroit, Los Angeles, New York City, and New Orleans.[10] [11] [12] [2] In December 2019, Robbie Ryan revealed that he was working as the film's cinematographer.[13]

In the film, Joaquin Phoenix's character, Johnny, works as a radio journalist.[14] Co-star Molly Webster, who plays Roxanne, is a real-life public radio journalist and Senior Correspondent for WNYC's Radiolab.[15] The children who appear in the interview scenes were not actors, and their authentic responses to Phoenix and Webster's questions were recorded for inclusion in the film.[16]

Music

See main article: C'mon C'mon (soundtrack). The National's Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner, contributed to the film's score; the former made his feature film scoring debut.[17] A soundtrack to the film, consisting of their score, released as their first album from A24 Music, the subsidiary music label of the producers, a week before the film's release, and preceded with "I Won't Remember?" as the lead single.[18] [19]

Release

C'mon C'mon had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021.[20] [21] It screened at the Chicago International Film Festival,[22] the Hamptons International Film Festival,[23] the Mill Valley Film Festival,[24] the New York Film Festival,[25] the Rome Film Festival[26] and the San Diego International Film Festival,[27] among others. The film was given a limited theatrical release in the U.S. by A24 starting on November 19, 2021.[28]

Reception

Box office

Opening weekend, the film made $134,000 from five theaters, with its per-venue average of $26,800 being the best for a limited release since February 2020.[29] [30] Its second weekend, the film made $293,800 from 102 theaters,[31] and its third, the film earned $462,022 from 565 theaters.[32] and it became a box-office failure grossing only $4.5 million.

Critical response

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 94% based on 212 reviews, with an average score of 8.1/10; the site's "critics consensus" reads: "The sweet chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman is complemented by writer-director Mike Mills' empathetic work, helping C'mon C'mon transcend its familiar trappings."[33] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 82 out of 100, based on 43 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[34]

Accolades

AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
CamerimageNovember 20, 2021Main competitionRobbie Ryan[35]
Gotham Independent Film AwardsNovember 29, 2021Outstanding Lead PerformanceJoaquin Phoenix[36]
Outstanding Supporting PerformanceGaby Hoffmann
Detroit Film Critics SocietyDecember 6, 2021BreakthroughWoody Norman [37] [38]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association AwardsDecember 6, 2021Best Youth Performance[39]
Best Original ScreenplayMike Mills
National Board of ReviewDecember 3, 2021Top 10 Independent FilmsC'mon C'mon[40]
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics CircleJanuary 10, 2022Best Original ScreenplayMike Mills[41]
Austin Film Critics AssociationJanuary 11, 2022Best Original Screenplay[42]
London Film Critics Circle AwardsFebruary 6, 2022Young British/Irish Performer of the YearWoody Norman[43]
Independent Spirit AwardsMarch 6, 2022Best FeatureChelsea Barnard, Lila Yacoub, and Andrea Longacre-White[44]
Best DirectorMike Mills
Best Screenplay
British Academy Film AwardsMarch 13, 2022Best Actor in a Supporting RoleWoody Norman[45]
Satellite AwardsApril 2, 2022Best Actor in a Motion Picture – DramaJoaquin Phoenix[46]
Best Original ScreenplayMike Mills
Best CinematographyRobbie Ryan

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: C'mon C'mon. filmlinc.org. 22 August 2021. 23 August 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210823041905/https://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2021/films/cmon-cmon/. live.
  2. Web site: Joaquin Phoenix among stars headed to New Orleans: His next film, 'C'mon C'mon,' to begin shooting Tuesday. The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate. 20 January 2020. 23 January 2020. 10 January 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200110182041/https://www.nola.com/entertainment_life/movies_tv/article_75497fbc-30bb-11ea-bfbe-4bbd21caa658.html. live.
  3. Web site: C'mon C'mon. The Numbers. December 31, 2021. March 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220319174041/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/Cmon-Cmon-(2021)#tab=box-office. live.
  4. 10986222 . C'mon C'mon (2021). February 14, 2022.
  5. Web site: 'C'mon C'mon': Joaquin Phoenix Shines & Empathy Flows In Mike Mills' Sublime, Micro-Traumatic Family Drama [Telluride Review]]. 2021-09-06. theplaylist.net. 2021-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20210903033736/https://theplaylist.net/cmon-cmon-joaquin-phoenix-mike-mills-telluride-review-20210902/. live.
  6. Web site: Jaboukie Young-White. Comedy Central. July 14, 2020. July 15, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200715064414/https://press.cc.com/series/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah/bio/438837. dead.
  7. Web site: A24 Lands Joaquin Phoenix's First Post-'Joker' Role; Collaboration With Mike Mills Shoots This Fall. Deadline Hollywood. Mike Jr.. Fleming. September 19, 2019. November 3, 2019. September 12, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210912014519/https://deadline.com/2019/09/joaquin-phoenix-next-movie-mike-mills-director-a24-joker-1202738671/. live.
  8. Web site: Exclusive: Gaby Hoffmann in Talks to Join Joaquin Phoenix in Mike Mills' A24 Drama. Collider. Jeff. Sneider. October 11, 2019. November 3, 2019. October 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020021836/https://collider.com/gaby-hoffmann-joaquin-phoenix-a24-drama/. live.
  9. Web site: A24 To Take Joaquin Phoenix's First Post-'Joker' Movie To Berlin's EFM, More Project Details Revealed. Deadline Hollywood. Andreas. Wiseman. February 11, 2020. February 11, 2020. November 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211104210629/https://deadline.com/2020/02/joaquin-phoenix-first-post-joker-film-wraps-a24-efm-berlin-details-revealed-1202856660/. live.
  10. Web site: Joaquin Phoenix & Mike Mills Untitled Drama Set To Begin Filming In November – Will Shoot In New York, Los Angeles, Detroit and New Orleans. Discussing Film. September 28, 2019. November 3, 2019. October 20, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020042050/https://discussingfilm.net/2019/09/28/joaquin-phoenix-mike-mills-untitled-drama-set-to-begin-filming-in-november-will-shoot-in-new-york-los-angeles-detroit-and-new-orleans/. live.
  11. Web site: Untitled Mike Mills Project. Production List. 7 October 2019. November 3, 2019. 20 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020115436/https://productionlist.com/production/untitled-mike-mills-project/. live.
  12. Web site: Joaquin Phoenix gets back to work for the first time after Joker success. Metro. 8 December 2019. 23 January 2020. 19 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211019062543/https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/08/joaquin-phoenix-gets-back-to-work-for-the-first-time-after-joker-success-11411027/. live.
  13. Web site: Cinematographer Robbie Ryan On "Privileged Space" Of 'Marriage Story' Set & Delivering Cinema Without Being Showy. Deadline. December 9, 2019. January 9, 2020. January 23, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220123153221/https://deadline.com/2019/12/marriage-story-cinematographer-robbie-ryan-noah-baumbach-netflix-interview-1202804064/. live.
  14. Web site: Feinberg. Scott. 2021-09-05. Telluride Awards Analysis: 'C'mon C'mon' a Fest Favorite, But Will It Register with Awards Voters?. 2021-09-07. The Hollywood Reporter. en-US. 2021-10-20. https://web.archive.org/web/20211020114735/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/telluride-awards-analysis-cmon-cmon-fest-favorite-will-it-register-awards-voters-1235008628/. live.
  15. Web site: Molly Webster WNYC Studios Podcasts. 2021-09-07. WNYC Studios. en. 2022-01-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20220130164609/https://www.wnycstudios.org/people/molly-webster. live.
  16. Web site: McCobb. Jeff. 2021-11-24. These Scenes In Joaquin Phoenix's C'mon C'mon Were Unscripted, So The Actor Improvised. 2022-04-07. Cinema Blend. en-US. 2022-04-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20220408034918/https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/these-scenes-in-joaquin-phoenixs-cmon-cmon-were-unscripted-so-the-actor-improvised. live.
  17. Web site: 2021-11-05 . The National’s Bryce and Aaron Dessner Detail C’mon C’mon Soundtrack, Share New Song . https://web.archive.org/web/20211206195355/https://pitchfork.com/news/the-national-bryce-and-aaron-dessner-detail-cmon-cmon-soundtrack-share-new-song-listen/ . 2021-12-06 . 2023-08-22 . Pitchfork . en-US.
  18. Web site: ‘C’mon C’mon’ Soundtrack Album Details . https://web.archive.org/web/20211107204417/https://filmmusicreporter.com/2021/11/04/cmon-cmon-soundtrack-album-details/ . 2021-11-07 . 2023-08-22 . Film Music Reporter . en-US.
  19. Web site: Robinson . Ellie . 2021-11-06 . The National’s Aaron and Bryce Dessner drop ‘I Won’t Remember?’ from ‘C’mon C’mon’ soundtrack . https://web.archive.org/web/20211121020831/https://www.nme.com/news/music/the-nationals-aaron-and-bryce-dessner-drop-i-wont-remember-from-cmon-cmon-soundtrack-3088914 . 2021-11-21 . 2023-08-22 . NME . en-GB.
  20. Web site: Telluride Film Festival Program Guide. Telluride Film Festival. September 1, 2021. September 1, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210901170501/http://telluridecms-production.s3.amazonaws.com/assets/pdfs/48th-TFF-program-guide.pdf. dead.
  21. Web site: Telluride Film Festival: Will Smith's 'King Richard', Peter Dinklage Musical 'Cyrano', Joaquin Phoenix In 'C'mon C'mon', Ken Branagh's 'Belfast' Set To Premiere. Deadline Hollywood. Pete. Hammond. September 1, 2021. September 1, 2021. October 6, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211006214406/https://deadline.com/2021/09/telluride-film-festival-2021-lineup-king-richard-cyrano-1234825309/. live.
  22. Web site: C'mon C'mon. 2021-09-24. Cinema Chicago. en-US. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210924004043/https://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/film/cmon-cmon/. September 24, 2021.
  23. Web site: Hinkle. Annette. 2021-09-15. The Hamptons International Film Festival Announces 2021 Slate. 2021-09-24. The Sag Harbor Express. en-US. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917032847/https://sagharborexpress.com/the-hamptons-international-film-festivals-full-2021-slate/. September 17, 2021.
  24. Web site: C'mon C'Mon. 2021-09-24. Mill Valley Film Festival. en-US. 2021-10-18. https://web.archive.org/web/20211018205431/https://www.mvff.com/cmon-cmon/. live.
  25. Web site: Pearce. Leonard. 2021-08-19. 59th New York Film Festival Adds C'mon C'mon, Dune, Red Rocket, The French Dispatch & More. 2021-08-20. The Film Stage. en-US. 2022-05-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20220517062741/https://thefilmstage.com/59th-new-york-film-festival-adds-cmon-cmon-dune-red-rocket-the-french-dispatch-more/. live.
  26. Web site: Grater. Tom. 2021-10-06. Rome Film Festival To Fete Quentin Tarantino, Tim Burton; Chloe Zhao's 'Eternals' Set As Closing Film. live. 2021-10-08. Deadline. en-US. https://web.archive.org/web/20211006120737/https://deadline.com/2021/10/rome-film-festival-quentin-tarantino-tim-burton-chloe-zhaos-eternals-closing-film-1234850668/ . 2021-10-06 .
  27. Web site: Gala Films. 2021-09-17. San Diego International Film Festival. en-US. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20210917224952/https://sdfilmfest.com/filmprograms/galafilms/. September 17, 2021.
  28. Web site: A24 Sets Q4 Release Dates For Joaquin Phoenix Pic 'C'mon C'mon' & Sean Baker's 'Red Rocket'. Deadline Hollywood. Anthony. D'Alessandro. September 23, 2021. September 23, 2021. September 23, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210923215311/https://deadline.com/2021/09/joaquin-phoenix-cmon-cmon-red-rocket-release-dates-a24-1234843316/. live.
  29. Web site: D'Alessandro . Anthony . November 20, 2021 . 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Calls Up $44M Opening Weekend – Sunday AM Update . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211120003614/https://deadline.com/2021/11/ghostbusters-afterlife-opening-weekend-1234877444/ . November 20, 2021 . November 21, 2021 . .
  30. Web site: 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' $44 Million Opening Box Office Sets Up Sony to End the Year as a Star . Tom Brueggemann . . November 21, 2021 . November 21, 2021 . December 28, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211228050515/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/11/ghostbusters-afterlife-box-office-sony-king-richard-1234680717/ . live .
  31. Web site: 'Licorice Pizza' Delivers: Paul Thomas Anderson Pic's Opening Among Filmmaker's Best With Record Screen Average – Specialty Box Office. November 28, 2021. Anthony. D'Alessandro. Deadline Hollywood. November 28, 2021. November 28, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128194419/https://deadline.com/2021/11/licorice-pizza-paul-thomas-anderson-thanksgiving-indie-box-office-1234881070/. live.
  32. Web site: Domestic 2021 Weekend 49. Box Office Mojo. live. December 8, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211128170913/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/2021W49/ . 2021-11-28 .
  33. cmon_cmon . m . C'mon C'mon (2021) . April 9, 2023.
  34. cmon-cmon . movie . C'mon C'mon Reviews . January 11, 2022.
  35. Web site: EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2021 WINNERS! – EnergaCAMERIMAGE 2022 . Camerimage . 28 January 2022 . 20 November 2021 . 28 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220128210929/https://camerimage.pl/en/laureaci-energacamerimage-2021/ . live .
  36. Web site: Gotham Awards 2021 Nominations: 'Pig,' 'Green Knight,' 'Passing' Compete for Best Feature. IndieWire. Zack. Sharf. October 21, 2021. October 21, 2021. November 21, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211121215357/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/10/gotham-awards-2021-nominations-1234673141/. live.
  37. Tied with Emma Seligman for Shiva Baby
  38. Web site: Detroit Film Critics Society Announces 2021 Nominations. December 3, 2021. Hollywood Critics Association. December 3, 2021. December 4, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211204020212/https://detroitfilmcritics.com/detroit-film-critics-society-announces-2021-nominations/#more-3711. dead.
  39. Web site: Washington DC Critics: 'Belfast,' 'The Power of the Dog' lead nominations. AwardsWatch. Anderson. Eric. December 4, 2021. December 4, 2021. December 5, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205030529/https://awardswatch.com/washington-dc-critics-belfast-the-power-of-the-dog-lead-nominations/. live.
  40. Web site: National Board of Review Winners 2021: 'Licorice Pizza' Takes Best Picture and Best Director. IndieWire. Zack. Sharf. December 2, 2021. December 3, 2021. December 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211202193613/https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/national-board-of-review-winners-2021-licorice-pizza-1234682925/. live.
  41. Web site: The 2021 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations. NextBigPicture. Matt. Neglia. January 7, 2022. January 7, 2022. January 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220107171425/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-san-francisco-bay-area-film-critics-circle-sfbafcc-nominations. live.
  42. Web site: The 2021 Austin Film Critics Association (AFCA) Nominations. Next Big Picture. Matt. Neglia. January 4, 2022. January 4, 2022. January 4, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220104172601/https://www.nextbestpicture.com/latest/the-2021-austin-film-critics-association-afca-nominations. live.
  43. Web site: 'The Power Of The Dog' Tops London Critics' Circle Awards . Tom . Grater . Deadline Hollywood . February 6, 2022 . February 7, 2022 . February 8, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220208053202/https://deadline.com/2022/02/the-power-of-the-dog-london-critics-circle-awards-1234927455/ . live .
  44. Web site: Indie Spirit Awards 2022 Nominations (Updating Live). Variety. Brent. Long. Jazz. Tangcay. December 14, 2021. December 14, 2021. December 14, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211214151347/https://variety.com/2021/film/news/indie-spirit-awards-2022-nominations-full-list-1235132931/. live.
  45. Web site: BAFTA Awards Nominations: Dune Leads Pack in Diverse List Full of Surprises. February 3, 2022. Alex. Ritman. The Hollywood Reporter. February 3, 2022. February 3, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220203133816/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/bafta-awards-2022-nominations-revealed-1235086370/. live.
  46. Web site: 'Belfast,' 'The Power of the Dog' lead 26th Satellite Awards nominations . Anderson . Erik . December 1, 2021 . AwardsWatch . December 1, 2021 . December 1, 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211201125013/https://awardswatch.com/belfast-the-power-of-the-dog-lead-26th-satellite-awards-nominations/ . live .

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