Certain Women (film) explained

Certain Women
Director:Kelly Reichardt
Screenplay:Kelly Reichardt
Music:Jeff Grace
Cinematography:Christopher Blauvelt
Editing:Kelly Reichardt
Studio:FilmScience
Runtime:107 minutes[1]
Country:United States
Language:English
Budget:$2 million[2]
Gross:$1.5 million[3]

Certain Women is a 2016 American drama film edited, written, and directed by Kelly Reichardt. Based on "Native Sandstone", "Travis, B." and "Tome"—three short stories from Maile Meloy's collections Half in Love and Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It—it stars Laura Dern, Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams, Lily Gladstone, James Le Gros, and Jared Harris.

The film premiered at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2016, and was released theatrically in the United States on October 14, 2016, by IFC Films. It grossed $1,068,054 domestically, becoming Reichardt's highest-grossing film at the time.

Plot

In Livingston, Montana, attorney Laura Wells has been dealing with a disgruntled client, Fuller, for eight months. Unemployed due to a workplace injury that rendered him disabled, he has taken to visiting Laura repeatedly at her office. Since Fuller will not listen to her advice, she takes him to another lawyer. After assessing the case, the lawyer tells Fuller exactly what Laura had told him; that while Fuller's company was clearly at fault for his injuries, Fuller can no longer sue the company, because he previously had accepted their initial small settlement. On his way home from the meeting with the second lawyer, Fuller feuds with his wife, is kicked out of their car, and flags Laura down to ride back to Livingston with her. On the way, he tells Laura that he wants to shoot his former employers.

Late that same night, Laura is called by the police: Fuller has gone to his former place of employment and has taken a security guard hostage. After being prepped by the police, Laura agrees to enter the building and talk to Fuller. She enters, finds Fuller with his hostage, and at Fuller's directive, locates his employee file, which includes the case review used by the company to settle his disability claim. Fuller has Laura read the entire file, which details clearly how Fuller was cheated out of his rightful settlement. Fuller decides to let the guard go; he asks Laura to stall for him by going to the front and telling the police of his demands as if he has a gun pointed at her, while he slips out the back. Instead, Laura immediately tells the police where Fuller is and he is arrested.

Gina and Ryan Lewis are a married couple with a teenage daughter, building their own rural home from the ground up. Gina feels that Ryan constantly undermines her with their daughter. Ryan is also having an affair with Laura Wells. On their way home from the campsite of their new home, they decide to stop at the home of Albert, an elderly man they know, to try to persuade him to sell them a pile of sandstone blocks on his property. As they talk, Gina tries to persuade Albert to sell her the sandstone, but he seems unfocused and only interested in talking with Ryan. Eventually, Albert tentatively agrees to give the sandstone to Gina and Ryan. Gina, who has been secretly recording the conversation, signals that they should leave. In the car on their way home, Gina complains about Ryan's lack of support during the negotiation and they debate whether taking the sandstone is the right decision.

Sometime later, Gina and Ryan arrive and load up a truck full of sandstone. She notices Albert watching from his window and waves at him but he does not wave back.

Jamie is a ranch hand living in isolation during the winter, tending to horses on a farm outside of Belfry. Heading into town one night, she sees cars turning into the school and follows them. She learns that she has stumbled onto a class on education law taught by a young lawyer, Beth Travis. Jamie goes out to eat with Beth after class. Beth explains that she lives in Livingston, a four-hour drive away, so she must make the eight-hour round trip twice a week to make it back in time for her real job.

Despite having no interest in education law, Jamie returns to class week after week. One week, she brings one of her horses to class, and she and Beth ride the horse to the diner. The following week, she is stunned to find that Beth has quit and a new teacher is brought in as a permanent replacement. She immediately leaves the class and drives straight to Livingston. Spending the night in her car, she spends the morning driving to law offices hoping to find Beth. On the way, she has flashbacks of the previous time she drove to the city. Locating her address, Jamie sees Beth in the parking lot and tells her that she drove over knowing that if she didn't, she would never see her again. Beth fails to respond and Jamie leaves, dejected. On her way home, she falls asleep at the wheel and drives into an empty field.

Laura visits Fuller in prison. He says he understands how she acted and asks her to answer his letters just so as not to feel so lonely. She agrees. Gina has a barbecue with friends at her land and her husband appreciates her work. She looks at the sandstone and smiles. Jamie continues working at the ranch.

Production

Reichardt had shot most of her feature-film work in Oregon and wanted a change of setting. She intertwined three of Meloy's short stories set in Montana, and after scouting locations, felt that Livingston, rather than Meloy's hometown of Helena, was ideal for the film's look. The production team included Neil Kopp and Vincent Savino with Todd Haynes as executive producer. The principals, including two-time collaborator Michelle Williams, were cast in 2015. Haynes noted that the cinematography in the film compartmentalized the women's lives—the isolation and loneliness they felt—even though each story dealt with relationships. To emphasize this, Reichardt set up shots with door frames, windows, mirrors, and architectural structures separating and fragmenting her characters in the frame. She used location sounds, such as wind and train whistles, throughout the film; only one scene has a film score.[4] [5]

Release

Certain Women had its world premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2016.[6] [7] Shortly after, IFC Films acquired U.S distribution rights to the film.[8] Prior to the Sundance premiere, Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions, under its Stage 6 Films banner, acquired international distribution rights to the film.[9] The film then screened at the Toronto International Film Festival,[10] [11] the New York Film Festival,[12] [13] and The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival.[14] The film was released on October 14, 2016.[15]

Reception

Critical response

[16] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 82 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".[17]

Noel Murray at The Playlist graded it an A− and called the film "utterly enthralling" while praising the "mesmerizing effect" of the slow pacing.[18] Guy Lodge of Variety warmly praised the film with particular plaudits to director Reichardt, calling her the "quietest of great American filmmakers".[19] Nigel M. Smith of The Guardian gave the film 4 out of 5 stars and praised Reichardt as "a master at slow-burning, melancholic dramas".[20] Leslie Felperin at The Hollywood Reporter was more mixed on the film praising the final section of the film as an "exquisite tale" and especially enjoying "luminous newcomer" Lily Gladstone but called the film as a whole "a trifle academic and dry".[21]

In France Les Cahiers du cinéma placed the film third on their 2017 Top Ten chart (after Twin Peaks and ).[22]

Accolades

List of awards and nominations
AwardDate of ceremonyCategoryRecipient(s)Result
Alliance of Women Film JournalistsDecember 21, 2016Best Woman DirectorKelly Reichardt
Best Woman ScreenwriterKelly Reichardt
Boston Society of Film CriticsDecember 11, 2016Best Supporting ActressLily Gladstone[23]
Best CastThe cast of Certain Women
Chicago Film Critics AssociationDecember 15, 2016Best Supporting ActressLily Gladstone[24]
Most Promising Performer
Florida Film Critics CircleDecember 23, 2016Best Supporting Actress[25]
Gotham AwardsNovember 28, 2016Best FeatureCertain Women[26]
Breakthrough ActorLily Gladstone
Audience AwardCertain Women
Independent Spirit AwardsFebruary 25, 2017Best DirectorKelly Reichardt[27]
Best Supporting FemaleLily Gladstone
IndieWire Critics PollDecember 19, 2016Best DirectorKelly Reichardt[28]
Best Supporting ActressLily Gladstone
Kristen Stewart
London Film FestivalOctober 16, 2016Best FilmCertain Women[29]
Los Angeles Film Critics AssociationDecember 4, 2016Best Supporting ActressLily Gladstone[30]
National Society of Film CriticsJanuary 7, 2017Best Supporting Actress[31]
New York Film Critics CircleDecember 1, 2016Best Supporting ActressMichelle Williams (also for Manchester by the Sea)[32]
Online Film Critics SocietyJanuary 3, 2017Best Supporting ActressLily Gladstone[33]
San Diego Film Critics SocietyDecember 12, 2016Best Supporting Actress[34]
[35]
Breakthrough Artist
San Francisco Film Critics CircleDecember 11, 2016Best Supporting Actress[36]
[37]
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics AssociationDecember 18, 2016Best Supporting Actress[38]
December 19, 2016Best Movie about WomenCertain Women[39]
Best Movie by a Woman
Best Woman StorytellerKelly Reichardt
Best Female Images in a MovieCertain Women
Courage in FilmmakingKelly Reichardt
Courage in ActingLily Gladstone
The Invisible Woman Award

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Certain Women (12). British Board of Film Classification. November 7, 2016. November 8, 2016.
  2. Web site: Movie filmed in Livingston selected for Sundance Film Festival. Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Arina. Bills. January 19, 2016. July 17, 2016. February 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200213075922/https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/dailyfeatures/movie-filmed-in-livingston-selected-for-sundance-film-festival/article_07374d50-a03a-5d1e-8087-1322e3a8f07a.html. dead.
  3. Web site: Certain Women. Box Office Mojo. IMDb. November 20, 2016.
  4. Reichardt, Kelly (Director) (2016). Certain Women (Motion picture). U.S.: Reichardt, Kelly; Haynes, Todd. DVD interviews.
  5. Web site: Kroll. Justin. Michelle Williams Reteams With Kelly Reichardt on Untitled Drama (Exclusive). November 19, 2015. Variety. Penske Business Media. February 17, 2015.
  6. Web site: Certain Women. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20170506072130/https://www.sundance.org/projects/certain-women. 2017-05-06. July 18, 2016. Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Institute.
  7. Web site: Sundance Institute Completes Feature Film Lineup For 2016 Sundance Film Festival. Sundance Film Festival. The Sundance Institute. December 7, 2015. July 18, 2016.
  8. Web site: IFC Films Acquires Kristen Stewart-Michelle Williams Drama 'Certain Women'. Variety. Penske Business Media. Marianne. Zumberge. March 9, 2016. July 18, 2016.
  9. Web site: Sony Buys Kelly Reichardt Drama Starring Kristen Stewart, Michelle Williams. Variety. Penske Business Media. Dave. McNary. April 16, 2015. July 18, 2016.
  10. Web site: Toronto: Christian Bale-Starrer 'The Promise,' Richard Gere-Starrer 'Norman' Get Gala Screenings. The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Etan. Vlessing. August 16, 2016. August 30, 2016.
  11. Web site: Certain Women. Toronto International Film Festival. August 30, 2016.
  12. Web site: Main Slate (2016) . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20161013164840/http://www.filmlinc.org/nyff2016/sections/main-slate/ . 2016-10-13 . August 30, 2016 . New York Film Festival . Film Society of Lincoln Center.
  13. Web site: Certain Women. New York Film Festival. Film Society of Lincoln Center. August 30, 2016.
  14. Web site: Kelly Reichardt's Powerful Drama 'Certain Women' To Open 7th Annual Art of Brooklyn Film Festival. The Art of Brooklyn Film Festival. June 25, 2017. May 8, 2017.
  15. Web site: Certain Women . July 18, 2016 . IFC Films.
  16. Web site: Certain Women (2016). Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. June 1, 2023.
  17. Web site: Certain Women . Metacritic. CBS Interactive. September 25, 2016.
  18. Web site: Murray. Noel. Sundance Review: Kelly Reichardt's 'Certain Women' Starring Michelle Williams, Kristen Stewart, And Laura Dern. January 25, 2016. The Playlist. Penske Business Media. January 25, 2016.
  19. Web site: Lodge. Guy. Sundance Film Review: 'Certain Women'. January 25, 2016. Variety. Penske Business Media. January 24, 2016.
  20. Web site: Smith. Nigel M.. Certain Women review: Kelly Reichardt returns melancholy yet triumphant. January 25, 2016. The Guardian. Guardian News and Media. January 25, 2016.
  21. Web site: Felperin. Leslie. 'Certain Women': Sundance Review. January 25, 2016. The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. January 24, 2016.
  22. Web site: Cahiers du cinéma. Top Ten 2017. June 26, 2018.
  23. Web site: 'La La Land' Named Best Picture by Boston Society of Film Critics. Patrick. Shanley. December 11, 2016. The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. December 11, 2016.
  24. Web site: The 2016 Chicago Film Critics Association Award Nominees. December 11, 2016. Chicago Film Critics Association. December 12, 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220200944/http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/component/content/article/148-cfca-nominees-2016. December 20, 2016.
  25. Web site: 'Moonlight' leads 2016 Florida Film Critics Awards Nominations. Florida Film Critics Circle. December 21, 2016. December 21, 2016.
  26. Web site: Gotham Awards Nominations 2016: 'Manchester By The Sea' Leads with Four. Cox. Gordon. Variety. Penske Business Media. October 20, 2016. October 20, 2016.
  27. Web site: 2017 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominations Announced!. Warren. Matt. November 22, 2016. Independent Spirit Awards. Film Independent. November 22, 2016.
  28. Web site: 2016 IndieWire Critics Poll: Full List of Results. Steve. Greene. IndieWire. Penske Business Media. December 19, 2016. December 27, 2016.
  29. 60th BFI London Film Festival announces 2016 awards winners. British Film Institute. October 17, 2016. October 18, 2016.
  30. Web site: 42nd Annual Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards. Los Angeles Film Critics Association. December 5, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221033342/http://lafca.net/years/2016.html. December 21, 2016. dead.
  31. Web site: Awards for 2016. National Society of Film Critics. January 7, 2017. January 7, 2017. nsfc2017.
  32. Web site: 2016 Awards. New York Film Critics Circle. New York Film Critics Circle Awards. December 1, 2016.
  33. Web site: 20th Annual Online Film Critics Society Awards Nominations. Online Film Critics Society. December 27, 2016. December 27, 2016.
  34. Web site: 2016 San Diego Film Critics Society's Award Nominations. December 9, 2016. December 9, 2016. San Diego Film Critics Society. https://web.archive.org/web/20161221165923/http://www.sdfcs.org/san-diego-film-critics-society-nominations-2016/. December 21, 2016. dead.
  35. Web site: San Diego Film Critics Society's 2016 Award Winners. December 12, 2016. December 12, 2016. San Diego Film Critics Society. https://web.archive.org/web/20161220225316/http://www.sdfcs.org/2016-award-winners/. December 20, 2016. dead.
  36. Web site: San Francisco Film Critics Circle Nominations! . Marshall. Flores. Awards Daily. December 9, 2016. December 10, 2016.
  37. Web site: 'Moonlight' Named Best Picture by San Francisco Film Critics Circle. Kimberly. Nordyke. The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. December 12, 2016. December 12, 2016.
  38. Web site: 2016 StLFCA Annual Award Winners. St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association. December 18, 2016. December 12, 2016.
  39. Web site: Women Film Critics Circle Nominations: "Hidden Figures," "13th," & More. Women and Hollywood. December 15, 2016. December 19, 2016. Laura. Berger.

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