Funny Story

Funny Story is a 2018 tragicomedy film, directed by Michael J. Gallagher and co-written by Gallagher and Steve Greene. It stars Matthew Glave, Emily Bett Rickards and Jana Winternitz. The film premiered as an official selection at the 2018 Slamdance Film Festival on January 21, 2018.[2]

Funny Story
Film poster
Directed byMichael J. Gallagher
Produced byMichael J. Gallagher
Jana Winternitz
Michael Wormser
Written byMichael J. Gallagher
Steve Greene
StarringMatthew Glave
Emily Bett Rickards
Jana Winternitz
Music byBrandon Campbell
CinematographyGreg Cotten
Edited byBrian Ufberg
Production
company
Cinemand
Distributed byBlue Fox Entertainment
Release date
Running time
87 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Plot

Aging TV star Walter Campbell's (Matthew Glave) attempts to break up with younger girlfriend Lucy (Daisye Tutor) are thwarted by the announcement of her pregnancy. Looking for space, Walter resolves to visit his estranged daughter Nic (Jana Winternitz), currently residing in Big Sur, resentful of her father's neglectful parenting and womanizing ways. He agrees to give a lift to Nic's friend Kim (Emily Bett Rickards), who having recently attended the funeral of her estranged mother, is dealing with her own emotional baggage.

Upon arriving in Big Sur, Walter discovers that Nic is living on a lesbian commune, and is in fact due to get married. Nic is appreciative of Walter's acceptance of her sexuality, which sees the pair's relationship begin to repair, but this newly formed bond is at risk of being destroyed once and for all.

Cast

Co-writer Steve Greene appears in a cameo during the film, dressed as an alien centaur, during scenes featuring the character of Walter's fictional television series.[3]

Production

Development
Director Michael J. Gallagher

Gallagher and writing partner Steve Green began developing the project in 2015.[4] Having previously worked heavily on genre-based projects, the pair wanted to develop a fictional story that drew more deeply upon the experiences and feelings of themselves and of people in their lives.[5] Talking about his motivations for developing the film, Gallagher stated "I wanted to make a film about forgiveness. Can we forgive someone who has truly wronged us? Or is their wrong doing just a matter of our myopic perspective? ..... I wanted to tell a grown-up story about people who behave in childish ways."[3]

Initially struggling to find a production company willing to finance the film, by 2017 the success of Gallagher and Winterniz's production company Cinemand[6] enabled them to finance the feature independently.[4]

Casting

The part of Nic was specifically written with Winternitz in mind.[4] On casting Glave, Gallagher noted that it took some time to find the right actor for the part of Walter and that he was looking for "someone who could be charming, oblivious, deeply narcissistic-- but deep down have a good heart". With regard to casting Rickards as Kim, he stated "I knew that by casting Emily, when Kim made tough choices, the audience could see that deep down she is a good person who is just lost at this moment in time."[4]

Filming

Filming took place in Los Angeles, California, in June 2017[7] and on location at Topanga Canyon and Big Sur.[8] The film was shot in its entirety over 15 days.[9] Director Gallagher took the decision to shoot the whole film with a wide-angle lens, something he believed benefited the comedic nature of the film and showcased the actors' interactions, as it was "fun to let them breathe and experience the awkwardness of being stuck in this shot together."[10]

Release

The film premiered as an official selection at the 2018 Slamdance Film Festival,[2] as part of the festival's 'Beyond Program',[11] with director Gallagher and the cast in attendance.[8] The film was the runner-up in the festival's Audience Award for Beyond Feature.[12]

The film was also featured as a special presentation at the San Luis Obispo International Film Festival,[13] and was an official selection at the Omaha Film Festival,[14] the Sonoma International Film Festival, where it was awarded the Stolman Audience Award for Best American Indie,[15] the OUT Shine Festival in Miami[16] and the Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival in Florida,[17] where the film won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature.[18] It made its European premiere at the Lucca Film Festival in Italy, in April 2018[19] and was an official selection at the Santorini Film Festival in Greece in June 2018,[20] where it won Best Feature Film.[21] It was also awarded the Grand Jury Prize for Narrative Feature at the Barcelona Film Festival.[22] The film premiered in New York in July 2018 as an official selection at the Stony Brook Film Festival[23] and premiered in New England in the same month as an official selection at the Woods Hole Film Festival[24] where it won the Jury Prize for Best Narrative Feature, Comedy.[25] In August, the film screened as an official selection at the 2018 Rhode Island International Film Festival[26] where it won first prize in the Alternative Spirit Award (Feature) category.[27]

The film made its Canadian premiere at the Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival in Ontario in September 2018[28] and premiered in the UK at the Southampton International Film Festival in October 2018, where it won the award for Best Feature Screenplay and Best Actor for Matthew Glave.[29] In October of the same year, it featured as the opening film at the Evolution Mallorca International Film Festival.[30]

The film went on a limited theatrical release on May 24, 2019 and was made available for digital download from the same date.[31]

Reception

The film garnered mainly positive reviews following its film festival screenings. Danielle Solzman of Cultured Vultures noted the strong ensemble of female characters in the film, and in particular felt Rickards delivered "the performance of a lifetime".[32] Stephen Saito of The Movable Feast praised the command of language in Gallagher and Greene's script, as well as the performances of Glave and Rickards, noting how both "impressively toe the line between blustery self-regard and the vulnerability it hides as Walter and Kim".[33] Similarly, Kimberley Pierce of Geek Girl Authority noted how much of the film's success hinged on the strong performances of the cast, in particular Glave, who "singlehandedly dictates the comedic tone of the movie" and Rickards, who "seems to hone in on the inherent conflict within Kimberly".[34] Writing for Film Threat, Anthony Ray Bench praised the cast's performances, in particular those of Glave and Rickards, citing the film's "dry sense of humor that the actors execute perfectly". However, he was disappointed with the film's ending, and felt that it "set itself up for so much potential drama,...and instead it all just sort of peters out".[35] Mark Kelly of Cinemaslice praised the character development throughout the movie, and how this made "the plot twists and heavy emotional moments later on in the film feel that much more impactful".[36] Lucca Ciccioni of Anomina Cinefile praised Gallagher's accomplished filming, photography and editing.[37] Writing for the Great Lakes-based magazine The Review, Robert E Martin described the film as being "Filled with memorable characters and top-notch performances".[38]

On review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 83% based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 6.89/10.[39] Metacritic, using a weighted average, gave the film 57/100 based on five reviews, summarized as a mixed or average rating.[40]

Awards and nominations
Award / Film Festival Category Result Ref
Slamdance Film Festival Audience Award for Beyond Feature Runner-up [12]
Sonoma International Film Festival Stolman Audience Award for Best American Indie Won [15]
Lucca Film Festival International Feature Film - Best Film Nominated [19]
Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival Audience Award - Narrative Feature Won [18]
Santorini Film Festival Best Feature Film Won [21]
Barcelona Film Festival Grand Jury Prize:Narrative Feature Won [22]
Woods Hole Film Festival Jury Prize:Best Narrative Feature, Comedy Won [41]
Rhode Island International Film Festival Alternative Spirit Award (Feature) First Prize Won [27]
Breckenridge Festival of Film Best of the Fest, Best Comedy Feature Won [42][43]
Best of the Fest, Best Actor (Matthew Glave) Won
Best of the Fest, Best Screenplay Won
Best of the Fest, Best Editing Won
Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival Grand Jury Award, Best Feature Film Won [44]
Santa Cruz Film Festival Grand Jury Prize: Best Feature Film Won [45]
Southampton International Film Festival Best Feature Film Nominated [29]
Feature Screenplay Won
Leading Actor in a Feature (Matthew Glave) Won
Leading Actress in a Feature (Emily Bett Rickards) Nominated
Cinematography in a Feature Nominated
Santa Monica Film Festival Best Actor (Matthew Glave) Won [46]
Best Director (Michael Gallagher) Won
Washington West Film Festival Jury Award Best Feature Narrative Won [47]
Jury Award Best Feature Narrative Director (Michael Gallagher) Won
Ojai Film Festival Best Narrative Feature (Honorable Mention) Won [48]

References
  1. "Funny Story". "OUTShine Film Festival". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  2. McNary, Dave (January 12, 2018). "Film News Roundup: Mike Tyson's 'China Salesman' Bought for North America". "Variety". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  3. Nigrin, Al (September 10, 2018). "Michael Gallagher's terrific comedy Funny Story Premiere's at the Fall 2018 New Jersey Film Festival this Friday, September 14!". New Jersey Stage.
  4. McMahon, Vanessa (March 4, 2018). "Interview with Writer/Director Michael Gallagher for "Funny Story" (2018)". "Filmfestivals.com". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  5. "Interview With The Cast & Crew Of "Funny Story"". "NextBestPicture Podcast". January 29, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  6. "About Us". "Cinemand". Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  7. Rowney, Jo-Anne (June 11, 2017). "Arrow's Emily Bett Rickards on set wedding snap gives fans hope for future". "Daily Mirror". Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  8. Weintraub, Steve (January 29, 2018). "Emily Bett Rickards Talks 'Funny Story', 'Arrow' Season 6 and Dancing with Joss Whedon". "Collider". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  9. Trapunski, Charles (January 23, 2018). "Interview: Funny Story's Emily Bett Rickards". "brieftake.com". Archived from the original on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  10. Anderson-Moore, Oakley (February 2, 2018). "Your Job as Director is to Download Your Brain': Michael Gallagher on Slamdance Comedy 'Funny Story'". "No Film School". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved April 14, 2018.
  11. Macualay, Scott (December 7, 2017). "Slamdance Announces 2018 Beyond Films and Narrative + Doc Shorts Competitions". "Film Maker Magazine". Archived from the original on April 23, 2018. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  12. "Slamdance Film Festival Announces Award Winners". "Slamdance Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018.
  13. "Funny Story". "San Luis Obispo International Film Festival". Archived from the original on March 29, 2018.
  14. "Funny Story". "Omaha Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018.
  15. "2018 Film Festival Winners". Sonoma International Film Festival. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018.
  16. "Funny Story". "OUT Shine Festival". Archived from the original on March 29, 2018.
  17. "Funny Story". "Vero Beach Wine and Film Festival". Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  18. @FunnyStoryMovie (June 11, 2018). "🏆 WINNER! 🏆 "Funny Story" won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Feature at Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival! 🎬🎉🥂Thank you so much!! More festivals coming soon! Get updates: www.funnystorymovie.com #funnystorymovie #vbwff" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  19. "Cinema: 14 international feature films at the Lucca Film Festival e Europa Cinema". "Lucca Film Festival". Archived from the original on April 14, 2018.
  20. "Official Selection". "Santorini Film Festival. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  21. @FunnyStoryMovie (June 21, 2018). "🏆WINNER 🏆'Funny Story' wins BEST FEATURE FILM at the Santorini Film Festival! 🎬🎉❤️ Congrats @emilybett @matthewglave @janawinternitz and the entire cast & crew! 🥂 More updates and future screenings on our site: www.funnystorymovie.com #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  22. "2018 Winners". "Barcelona Film Festival". Retrieved June 29, 2018.
  23. "Films". "Stony Brook Film Festival". Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  24. @FunnyStoryMovie (June 13, 2018). "FUNNY STORY is coming to Cape Cod! 🎬🎉❤️ Official Selection 2018 Woods Hole Film Festival! 🎥 Get tickets here: www.funnystorymovie.com 🎟See you there! @emilybett @mattglave @janawinternitz @WHFF #funnystorymovie #woodsholefilmfestival" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  25. Indiewire Staff (August 24, 2018). "Breaking Film and TV Industry News — August 29". Indiewire. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  26. @FunnyStoryMovie (July 4, 2018). "FUNNY STORY is an Official Selection at the 2018 Rhode Island International Film Festival! 🎬🎉 Thank you @RIFilmFest! We hope to see you there! #funnystorymovie #RIIFF2018" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  27. "2018 Awards" (PDF). Rhode Island International Film Festival. Retrieved August 14, 2018.
  28. "Funny Story". Cinéfest Sudbury International Film Festival. Archived from the original on September 17, 2018.
  29. @FunnyStoryMovie (October 22, 2018). "🏆WINNER🏆 "Funny Story" wins Best Actor for Matthew Glave (@matthewglave) & Best Screenplay for Michael Gallagher (@totallysketch) & Steve Greene (@SteveGreeneCOM) at the 2018 Southampton Film Festival (@SouthamptonFilm) ❤️ @EmilyBett @janawinternitz Thank you! #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  30. "Gala de apertura: Entrega de los premios y proyección de ´Funny Story´". Diario de Mallorca. October 25, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2019.
  31. @FunnyStoryMovie (May 7, 2019). "IN THEATERS & VOD MAY 24 ✨ FUNNY STORY ✨Pre-Order now on iTunes! 🎥 Starring @emilybett @matthewglave @janawinternitz Directed by @totallysketch We made this movie with love 💕 Tickets, trailers and more on our official site! (link: Funnystorymovie.com) Funnystorymovie.com #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  32. Solzman, Danielle (January 21, 2018). "Slamdance 2018: Funny Story REVIEW". "Cultured Vultures". Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  33. Saito, Stephen (February 1, 2018). "Slamdance '18 Review: Emily Bett Rickards & Matthew Glave Wring Painful Laughs from "Funny Story"". "The Moveable Feast". Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  34. Pierce, Kimberley (January 26, 2018). "Slamdance 2018: FUNNY STORY". "GeekGirlAuthority".
  35. Bench, Anthony Ray (February 15, 2018). "Funny Story". Film Threat. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  36. Kelly, Mark (September 29, 2018). "Hell's Half Mile 2018 – Day 1 – "Funny Story" – Reel Review". Cinemaslice. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
  37. Ciccioni, Lucca (April 11, 2018). "LFFEC18 – Funny Story: una riuscitissima dramedy sul rapporto padre-figlia [recensione]". "Anomina Cinefile". Retrieved April 23, 2018.
  38. Martin, Robert E (September 6, 2018). "FUNNY STORY Opening Night Feature Focuses Upon Good People Doing Bad Things". "The Review".
  39. "Funny Story (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 23, 2019.
  40. "Funny Story Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  41. "2018 Jury Awards". Woods Hole Film Festival. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  42. "Best of Fest, Comedy:Funny Story". "Breckenridge Festival of Film". Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  43. @FunnyStoryMovie (September 23, 2018). "🏆WINNER!🏆 FUNNY STORY wins Best Cen.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Funny_Story&action=submitomedy, Best Actor (Matthew Glave, @matthewglave), Best Screenplay (Michael Gallagher, @TotallySketch & Steve Greene, @SteveGreeneCOM) and Best Editing (Brian Ufberg, @bufberg) at 2018 Breckenridge Film Festival (@BreckFilmFest) #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  44. @FunnyStoryMovie (September 30, 2018). "🏆WINNER🏆 "Funny Story" wins the GRAND JURY AWARD for BEST FEATURE FILM at the 2018 Hell's Half Mile Film & Music Festival (@HHMFEST) 🎬🎉🍿 Thank you, Michigan! 🤗 @matthewglave @EmilyBett @janawinternitz @TotallySketch funnystorymovie.com #hhmlucky13 #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  45. @FunnyStoryMovie (October 8, 2018). "🏆WINNER!🏆 "Funny Story" wins BEST FEATURE FILM at the 2018 Santa Cruz Film Festival (@santacruzfilm) ✨🤗🌊🍿🎬 @emilybett @matthewglave @janawinternitz New October festival screenings on our website funnystorymovie.com ❤️ #santacruzfilmfestival #funnystorymovie" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  46. @FunnyStoryMovie (December 9, 2018). "🏆WINNER🏆 "FUNNY STORY" wins Best Actor, Matthew Glave (@matthewglave) & Best Director, Michael Gallagher (@totallysketch) at the 2018 Santa Monica Film Festival (@smfilmfestival) ✨🎬 @janawinternitz @EmilyBett #funnystorymovie #santamonicafilmfestival" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  47. Lee, Ariel. "Congratulations 2018 Award Winners!". Washington West Film Festival. Retrieved March 21, 2019.
  48. "Ojai Film Festival 2018 Awards". Oja Film Festival. Archived from the original on May 2, 2019. Retrieved October 20, 2019.
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