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Ezra (2023 film)

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Ezra
Film poster
Directed byTony Goldwyn
Written byTony Spiridakis
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyDaniel Moder
Edited bySabine Hoffman
Music byCarlos Rafael Rivera
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • September 9, 2023 (2023-09-09) (TIFF)
  • May 31, 2024 (2024-05-31) (United States)
Running time
100 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$570,000[3]

Ezra is a 2023 American comedy drama film directed by Tony Goldwyn and written by Tony Spiridakis. It stars Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, Rainn Wilson, Tony Goldwyn, William Fitzgerald, and Robert De Niro.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023. It was released theatrically on May 31, 2024.

Premise

Max Brandel, a stand-up comedian living with his father, Stan, struggles to co-parent his autistic son Ezra with his ex-wife, Jenna. When faced with difficult decisions about their son’s future, Max and Ezra set out on a cross-country road trip.

Cast

Production

Writer Tony Spiridakis began the script many years before the making of the film. He was inspired to write a movie similar to his relationship with his own autistic son and the dissolving of his marriage during his son's teenage years. He says it is the ultimate product of him realizing he didn't need to "fix" his son's autism.[7] Spiridakis frequently asked his good friend, actor Tony Goldwyn, to read drafts throughout the years. After reworking the script into a final screenplay, Goldwyn read the version and asked to direct the film.[8]

The film was originally announced in May 2022, under the title Inappropriate Behavior.[1] Principal photography occurred in Westwood, New Jersey and Jersey City in September 2022.[9][10] The creators of the film began the casting process knowing they wanted an autistic actor to play the lead. William Fitzgerald sent in a tape because he wanted to start a YouTube channel and thought it would give him experience. The 15-year-old ended up landing the titular role.[11]

Robert De Niro ultimately accepted the role, saying he resonated with the movie because one of his seven children is autistic.[11] Whoopi Goldberg was asked directly by Goldwyn to join the film, and she accepted even before reading the script.[12]

The film also had multiple autistic crew members on set to ensure its authenticity. Other cast members were directly related to a family member who has autism. Throughout the production, the creators screened different versions to the autism community for feedback.[7]

Release

Ezra had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 9, 2023.[2][13] In November 2023, Bleecker Street acquired distribution rights to the film.[14] The film was released theatrically in the United States on May 31, 2024.[15]

Reception

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 69% of 55 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Good performances give Ezra a resonant emotional core even when its script strains credulity, balancing out into a solid family drama."[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 57 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Yossman, K.J. (May 18, 2022). "Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro Set for Tony Goldwyn Comedy Drama 'Inappropriate Behavior,' Mister Smith Entertainment Launch Sales in Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Ezra". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  3. ^ {{Cite web |title=Ezra |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/release/rl3211558913/?ref_=bo_da_table_8 |access-date=June 1, 2024>
  4. ^ a b c d e Rubin, Rebecca (September 15, 2022). "Bobby Cannavale, Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne to Star in 'Inappropriate Behavior'". Variety. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  5. ^ Gao, Max (November 9, 2023). "TIFF 2023: Tony Goldwyn eyes fathers and sons in autism drama 'Ezra'". LA Times.
  6. ^ Chmielewski, Dawn (November 9, 2023). "How Fran Drescher rallied Hollywood actors to a new labor deal". Reuters.
  7. ^ a b Heasley, Shaun (May 22, 2024). "Movie Starring Actor With Autism Coming To Theaters". disabilityscoop.com.
  8. ^ Goldwyn, Tony (October 20, 2023). "Director Tony Goldwyn on Making Road Trip Dramedy 'Ezra' After a Decades-Long Friendship". Variety.
  9. ^ Quinn, Liam (September 30, 2022). "Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale movie 'Inappropriate Behavior' films in Westwood". NorthJersey.com. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  10. ^ Fry, Chris (September 22, 2022). "'Inappropriate Behavior' with Robert De Niro Begins Filming in Jersey City". Jersey Digs. Retrieved November 28, 2022.
  11. ^ a b Gavin, Mike (May 1, 2024). "Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale discuss new film about raising an autistic child". NBC New York.
  12. ^ Phillips, Zoe (May 28, 2024). "Whoopi Goldberg Accepted Her Role in Tony Goldwyn's 'Ezra' Without Reading the Script". The Hollywood Reporter.
  13. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (July 24, 2023). "TIFF Lineup Unveiled Amid Strikes: Awards Contenders 'Dumb Money', 'The Holdovers', 'Rustin'; Starry Pics For Sale With Scarlett Johansson, Kate Winslet, Michael Keaton, Viggo Mortensen & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  14. ^ Rubin, Rebecca (November 6, 2023). "Bleecker Street Buys Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne Family Comedy 'Ezra' Following Toronto Film Festival Premiere". Variety. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  15. ^ "Ezra at an AMC Theatre near you". AMC Theatres. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  16. ^ "Ezra". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 1, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  17. ^ "Ezra". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved June 1, 2024.
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