Summary
The Leisure Seeker is a 2017 comedy-drama film directed by Paolo Virzì, in his first full English-language feature. The film is based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Michael Zadoorian. It stars Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland, acting together for the first time since the 1990 film Bethune: The Making of a Hero.[4][5] It was screened in the main competition section of the 74th Venice International Film Festival.[6] Mirren received a Golden Globe nomination for her work in the film.
| The Leisure Seeker | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Paolo Virzì |
| Written by | |
| Based on | The Leisure Seeker by Michael Zadoorian |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Luca Bigazzi |
| Edited by | Jacopo Quadri |
| Music by | Carlo Virzì |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 112 minutes |
| Countries |
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| Language | English |
| Budget | €15 million[2] |
| Box office | $10.4 million[3] |
Cast edit
- Donald Sutherland as John Spencer
- Helen Mirren as Ella Spencer
- Christian McKay as Will Spencer
- Janel Moloney as Jane Spencer
- Dana Ivey as Lillian
- Dick Gregory as Dan Coleman
- Kirsty Mitchell as Jennifer Ward
- Robert Pralgo as Phillip
- Mylie Stone as Emily Ward
Production edit
Development edit
The film reunited director Paolo Virzì with producers Fabrizio Donvito, Benedetto Habib, and Marco Cohen from the Indiana Production Company, since their collaboration in Human Capital and Like Crazy which also won many festival awards. It is also the director's first film shot solely in English.[citation needed]
Sutherland and Mirren had previously collaborated as a married couple in the Phillip Borsos directed China-set saga, Bethune: The Making of a Hero,[7] and this is their first film together for 27 years.[citation needed]
Filming edit
Principal photography for the film began in July 2016 in Atlanta, where the crew's cars were damaged on set by flooding.[8] A casting call for extras was sent out,[9] and filming also took place in Stone Mountain and Dunwoody, Georgia.[citation needed] Other important scenes included Jekyll Island, Georgia, US 1 in Key West and the Hemingway House in Key West, Florida. Fisherman's Hospital is located in Marathon, Florida.
Release edit
The film, based on the novel by Michael Zadoorian, was sold at Cannes by BAC Films.[10] On August 30, 2017, Focus Features acquired the UK rights to the film.[11] It was released on March 9, 2018.
Reception edit
Box office edit
The Leisure Seeker grossed $3.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $14.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $17.8 million.[3]
Critical reception edit
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 38% based on 109 reviews, and an average rating of 5.2/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "The Leisure Seeker certainly doesn't suffer from any shortage of acting talent, but it's largely squandered on a predictable, diffuse drama with little to say."[12] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 45 out of 100, based on 23 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[13]
References edit
- ^ a b The Leisure Seeker at Box Office Mojo
- ^ "Paolo Virzì on set in the United States for The Leisure Seeker". Cineuropa. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ a b "The Leisure Seeker(2017)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 3, 2022.
- ^ Vivarelli, Nick; Keslassy, Elsa (May 12, 2016). "Cannes: Helen Mirren and Donald Sutherland to Topline Paolo Virzì's 'The Leisure Seeker'". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ Jaafar, Ali (May 12, 2016). "Helen Mirren & Donald Sutherland Team For 'The Leisure Seeker' – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ Anderson, Ariston (July 27, 2017). "Venice Competition Includes Films From George Clooney, Guillermo del Toro, Darren Aronofsky". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 27, 2017.
- ^ Goodfellow, Melanie (May 12, 2016). "Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland joins Paolo Virzi's 'The Leisure Seeker'". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ Busch, Anita (August 28, 2016). "Cars Damaged During 'Leisure Seeker' Shoot In Atlanta: Production Says It Will Pay Deductibles — Update". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ [Unknown author] (August 9, 2016). "Donald Sutherland's "The Leisure Seeker" Looking for Extras". Casting360. Casting Dynamics. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help)[permanent dead link] - ^ Keslassy, Elsa (September 9, 2016). "Bac Nails Sales for Helen Mirren/Donald Sutherland Starrer 'Leisure Seeker' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ Keslassy, Elsa (August 30, 2017). "Focus Features Boards 'The Leisure Seeker' With Helen Mirren, Donald Sutherland (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ "The Leisure Seeker (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 18 May 2020.
- ^ "The Leisure Seeker Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
External links edit
- The Leisure Seeker at IMDb
- The Leisure Seeker at AllMovie
- The Leisure Seeker at Box Office Mojo
- For Better or Worse: A Gendered Outlook of the films The Leisure Seeker and Alaska
