A Hologram for the King (film)

A Hologram for the King

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Tom Tykwer
Produced by
Screenplay by Tom Tykwer
Based on A Hologram for the King
by Dave Eggers
Starring
Music by Johnny Klimek
Tom Tykwer
Cinematography Frank Griebe
Edited by Alexander Berner
Production
company
  • Playtone
  • Primeridian Entertainment
  • X-Filme Creative Pool
  • Fábrica de Cine
Distributed by
Release dates
Running time
 97 minutes[1]
Country
Language English
Budget $30 million[3]
Box office $7.8 million[4]

A Hologram for the King is a 2016 comedy-drama film directed, written and co-scored by Tom Tykwer, based on the 2012 novel of the same name written by Dave Eggers,[5][6] and starring Tom Hanks as a washed-up corporate salesman, who goes to Saudi Arabia to propose a business deal.

Sidse Babett Knudsen, Tom Skerritt and Sarita Choudhury also star in this international co-production between the United States, Germany, and Mexico.[2] The film was released on April 22, 2016, by Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions and Saban Films. It received positive reviews but was a box-office flop, becoming the lowest-grossing film to feature Tom Hanks in top billing since Every Time We Say Goodbye in 1986.[7]

Synopsis

The film tells the story of a washed-up, desperate American salesman who travels to Saudi Arabia to sell a holographic teleconferencing system to the Saudi government.[6][8] Set in 2010, before the Arab Spring, American consultant Alan Clay is depressed after losing his house and being divorced by his wife during the Great Recession; he arrives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to make a sale in an upcoming development called the King’s Metropolis of Economy and Trade (a fictionalized version of King Abdullah Economic City).[8]

Cast

Production

Development

On June 12, 2013, Tom Tykwer was reported to be developing an adaptation of 2012 novel A Hologram for the King, written by Dave Eggers. Tykwer wrote and directed the film, which stars Tom Hanks as the lead. The film was made by Playtone, Primeridian Entertainment, and X-Filme Creative Pool.[5] On September 5, 2013, Lotus Entertainment began licensing international rights to the film.[10] On March 6, 2014 it was announced that Sarita Choudhury, Alexander Black, Tracey Fairaway, David Menkin, and Tom Skerritt had joined the cast of the film.[9]

Tom Hanks on set, March 13, 2014.

Filming

Production was set to begin in first quarter of 2014.[10] Principal photography commenced on March 6, 2014 in Morocco.[11] Filming also took place in Hurghada in Egypt, as well as in Berlin and Düsseldorf in Germany. Shooting wrapped in June 2014.[12][13]

Reception

Critical response

On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 71%, based on 126 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "A Hologram for the King amiably ambles through a narrative desert, saved by an oasis of a performance from the ever-dependable Tom Hanks."[14] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 59 out of 100, based on 30 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[15]

Box office

The film grossed $1.1 million in its opening weekend, finishing 11th at the box office. With a total worldwide gross of $8,244,651 (U.S. domestic gross of $4,212,494), it is the lowest-grossing film to feature Tom Hanks in top billing since Every Time We Say Goodbye in 1986.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "A HOLOGRAM FOR THE KING (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. March 17, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "A Hologram for the King (2016)". BFI. Retrieved October 4, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Hollywood's comedy crisis with the Middle East". NewsTalk. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  4. ↑ "A Hologram for the King (2016)". The Numbers. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  5. 1 2 3 Billington, Alex (12 June 2013). "Tom Hanks & Tom Tykwer Reteaming to Adapt a Dave Eggers Novel". FirstShowing. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  6. 1 2 McClintock, Pamela (14 May 2014). "First Look at Tom Hanks in 'A Hologram for the King'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 16 May 2014.
  7. ↑ "Tom Hanks". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  8. 1 2 Steven Holden, Review: ‘A Hologram for the King’ Is Elevated by Tom Hanks’s Portrayal of an American Everyman, The New York Times, April 21, 2016, accessed April 22, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Tom Tykwer's Tom Hanks-Starrer 'A Hologram For The King' Finalizes Cast". Deadline. 6 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  10. 1 2 Fleming Jr, Mike (5 September 2013). "Lotus Stakes 'A Hologram For The King' With Tom Hanks And Tom Tykwer". Deadline. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  11. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (6 March 2014). "Hologram shoot underway in Morocco". Screen Daily. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  12. ↑ McNary, Dave (6 March 2014). "Sarita Choudhury, Omar Elba Join Tom Hanks in 'Hologram for the King'". Variety. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  13. ↑ "Tom Hanks: Ballett Lessons in Berlin (in German)". TV Today. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014.
  14. ↑ "A Hologram for the King (2016)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 23, 2016.
  15. ↑ "A Hologram for the King reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved April 23, 2016.. Overall movie failed to impress it's viewers, generally termed as a waste of time and the worst movie ever by Hanks.
  16. ↑ "Tom Hanks". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 11, 2016.

External links

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