St. Vincent (film)

St. Vincent

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Theodore Melfi
Produced by
Written by Theodore Melfi
Starring
Music by Theodore Shapiro
Cinematography John Lindley
Edited by
Production
company
  • Chernin Entertainment
  • Crescendo Productions
Distributed by The Weinstein Company
Release dates
  • September 5, 2014 (2014-09-05) (Toronto International

Film Festival)

  • October 24, 2014 (2014-10-24) (United States)
Running time
 102 minutes[1]
Country United States
Language English
Budget $13 million[2]
Box office $54.8 million[3]

St. Vincent is a 2014 American comedy-drama film written, directed, and co-produced by Theodore Melfi in his feature film debut[4] and co-produced by Fred Roos, Jenno Topping and Peter Chernin. The film stars Bill Murray as the title character and features Jaeden Lieberher, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd, and Naomi Watts.

The film had its world premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival where it was voted second runner-up as "People's Choice Award for Best Film."[5] It received a limited theatrical release on October 10, 2014, and expanded to a wide release on October 24.[6] The same day, it was released on Netflix in France.[7] The film was a moderate commercial success, grossing $54.8 million over a $13 million budget, but received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Vincent MacKenna is a retired grumpy alcoholic Vietnam War veteran, living in Sheepshead Bay who smokes and gambles regularly. His wife, Sandy, developed Alzheimer's years ago and can no longer recognize him, but he poses as a doctor to visit her and does her laundry. Vincent's only close friends are a pregnant Russian sex worker named Daka and his cat, Felix. Despite his aggressive attitude toward strangers, Vincent has acquaintances who admire and care about him.

Vincent's 30-year-old Chrysler LeBaron gets damaged by a tree branch felled by his new neighbors' moving van. Maggie Bronstein, a radiology tech divorcee, and her son Oliver meet Vincent, who demands payment for the damage. Maggie does the best to provide for Oliver, who is ostracized and bullied at his Catholic school, but is a knowledgeable, friendly boy, welcomed warmly by his new teacher. On his first day at his school, Oliver's phone, wallet and house keys are stolen by his classmate Robert. Oliver asks Vincent if he can stay at his home until his mother comes home from work. Vincent offers to continue babysitting for a fee.

Vincent picks up Oliver daily after school because Maggie often has late shifts. Vincent's ideas of after-school activities involve visits to racetracks and bars. The mismatched pair begin to help each other mature. Vincent teaches Oliver how to defend himself, resulting in Oliver breaking Robert's nose, who later apologizes and gives back what he stole. Oliver befriends Robert. Vincent and Oliver win a high odds bet on the horses, enabling Vincent to pay off some of his debts. But he gambles away the rest, hoping to make more to keep Sandy in her nursing home. Vincent is confronted in his home by loan sharks Zucko and Antwan who attempt to take Sandy's jewelry. Vincent suffers a stroke and Zucko and Antwan leave him on the floor.

Vincent is hospitalized and has physical therapy. Oliver, Maggie and Daka help Vincent recover, but he becomes depressed after finding out Sandy died while hospitalized. Oliver's father, a lawyer, finds out about Vincent and uses the information to get joint custody, with Maggie telling Vincent that he can no longer see Oliver. Oliver nominates Vincent, for his "Saints Among Us" school project and declares Vincent his saint, who happily reconciles with Oliver.

Some time later, Daka gives birth to a child, and she along with Maggie, Oliver and Robert go to Vincent' house, where they eat and happily talk.

Cast

Production

The screenplay was written in 2011 by Melfi, and was included on the Hollywood Black List (the best unproduced scripts) of 2011.[8][9]

Jack Nicholson was rumored to star in the film, but Murray signed on in July 2012.[10] On March 11, 2013, Melissa McCarthy was offered the lead female part and joined the cast.[11] On March 22, Chris O'Dowd joined the cast as a Catholic priest.[12] Naomi Watts joined the cast on April 22 in the role of a Russian prostitute.[13] On July 19, Scott Adsit joined the cast to play McCarthy's character's ex-husband.[14]

Filming

Filming began the first week of July 2013, with scenes filmed in Brooklyn, New York[15][16] and at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York.[17]

Music

On December 26, 2013, Theodore Shapiro was hired to score the film.[18] Sony Classical Records released the soundtrack album on October 27, 2014.[19][20]

Marketing

The first official trailer for the film was released on July 1, 2014.[21]

Release

The Weinstein Company released the film on October 10, 2014,[22] in limited engagements, before making an expansion into wide release on October 24, 2014.

Reception

St. Vincent received generally positive reviews from critics. On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds a rating of 78%, based on 165 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The consensus reads, "St. Vincent offers the considerable pleasure of seeing Bill Murray back in funny form, but drifts into dangerously sentimental territory along the way."[23] On Metacritic, the film has a score of 64 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[24] On CinemaScore, audiences gave the film an average grade of "A-" on an A+ to F scale.[25]

Richard Roeper gave the film a grade of an A, saying Murray's performance could "mean a Golden Globe."[26]

Accolades

List of accolades received by St. Vincent
Year Award Category Recipients Result
2014 Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award Theodore Melfi Nominated
Masters Award 3rd Place
Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Award Nominated
Heartland Film Festival Truly Moving Picture Award Theodore Melfi Won
Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Best Supporting Actress Melissa McCarthy Runner-Up
Best Picture Theodore Melfi Nominated
Best Director Theodore Melfi Nominated
Washington D.C. Film Critics Association Best Youth Performance Jaeden Lieberher Nominated
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards Youth in Film Jaeden Lieberher Won
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards Best Comedy Theodore Melfi Nominated
2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress Naomi Watts Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Performance by a Youth- Male Jaeden Lieberher Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy Theodore Melfi Nominated
Best Actor- Musical or Comedy Bill Murray Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics' Association Awards Best Comedy Theodore Melfi Nominated
Best Actor in a Comedy Bill Murray Nominated
Best Actress in a Comedy Melissa McCarthy Nominated
Best Young Actor/Actress Jaeden Lieberher Nominated
Casting Society of America[27] Studio or Independent Comedy Laura Rosenthal Nominated
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards[28] Best Contemporary Hair Styling in Feature Length Motion Picture Suzy Mazzarese-Allison Nominated
2015 YouReviewers Movie Awards Breakthrough Actor Jaeden Lieberher Pending

References

  1. ↑ "ST. VINCENT (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Weinstein Co. Lands Bill Murray's Next Film, 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys' - Deadline". Deadline. November 20, 2012. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  3. ↑ "St. Vincent (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ ""Happy Delusion:" An Interview with Theodore Melfi, Writer/Director of ST. VINCENT". Screenreader's Utopia. October 9, 2014. Retrieved January 19, 2015.
  5. ↑ "'The Imitation Game' Wins TIFF People's Choice Award". WSJ. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Bill Murray-Melissa McCarthy Comedy 'St. Vincent' Gets Release Date". TheWrap. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Netflix France to Debut 'St. Vincent' Starring Bill Murray Day-and-Date with U.S. Theatrical Release". Varietyp. Retrieved October 24, 2014.
  8. ↑ "The Hollywood Black List's best unproduced scripts of 2011: can we find a common theme?". Telegraph.co.uk. December 13, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  9. ↑ "The Black List 2011: Screenplay Roster". Deadline. December 12, 2011. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Bill Murray Joins St. Vincent de Van Nuys". movieweb.com. July 30, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Melissa McCarthy May Join The Congregation Of 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys' With Bill Murray". indiewire.com. March 11, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Chris O'Dowd in Talks for 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys' with Bill Murray". firstshowing.net. March 22, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Naomi Watts To Join Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd in 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys'". deadline.com. April 22, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  14. ↑ "Scott Adsit Cast as Melissa McCarthy's Ex-Husband in 'St. Vincent de Van Nuys'". hollywoodreporter.com. July 19, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
  15. ↑ "'St. Vincent De Van Nuys' begins filming in New York City". onlocationvacations.com. July 5, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  16. ↑ "Naomi Watts Rocks Fake Baby Bump on the Set of St. Vincent de Van Nuys". eonline.com. July 10, 2013. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Boisterous Gives Connections Second Straight G1 Man o' War Win". Nyra.com. Retrieved October 11, 2014.
  18. ↑ "Theodore Shapiro to Score 'St. Vincent'". filmmusicreporter.com. December 26, 2013. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  19. ↑ "'St. Vincent' Score Album Details". filmmusicreporter.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  20. ↑ "'St. Vincent' Soundtrack Details". filmmusicreporter.com. September 26, 2014. Retrieved October 31, 2014.
  21. ↑ McDaniel, Matt (July 1, 2014). "Bill Murray Gets Fatherly in the First 'St. Vincent' Trailer". yahoo.com. Retrieved July 2, 2014.
  22. ↑ Cunningham, Todd (April 3, 2014). "Bill Murray-Melissa McCarthy Comedy 'St. Vincent' Gets Release Date". thewrap.com. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
  23. ↑ "St. Vincent". Rotten Tomatoes. Flixster. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  24. ↑ "St. Vincent Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 21, 2015.
  25. ↑ "'Ouija' Says Yes To $19.8M, 'John Wick' Chases In $14.4M, 'St. Vincent,' $7.7M Blessing – Final B.O. Weekend". deadline.com.
  26. ↑ "St. Vincent - RichardRoeper.com". richardroeper.com.
  27. ↑ "Casting Society Unveils Artios Film Nominees". Deadline.com. January 6, 2015. Retrieved January 6, 2015.
  28. ↑ "'GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY,' 'INTO THE WOODS' LEAD MAKE-UP ARTISTS AND HAIR STYLISTS GUILD NOMINATIONS". Hollywood Reporter. Hollywood Reporter. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2015.
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