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Downtown Owl (film)

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Downtown Owl
Release poster
Directed by
Screenplay byHamish Linklater
Based onDowntown Owl
by Chuck Klosterman
Produced by
  • Lily Rabe
  • Hamish Linklater
  • Bettina Barrow
  • Rebecca Green
Starring
CinematographyBart Cortright
Edited byNena Erb
Music byT Bone Burnett
Production
companies
Distributed bySony Pictures Releasing
Release dates
  • June 8, 2023 (2023-06-08) (Tribeca Festival)
  • April 23, 2024 (2024-04-23) (United States)
Running time
88 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Downtown Owl is a 2023 American comedy drama film directed by Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater, in their directorial debuts, from a screenplay by Linklater. It is based on the 2008 novel by Chuck Klosterman. The film is produced by Rabe, Bettina Barrow, Linklater (in his debut production), and Rebecca Green under Kill Claudio Productions, Three Point Capital and Esme Grace Media, in association with Stage 6 Films. It stars Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, August Blanco Rosenstein, Jack Dylan Grazer, Finn Wittrock, and Henry Golding.

Downtown Owl premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 8, 2023.[2] It was released in the United States on April 23, 2024.[3]

Premise

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Set in 1983, in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota, the story centers around three intangibly connected residents—Horace, an old man who spends his afternoons reminiscing better times from the past at the local coffee shop, Mitch, a depressed high school backup quarterback, and Julia, an English teacher at the local high school who recently moved to Owl—whose lives, along with those of the town’s other residents, are upended by a whiteout blizzard.

Cast

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Production

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In October 2012, it was announced Adam Scott and Naomi Scott had optioned rights to Downtown Owl by Chuck Klosterman for a planned film adaption to produce under their Gettin Rad Productions banner.[4]

In April 2022, it was announced Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, and Jack Dylan Grazer had joined the cast of the film, with Rabe directing and producing alongside Hamish Linklater who wrote the screenplay, and her producing partner Bettina Barrow under their banner, Kill Claudio Productions with Sony Pictures' Stage 6 Films overseeing production and Sony Pictures Releasing set to distribute.[5][6][7] The film was a part of the Sundance Institute's Feature Film Program and Creative Producing Initiative under the organization's Creative Producing Summit and Talent Forum.[6][8] It was also announced that T Bone Burnett had signed on to compose the film score, and Rebecca Green and Michael Melamedoff were co-producing under Three Point Capital and Esme Grace Media.[5][9][10] The following day, it was revealed that Henry Golding had joined the cast of the film.[11][12]

Principal photography took place throughout April 2022, in Minnesota.[13] Filming took place in Saint Paul,[14] Independence,[15] and Elko New Market.[16][17][18]

Reception

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 44% of 16 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.1/10.[19] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 48 out of 100, based on 7 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[20]

References

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  1. ^ "Downtown Owl (15)". BBFC. February 5, 2024. Archived from the original on February 6, 2024. Retrieved February 6, 2024.
  2. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 18, 2023). "Tribeca Festival's 2023 Film Lineup Includes 'Maggie Moore(s)' With Tina Fey & Jon Hamm, 'First Time Female Director', Marvel's 'Stan Lee' Doc, More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 18, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
  3. ^ Kimathi, Denis (March 25, 2024). "'Downtown Owl' Trailer Reunites 'American Horror Story' Stars Lily Rabe and Finn Wittrock". Collider. Retrieved March 26, 2024.
  4. ^ Rose, Lacey (October 15, 2012). "Adam Scott and Wife Launch Production Co., Option Chuck Klosterman Novel, Add Adult Swim Specials (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  5. ^ a b DeVore, Britta (April 13, 2022). "Lily Rabe to Direct and Star in 'Downtown Owl' Alongside Vanessa Hudgens and Finn Wittrock". Collider. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  6. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (April 13, 2022). "Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens and Finn Wittrock To Star In Sony's Adaptation Of Chuck Klosterman's 'Downtown Owl'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  7. ^ "Lily Rabe To Direct, Star in 'Downtown Owl' Film". Kirkus Reviews. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  8. ^ Grobar, Justin (April 14, 2022). "Henry Golding Boards Sony's Drama 'Downtown Owl' From Directors Lily Rabe & Hamish Linklater". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  9. ^ "T Bone Burnett to Compose Music for Lily Rabe's & Hamish Linklater's 'Downtown Owl' | Film Music Reporter". Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved May 21, 2022.
  10. ^ "Downtown Owl sets cast and directors for an rural 80s 'white-out' drama". Film Stories. April 14, 2022. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  11. ^ "Henry Golding Joins Ed Harris & More in New Drama Movie Downtown Owl". ScreenRant. April 15, 2022. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  12. ^ Galuppo, Mia (April 14, 2022). "Henry Golding Joins Sony's Chuck Klosterman Adaptation 'Downtown Owl' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Film Production Tax Credit Draws Indie Film With Star-Studded Cast To St. Paul". CBS News. April 26, 2022. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  14. ^ "Film crew in St. Paul shooting adaptation of Chuck Klosterman's 'Downtown Owl'". Twin Cities. April 23, 2022. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  15. ^ Raihala, Ross (April 23, 2022). "Film crew in St. Paul shooting adaptation of Chuck Klosterman's 'Downtown Owl'". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Archived from the original on April 26, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  16. ^ Reilly, Mark (April 27, 2022). "Film crews in Minnesota shooting 'Downtown Owl,' based on Chuck Klosterman novel". Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  17. ^ Vanessa Hudgens [@vanessahudgens] (April 23, 2022). "Transported to the 80's. By @lilyrabe and @therealhamishlinklater filming Downtown Owl 🥰🥳🎥" – via Instagram.
  18. ^ Hewitt, Chris (April 27, 2022). "Oscar nominee Ed Harris and cast finishing up Minnesota-shot movie 'Downtown Owl'". Star Tribune. Archived from the original on November 30, 2022. Retrieved April 27, 2022.
  19. ^ "Downtown Owl". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "Downtown Owl". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
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