Sunday, February 16, 2025
PAIN HUSTLERS (2023)
Pain Hustlers is a 2023 American black comedy crime film co-produced and directed by David Yates from a screenplay by Wells Tower, based on the 2022 book of the same name by Evan Hughes.[3][4] The film is loosely based on the activities of the real world company Insys Therapeutics and their role in the US opioid crisis. The film stars Emily Blunt, Chris Evans, Andy García, Catherine O'Hara, Jay Duplass, Brian d'Arcy James, and Chloe Coleman. Its plot centers on a high school dropout who lands a job with a failing pharmaceutical company in Central Florida, where she soon finds herself at the center of a criminal conspiracy.
Pain Hustlers had its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2023, and was released in select theaters in the United States on October 20, before its streaming debut by Netflix on October 27. The film received generally negative reviews from critics.
Plot
In 2011, Liza Drake is a struggling single mother living out of her sister's garage in Florida with her epileptic daughter Phoebe. Working as an exotic dancer, she is offered a lucrative job by customer Pete Brenner.
An argument over money leads to Liza and Phoebe getting kicked out, so they move into a motel. When her car is repossessed, Liza finds Pete at pharmaceutical company Zanna to accept the job. She doesn't know the start-up is struggling, with difficulty breaking into the market and desperately scrambling for investors to fund a marketing push ahead of the planned IPO.
Pete rewrites Liza's dismal resume, giving her a degree in biochemistry. She impresses the company founder, Doctor Jack Neel, who overrides their hiring freeze. Pete gives her five days to convince a physician to prescribe their drug, Lonafen.
Liza goes through the entire list of prospects in under five days without any success. Meanwhile, Phoebe experiences a seizure and they learn she has CAVM. Thinking the job is over, Liza returns to Dr. Lydell's office, her first sales attempt, to collect some Tupperware and overhears a cancer patient discussing a commonly prescribed drug's side effects.
Liza argues that Lonafen would be a better option, so Lydell prescribes it. She invites him to launch their speaker program by sharing his experience with the drug's efficacy. The event fails and he nearly withdraws despite his patient praising the drug, but Liza gets the program on track. When Pete offers financial incentives, Lydell prescribes Lonafen to all eligible patients. Based on this success, they hire a team of sales reps and Zanna wins 86% of the regional market.
Larkin, an envious company executive, tries to expose Liza as a fraud for her doctored resume but Neel promotes her to National Sales Director and Pete to COO, who then fires Larkin. The profitable company moves into larger offices where Neel's eccentricities manifest more clearly. When CEO Eric Paley is found to be secretly recording an executive meeting, he is fired but cashes in big on his shares. As growth flattens, Neel pressures the team to market Lonafen for all types of pain, not just cancer. Liza disagrees with this, but Neel dismisses her. He also instructs Liza to fire her mother Jackie as a rep, after he slept with her.
Liza approaches Lydell with her new marching orders and is disappointed when he readily agrees to go along. Meanwhile, Phoebe experiences another seizure and requires expensive brain surgery. Although Liza offers her stock options in Zanna as collateral for a loan, she is denied because of the pharma sector's volatility. After Lydell is arrested in a DEA sting, a desperate Liza asks Neel for help paying for the surgery but he exhorts her to use Phoebe's situation as "fire" for inspiration, like he did when his wife was dying from cancer and he came up with Lonafen.
When a friend's husband dies from a Lonafen overdose and her condolences are rejected, Liza agrees to testify to the U.S. Attorney's office that's investigating Zanna. She admits her involvement in Zanna's speaker and bribery programs. Liza confirms who signed off on those programs: Eric Paley, Pete Brenner, and Jack Neel. Asked to come up with hard proof linking Neel to the criminal activity, she explains that he has completely insulated himself from daily operations.
After Liza unsuccessfully attempts to procure a printout from Pete's jacket, he is arrested, though Neel offers to take care of his family while he's in prison. Neel himself remains seemingly untouchable until Liza links him to Zanna's illegal activities via an old email exchange during his affair with her mother.
The investigation reveals that Lonafen is essentially fentanyl, which is why non-terminal patients became addicts and often overdosed. Lydell, Paley, Brenner, and Neel all receive prison sentences. After a heartfelt apology in court and the prosecution's recommendation that Liza not serve time in order not to discourage future whistleblowers, she is still sentenced to 15 months, as her greed cost lives.
After Liza's release, she partners with some of the previous Zanna reps to form the skin care company she and Jackie had envisioned years ago.
Cast
- Emily Blunt as Liza Drake
- Chris Evans as Pete Brenner
- Catherine O'Hara as Jackie, Liza's mother
- Andy García as Dr. Neel
- Jay Duplass as Larkin
- Brian d'Arcy James as Dr. Lydell
- Amit Shah as Eric Paley
- Chloe Coleman as Phoebe, Liza's daughter
- Aubrey Dollar as Andy
- Michael Kosta as Guy Schatz
- Nick McNeil as Randy
Production
In August 2021, Sony Pictures announced the development of an untitled film directed by David Yates and written by Wells Tower, based on the Evan Hughes' New York Times Magazine article "The Pain Hustlers" from May 2, 2018,[5] and his subsequent book The Hard Sell released in January 2022. It is a co-production between Grey Matter Productions and Wychwood Pictures. Yates produced the film along with Lawrence Grey and Yvonne Walcott Yates.[6] In May 2022, Emily Blunt joined the cast and Netflix acquired the film, which was titled Pain Hustlers, in a deal worth at least $50 million.[7] In July, Chris Evans came on board to star.[8] In August, Andy Garcia, Catherine O'Hara, Jay Duplass, Brian d'Arcy James, and Chloe Coleman were added to the cast.[9] Production began in late August.[8]
Release
Pain Hustlers had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 11, 2023.[10] It was released in select theaters in the United States on October 20, 2023, and on Netflix on October 27.[11]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 23% of 112 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The website's consensus reads: "Pain Hustlers has some great actors and a worthwhile premise, but lackluster execution dooms this dramatic look at the opioid epidemic."[12] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 44 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[13]
INSYS THERAPEUTICS (Now Defunct)
Insys Therapeutics was an American specialty pharmaceutical company based in Chandler, Arizona in 1990.[1] Its main product was Subsys, a sublingual liquid form of the drug fentanyl. Fentanyl is an extremely fast-acting and powerful opioid used to relieve breakthrough pain in cancer patients, and prescription of fentanyl in the US for such pain usually requires documented failure of more conservative therapies.[2][3]
In its final phase the company and its executives faced legal issues related to the opioid crisis and marketing activities by the company, including accusations of bribes and misleading advertising. Several company executives were convicted of racketeering in a jury trial in May 2019.[4]
Insys filed for bankruptcy in 2019. The filing came just 10 days after the company agreed to pay $225 million to settle separate criminal and civil cases brought by the U.S. Justice Department.[citation needed]
The 2023 movie Pain Hustlers is based on the story of Insys.
Products
In addition to Subsys, Insys Therapeutics marketed Syndros, a synthetic THC product, and was working toward approval of other cannabis derivatives.[3][5] Despite delta-9 THC being classified as a Schedule I substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Syndros was classified as a Schedule II substance used in adults to treat loss of appetite (anorexia) in people with AIDS who have lost weight, as well as nausea and vomiting caused by anti-cancer medicines (chemotherapy) in people whose nausea and vomiting have not improved with usual anti-nausea medicines. Syndros was the first and only FDA-approved liquid THC formulation, which allows for fast absorption, flexible dosing, and a potential solution for patients who may prefer a liquid medication. The disparity between the US DEA scheduling of THC and of Syndros is pre- and post-formulation, respectively, according to Title 21 United States Code of Controlled Substances Act.[citation needed]
History
The company was founded in 1990 by American multi-millionaire John Kapoor, who served as CEO and president after former CEO Michael Babich was arrested. Kapoor retired from Insys in 2017 due to racketeering conspiracy charges and was ultimately replaced by Saeed Motahari.[6]
Insys had a practice of paying doctors speaking fees to promote their products. They had set up the Insys Reimbursement Center, in which Insys workers would call insurers on behalf of doctors’ offices to get them to authorize payment for Subsys. Even though Subsys was only supposed to be for cancer related patients, the workers would mislead the insurers into paying for it. In 2012, a sales rep for Insys filed a whistleblower lawsuit against the company. He gathered documents, emails and even audio recordings to bolster his case, yet the government declined to intervene.[7]
In March 2013, the company had its IPO. The public paid no attention to the lawsuit and accusations, and the company was the best performing IPO that year.[7]
In 2016, the company was ranked No. 52 on the Deloitte Fast 500 North America list.[8]
In 2017, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill released a report and audio recording of an Insys representative allegedly falsely claiming to represent a doctor's office and lying about a patient's diagnosis in order to circumvent prescribing rules for Subsys.[6] Attorney Richard J. Hollawell obtained the audio recording from Envision in response to a subpoena for a civil suit he filed against Insys. [9] The patient later died due to an adverse reaction to her medications.[6]
A study done by physician and scientist Scott Hadland examined the marketing of Insys Therapeutics and found that it was responsible for half of all marketing dollars to doctors.[10] Hadland's study was cited in a 2017 federal case against the company CEO John Kapoor and several executives, which resulted in their conviction by a federal jury of racketeering conspiracy.[11][12]
Political advocacy
In 2016, Insys donated $500,000 to Arizonans for Responsible Drug Policy, a group opposing a marijuana legalization ballot initiative in the state of Arizona.[13] Investor filings confirm the company was concerned about the impact of legalization on sales for a cannabis-based drug it was developing.[14] The reason publicly given for opposing the measure was to "protect children".[14] However, medical marijuana advocates have criticized Insys' position as hypocritical, profit-driven, and an appeal to emotion, as the company actively developed its own cannabis-derived products.[5] In a September 2016 statement, J.P. Holyoak, a representative from the pro-legalization campaign, commented, "It appears they are trying to kill a non-pharmaceutical market for marijuana in order to line their own pockets."[15] That same month, the opposition campaign defended Insys' involvement, stating: "We are grateful that Insys Therapeutics – an Arizona-based company – has chosen to join Governor Ducey, the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents, the Arizona Small Business Association, the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association, the Arizona Catholic Conference of Bishops, the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and several other community organizations in defeating Prop. 205 in November."[15] The ballot measure eventually failed to pass, losing 51.32% to 48.68%.[16]
Litigation and bankruptcy
In December 2016, seven former executives and managers employed by Insys were taken into custody, including CEO John Kapoor and charged with conspiracy to bribe medical staff in several states to prescribe a specific pain medication to their patients.[17] The accusations were the topic of an NBC special feature report on Megyn Kelly's Sunday Night on June 4, 2017.[18]
In August 2017, Insys Therapeutics was sued by Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich for misleading patients and doctors about the dangers of the drug Subsys, and for lying to insurers about the condition of the patients in a bid to get payment for the drug. He said the firm deceived insurers and pharmaceutical benefit companies into agreeing to pay for the expensive drug by misleading them to believe that the payment request was coming from a doctor's office and not the company making the drug. Brnovich also said those Insys employees misrepresented the medical conditions of the patients, lying that they had breakthrough pain, lying that the patients had tried other medications, and lying that the patients needed the sublingual spray rather than less expensive pills marketed by other firms because they had difficulty swallowing.[19] Insys Therapeutics issued a response to the Arizona filing on their website, stating, in part, that "[t]he allegations contained in the Arizona Attorney General's complaint relate to former employees and physicians that are no longer associated with our Company or our speaker bureau."[20]
In October 2017, Insys founder John Kapoor was arrested in Arizona and charged with RICO conspiracy, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to violate the anti-kickback law related to Insys' effort to secure prescriptions of Subsys. Kapoor is also alleged to have conspired to defraud health insurance providers.[21]
In December 2018, former Insys CEO Michael Babich agreed to plead guilty to one count of conspiracy and one count of mail fraud, in connection to bribes paid to doctors and their assistants.[22][23] In April 2019, Alec Burlakoff, the former vice president of sales for Insys, agreed to pay the State of Arizona $9.5 million in a civil settlement with Attorney General Mark Brnovich for his role in the alleged bribery campaign of doctors to prescribe Insys products to patients.[24] Brnovich had accused Burlakoff of operating a program that paid doctors lucrative "speaking fees" in order to encourage them to prescribe more Subsys, Insys' fentanyl-based pain medication.[25] Burlakoff is required to pay the state $5.2 million from the proceeds he made from the operation, as well as $4.3 million in civil penalties. As part of the settlement, Burlakoff agreed to testify against Insys in ongoing litigation and will be permanently banned from advertising or selling any pharmaceutical drugs in Arizona.[24]
On May 2, 2019, a federal jury found top executives of Insys Therapeutics guilty of racketeering charges. The jury, after deliberating for 15 days, issued guilty verdicts against the company's founder, the one-time billionaire John Kapoor, and four former executives, finding they had conspired to fuel sales of its highly potent drug, Subsys, by not only bribing doctors to prescribe its product but also by misleading insurers about patients' need for the drug.[4][26] Other Insys employees also found guilty included Richard M. Simon, former national director of sales; Sunrise Lee, regional sales director; Joseph A. Rowan, regional sales director; and Michael J. Gurry, former vice president of managed markets.[27] In June 2019, Insys Therapeutics agreed to pay $225 million to settle the federal government's criminal and civil investigations into the company's marketing practices.[28] In January 2020, Kapoor was sentenced by a federal court to five and a half years in prison.[29]
Insys filed for bankruptcy in Delaware Bankruptcy Court on June 10, 2019. Andrew Long, the company's CEO, claimed the company was struggling due to: 1) extensive litigation, and 2) declining revenues relating to its Subsys product. The bankruptcy filing came just 10 days after the company reached a settlement with the U.S. Justice Department. The U.S. government agreed to accept an unsecured claim of $190 million in the case.[30][31]
Saturday, February 15, 2025
Friday, February 14, 2025
DEAD FOR A DOLLAR (2022)
Dead for a Dollar is a 2022 American Western-thriller film written and directed by Walter Hill. It stars Christoph Waltz, Willem Dafoe, and Rachel Brosnahan. The plot follows a bounty hunter (Waltz) on a search to find the missing wife (Brosnahan) of a businessman. Brandon Scott, Warren Burke, Benjamin Bratt, and Hamish Linklater also star. The film premiered out of competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2022. It was released in the United States on September 30, 2022, by Quiver Distribution.
Plot
In 1897, in New Mexico Territory, veteran bounty hunter Max Borlund learns that Joe Cribbens, a card sharp and armed robber who served five years in prison after being brought to justice by Borlund, will soon be released. Borlund visits Cribbens to warn him against following through with his vow to "buy a gun and look him up".
A friend of Borlund's introduces him to a businessman, Martin Kidd, who hires Borlund to retrieve his wife, Rachel. He tells Borlund that Rachel was abducted and is being held for ransom in Chihuahua, Mexico by Elijah Jones, an African American army deserter. The officer assigns one of his men, Sergeant Alonzo Poe, to assist Borlund as he was a close friend of Jones and has a map to his hideout, after agreeing to deliver the ransom money. En route, the two men run afoul of Tiberio Vargas, a rich landowner who moonlights as a vicious bandit. Borlund refuses to accede to Vargas's extortion and forces him to leave.
Cribbens also heads south to Chihuahua, where he tries to support himself by winning poker games. One night, he wins a large sum of money from William "English Bill" Palmer; when Palmer threatens Cribbens at gunpoint for his money back, the latter shoots Palmer dead in self-defense. Vargas goes to see Cribbens and reveals that he and Palmer were working together on a lucrative mining scheme. Since Cribbens killed him, Vargas insists that he now owes him a "favor". Borlund and Poe find the two runaways hiding with Jack Hannon, an American fugitive who mistakenly assumes that Borlund is after him and threatens Rachel's head. Borlund shoots him and saves her.
Jones explains that he had made an arrangement with Vargas to obtain passage to Cuba for $5,000, which he planned to pay for out of the ransom. Borlund and his party reach a small border town, where the local police captain agrees to incarcerate Jones and send a telegram to Martin informing him that Rachel has been found. Told to keep an eye on Jones, Poe secretly explains that he intends to set him free, feeling that Jones deserves a chance to live his life how he chooses. Borlund realises this and devises a plan to help Poe engineer Jones's escape once they cross over into the United States.
Borlund learns from Rachel what he had already begun to suspect: Rachel was not abducted; she chose to leave with Jones because Martin married her only for her money and routinely cheats on her with other women. She believes that her husband, humiliated by a black man running off with his wife, has no intention of taking her back home alive. Vargas sends Cribbens to kill Borlund; Poe and Rachel aim their guns at him and Cribbens leaves empty-handed. Vargas then intercepts the stagecoach transporting Martin into Mexico and the two men cut a deal. When Martin arrives, he bribes the captain's corrupt deputy to cover for him while he shoots Jones dead in his cell.
Rachel and her husband reunite and Martin admits that he paid Vargas off to rape and kill her, hoping to sell her death as a story to the newspapers to boost his political ambitions. Rachel takes out her derringer and shoots Martin dead. Vargas and his men arrive and murder both the captain and his deputy. Borlund kills several bandits, while Poe and Rachel kill the rest in a close-quarters shoot-out with the help of a friendly female innkeeper. Vargas manages to shoot Poe in the shoulder, while Cribbens sneaks up from behind and shoots him. Borlund offers his old enemy the chance to leave with his life but Cribbens refuses and subsequently dies when Borlund outdraws him.
Poe is patched up and the movie ends as the three go their separate ways after returning to America. Poe serves in the army for nearly thirty years, retires and dies an old man in a veterans' home in 1937, Rachel never remarries and spends the rest of her life fighting for politically progressive causes after moving to Philadelphia and Borlund works as a bounty hunter for the rest of his days.
Cast
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- Christoph Waltz as Max Borlund[3]
- Willem Dafoe as Joe Cribbens[3]
- Rachel Brosnahan as Rachel Kidd[4]
- Warren Burke as Sergeant Alonzo Poe[5]
- Brandon Scott as Elijah Jones[5]
- Benjamin Bratt as Tiberio Vargas[6]
- Luis Chavez as Esteban Romero
- Hamish Linklater as Martin Kidd[7]
- Fidel Gomez as Captain Aragon
- Guy Burnet as English Bill[8]
- Alfredo Quiroz as Deputy Enrique Bustamonte
- Scott Peat as Jack Tyree
- Jackamoe Buzzell as Jack Hannon
Production
Development and filming
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Hill later recalled he had worked on the script "for about a year and a half, not constantly." The Christopher Waltz character was based on a real character, Chris Madsen, a US Marshal from Denmark. "I thought the idea of a European immigrant as protagonist was a nice, off-center way of getting into a story," said Hill. "We’re so used to the Joel McCrea, Randolph Scott, John Wayne Anglo kind of guy." However he stressed the role was fictionalised.[9]
The film was announced at the Marché du Film in June 2021. It marks Waltz's return to the genre after Django Unchained (2012) and Hill's return to directing after The Assignment (2016).[3] Principal photography took place in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from August 24 to September 21, 2021.[10][7] Approximately 80 crew members, 20 principal cast members, and 40 background and extras from New Mexico were employed for the shoot.[11]
Grievance about filming incident
On October 26, 2021, actor Shawn-Caulin Young filed a grievance against stunt coordinator and second unit director Allan Graf. In his complaint, Young said Graf did not properly supervise the stunts in the film and that he was "hostile on set". He also said the production did not give him suitable protective gear for his eyes and ears when using pyrotechnics and explosives. During the shooting of a scene, Young was asked to serve as a "target" and was hit in the face with shrapnel and gunpowder debris. As a result of the scene, he and a camera operator became upset and were later "publicly shamed". At one point, Young said he overheard Graf calling him a "pussy". Producer Carolyn McMaster and first assistant director Scott Corban Sikman have both disputed the allegations.[12]
Sikman said every member of the cast and crew was offered safety glasses and ear protection. When asked about the scene, Sikman said that Young and the camera operator were moved after the pair were hit with debris. Armorer John Farner only recalled the camera operator complaining about the incident but not Young. Furthermore, two anonymous crew members described the set as "unnerving" after blanks were fired at the floorboards of the set to create smoke; Farner said he was told by Graf that it was common practice to do so. In a statement, the production said Young had worked on the set for only one day—August 2, 2021—and that they "strongly deny any allegation that safety requirements were not fully met and adhered to at all times." According to Young, he was supposed to work for two days but was not brought back on set after asking for a pay raise; McMaster also disputed this claim.[12]
Release
Dead for a Dollar premiered out of competition at the 79th Venice International Film Festival on September 6, 2022.[1][13] It was released in theaters on September 30, 2022, in the United States and Canada by Quiver Distribution,[14] and internationally by Myriad Pictures.[15] Its release on Blu-ray and DVD was on October 4, 2022.[16]
Reception
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 53% of 51 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "There are certainly worse Westerns, but with Walter Hill behind the camera and a killer cast reporting for duty, Dead for a Dollar should have higher entertainment value."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 61 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[18]
GHOSTS OF RED RIDGE (2024)
- Director
- Stefan Colson
- Producer
- Jack Campbell, Rebecca Campbell, Stefan Colson, Mark Padilla
- Screenwriter
- Brandon Cahela
- Distributor
- Well Go USA
- Production Co
- Jackrabbit Media
- Genre
- Drama, Mystery & Thriller, Western
- Original Language
- English
CALAMITY JANE (2024)
Calamity Jane is a 2024 Western film directed by Terry Miles and starring Emily Bett Rickards and Stephen Amell.
Premise
A fictionalised story based around the life of Martha Jane Canary, known as Calamity Jane, as she seeks revenge following the death of Wild Bill Hickok.[2]
Cast
- Emily Bett Rickards as Calamity Jane
- Stephen Amell as Wild Bill Hickok
- Tim Rozon as Sheriff Mason
- Priscilla Faia as Abigail
- Gage Marsh as Deputy Paul
- Garrett Black as Rudd
- Christian Sloan as Baron
- Troy Mundle as Deputy Richard
- Spencer Borgeson as Floyd
Production
The film was directed by Terry Miles and written by Leon Langford and Collin Watts. The film is produced by Tara Cowell-Plain and executive produced by Jack Nasser, Jacob Nasser, and Kimberley Wakefield.[3][4]
The film stars Emily Bett Rickards and Stephen Amell, as well as Tim Rozon, Priscilla Faia, Gage Marsh, Garrett Black, Christian Sloan, Troy Mundle, and Spencer Borgeson.[5][6]
Release
The film is a Tubi Films Original but was made available on video-on-demand by Samuel Goldwyn Films on 2 February 2024.[7][8]
Thursday, February 13, 2025
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
BANFIELD: Boswell Case
Opening statements in Megan's trial began on February 5.
Prosecutor Amber Massengill alleged that Megan killed her daughter by suffocating her, then placed her in a trash can.
"Her life wasn't just cut short," Massengill said. "It's not just a tragedy. Her life was violently ripped away from her."
Defense attorney Gene Scott argued that the state cannot prove how Evelyn died. He said she "absolutely lied to the police," but she did not kill her child.
"She doesn't want to get in trouble. It doesn't mean she murdered her child," Scott said.
The state rested its case on Wednesday. Witnesses called by the defense included forensic experts, law enforcement officials, Megan's friends and Evelyn's babysitter.
Monday, February 10, 2025
Saturday, February 8, 2025
THE MENU (2022)
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The Menu is a 2022 American black comedy horror[4] film written by Seth Reiss and Will Tracy and directed by Mark Mylod. It stars an ensemble cast consisting of Ralph Fiennes, Anya Taylor-Joy, Nicholas Hoult, Hong Chau, Janet McTeer, Judith Light, and John Leguizamo. It follows a foodie and his date traveling to a remote island to eat at an exclusive restaurant where the chef has prepared a lavish menu but reveals shocking surprises throughout the meal.
The film had its world premiere at the 47th Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022, and was theatrically released in the United States on November 18, 2022, by Searchlight Pictures. It grossed $79.6 million worldwide and received positive reviews from critics, who praised the screenplay and performances of the cast. At the 80th Golden Globe Awards, Fiennes and Taylor-Joy were nominated for Best Actor and Best Actress – Musical or Comedy, respectively. The film earned five nominations, including Best Thriller Film, at the 51st Saturn Awards.
Plot
Foodie Tyler Ledford and his date Margot Mills travel by boat to Hawthorn, an exclusive restaurant on a private island operated by celebrity chef Julian Slowik. The other guests are food critic Lillian Bloom and her editor Ted; wealthy regulars Richard and Anne Leibrandt; washed-up movie star George Diaz[a] and his personal assistant Felicity Lynn; business partners Soren, Dave, and Bryce; and Slowik's alcoholic mother Linda. The group is given an island tour by maître d' Elsa, who notes that Margot is not Tyler's designated guest.
Dinner begins and Slowik introduces a series of courses, during which he delivers increasingly unsettling monologues. For the third course, uncomfortable truths about each guest are exposed via images laser-printed on tortillas. During the fourth course, sous-chef Jeremy kills himself. When Richard tries to leave, the staff cuts off his left ring finger as a warning to stay. Unhappy with angel investor Doug Verrick's attempts to involve himself in Hawthorn's management, Slowik arranges for him to be drowned in front of the guests. The fifth course commences with Slowik allowing himself to be stabbed by Katherine, an employee whom he had sexually harassed. The female guests dine with Katherine while the men are given the chance to escape the island via a game of cat-and-mouse, but Slowik's staff catches them all. When Lillian attempts to gain Katherine's favor by offering assistance in starting her own restaurant, Katherine reveals that she was the one who suggested killing the guests and staff.
Slowik explains that each guest was invited because they contributed to him losing his passion for his craft or because they make a living by exploiting the work of food artisans like him. He announces that everyone will be dead by the end of the night. Since Margot's presence was unplanned, Slowik privately gives her the choice of dying with the staff or the guests. When she hesitates, he chooses the staff. Margot reveals she is an escort named Erin, whose clients included Richard, whom she stopped meeting because he hired her to pretend to be his daughter. Slowik reveals that Tyler was informed the guests would be killed. Despite this, he was so zealous to participate in Slowik's craft that he kept it secret and hired Margot to replace his ex-girlfriend because Hawthorn does not seat lone diners. Slowik invites Tyler to cook and his performance fails to live up to his pretensions. Slowik humiliates him by detailing his culinary mistakes, then whispers in his ear, and a deflated Tyler leaves the kitchen.
Slowik asks Margot to go to the smokehouse and retrieve a barrel needed for dessert. As she leaves the kitchen, she discovers that Tyler has hanged himself in a closet. En route, Margot sneaks into Slowik's house, where she is attacked by a jealous Elsa. After a scuffle, Margot fatally stabs her. After seeing a framed employee of the month award showing Slowik as a young and happy cook preparing hamburgers at a greasy spoon diner, Margot finds a radio, calls for help, and returns to the restaurant with the barrel. A Coast Guard officer named Dale arrives. After the guests are convinced they have been saved, Dale reveals himself to be a line cook in disguise and returns to the kitchen.
Margot confronts Slowik for his "loveless" cooking and complains that she is still hungry. When he asks what she would like, Margot requests a cheeseburger and French fries prepared without the pretentiousness of fine dining. Slowik finds joy in personally attending to her meal. After one bite, Margot praises the food, then requests to take it "to go". Slowik allows her to leave, and Margot escapes on the Coast Guard boat docked nearby.
The dessert is an elevated s'mores dish for which the staff decorates the restaurant with sauces and crushed graham crackers, then dresses the guests in marshmallow stoles and chocolate fezzes. Slowik sets the restaurant ablaze, detonating the barrel and killing the guests, staff, and himself. Margot watches the fire from the boat, eats her cheeseburger, and wipes her mouth with a copy of the menu.
Cast
- Ralph Fiennes as Chef Julian Slowik
- Anya Taylor-Joy as Margot
- Nicholas Hoult as Tyler Ledford
- Hong Chau as Elsa
- Janet McTeer as Lillian Bloom
- Paul Adelstein as Ted Feldman
- John Leguizamo as a movie star[a]
- Aimee Carrero as Felicity Lynn
- Reed Birney as Richard Liebbrandt
- Judith Light as Anne Liebbrandt
- Rebecca Koon as Linda Slowik
- Rob Yang as Bryce
- Arturo Castro as Soren
- Mark St. Cyr as Dave Lorimer
- Peter Grosz as sommelier
- Christina Brucato as Katherine Keller
- Adam Aalderks as Jeremy Louden
- Jon Paul Allyn as a boat waiter
- Mel Fair as a boatman
- Cristian Gonzales as Server #1
- Matthew Cornwell as Dale
- John Wilkins as Server #2
Production
Development
Will Tracy dined at Cornelius Sjømatrestaurant, an island restaurant outside Bergen, Norway, during a honeymoon and later suggested a story to Seth Reiss inspired by the experience.[5][6] Several figures from the world of fine dining were brought on as consultants for the film, including chef Dominique Crenn, who recreated several dishes from her San Francisco restaurant Atelier Crenn for the fictional restaurant Hawthorn, and second unit director David Gelb, who was brought on to recreate the filmmaking style from his Netflix docuseries Chef's Table.[7]
It was announced in April 2019 that Alexander Payne was attached to direct.[8] In December 2019, the screenplay appeared on the annual Black List, a survey showcasing the most popular films still in development.[9] By May 2020, Searchlight Pictures held the distribution rights, and Payne had left the film due to scheduling conflicts, with Mark Mylod replacing Payne as director.[10]
Casting
In April 2019, it was announced that Emma Stone and Ralph Fiennes would star in The Menu.[8][11]
In June 2021, Anya Taylor-Joy entered negotiations and was confirmed in July to replace Stone, who had left due to commitments to other projects;[12][10] Hong Chau and Nicholas Hoult joined the cast the same month.[13][14] John Leguizamo,[15] Janet McTeer,[16] Judith Light,[17] Reed Birney,[18] Rob Yang,[19] and Aimee Carrero joined in September.[20] In October, Paul Adelstein, Arturo Castro, Mark St. Cyr, Rebecca Koon and Peter Grosz were confirmed as parts of the ensemble.[21]
Filming
Filming began on September 3, 2021, in Savannah, Georgia, with cinematographer Peter Deming[22] and film editor Christopher Tellefsen.[21] Film locations include the Jekyll Island shore.[23]
Music
Colin Stetson composed the musical score, released by Milan Records on November 18, coinciding with the film's release.[24]
Release
The Menu premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2022,[25] and also made its US premiere at Fantastic Fest that month.[26] It was released on November 18, 2022, in the United States in 3,211 theaters, the widest release in Searchlight's history.[27]
The film was released to digital platforms on January 3, 2023, with a Blu-ray and DVD release by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment on January 17, 2023.[28]
Reception
Box office
The Menu grossed $38.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $41.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $79.6 million.[3]
In the United States and Canada, The Menu was released alongside She Said, and was projected to gross $7–10 million from 3,100 theaters in its opening weekend.[29][30] It made $3.6 million on its first day, including $1 million from Wednesday and Thursday night previews. The film went on to debut to $9 million, finishing second behind holdover Black Panther: Wakanda Forever.[2] Over its second weekend, The Menu made $5.5 million (and a total of $7.6 million over the five-day Thanksgiving frame), finishing fifth.[31] During its third weekend, the film made $3.5 million, finishing fourth.[32]
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 88% of 334 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "While its social commentary relies on basic ingredients, The Menu serves up black comedy with plenty of flavor."[33] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 71 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[34] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "B" on an A+ to F scale, while those polled by PostTrak gave it a 78% positive score, with 53% saying they would definitely recommend it.[2]
Accolades
| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Cinema Editors | March 5, 2023 | Best Edited Feature Film – Comedy or Musical | Christopher Tellefsen | Nominated | [35] |
| Artios Awards | March 9, 2023 | Big Budget – Comedy | Mary Vernieu, Bret Howe, Lisa Mae Fincannon, Kimberly Wistedt & Becca Burgess | Nominated | [36] [37] |
| Columbus Film Critics Association | January 5, 2023 | Best Film | The Menu | 9th place | [38] [39] |
| Best Lead Performance | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | |||
| Actor Of The Year (For An Exemplary Body Of Work) | Hong Chau (for The Menu & The Whale) | Runner-up | |||
| Anya Taylor-Joy (for Amsterdam, The Menu & The Northman) | Nominated | ||||
| Breakthrough Film Artist | Hong Chau (The Menu & The Whale: for acting) | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Nominated | |||
| Frank Gabrenya Award for Best Comedy | The Menu | Nominated | |||
| Critics' Choice Super Awards | March 16, 2023 | Best Actor in a Horror Movie | Ralph Fiennes | Won | [40] |
| Dorian Awards | February 23, 2023 | Unsung Film of the Year | The Menu | Nominated | [41] [42] |
| Eddie Awards | March 5, 2023 | Best Edited Feature Film (Comedy, Theatrical) | Christopher Tellefsen | Nominated | [43] [44] |
| Fangoria Chainsaw Awards | May 21, 2023 | Best Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Nominated | [45] |
| Fantastic Fest | September 27, 2022 | Audience Award | The Menu | Won | [46] |
| Georgia Film Critics Association | January 13, 2023 | Oglethorpe Award for Excellence in Georgia Cinema | Mark Mylod, Seth Reiss, Will Tracy | Runner-up | [47] |
| Golden Globe Awards | January 10, 2023 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | [48] [49] |
| Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy | Anya Taylor-Joy | Nominated | |||
| Hawaii Film Critics Society | January 13, 2023 | Best Picture | The Menu | Nominated | [50] [51] [52] |
| Best Actor | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress | Anya Taylor-Joy | Nominated | |||
| Best Original Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Critics Association | February 24, 2023 | Best Comedy | The Menu | Nominated | [53] [54] |
| Best Original Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Nominated | |||
| Hollywood Critics Association Creative Arts Awards | February 24, 2023 | Best Casting Director | Mary Vernieu and Bret Howe | Nominated | [55] [56] [57] |
| Hollywood Music in Media Awards | November 16, 2022 | Best Original Score in a Horror Film | Colin Stetson | Nominated | [58] |
| IFMCA Awards | February 23, 2023 | Best Original Score for a Horror/Thriller Film | Nominated | [59] [60] [61] | |
| Indiana Film Journalists Association | December 19, 2022 | Best Original Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Nominated | [62] [63] |
| Best Supporting Performance | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | |||
| London Film Critics' Circle | February 5, 2023 | British/Irish Actor of the Year (for body of work) | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | [64] |
| Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild | February 11, 2023 | Best Contemporary Make-Up in a Feature-Length Motion Picture | Deborah LaMia Denaver, Mazena Puksto, Donna Cicatelli, Deb Rutherford | Nominated | [65] |
| Best Contemporary Hair Styling in a Feature-Length Motion Picture | Adruitha Lee, Monique Hyman, Kate Loftis, Barbara Sanders | Nominated | |||
| Online Association of Female Film Critics | December 20, 2022 | Best Acting Ensemble | The Menu | Nominated | [66] [67] |
| Portland Critics Association | January 16, 2023[68] | Best Ensemble Cast | Nominated | [69] [70] [71] | |
| San Diego Film Critics Society | January 6, 2023 | Best Actor | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | [72] |
| Best Original Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble | The Menu | Nominated | |||
| Satellite Awards | March 3, 2023 | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | [73] |
| Saturn Awards | February 4, 2024 | Best Thriller Film | The Menu | Nominated | [74] |
| Best Film Direction | Mark Mylod | Nominated | |||
| Best Film Writing | Seth Reiss and Will Tracy | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor in a Film | Ralph Fiennes | Nominated | |||
| Best Actress in a Film | Anya Taylor-Joy | Nominated | |||
| St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 18, 2022 | Best Original Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Nominated | [75] |
| Sunset Circle Awards | November 29, 2022[76][77] | Best Supporting Actress | Hong Chau (for The Menu & The Whale) | Nominated | [78] [79] [80] |
| Best Film | The Menu | Nominated | |||
| Best Ensemble | Nominated | ||||
| Best Screenplay | Seth Reiss & Will Tracy | Runner-up | |||
| Writers Guild of America Awards | March 5, 2023 | Best Original Screenplay |