Starting Out in the Evening

Infobox Film
name = Starting Out in the Evening


caption =
director = Andrew Wagner
producer = Jake Abraham
Nancy Israel
John Sloss
writer = Screenplay:
Fred Parnes Andrew Wagner
starring = Lauren Ambrose
Frank Langella Karl Bury Lili Taylor Adrian Lester Jessica Hecht
music = Adam Gorgoni
cinematography = Harlan Bosmajian
editing = Gena Bleier
distributor = Roadside Attractions
released = Start date|2007|01
runtime = 111 min. (TIFF)
country = USA
language = English
budget =
amg_id = 1:382520
imdb_id = 0758784
website = http://www.roadsideattractions.com/Catalog/FilmLibrary.asp?BusinessUnitID={3134273E-EA18-4451-AC2B-40C0CC73ED2D}&ProjectID={ECD239F2-668A-4AEE-858E-E26751721E52}

"Starting Out in the Evening" is the film adaptation of the novel by Brian Morton, which follows an aging novelist (Frank Langella) whose world is shaken when an ambitious graduate student (Lauren Ambrose) convinces him that she can use her thesis to bring him back into the literature world spotlight.cite web | url =http://www.ioncinema.com/beta/movie.php?id=5564 | title = Starting Out in the Evening | accessdate=2006-09-20 | work = I On Cinema ] The film also stars Lili Taylor and Adrian Lester.

The film, directed by Andrew Wagner, was released on November 23, 2007 at the Paris Theatre in New York City.

About

Set in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It was shot in 18 days at a cost of about $500,000. "We had no time, we had no money, we had no perks, we had no room to mess it up," Langella told an audience at a screening. [Parry, Wynne, "Actor Langella speaks of 'Evening' at Avon Theatre", article about a screening at the Avon Theatre in Stamford, Connecticut, in "The Advocate" of Stamford, p A3, December 8, 2007]

The film is Andrew Wagner's second, after 2004's "The Talent Given Us", and debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 2007. As of May 2008, the film has made more than $890,000 at the box office, its widest release being 43 theaters. [ [http://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=startingoutintheevening.htm Starting Out in the Evening (2007) ] ]

Critical reception

The film received positive reviews from critics. As of December 31, 2007, the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported that 86% of critics gave the film positive reviews, based on 92 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/starting_out_in_the_evening/ |title=Starting Out in the Evening - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2007-12-31 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] Metacritic reported the film had an average score of 78 out of 100, based on 33 reviews. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/startingoutintheevening |title=Starting Out in the Evening (2007): Reviews |accessdate=2007-12-31 |publisher=Metacritic]

Roger Ebert of the "Chicago Sun-Times" gave the film 4 stars out of 4. Ebert wrote, "Starting Out in the Evening" is a film about people who think literature is worth devoting a lifetime to." Ebert said the performance by Frank Langella "deserves an Oscar nomination." Ebert said "the film provides unusually intelligent discussion of books and careers..." and concluded "The movie is carefully modulated to draw us deeper and deeper into the situation, and uses no contrived plot devices to superimpose plot jolts on what is, after all, a story involving four civilized people who are only trying, each in a different way, to find happiness." [cite web|url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/REVIEWS/712130306/1023 |title=:: rogerebert.com :: Reviews :: Starting Out in the Evening (xhtml) |accessdate=2007-12-31 |author=Roger Ebert |date=2007-12-14 |work=Chicago Sun-Times]

Scott Foundas of "Variety" wrote, "Director Andrew Wagner draws topnotch work from a pro cast in "Starting Out in the Evening", a wise, carefully observed chamber drama about an elderly novelist whose daily routine is interrupted by the arrival of a young grad student with more than academics on her mind. While its New York lit-world setting, focus on aging and preference for intelligent dialogue over kinetic action will do little to create a feeding frenzy among potential distribs, this small yet deeply resonant pic should be embraced by upscale arthouse auds and spark awards talk for star Frank Langella." [cite web|url=http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=festivals&jump=review&id=2471&reviewid=VE1117932548&cs=1 |title=Starting Out in the Evening Review - Film Reviews-Sundance 2007, Entertainment - Variety |accessdate=2007-12-31 |author=Scott Foundas |date=2007-01-23 |work=Variety]

James Greenberg of "The Hollywood Reporter" called the film a "complex and satisfying New York literary drama." Greenburg said the film has a "compelling story, great acting, intelligent writing and sensitive direction." Greenberg called Frank Langella's performance "astounding" and said " [Lauren Ambrose] almost keeps pace with him." Greenberg said the character Ariel " is a touching and believable character, thanks to the warmth and vitality [Lili Taylor] brings to the role." Greenberg wrote "the film manages to keep its balance, aided by a lovely and restrained score by Adam Gorgoni." [cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/awards_festivals/cannes/reviews/article_display.jsp?&rid=8669 |title=Starting Out in the Evening |accessdate=2007-12-31 |author=James Greenberg |date=2007-01-23 |work=The Hollywood Reporter]

Top ten lists

The film appeared on several critics' top ten lists of the best films of 2007. [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2007/toptens.shtml |title=Metacritic: 2007 Film Critic Top Ten Lists |accessdate=2008-01-05 |publisher=Metacritic]

*3rd - Stephen Hunter, "The Washington Post"
*5th - Stephen Holden, "The New York Times"
*8th - David Germain, Associated Press [cite web|url=http://www.columbiatribune.com/2007/Dec/20071227Go!013.asp |title='No Country for Old Men' earns nod from AP critics |accessdate=2007-12-31 |author=David Germain |coauthors=Christy Lemire |date=2007-12-27 |publisher=Associated Press, via Columbia Daily Tribune]
*8th - Michael Sragow, "The Baltimore Sun"

Awards

Wins

* Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor (Frank Langella)
* Runner-up for Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor (Frank Langella)

Nominations

*Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor (Frank Langella)
*Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay (Andrew Wagner and Fred Parnes) and Best Actor (Frank Langella)
*Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor (Frank Langella)
*Satellite Award for Best Actor, Drama (Frank Langella)

References

External links

* [http://www.roadsideattractions.com/Catalog/FilmLibrary.asp?BusinessUnitID={3134273E-EA18-4451-AC2B-40C0CC73ED2D}&ProjectID={ECD239F2-668A-4AEE-858E-E26751721E52} Official site] at Roadside Attractions
*imdb title|id=0758784|title=Starting Out in the Evening
*rotten-tomatoes|id=starting_out_in_the_evening|title=Starting Out in the Evening
*metacritic film|id=startingoutintheevening|title=Starting Out in the Evening
*mojo title|id=startingoutintheevening|title=Starting Out in the Evening
*amg movie|id=1:382520|title=Starting Out in the Evening
* [http://www.apple.com/trailers/independent/startingoutintheevening/trailer/ Trailer] at Apple.com