Collaborator is a 2011 Americandrama film written and directed byMartin Donovan. The film had its world premiere on July 4, 2011, at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.[2] The film stars Donovan and the two-timeEmmy-nomineeDavid Morse, withOlivia Williams,Melissa Auf der Maur,Katherine Helmond andEileen Ryan in supporting roles
| Collaborator | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Martin Donovan |
| Written by | Martin Donovan |
| Produced by | Julien Favre Luca Matrundola Pascal Vaguelsy Ted Hope |
| Starring | Martin Donovan David Morse Olivia Williams Melissa Auf der Maur Katherine Helmond Eileen Ryan |
| Cinematography | Julie Kirkwood |
| Edited by | Karen Porter |
| Music by | Manels Favre |
Production companies | |
| Distributed by | Tribeca Film (United States) Entertainment One (International)[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Plot
editRobert Longfellow, a once-successful playwright, is taken hostage at gunpoint by anex-con neighbor, Gus, while on a routine visit to his childhood home. Longfellow has avoided Gus since he was a boy. As the drama unfolds, social status, celebrity, politics, and the threat of violence converge, leaving the playwright simultaneously shattered and inspired.
Cast
edit- Martin Donovan as Robert Longfellow
- David Morse as Gus
- Olivia Williams as Emma Stiles
- Melissa Auf der Maur as Alice Longfellow
- Katherine Helmond as Irene Longfellow
- Eileen Ryan as Betty
- Julian Richings as Maurice LeFont
Awards and nominations
edit- 46thKarlovy Vary International Film Festival (2011)
- 1st Canadian Screen Awards (2013)
- Nominated:Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role — David Morse[4]
Production
editDViant Films andThis Is That Productions producedCollaborator. The film's score was composed by Manels Favre. The soundtrack also includes a Brahms cover performed byPJ Harvey. Filming took place inLos Angeles andSault Ste. Marie, Ontario,Canada.
Reception
editAs of January 2023[update], the film has a 73% rating onRotten Tomatoes from 26 reviews.[5]
TheNew York Times found it "earnest" and "wooden", like a one-act play "in which any visceral tension is secondary to topical debates by a captor and his prisoner".[6] TheLos Angeles Times found it "disappointing" and "somber", failing to generate any tension from its thriller elements.[7]
The Globe and Mail awarded it 2.5/5 and Adam Litovitz criticised some stagy elements but praised the film as a study of character.[8] TheNew York Post praised the performances, saying "both characters are riveting".[9]
References
edit- ^Adams, Mark (5 July 2011)."Collaborator".Screen International. Retrieved7 November 2021.
- ^abc"Prizes of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival 2011". July 9, 2011.
- ^ab"'Restoration' wins at Karlovy Vary".Variety. RetrievedApril 4, 2013.
- ^"Canadian Screen Award nominations".CBC News. January 15, 2013. RetrievedOctober 20, 2017.
- ^"Collaborator".Rotten Tomatoes. RetrievedJanuary 23, 2013.
- ^Holden, Steven (July 5, 2012)."Collaborator (review)".New York Times.
- ^Goldstein, Gary (July 19, 2012)."Collaborator (Review)".Los Angeles Times. RetrievedOctober 22, 2013.
- ^Litovitz, Adam (July 13, 2012)."A dark buddy tale for the mancession".The Globe and Mail. RetrievedOctober 22, 2013.
- ^Smith Nehme, Farran (July 6, 2012)."Collaborator".New York Post. RetrievedOctober 22, 2013.