Title: Among Ravens Directors: Randy Redroad and Russell Friedenberg Starring: Amy Smart, Joshua Leonard, Will McCormack, Victoria Smurfit, Johnny Sequoyah, Christian Campbell, Natalie Imbruglia, Russell Friedenberg, Calum Grant, Castille Landon “I’m lost in all this bullshit – I don’t even know who I am anymore!” screams a character late in “Among Ravens,” and at no point in the 103-minute running time of this dysfunctional-family drama does an audience member feel more of a surge of empathetic identification and crystal-clear truth. Co-directed by Randy Redroad and Russell Friedenberg, this indie film is an achingly pretentious turd-burger, through and through. “Among Ravens” unfolds during an annual July 4 party hosted by Wendy (Amy Smart) and [ Read More ]
The post Among Ravens Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Among Ravens Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/24/2014
- by bsimon
- ShockYa
Among Ravens isn’t nearly as deep as it thinks it is. Centering on a group of friends who reunite at a lakehouse for their annual Fourth of July get-together, it shoots for the wit and profundity of The Big Chill, but as the film progresses, it soon becomes clear that directors Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad are grappling around in the dark for a greater meaning that they lack the ability to articulate. So, instead of providing coherent ideas about the nature of aging, marriage, happiness and family, Among Ravens plays in disappointingly shallow waters, presenting viewers with one-note characters and a borderline nauseating amount of clunky bird metaphors. Unfortunately, just because it sounds profound, that doesn’t mean it actually is.
On hand to provide some of the film’s most aggravatingly artificial lines is Joey (Johnny Sequoyah), a 10-year-old girl whose development literally begins and ends at precocious.
On hand to provide some of the film’s most aggravatingly artificial lines is Joey (Johnny Sequoyah), a 10-year-old girl whose development literally begins and ends at precocious.
- 7/18/2014
- by Isaac Feldberg
- We Got This Covered
Among Ravens wants to be the The Big Chill with Gen-x assholes, a weird ambition.
It's the kind of film in which the setup is conveyed via a pre-dinner toast and couples pick fights at the table. Directed by Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad with the nuanced staging of little kids pushing the heads of dolls together ("Now, you two kiss!"), the film concerns an annoying group of obvious, badly written stereotypes that meets for an annual lake-house douche huddle. To wit: There's a male life coach assembled from 1990s Burning Man clichés, who looks like Buddy Hackett with Jackson Galaxy sideburns, beaded chokers, and a fucking ukulele. ("You just gotta keep it real," he says, in lieu of life advice.)
Saul (co-director Friedenberg) is a Rasputin-r...
It's the kind of film in which the setup is conveyed via a pre-dinner toast and couples pick fights at the table. Directed by Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad with the nuanced staging of little kids pushing the heads of dolls together ("Now, you two kiss!"), the film concerns an annoying group of obvious, badly written stereotypes that meets for an annual lake-house douche huddle. To wit: There's a male life coach assembled from 1990s Burning Man clichés, who looks like Buddy Hackett with Jackson Galaxy sideburns, beaded chokers, and a fucking ukulele. ("You just gotta keep it real," he says, in lieu of life advice.)
Saul (co-director Friedenberg) is a Rasputin-r...
- 7/16/2014
- Village Voice
Sometimes it's through the eyes of a child that the true motivations and feelings of the adults around them are revealed. And that seems to be the case in "Among Ravens," an ensemble dramedy set over the course of a July 4th weekend. Written by Russell Friedenberg, who also-co directs with Randy Redroad, the film stars Amy Smart, Johnny Sequoyah, Joshua Leonard, Natalie Imbruglia and more, with the story following former college radical Wendy and trust fund baby Ellis, whose marriage is not what it appears to be on the outside. And Ellis' daughter Joey witnesses how it unfolds over the holiday weekend, as the couple invites a handful of guests to their home including nature photographer Chad, who bonds with Joey, and has secrets of his own. And below you can see how Joey isn't so easily placated by the metaphors offered by those around her. "Among Ravens" premiered...
- 7/14/2014
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
The new official trailer for the upcoming film, ‘Among Ravens,’ which offers a glimpse into the conflicts between a conflicted couple, has been released. The trailer was distributed in anticipation of the comedy-drama’s release On Demand and in theaters on July 18 by Gravitas Ventures. ‘Among Ravens’ was directed by Randy Redroad and Russell Friedenberg, who also wrote the script for the comedy-drama. The film stars Amy Smart, Johnny Sequoyah, Joshua Leonard, Victoria Smurfit, Natalie Imbruglia, Christian Campbell, Will McCormack, Russell Friedenberg and Castille Landon. Gravitas Ventures has released the following synopsis for ‘Among Ravens’: An annual 4th of July weekend hosted by troubled couple Wendy (Smart) and Ellis (Leonard) [ Read More ]
The post Amy Smart’s Comedy-Drama Among Ravens Unleashes Official New Trailer appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Amy Smart’s Comedy-Drama Among Ravens Unleashes Official New Trailer appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 6/20/2014
- by Karen Benardello
- ShockYa
The distributor has acquired North American rights to Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad’s dramedy starring Johnny Sequoyah, Amy Smart and Victoria Smurfit.
Joshua Leonard, Natalie Imbruglia, Christian Campbell, Will McCormack and Friedenberg round out the cast.
Among Ravens will open theatrically and on VOD day-and-date on July 18 following its world premiere at the Nantucket Film Festival and as opening night at Galway.
Inspired by real events, the film follows events at a combustible July Fourth family get-together as seen through the eyes of a 10-year-old girl.
The Ass Backwards trio of Heather Rae, Teddy Grennan and Dori Sperko produced. Rae brokered the deal on behalf of the filmmakers with Melanie Miller for Gravitas...
Joshua Leonard, Natalie Imbruglia, Christian Campbell, Will McCormack and Friedenberg round out the cast.
Among Ravens will open theatrically and on VOD day-and-date on July 18 following its world premiere at the Nantucket Film Festival and as opening night at Galway.
Inspired by real events, the film follows events at a combustible July Fourth family get-together as seen through the eyes of a 10-year-old girl.
The Ass Backwards trio of Heather Rae, Teddy Grennan and Dori Sperko produced. Rae brokered the deal on behalf of the filmmakers with Melanie Miller for Gravitas...
- 6/5/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American rights to Russel Friedenberg and Randy Redroad's dramedy "Among Ravens," starring Johnny Sequoyah, Amy Smart and Joshua Leonard. The film world premieres at the Nantucket Film Festival shortly and will open in select theaters and be available to view on video-on-demand platforms beginning on July 18. Here's the synopsis per Gravitas: Inspired by real events, Among Ravens follows the intertwined lives of a group of friends and family as seen through the eyes of 10-year old Joey (Sequoyah). When the group gathers for their annual 4th of July holiday weekend in Idaho, her mom (Smart), step-father (Leonard) and father (Friedenberg), along with a combustible mix of friends and entanglements, secrets begin to unravel and have an impact on young Joey. "'Among Ravens' is an exploration of truth, friendship and the modern day family as seen through the eyes of a young girl magnificently played by Johnny,...
- 6/5/2014
- by Nigel M Smith
- Indiewire
Gravitas Ventures has acquired North American distribution rights to indie dramedy Among Ravens, featuring an ensemble cast including Amy Smart, Joshua Leonard, Christian Campbell, Russell Friedenberg, Victoria Smurfit, Natalie Imbruglia, Will McCormack and Johnny Sequoyah. The film, which will have its world premiere at the Nantucket Film Festival, will be released in theaters and on demand on July 18. Photos: Behind-the-Scenes of New York's New Indie Scene Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad directed Among Ravens, which is inspired by real events and follows the intertwined lives of a group of friends and family as seen through the eyes
read more...
read more...
- 6/5/2014
- by Rebecca Ford
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
“In Production” is a regular column which focuses on notable independent films that are currently shooting.
Daniel Radcliffe is stuck in the friend zone in Michael Dowse’s The F Word. Resuming his post-Harry Potter career, Radcliffe stars alongside Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks) in this romantic comedy about a young man who meets the love of his life only to discover that she is already spoken for — not the most uncommon circumstance. The cast also includes Rafe Spall (Prometheus), Megan Park (ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager) and the terrific Adam Driver (HBO’s Girls). Written by Elan Mastai (The Samaritan), The F Word is currently filming in Toronto, Canada, with David Gross (The Goon) producing and Entertainment One overseeing the project.
A Fourth of July celebration turns into an absolute nightmare in Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad’s dark comedy An Unkindness of Ravens. Currently shooting in Idaho,...
Daniel Radcliffe is stuck in the friend zone in Michael Dowse’s The F Word. Resuming his post-Harry Potter career, Radcliffe stars alongside Zoe Kazan (Ruby Sparks) in this romantic comedy about a young man who meets the love of his life only to discover that she is already spoken for — not the most uncommon circumstance. The cast also includes Rafe Spall (Prometheus), Megan Park (ABC Family’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager) and the terrific Adam Driver (HBO’s Girls). Written by Elan Mastai (The Samaritan), The F Word is currently filming in Toronto, Canada, with David Gross (The Goon) producing and Entertainment One overseeing the project.
A Fourth of July celebration turns into an absolute nightmare in Russell Friedenberg and Randy Redroad’s dark comedy An Unkindness of Ravens. Currently shooting in Idaho,...
- 8/20/2012
- by Byron Camacho
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The Hollywood Reporter has informed us that Amy Smart and Joshua Leonard will be starring in the upcoming dark comedy, An Unkindness of Ravens. The project is written by Russell Friedenberg, with Randy Redroad taking lead as director. The comedy “concerns a group of friends whose lives are changed by their encounter with a strange nature photographer.” The pair will be playing a “troubled married couple hosting a group of friends at a Fourth of July weekend reunion.” Will McCormack will be playing the mysterious photographer, with Christian Campbell, Friedenberg, Victoria Smurfit rounding out the cast of friends. Natalie Imbruglia (yes, she acts too!), Calum Grant and Castille Landon have also been cast in various roles as well.
Although Smart and Leonard – who got his start in The Blair Witch Project – have had successful careers the past few years, I can’t really say that their presence in this film does little to excite.
Although Smart and Leonard – who got his start in The Blair Witch Project – have had successful careers the past few years, I can’t really say that their presence in this film does little to excite.
- 8/10/2012
- by jpraup@gmail.com (thefilmstage.com)
- The Film Stage
Kick Ass 2
Yancy Butler ("Witchblade," "Drop Zone") will reprise her role as the mother to Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s villainous Red Mist character in Jeff Wadlow's "Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Walls" at Marv Films and Universal Pictures.
Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz are reprising their roles of Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl respectively. Shooting kicks off in September in Toronto and New York. [Source: Heat Vision]
Milo
Jonathan Daniel Brown ("Project X") has joined the cast of Jacob Vaughan's horror comedy "Milo" at New Artists Alliance in the role of an intern who works for the main character played by Ken Marino. Gillian Jacobs and Peter Stormare also star.
Marino stars as a man with intense stomach trouble who learns to his horror that he has a demon living in his intestines. When he gives it permission to come out during a therapy session, the man names it Milo and tries to live a life in which he,...
Yancy Butler ("Witchblade," "Drop Zone") will reprise her role as the mother to Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s villainous Red Mist character in Jeff Wadlow's "Kick-Ass 2: Balls to the Walls" at Marv Films and Universal Pictures.
Aaron Johnson and Chloe Moretz are reprising their roles of Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl respectively. Shooting kicks off in September in Toronto and New York. [Source: Heat Vision]
Milo
Jonathan Daniel Brown ("Project X") has joined the cast of Jacob Vaughan's horror comedy "Milo" at New Artists Alliance in the role of an intern who works for the main character played by Ken Marino. Gillian Jacobs and Peter Stormare also star.
Marino stars as a man with intense stomach trouble who learns to his horror that he has a demon living in his intestines. When he gives it permission to come out during a therapy session, the man names it Milo and tries to live a life in which he,...
- 8/10/2012
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Amy Smart and Joshua Leonard are starring in the dark comedy An Unkindness of Ravens, which has begun filming on location in Idaho. Written by Russell Friedenberg, who is directing with Randy Redroad, the film concerns a group of friends whose lives are changed by their encounter with a strange nature photographer. Photos: Emmys 2012: Comedy Showrunners Roundtable Smart and Leonard play a troubled married couple hosting a group of friends at a Fourth of July weekend reunion. Will McCormack appears as the photographer. Cast as the friends are Christian Campbell, Friedenberg and Victoria Smurfit, with Natalie Imbruglia, Calum Grant
read more...
read more...
- 8/9/2012
- by Gregg Kilday
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.