"You just moved to another town and pretend to be somebody you're not?" Sony Pictures Ent. has revealed an official trailer for a indie film titled Downtown Owl, set for a direct-to-vod / digital release later this April. This originally premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Film Festival last year and marks the directorial debut of the two actors Hamish Linklater & Lily Rabe. "Getting away from home to try and find it." Based on the novel of the same name by Chuck Klosterman, Downtown Owl is a sparkle dark Reagan Era comedy set in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota in the leading days up to the region's most intense whiteout blizzard in a century in Minnesota. Lily Rabe stars as Julia, who escapes to this Reagan-era town of Owl for a temporary high school teaching job. Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, Henry Golding, August Blanco Rosenstein, Jack Dylan Grazer, Arianna Jaffier, and...
- 3/26/2024
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
It might sound like a backhanded compliment, but Downtown Owl feels more like a pilot than a feature film and may yet yield a series. In today’s market, that could work out just fine for directors Hamish Linklater and Lily Rabe, who, after a choppy start, finesse Chuck Klosterman’s digressive 2007 novel into a thoughtful, broad-canvas ensemble piece. T Bone Burnett helps nail things down with an eclectic alt-country score and soundtrack, infused with the music and spirit of Elvis Costello, but it’s Rabe that holds it all together onscreen with a controlled yet still wildly uninhibited performance.
After a flashforward to a white-out blizzard in January 1984, the action winds back nine months to the summer of 1983, which is when English teacher Julia Rabia (Rabe) swaps urban Milwaukee for the backwater of Owl, North Dakota, to take up a post in a remote school on the recommendation of her father.
After a flashforward to a white-out blizzard in January 1984, the action winds back nine months to the summer of 1983, which is when English teacher Julia Rabia (Rabe) swaps urban Milwaukee for the backwater of Owl, North Dakota, to take up a post in a remote school on the recommendation of her father.
- 6/9/2023
- by Damon Wise
- Deadline Film + TV
Some movies — many movies — are less than the sum of their parts. Downtown Owl, the story of a newbie teacher’s flailing and drinking and heartfelt, awkward encounters in a fictional North Dakota town, has the distinction of being precisely the sum of its parts. That’s not a knock; those ingredients are never less than engaging, driven by a playful and dynamic cinematic sensibility and a strong cast, Lily Rabe holding the center with vibrant luminosity and comic chops to spare. Rabe also steers the movie’s helm, alongside her life partner and fellow actor Hamish Linklater, and the tyro directors manage to thread a tricky needle with their first feature, navigating the chasm and the overlap between agitated and quiet, between cartoon brightness and angst.
The source material, the 2008 novel of the same name by essayist Chuck Klosterman, is not so much a riveting narrative as a vivid...
The source material, the 2008 novel of the same name by essayist Chuck Klosterman, is not so much a riveting narrative as a vivid...
- 6/9/2023
- by Sheri Linden
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
For all involved, prolific author and cultural critic Chuck Klosterman’s 2008 book “Downtown Owl” sets the stage for a number of firsts. For starters, it’s Klosterman’s earliest fiction novel and is the source at the heart of Lily Rabe (“The Tender Bar”) and Hamish Linklater’s (“Midnight Mass”) joint directorial debut which just premiered at the Tribeca Festival.
If only the freshness associated with all these firsts was felt in the film by Rabe and Linklater, who are both creative collaborators and real-life partners. Instead, something feels stale, strange and out-of-focus right at the start of “Downtown Owl,” a cold and aimless 91-minute feature that makes its compact runtime feel anything but, while broadly navigating its small town rural tale with little insight and even less purpose.
The set-up of the script is promising enough, introducing us to the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota (Klosterman’s home...
If only the freshness associated with all these firsts was felt in the film by Rabe and Linklater, who are both creative collaborators and real-life partners. Instead, something feels stale, strange and out-of-focus right at the start of “Downtown Owl,” a cold and aimless 91-minute feature that makes its compact runtime feel anything but, while broadly navigating its small town rural tale with little insight and even less purpose.
The set-up of the script is promising enough, introducing us to the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota (Klosterman’s home...
- 6/9/2023
- by Tomris Laffly
- The Wrap
For more than 20 years, the Tribeca Festival has given up-and-coming directors a star-studded New York City showcase. This year, though, the fest is offering well-known actors a chance to show up as directors. Michael Shannon, David Duchovny, Chelsea Peretti, Jennifer Esposito, John Slattery, and partners Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater all directed movies that will world premiere there, with Rabe and Linklater, Shannon, Peretti and Esposito making their feature directorial debuts.
In addition to those selections, Tribeca will feature the North American and New York premieres, respectively, of Steve Buscemi’s The Listener, which had its world premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, and Randall Park’s Shortcomings, which debuted at Sundance. And the festival will close with a 30th anniversary screening of A Bronx Tale, the directorial debut of Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro.
While Tribeca didn’t set out to showcase all these actor-directed films, festival director and...
In addition to those selections, Tribeca will feature the North American and New York premieres, respectively, of Steve Buscemi’s The Listener, which had its world premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival, and Randall Park’s Shortcomings, which debuted at Sundance. And the festival will close with a 30th anniversary screening of A Bronx Tale, the directorial debut of Tribeca co-founder Robert De Niro.
While Tribeca didn’t set out to showcase all these actor-directed films, festival director and...
- 6/5/2023
- by Hilary Lewis
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Henry Golding (Crazy Rich Asians) has signed on for a role in the drama Downtown Owl, from Sony Pictures’ Stage 6 Films, Deadline can confirmed. He’s set to star alongside previously announced cast members including Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer, August Blanco Rosenstein and Lily Rabe.
The feature directorial debut of Rabe and Hamish Linklater is based on Chuck Klosterman’s New York Times bestselling novel of the same name. It’s set somewhere in rural North Dakota in 1983, in the fictional town called Owl. There, you won’t find cable or pop culture, but you will find a downtown with a first-rate Chevrolet dealership, three bars and a new high school English teacher whose presence upends the lives of locals, just in time for a white-out blizzard for the ages.
Linklater wrote the script for the project, which was part of the Sundance Institute Creative Producing Summit and Talent Forum.
The feature directorial debut of Rabe and Hamish Linklater is based on Chuck Klosterman’s New York Times bestselling novel of the same name. It’s set somewhere in rural North Dakota in 1983, in the fictional town called Owl. There, you won’t find cable or pop culture, but you will find a downtown with a first-rate Chevrolet dealership, three bars and a new high school English teacher whose presence upends the lives of locals, just in time for a white-out blizzard for the ages.
Linklater wrote the script for the project, which was part of the Sundance Institute Creative Producing Summit and Talent Forum.
- 4/14/2022
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Henry Golding has joined the cast of the adaptation of Chuck Klosterman’s Downtown Owl, the directorial debut of Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater.
The project, which is currently filming in Minnesota, comes from Sony’s Stage 6 Films label. Golding will appear alongside Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer and August Blanco Rosenstein, as well as Rabe.
Linklater penned the screenplay based on Klosterman’s New York Times best-selling novel, which takes place in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota, which is semi-isolated from the 1980s pop culture that surrounds it. The story follows three residents — an old man who spends his afternoons reminiscing in the local coffee shop, a depressed high school backup quarterback and a new English teacher at the local high school — whose lives, along with those of the town’s other residents, are upended by a whiteout blizzard.
Bettina Barrow and Rabe...
The project, which is currently filming in Minnesota, comes from Sony’s Stage 6 Films label. Golding will appear alongside Ed Harris, Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer and August Blanco Rosenstein, as well as Rabe.
Linklater penned the screenplay based on Klosterman’s New York Times best-selling novel, which takes place in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota, which is semi-isolated from the 1980s pop culture that surrounds it. The story follows three residents — an old man who spends his afternoons reminiscing in the local coffee shop, a depressed high school backup quarterback and a new English teacher at the local high school — whose lives, along with those of the town’s other residents, are upended by a whiteout blizzard.
Bettina Barrow and Rabe...
- 4/14/2022
- by Mia Galuppo
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, and Jack Dylan Grazer have joined the cast for the upcoming feature at Sony Pictures, ‘Downtown Owl.’
Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, and August Blanco Rosenstein have also joined the film adaptation of Chuck Klosterman’s story.
Set somewhere in rural North Dakota in 1983 is the fictional town called Owl where you won’t find cable or pop culture, but you will find downtown with a first-rate Chevrolet dealership, three bars and a new high school English teacher whose presence upends the lives of locals just in time for a white-out blizzard for the ages.
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Rabe will also be directing the pic with long-time collaborator Hamish Linklater, joining her as co-director. Richard Linklater has also adapted the screenplay. The film will be produced by Bettina Barrow and Rabe of Kill Claudio Productions, Rebecca Green and Linklater.
Lily Rabe, Ed Harris, and August Blanco Rosenstein have also joined the film adaptation of Chuck Klosterman’s story.
Set somewhere in rural North Dakota in 1983 is the fictional town called Owl where you won’t find cable or pop culture, but you will find downtown with a first-rate Chevrolet dealership, three bars and a new high school English teacher whose presence upends the lives of locals just in time for a white-out blizzard for the ages.
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Rabe will also be directing the pic with long-time collaborator Hamish Linklater, joining her as co-director. Richard Linklater has also adapted the screenplay. The film will be produced by Bettina Barrow and Rabe of Kill Claudio Productions, Rebecca Green and Linklater.
- 4/14/2022
- by Zehra Phelan
- HeyUGuys.co.uk
Exclusive: Sony Pictures has set an all-star cast for its adaptation of Chuck Klosterman’s Downtown Owl with Lily Rabe, Academy Award nominee Ed Harris , Vanessa Hudgens, Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer and August Blanco Rosenstein. Rabe will also be directing the pic with long-time collaborator Hamish Linklater, joining her as co-director. Linklater, who most recently starred in Midnight Mass, also adapted the screenplay. T Bone Burnett is doing the music.
The film was part of the Sundance Institute Creative Producing Summit and Talent Forum and will be produced by Bettina Barrow and Rabe of Kill Claudio Productions, Rebecca Green and Linklater. Laura Rister is exec producing as well as Lee Broda. Tom McLeod is co-executive producer. The pic is currently in production in Minnesota.
Three Point Capital is financing the pic. Initial artist support funding provided by Esme Grace Media.
The story is set somewhere in rural North Dakota...
The film was part of the Sundance Institute Creative Producing Summit and Talent Forum and will be produced by Bettina Barrow and Rabe of Kill Claudio Productions, Rebecca Green and Linklater. Laura Rister is exec producing as well as Lee Broda. Tom McLeod is co-executive producer. The pic is currently in production in Minnesota.
Three Point Capital is financing the pic. Initial artist support funding provided by Esme Grace Media.
The story is set somewhere in rural North Dakota...
- 4/13/2022
- by Justin Kroll
- Deadline Film + TV
It only takes nine episodes for Netflix's Grand Army to completely hook you, but once it's over, you'll be hungry for more. The drama, which premiered on the streaming site on Oct. 16, follows a group of New York City teenagers who attend the highly competitive public high school in Brooklyn known as Grand Army. The first season tackles systemic racism, sexual assault, international adoption, sexuality, feminism, and more as the students fight to succeed, survive, and control their future in an ever-changing world.
Loosely based on Slut: The Play, written by showrunner and theater educator Katie Cappiello, Grand Army is reminiscent of shows like Euphoria and Degrassi, delving deep into the world of the new generation and all the ways they can hurt themselves and each other as they try to make sense of the world around them. In the final episodes of the season, we witness students stage a sit-in against in-school racism,...
Loosely based on Slut: The Play, written by showrunner and theater educator Katie Cappiello, Grand Army is reminiscent of shows like Euphoria and Degrassi, delving deep into the world of the new generation and all the ways they can hurt themselves and each other as they try to make sense of the world around them. In the final episodes of the season, we witness students stage a sit-in against in-school racism,...
- 10/19/2020
- by Mekishana Pierre
- Popsugar.com
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