Heights is a 2005 American drama film directed by Chris Terrio and written by Amy Fox, based on her 2001 stage play of the same name. It follows a pivotal twenty-four hours in the interconnected lives of five New Yorkers.[1] It stars Elizabeth Banks, James Marsden, Glenn Close, Jesse Bradford, and John Light. Numerous prominent actors such as Eric Bogosian, George Segal, and Isabella Rossellini appear in supporting roles.
Heights | |
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Directed by | Chris Terrio |
Screenplay by | Amy Fox |
Based on | Heights by Amy Fox |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Jim Denault |
Edited by | Sloane Klevin |
Music by |
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Production company | |
Distributed by | Sony Pictures Classics |
Release dates |
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Running time | 93 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $1.3 million |
Heights was produced by Merchant Ivory Productions. It premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2005, and received a limited theatrical release in the United States on June 17, 2005, through Sony Pictures Classics.
Plot
editOver the course of 24 hours, a group of New Yorkers, whose lives are interconnected, must make pivotal decisions about their relationships. Most notably, Isabel, a photographer, is having second thoughts about her engagement to Jonathan, while her award-winning actress mother Diana suspects that her husband is having an affair and thus questions the open nature of her marriage.
Cast
edit- Glenn Close - Diana Lee
- Elizabeth Banks - Isabel Lee
- James Marsden - Jonathan Kestler
- Jesse Bradford - Alec Lochka
- John Light - Peter Cole
- Rufus Wainwright - Jeremy
- Denis O'Hare - Andrew
- Eric Bogosian - Henry
- George Segal - Rabbi Mendel
- Andrew Howard - Ian
- Isabella Rossellini - Liz
- Matthew Davis - Mark
- Michael Murphy - Jesse
- Chandler Williams - Juilliard Macbeth
- Bess Wohl - Juilliard Lady Macbeth
- Thomas Lennon - Marshall
- Jim Parsons - Oliver
- Angel Desai - Laura
Release
editIn January 2004, Sony Pictures Classics acquired distribution rights to the film for North and Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, Scandinavia and Spain.[2] The film premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2005, before receiving a limited theatrical release on June 17.
Reception
editCritical response
editOn the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 63% of 104 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "Yet another movie about relationships in the Big Apple, Heights is never dull thanks to a competent cast."[3] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 59 out of 100, based on 25 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[4] Roger Ebert gave the film a positive review, stating that "its chief pleasure comes through simple voyeurism. It is entertaining to see the lives of complex people become brutally simple all of a sudden.[5] Variety noted the quality of the ensemble acting.[6]
Box office
editHeights grossed $1.2 million in the United States and Canada, and $0.1 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $1.3 million.[7]
Awards
editThe film received an award from the Casting Society of America for Best Independent Feature Film Casting (with the award going to James Calleri).
References
edit- ^ Dargis, Manohla (June 17, 2005). "A Long Day for Brooding and Yearning in the City". The New York Times.
- ^ Dunkley, Cathy; Rooney, David (21 January 2004). "SPC hits 'Heights' rights". Variety. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "Heights". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ "Heights". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
- ^ Ebert, Roger (June 23, 2005). "'Heights' rises five stories".
- ^ Nesselson, Lisa (January 25, 2005). "Heights".
- ^ "Heights". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 2023-02-26.
External links
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