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National Anthem (2023 film)

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National Anthem
Theatrical release poster
Directed byLuke Gilford
Written by
  • David Largman Murray
  • Kevin Best
  • Luke Gilford
Produced by
  • Mickey Liddell
  • Pete Shilaimon
  • Kevin Garland
  • Gina Marcheschi
  • Jasmine Daghighian
Starring
CinematographyKatelin Arizmendi
Edited by
  • Amber Bansak
  • Josh Schaeffer
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byVariance Films
Release dates
  • March 10, 2023 (2023-03-10) (SXSW)
  • September 7, 2023 (2023-09-07) (TIFF)
  • July 12, 2024 (2024-07-12) (U.S.)
Running time
99 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$268,183[2]

National Anthem is a 2023 American drama film directed by Luke Gilford, in his debut feature-length picture. Gilford co-wrote the screenplay with David Largman Murray and Kevin Best. The film stars Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Mason Alexander Park, Rene Rosado, and Robyn Lively.

National Anthem premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival on March 10, 2023.[1] It was released on July 12, 2024, by Variance Films. The film received positive reviews, with critics praising the direction, screenplay, cinematography, and performances of its cast (particularly Plummer and Lindley).

Synopsis

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Dylan, a 21-year-old who lives in rural New Mexico and works as a construction worker to help support his little brother and alcoholic mother, joins a community of queer ranchers and rodeo performers.[1][3][4]

Cast

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Production

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National Anthem was directed by Luke Gilford, marking his feature film debut. The screenplay was co-written by Gilford, David Largman Murray, and Kevin Best and was inspired by Gilford's monograph titled National Anthem: America's Queer Rodeo.[5]

Release

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National Anthem premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival on March 10, 2023.[1] The film had its international premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023.[6][7] In February 2024, it was announced that Variance Films would distribute the film, with a July 12, 2024, release.[8] The film had its first European premiere in London at the 32nd Raindance Film Festival in June 2024.[9]

Reception

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Critical response

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Charlie Plummer received critical acclaim for his performance as Dylan.[5][9][10][11][12]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 59 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.5/10. The website's consensus reads: "A soulful exploration of sexual fluidity with a vivid Americana backdrop, National Anthem earns a salute."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[14]

Reviewing the film for RogerEbert.com, following its SXSW premiere, Brian Tallerico described the film as "both progressive and old-fashioned at the same time" and wrote, "Gilford has a strong eye—he captures the wide-open spaces of this beautiful country with a blend of awe and grace—but it's his work with performers and characters that announces a major talent." He also highlighted the performances of Plummer, Lindley, and Park as the standouts.[10] Deadline Hollywood's Damon Wise said that the film presents "a sweetness and simplicity to its philosophy of see-and-be-seen that will likely make this an easy festival crowd-pleaser."[15] Matthew Jacobs, writing for Vulture, compared the film to The Rider, The Power of the Dog, and The Sisters Brothers, particularly in "dissecting the masculinity [which is] often deemed inherent to the Western genre's landscapes," and praised the directing, cinematography, soundtrack, and Plummer's performance.[16] He also called the film "a stunning start to [Gilford's] film career."[17]

Writing for Paste, Aurora Amidon gave the film a score of 8.5 out of 10, writing that "the beauty of National Anthem is that it effortlessly challenges all expectations and preconceived notions" and lauding the directing, screenplay, and performances of Plummer and Lindley.[11] Erin Brady of /Film gave it a score of 8 out of 10 and named it "a moving and well-crafted debut." She also praised the cinematography, screenplay, and performances of Plummer and Lindley and called Gilford "a powerful voice in modern queer art."[18] Letterboxd included the film in its "Best of SXSW 2023" list and wrote, "This is an all-around beautiful film, expanding on Gilford's collection of photographs of the same name. For that book, Gilford spent three years documenting the queer rodeo subculture. Those beautiful people also appear here alongside stars Charlie Plummer and Eve Lindley, in dreamy sequences that highlight the beauty of living as your full, authentic self."[19]

Accolades

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Award Date of ceremony Category Nominee(s) Result Ref.
Frameline Film Festival June 19–29, 2024 Outstanding First Feature Luke Gilford Won [20]
Raindance Film Festival June 19–28, 2024 Best Debut Director Won [21]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "National Anthem". SXSW. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  2. ^ "National Anthem". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved August 30, 2024.Edit this at Wikidata
  3. ^ Galuppo, Mia (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Sets Donald Glover Show 'Swarm', Apple 'Tetris' Movie for Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  4. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Second Wave Includes UAR's 'Bottoms', Donald Glover's 'Swarm' Series, Michelle Yeoh's 'American Born Chinese' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Rooney, David (March 11, 2023). "'National Anthem' Review: Charlie Plummer Leads a Tender and Timely Rural Queer Awakening Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  6. ^ "Toronto International Film Festival shines spotlight on the unmissable 2023 Centrepiece programme". TIFF. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "National Anthem". TIFF. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Grobar, Matt (February 7, 2024). "LD Entertainment Partners With Variance Films On Theatrical Release Of Luke Gilford's SXSW-Premiering Queer Rancher Pic National Anthem". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Ramachandran, Naman (May 20, 2024). "Hunter Schafer's 'Cuckoo,' Charlie Plummer's 'National Anthem' to Bookend Raindance as Festival Moves Up to Summer From Fall". Variety. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Tallerico, Brian (March 16, 2023). "SXSW 2023: National Anthem, Molli and Max in the Future, Northern Comfort". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Amidon, Aurora (March 13, 2023). "National Anthem is a Luscious, Breathtaking Take on Americana". Paste. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  12. ^ Lattanzio, Ryan (July 12, 2024). "'National Anthem' Review: Charlie Plummer Has a Sexual Awakening in a Horny Queer Western That's a Feast for the Senses". IndieWire. Retrieved July 25, 2024.
  13. ^ "National Anthem". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 24, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  14. ^ "National Anthem". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
  15. ^ Wise, Damon (March 11, 2023). "'National Anthem' Review: Luke Gilford's Light, Gender-Fluid Rites-Of-Passage Movie Blazes A Mild Trail Through The Wild West". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  16. ^ Jacobs, Matthew (March 13, 2023). "National Anthem, the Queer Rodeo Drama Making SXSW Swoon". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  17. ^ Jacobs, Matthew (March 20, 2023). "15 Movies We Loved at SXSW". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  18. ^ Brady, Erin (March 14, 2023). "National Anthem Review: Classic Americana Is Turned On Its Head In Powerful Queer Ballad". /Film. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  19. ^ "Best of SXSW 2023". Letterboxd. March 28, 2023. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
  20. ^ Tangcay, Jazz (July 2, 2024). "Frameline Film Festival Announces 2024 Winners: 'National Anthem' and 'Fragments of a Life Loved' Take Top Honors". Variety. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  21. ^ "Awards Ceremony 2024". Raindance Film Festival. June 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
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