The Boys in the Boat
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGeorge Clooney
Screenplay byMark L. Smith
Based onThe Boys in the Boat
by Daniel James Brown
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMartin Ruhe
Edited byTanya M. Swerling
Music byAlexandre Desplat[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon MGM Studios Distribution[2]
Release dates
  • December 7, 2023 (2023-12-07) (SIFF Cinema Downtown)
  • December 25, 2023 (2023-12-25) (United States)
Running time
124 minutes[3]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$40 million[4]
Box office$40.4 million[5][6]

The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 American biographical sports drama film produced and directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by Mark L. Smith, based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film follows the University of Washington rowing team, and their quest to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics. It stars Callum Turner as rower Joe Rantz and Joel Edgerton as coach Al Ulbrickson Sr..

The Boys in the Boat had its world premiere in Los Angeles on December 11, 2023, and was theatrically released by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution in the United States on December 25. It has grossed $40 million and received mixed reviews from critics.

Plot

The non-fiction novel describes the University of Washington crew that represented the United States in the men's eight at the 1936 Summer Olympic games in Berlin, including the coaches, boatbuilder George Pocock, and the working class student athletes involved, especially rower Joe Rantz, who was effectively abandoned by his family and left to fend for himself at a young age.[7]

Cast

The film stars Callum Turner and Joel Edgerton as Joe Rantz and Al Ulbrickson.

Production

Director and co-producer George Clooney (left) and co-producer Grant Heslov

On March 2011, The Weinstein Company preemptively acquired the film adaptation rights to the book by Daniel James Brown with Kenneth Branagh set to direct and Donna Gigliotti and Judy Hofflund producing.[15][16] In October 2018, Lantern Entertainment, which acquired The Weinstein Company's assets, contracted with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures to distribute the film worldwide.[17] In March 2020, it was announced that George Clooney would direct and produce with Grant Heslov and Mark L. Smith would write the script.[7]

In November 2021, it was announced that Callum Turner would portray Joe Rantz.[8] In February 2022, additional casting was announced, with Joel Edgerton and Hadley Robinson amongst the additions.[10] Courtney Henggeler and James Wolk would join in March,[9][13] and Chris Diamantopoulos would join in April.[14]

Filming began in March 2022,[18] and was due to take place at Winnersh Film Studios in Berkshire, as well as in Los Angeles and Berlin.[19] The 1936 Summer Olympics and scenes around the University of Washington boathouse were filmed on the Cleveland Lakes in the Cotswold Water Park near Swindon (UK), with additional scenes filmed at Molesey Boat Club.[20][21] Members of various boat clubs in the area, such as, St Hugh's Boat Club, Merton College Boat Club, The Queen's College Boat Club, Walbrook Rowing Club and Oriel College Boat Club from the University of Oxford, were recruited as rowers for various national teams in the Olympics.

Music

Release

The Boys in the Boat was first screened at the reopened SIFF Cinema Downtown in Seattle on December 7, 2023.[22] The screening was attended by a number of students from Sequim, Washington, where Joe Rantz was from.[23] This was followed by the film's official world premiere at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Los Angeles on December 11, 2023.[24]

It was released by Amazon MGM Studios on December 25, 2023.[25] In the United Kingdom, it was released by Warner Bros. Pictures on January 12, 2024.[3]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, The Boys in the Boat was released alongside Ferrari and The Color Purple, and was projected to gross $2–3 million from 2,557 theaters on its first day.[26] It ended up making $5.7 million, finishing fourth at the box office.[27] The following weekend the film made $8.3 million, finishing sixth at the box office and totaling $21.9 million over its first week of release.[4] In the film's second weekend it made $6 million, finishing sixth.[28]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 57% of 138 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.9/10. The website's consensus reads: "The Boys in the Boat tells its inspirational true story with heart and solid craftsmanship, but director George Clooney's solidly traditional approach prevents it from leaving much of an impact."[29] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100, based on 34 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[30] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported 86% filmgoers gave it a positive score.[27]

Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote, "At times The Boys in the Boat could have used more of an edge. But like the Huskies, it gets the job done, stumbling sometimes but mostly assured."[31] Bilge Ebiri of Vulture called the film "an unshowy but slick underdog sports picture, fluidly told and elegantly mounted."[32] The Messenger's Jordan Hoffman gave the film a score of 6.2/10, writing, "'It's a bit old fashioned' is the primary takeaway most have from The Boys in the Boat, and what that really means is low-stakes, relaxing and predictable, but also basically good."[33]

CNN's Brian Lowry wrote, "the movie can't really escape the whirlpool-like drag of its earnest familiarity, paddling around in a middle lane that doesn't rival the most stirring practitioners of this well-worn genre."[34] The Guardian's Peter Bradshaw gave the film 2/5 stars, writing, "Clooney is capable of putting much more on the scoreboard; this feels like an animatronic museum display."[35]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Alexandre Desplat Scoring George Clooney's 'The Boys in the Boat'". Film Music Reporter. October 2, 2023.
  2. ↑ Whittock, Jesse (May 8, 2023). "Amazon MGM Studios Distribution To Launch At LA Screenings". Deadline. Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "The Boys in the Boat (12A)". British Board of Film Classification. November 15, 2023. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  4. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 30, 2023). "'Aquaman 2', 'Wonka' & More Propel Christmas Week Box Office To $281M, +14% Over 2022". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  5. ↑ "The Boys in the Boat (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  6. ↑ "The Boys in the Boat — Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  7. 1 2 "Clooney set to direct Berlin Olympics true life drama". RTÉ. March 10, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  8. 1 2 Kroll, Justin (November 1, 2021). "Callum Turner To Star In George Clooney And Grant Heslov's Boys In The Boat Adaptation For MGM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2021.
  9. 1 2 3 Grobar, Matt (March 2, 2022). "George Clooney's The Boys In The Boat Adds 'Cobra Kai' Star Courtney Henggeler". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Kroll, Justin (February 10, 2022). "George Clooney's Boys In The Boat Adaptation With MGM, Spyglass And Smokehouse Sets Top Tier Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 11, 2022.
  11. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (October 18, 2023). "Callum Turner Grabs Olympic Glory in George Clooney's Boys in the Boat Trailer". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  12. ↑ McArdle, Tommy (October 4, 2023). "George Clooney Directs 'The Boys in the Boat' in First Look Photos and Behind-the-Scenes Video (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  13. 1 2 Kroll, Justin (March 7, 2022). "James Wolk Joins George Clooney's Adaptation Of The Boys In The Boat For MGM". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  14. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (April 4, 2022). "George Clooney Movie 'The Boys In The Boat' Adds Chris Diamantopoulos". Retrieved November 15, 2023.
  15. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 3, 2011). "Weinstein Company Captures Book Proposal On 1936 U.S. Olympics Crew Team". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  16. ↑ Abrams, Rachel (March 3, 2011). "Weinsteins acquire Olympic rowing tale". Variety. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
  17. ↑ McNary, Dave (October 30, 2018). "Weinstein Film 'Boys in the Boat' Saved by MGM, Lantern Entertainment". Variety.
  18. ↑ Daniels, Nia (March 28, 2022). "George Clooney begins UK shoot on The Boys in the Boat". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
  19. ↑ Kasule, Melissa (January 26, 2022). "George Clooney's The Boys in the Boat to shoot at new UK studio". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
  20. ↑ "George Clooney filming: Photos reveal his Wiltshire set". April 28, 2022.
  21. ↑ "George Clooney spotted filming latest movie at Molesey Boat Club". May 24, 2022.
  22. ↑ "'The Boys in the Boat' premieres in Seattle at SIFF Cinema Downtown". KING 5 News. December 7, 2023. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
  23. ↑ Simms, Ryan (December 8, 2023). "George Clooney-directed film about historic UW rowing team makes US debut in Seattle". KOMO 4 News (Seattle). Retrieved December 12, 2023.
  24. ↑ https://people.com/george-amal-clooney-glam-red-carpet-date-night-los-angeles-premiere-boys-in-the-boat-photos-8414403
  25. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 2, 2023). "George Clooney MGM Movie The Boys In The Boat Sets Christmas Day Voyage". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  26. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 19, 2023). "'Aquaman 2' The Big Fish In Warner Bros Christmas Troika With 'Wonka' & 'Color Purple', But Holiday Box Office Not Looking Bright – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 20, 2023.
  27. 1 2 D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 26, 2023). "'The Color Purple' Wins Christmas Day With $18M+ & A CinemaScore As Warner Bros Dominates Holiday Box Office – Tuesday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 26, 2023.
  28. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (January 7, 2024). "First Weekend Of 2024 Down 16%, As 'Wonka' Leads, 'Night Swim' Paddles To $12M+, 'Aquaman 2' Nears $100M – Saturday AM Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 7, 2024.
  29. ↑ "The Boys in the Boat". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  30. ↑ "The Boys in the Boat". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved January 15, 2024.
  31. ↑ Linden, Sheri (December 15, 2023). "'The Boys in the Boat' Review: Joel Edgerton in George Clooney's Tribute to Old-Fashioned Can-Do Spirit". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  32. ↑ Ebiri, Bilge (December 26, 2023). "The Boys in the Boat Is Better Than You've Heard". Vulture. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  33. ↑ Hoffman, Jordan (December 19, 2023). "'The Boys in the Boat' Review: George Clooney's Perfect Little Boring Movie". The Messenger. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  34. ↑ Lowry, Brian (December 24, 2023). "'The Boys in the Boat' gets stuck in the shallow end of the sports-movie pool". CNN. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  35. ↑ Bradshaw, Peter (December 15, 2023). "The Boys in the Boat review – George Clooney sports drama goes for patriotic boosterism". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
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