Henry Gamble's Birthday Party is a 2015 drama film written and directed by Stephen Cone.
Video Henry Gamble's Birthday Party
Cast
- Cole Doman as Henry Gamble
- Pat Healy as Bob Gamble
- Elizabeth Laidlaw as Kat Gamble
- Nina Ganet as Autumn Gamble
- Tyler Ross as Aaron
- Francis Guinan as Larry Montgomery
- Hanna Dworkin as Bonnie Montgomery
- Darci Nalepa as Grace Montgomery
- Patrick Andrews as Ricky Matthews
- Meg Thalken as Rose Matthews
- Kelly O'Sullivan as Candice Noble
- Travis Knight as Keith Noble
- Daniel Kyri as Logan
- Joe Keery as Gabe
- Mia Hulen as Emily
- Jack Ball as Jon
- Melanie Neilan as Christine
- Grace Melon as Heather
- Spencer Curnutt as Cooper
- Zoe Tyson as Cheyenne
Maps Henry Gamble's Birthday Party
Production
The film had a principal production schedule of 18 days.
Release
The film was premiered on May 7, 2015 at the Maryland Film Festival. The film later premiered in New York City at the BAMcinemaFest on June 25, 2015.
Home media
On September 8, 2015, it was reported that Wolfe Video had acquired the rights to Henry Gamble's Birthday Party with plans to distribute the film on VOD and DVD in early 2016.
Reception
Critical response
Henry Gamble's Birthday Party received a generally positive response from critics. The film holds a 80% positive "Fresh" rating on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes. On Metacritic, the film has a score of 59 out of 100, based on 4 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter described the film as a "somewhat less successful" work than Cone's similarly themed 2011 film The Wise Kids, but nevertheless lauded, "The film works best in its quieter moments, especially in its touching climactic scene in which Henry, sensitively portrayed by Doman in his film debut, finally allows himself to act on his suppressed impulses. It adds a welcome hopeful note to the preceding turmoil, reminding us yet again that the heart inevitably wants what it wants." Carson Kohler of Vox also praised the film, writing, "There are so many substantial issues that this birthday party illuminates. Sexuality. The church. Sexuality and the church. And that's one line of the issues." Joe Ehrman-Dupre of Indiewire praised the film as "miraculous" and wrote:
"It's very difficult for me to hate people," Stephen Cone tells me, and I believe him. If he were a vengeful writer, or an angry director--if he didn't care so damn much about each and every one of his characters--this "Birthday Party" would quickly devolve into stereotypical zealot madness. As it stands, though, Henry Gamble has surrounded himself with complex, difficult, frustrated people. Essentially, people with stories, just like you and me.
Ben Kenigsberg The New York Times gave the film a more mixed review, however, describing Cone as "not a sophisticated writer" and remarking, "Henry Gamble's Birthday Party feels sincere but not accomplished, empathetic but not deep."
Accolades
The film was awarded the SHOUT Jury Award and the Audience Narrative Award at the 2015 Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival.
References
External links
- Henry Gamble's Birthday Party on IMDb
Source of article : Wikipedia
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