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St. Vincent (film)

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St. Vincent
Theatrical release poster
Directed byTheodore Melfi
Written byTheodore Melfi
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyJohn Lindley
Edited by
Music byTheodore Shapiro
Production
companies
Distributed byThe Weinstein Company
Release dates
  • September 5, 2014 (2014-09-05) (TIFF)
  • October 24, 2014 (2014-10-24) (United States)
Running time
102 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$13 million[2]
Box office$54.8 million[3]

St. Vincent is a 2014 American comedy drama film written, directed, and co-produced by Theodore Melfi.[4] The film stars Bill Murray as the title character and it features Melissa McCarthy, Naomi Watts, Chris O'Dowd, Terrence Howard, and Jaeden Lieberher in his film debut.

The film had its premiere at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival where it was voted second runner-up for the People's Choice Award.[5] It received a limited theatrical release on October 10, 2014, and expanded to a wide release on October 24.[6] The same day, it was released on Netflix in France.[7] The film was a moderate commercial success, grossing $54.8 million against its $13.5 million budget, and received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

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Vincent MacKenna is a retired, melancholic Vietnam War veteran living in Sheepshead Bay, who smokes, gambles and has a drinking problem. His wife, Sandy, has Alzheimer's and no longer recognizes him, but he poses as a doctor to visit her and does her laundry. Vincent's only close friends are his cat Felix and a pregnant Russian sex worker named Daka. Despite his rough persona, Vincent has acquaintances who admire and care about him.

Vincent's 30-year-old Chrysler LeBaron gets hit by a branch felled by his new neighbors' moving van. Maggie Bronstein, a radiology tech in the midst of a bitter divorce, and her son Oliver meet Vincent, who demands payment for the damage to his car and fence (the damage to the fence he had actually done himself). Maggie does her best to provide for Oliver, who is intelligent and kind-hearted but bullied at his Catholic school. On his first day at his school, Oliver's phone, wallet, and house keys are stolen by his classmate Robert. Oliver asks Vincent if he can stay at his home until his mother comes home from work. Vincent offers to continue "babysitting" for a fee.

Vincent picks up Oliver daily after school because Maggie often works late shifts. Vincent's ideas of after-school activities involve visits to racetracks and drinking in bars. Vincent teaches Oliver how to defend himself from bullies, resulting in Oliver breaking the nose of Robert, who later apologizes and gives back what he stole. Vincent and Oliver win a high-odds bet on the horses, enabling Vincent to pay off some of his debts. After staff in Sandy's nursing home remind him that he is behind on fees and tell him Sandy will be moved the next week if he does not pay what he owes in full, Vincent steals money from an account he set up for Oliver with their winnings from the track. He takes the money to the racetrack and gambles this money away hoping for a big win.

Vincent is confronted in his home by loan sharks Zucko and Antwan who attempt to take Sandy's jewelry. Vincent collapses while Zucko and Antwan leave him on the floor. Oliver finds him and calls emergency services. Vincent is hospitalized, told he has had a stroke, and has to undergo physical therapy. Oliver, Maggie, and Daka help Vincent recover, but his language remains stunted.

Oliver's father, a lawyer, finds out about Vincent and uses the information on gambling, introducing Oliver to a prostitute, and taking Oliver to bars to get joint custody with Maggie. Having been unaware of Vincent's behavior, Maggie tells Vincent that he can no longer see Oliver.

Vincent becomes depressed after finding out that Sandy died while he was hospitalized. He is given a box containing her few belongings and her ashes.

For his "Saints Among Us" school project, Oliver asks around the neighborhood about Vincent's past. Later, he nominates Vincent at the school's assembly, publicly declaring him “St. Vincent of Sheepshead Bay” and presenting him with a medal. Oliver's rationale comes from his teacher's definition of sainthood as a person showing commitment, dedication and sacrifice. Vincent fits this in terms of his wife; he also saved two fellow soldiers during the Vietnam War. The school audience is impressed by Oliver's speech and applaud Vincent, who has been tricked into attending the event by Daka.

Some time later, Daka gives birth to a baby girl and she, along with Maggie, Oliver, and Robert, go to Vincent's house, where they eat together as a surrogate family.

Cast

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  • Bill Murray as Vincent MacKenna, Maggie and Oliver's neighbor.
  • Jaeden Martell (credited as Jaeden Lieberher) as Oliver Bronstein, Maggie's son.
  • Melissa McCarthy as Maggie Bronstein, Oliver's mother.
  • Naomi Watts as Daka Parimova, a pregnant Russian sex worker and Vincent's friend, later his second wife.
  • Chris O'Dowd as Brother Geraghty, Oliver's teacher, an Irish priest.
  • Terrence Howard as Zucko, Vincent's loan shark.
  • Lenny Venito as Coach Mitchell, Oliver's P.E. teacher.
  • Nate Corddry as Terry, a bank clerk.
  • Dario Barosso as Robert Ocinski, Oliver's classmate who bullies him and later becomes his friend.
  • Kimberly Quinn as Ana, a nurse at Sandy's nursing home.
  • Donna Mitchell as Sandy MacKenna, Vincent's wife who has Alzheimer's disease.
  • Ann Dowd as Shirley, Sandy's nursing home director.
  • Scott Adsit as David Bronstein, Maggie's ex-husband and Oliver's father.
  • Reg E. Cathey as Gus
  • Deirdre O'Connell as Linda
  • Ray Iannicelli as Roger, a bartender
  • Ron McLarty as Principal O'Brien, Oliver's school principal.
  • Maria Elena Ramirez as Amelda, a Latina nanny
  • Emma Fisher as Bridgette

Production

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The screenplay, originally titled St. Vincent de Van Nuys, was written in 2011 by Melfi, and was included on the Hollywood Black List (the best unproduced scripts) of 2011.[8][9]

Jack Nicholson was rumored to star in the film, but Murray signed on in July 2012.[10] On March 11, 2013, Melissa McCarthy was offered the lead female part and joined the cast.[11] On March 22, Chris O'Dowd joined the cast as a Catholic priest.[12] Naomi Watts joined the cast on April 22 in the role of a Russian prostitute.[13] On July 19, Scott Adsit joined the cast to play McCarthy's character's ex-husband.[14]

Filming

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Filming began the first week of July 2013, with scenes filmed in Brooklyn, New York[15][16] and at Belmont Park in Elmont, Long Island, New York.[17]

Music

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On December 26, 2013, Theodore Shapiro was hired to score the film.[18] Sony Classical Records released the soundtrack album on October 27, 2014.[19][20]

Marketing

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The first official trailer for the film was released on July 1, 2014.[21]

Release

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The Weinstein Company released the film on October 10, 2014,[6] in limited engagements, before making an expansion into wide release on October 24, 2014.

Reception

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On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 77% based on 193 reviews, with an average rating of 6.8/10. The consensus reads, "St. Vincent offers the considerable pleasure of seeing Bill Murray back in funny form, but drifts into dangerously sentimental territory along the way."[22] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 64 out of 100 based on 40 reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[23] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale.[24]

Richard Roeper gave the film a grade of "A", saying Murray's performance could "mean a Golden Globe".[25]

Accolades

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List of accolades received by St. Vincent
Year Award Category Recipients Result
2014 Toronto International Film Festival People's Choice Award Theodore Melfi Nominated
Masters Award 3rd Place
Chicago International Film Festival Audience Choice Award Nominated
Heartland Film Festival Truly Moving Picture Award Theodore Melfi Won
Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards Best Supporting Actress Melissa McCarthy Runner-Up
Best Picture Theodore Melfi Nominated
Best Director Theodore Melfi Nominated
Washington D.C. Film Critics Association Best Youth Performance Jaeden Lieberher Nominated
Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards Youth in Film Jaeden Lieberher Won
St. Louis Film Critics Association Awards Best Comedy Theodore Melfi Nominated
2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Supporting Actress Naomi Watts Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Best Performance by a Youth- Male Jaeden Lieberher Won
Golden Globe Awards Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy Theodore Melfi Nominated
Best Actor - Musical or Comedy Bill Murray Nominated
Broadcast Film Critics' Association Awards Best Comedy Theodore Melfi Nominated
Best Actor in a Comedy Bill Murray Nominated
Best Actress in a Comedy Melissa McCarthy Nominated
Best Young Actor/Actress Jaeden Lieberher Nominated
Casting Society of America[26] Studio or Independent Comedy Laura Rosenthal Nominated
Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Awards[27] Best Contemporary Hair Styling in Feature Length Motion Picture Suzy Mazzarese-Allison Nominated
2015 YouReviewers Movie Awards Breakthrough Actor Jaeden Lieberher Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "St. Vincent (12)". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Fleming, Mike (November 19, 2012). "Weinstein Co. Lands Bill Murray's Next Film, 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 30, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  3. ^ "St. Vincent (2014)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  4. ^ Wehner, Christopher (October 9, 2014). ""Happy Delusion:" An Interview with Theodore Melfi, Writer/Director of ST. VINCENT". Screenreader's Utopia. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  5. ^ Chai, Barbara (September 17, 2014). "'The Imitation Game' Wins TIFF People's Choice Award". WSJ. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Cunningham, Todd (April 3, 2014). "Bill Murray-Melissa McCarthy Comedy 'St. Vincent' Gets Release Date". TheWrap. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Spangler, Todd (October 24, 2014). "Netflix France to Debut 'St. Vincent' Starring Bill Murray Day-and-Date with U.S. Theatrical Release". Variety.
  8. ^ Waters, Florence (December 13, 2011). "The Hollywood Black List's best unproduced scripts of 2011: can we find a common theme?". Telegraph. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  9. ^ Finke, Nikki (December 12, 2011). "The Black List 2011: Screenplay Roster". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 11, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  10. ^ "Bill Murray Joins St. Vincent de Van Nuys". movieweb.com. July 30, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "Melissa McCarthy May Join The Congregation Of 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys' With Bill Murray". indiewire.com. March 11, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  12. ^ Pearson, Ben (March 22, 2013). "Chris O'Dowd in Talks for 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys' with Bill Murray". firstshowing.net. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  13. ^ Fleming, Mike (April 22, 2013). "Naomi Watts To Join Bill Murray, Melissa McCarthy, Chris O'Dowd in 'St. Vincent De Van Nuys'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  14. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (July 19, 2013). "Scott Adsit Cast as Melissa McCarthy's Ex-Husband in 'St. Vincent de Van Nuys'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  15. ^ "'St. Vincent De Van Nuys' begins filming in New York City". onlocationvacations.com. July 5, 2013. Archived from the original on October 15, 2021. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  16. ^ "Naomi Watts Rocks Fake Baby Bump on the Set of St. Vincent de Van Nuys". eonline.com. July 10, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  17. ^ "Boisterous Gives Connections Second Straight G1 Man o' War Win". Nyra.com. July 10, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  18. ^ "Theodore Shapiro to Score 'St. Vincent'". filmmusicreporter.com. December 26, 2013. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "'St. Vincent' Score Album Details". filmmusicreporter.com. September 22, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  20. ^ "'St. Vincent' Soundtrack Details". filmmusicreporter.com. September 26, 2014. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  21. ^ McDaniel, Matt (July 1, 2014). "Bill Murray Gets Fatherly in the First 'St. Vincent' Trailer". yahoo.com. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  22. ^ "St. Vincent". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  23. ^ "St. Vincent Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  24. ^ Busch, Anita (October 27, 2014). "'Ouija' Says Yes To $19.8M, 'John Wick' Chases In $14.4M, 'St. Vincent,' $7.7M Blessing – Final B.O. Weekend". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  25. ^ Roeper, Richard (October 16, 2014). "St. Vincent". RichardRoeper.com. Archived from the original on October 17, 2014.
  26. ^ "Casting Society Unveils Artios Film Nominees". Deadline Hollywood. January 6, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
  27. ^ Giardina, Carolyn (January 8, 2015). "'Guardians of the Galaxy,' 'Into the Woods' Lead Make-Up Artists and Hair Stylists Guild Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 16, 2021.
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