Crisis (2021 film)
Crisis | |
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Directed by | Nicholas Jarecki |
Written by | Nicholas Jarecki |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Nicolas Bolduc |
Edited by | Duff Smith |
Music by | Raphael Reed |
Production companies |
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Distributed by |
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Release dates |
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Running time | 118 minutes |
Countries |
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Language | English |
Box office | $1.1 million[1][2] |
Crisis is a 2021
Crisis was released in the United States on February 26, 2021, by Quiver Distribution, and was released in Canada on March 16, 2021, by Elevation Pictures and on March 16, 2021, in Australia by Universal Pictures.
Plot
This section's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (September 2021) |
Teenage drug runner Cedric Beauville is captured and arrested by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on the Canada–United States border in possession of large quantities of illegal fentanyl pills.
Everett University research scientist Dr. Tyrone Brower is contracted by Northlight Pharmaceuticals to carry out a study in support of their newest product, Klaralon. The drug is being touted as the first non-addictive painkiller and is due to be released shortly as a replacement for
Architect and recovering Oxycodone addict Claire Reimann becomes concerned when her 16-year-old son David does not return home from hockey practice. He is later found dead as a result of a fentanyl overdose, shocking Claire who is convinced he never took drugs. Although the Detroit Police Department treats it as an accidental death, she hires a private investigator who determines David was forced to take the fentanyl and was murdered. Through her son's social media she tracks down one of his friends, who confesses several teenagers from the hockey team (from both Detroit and Montreal) work for Mother as drug runners, although David had only done it once. Reimann crosses the Ambassador Bridge and travels to Montreal where she hires another private investigator, who provides her with information on Mother and a privately made firearm. She threatens another drug runner, Derrick Millebran, who believes that Mother is killing them to tie up loose ends after Cedric's arrest. Kelly becomes aware of Reimann's activities through investigation of Cedric's associates, and intercepts her outside La Marina. He does not arrest her, but instead unloads her gun and urges her to leave for her own good.
The meeting between the two cartels goes ahead, covertly monitored by a joint
A last ditch effort by Northlight, CEO Dr. Meg Holmes also fails to convince Brower to come on side, and the company is subjected to an
Cast
- Gary Oldman as Dr. Tyrone Brower, a research scientist at Everett University
- Armie Hammer as agent Jake Kelly, DEA Agent
- Evangeline Lilly as Claire Reimann, an architect and recovering addict
- Greg Kinnear as Dean Talbot, Brower's superior at Everett University
- Michelle Rodriguez as Supervisor Garrett, Kelly's DEA superior
- Luke Evans as Dr. Bill Simons, a senior board member of Northlight Pharmaceuticals
- Lily-Rose Depp as Emmie Kelly, Jake's younger sister and a drug addict
- Guy Nadon as Mother, an illegal fentanyl distributor operating in Quebec
- Veronica Ferres as Dr. Meg Holmes, the CEO of Northlight Pharmaceuticals
- Food and Drug Administration
- Mia Kirshner as Susan, Claire Reimann's sister
- Michael Aronov as Minas, an Armenian Mafia member controlling fentanyl distribution across the United States
- Éric Bruneau as Guy Broussard, Mother's second in command and enforcer
- Duke Nicholson as Derrick Millebran, a hockey player from Montreal working as a drug runner
- Martin Donovan as Lawrence Morgan, the founder of Northlight Pharmaceuticals
- Indira Varma as Madira Brower, Dr. Tyrone Bowers' pregnant wife
- DEASpecial Agent and partner of Kelly
- Ellora Torchia as Reeva, a scientist working as part of Brower's research team
- Adam Tsekhman as Armen, member of the Armenian Mafia and partner of Minas
- Hiro Kanagawa as Dr. Ishiyama, a friend and colleague of Bower
Production
In February 2019, it was announced that Armie Hammer, Gary Oldman, Evangeline Lilly and Veronica Ferres had joined the cast, with Nicholas Jarecki directing from a screenplay he wrote.[3] Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez and Lily-Rose Depp were added to the cast in February.[4] In March 2019, Adam Tsekhman joined the cast of the film.[5] In April 2019, Sam Worthington, Indira Varma, Kid Cudi, Luke Evans, Mia Kirshner, Michael Aronov and Martin Donovan joined the cast of the film.[6][7] In December 2019, it was announced that Duke Nicholson had joined the cast of the film.[8]
Principal photography began in February 2019 in Montreal and Detroit.[9]
Release
In December 2020, it was announced
Reception
Box office
Crisis was the highest-grossing independent film at the US box office in its opening weekend, earning $202,489 across a total of 216 screens.[13] It had the second-highest per-screen average of all films playing that weekend, with an average of $883 per screen. It was also the highest-grossing film playing in limited release.
Crisis was the #1 debut film during its opening weekend in Australia, placing #4 of all films in release.[14]
Home entertainment
Crisis was released on home streaming platforms in the US on March 6, 2021. It quickly climbed the iTunes charts where it reached No. 1 in the drama, thriller and independent categories, as well as #2 in overall rentals within its first 24 hours.
It reached No. 1 of all films rented on the iTunes charts on March 9, 2021, and held the #1 position for eight days, one of only four films to do so in 2021. It also ranked No. 2 on Amazon in its first week of release, and placed in the top ten on Spectrum VOD for two weeks running.[15]
Critical response
The film divided critics and audiences and has generated controversy surrounding its reviews.
Critics rated the film less positively at first, although with time its score has risen. On the
Advance reviews for the film were very positive. Variety's Marc Malkin wrote that the film is "intense and timely [...] with exceptional performances, fine storytelling, and master craftsmanship." KTLA's Scott Mantz wrote that the film is "riveting, gripping, and provocative. A terrific thriller with superb performances across the board," while WOR's Joe Neumaier described the film as "a multilayered dramatic thriller that tackles every vicious part of the opioid emergency. Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, and Evangeline Lilly deliver urgent, powerful turns in this finely crafted film that is impressively up-to-the-minute."
After the release of these quotes, one of the film's lead actors, Armie Hammer, was publicly embroiled in a sexual abuse scandal.[18]
Upon general release, much sentiment for the film outside of some major outlets like Variety and Deadline was markedly negative. Peter DeBruge of Variety gave the film a positive review, noting that Crisis was "compelling, relevant filmmaking... [with] no shortage of engaging and/or wrenching material..." while Pete Hammond of Deadline wrote that "Crisis comes along at the right time... Oldman and Lily are excellent, and Hammer is very fine as well."
Many other critics were negative, noting the film's similarity to Steven Soderbergh's Traffic, with John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter describing the film as "Well-meaning but underwhelming."[19]
Jeffrey Wells of Hollywood Elsewhere suggested that critics were attacking the film as "easy pickings" because of Hammer's personal controversy. In the column, Wells wrote: "In a fair and just world [...] Crisis [...] would have cruised through to, say, an 82% score. Is Crisis as good as Steven Soderbergh's Traffic? No, but it's smart and well-assembled [...] It's Armie Hammer. I know it's Armie Hammer. The bastards are figuring 'okay, the industry is giving him the temporary boot so I can trash this all I want and nobody will say anything.'"[20]
References
- ^ "Crisis". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ "Crisis (2021)". The Numbers. Archived from the original on May 2, 2021. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (February 6, 2019). "Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly Team for Opioid Thriller 'Dreamland'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 6, 2019. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ McNary, Dave (February 28, 2019). "Greg Kinnear, Michelle Rodriguez, Lily-Rose Depp Join 'Dreamland'". Variety. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (March 18, 2019). "'Legends of Tomorrow's Adam Tsekhman Joins Gary Oldman & Armie Hammer In 'Dreamland'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (April 3, 2019). "Sam Worthington, 'GOTs' Indira Varma, Kid Cudi Join Gary Oldman In 'Dreamland'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2019.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (April 26, 2019). "Luke Evans, Mia Kirshner, Michael Aronov & Martin Donovan Join Opioid Thriller 'Dreamland'". Archived from the original on May 20, 2023. Retrieved April 27, 2019.
- ^ Abramovitch, Seth (December 17, 2019). "Meet Duke Nicholson, Jack's Grandson and In-Demand Actor". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 17, 2019. Retrieved December 17, 2019.
- ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (February 6, 2019). "'Dreamland': Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly To Star In Opioid Crisis Thriller – EFM". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved February 6, 2019.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (December 18, 2020). "Nicholas Jarecki's Opioid Drama 'Crisis' Acquired by Quiver Distribution For February 25 Release; Gary Oldman, Armie Hammer, Evangeline Lilly Lead Killer Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 10, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Hopson, Travis (December 19, 2020). "'Crisis': First Look At Gary Oldman, Evangeline Lilly, And Armie Hammer In Opioid Crisis Drama". Punch Drunk Critics. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
- ^ "Crisis". Archived from the original on October 21, 2022. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ "Tom & Jerry' Is on HBO Max and It's Still a Box-Office Hit". IndieWire. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
- if.com.au. 22 March 2021. Archivedfrom the original on 18 April 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
- ^ "Oscar Nominee Gary Oldman Tops VOD Charts with 'Crisis". IndieWire. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
- ^ "Crisis". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved December 7, 2022.
- ^ Dickson, E.J. (January 16, 2021). "We're All Missing the Point of the Armie Hammer Cannibalism Scandal". Rolling Stone. Retrieved January 17, 2021.
- ^ DeFore, John (February 22, 2021). "'Crisis': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
- ^ ""Crisis" Is Fine - Critics Are Brutes". February 26, 2021. Archived from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2021.