Goats (film)
Goats | |
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Directed by | Christopher Neil |
Screenplay by | Mark Poirier |
Based on | Goats by Mark Poirier |
Produced by |
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Starring | |
Cinematography | Wyatt Troll |
Edited by | Jeremiah O'Driscoll |
Music by | |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Image Entertainment |
Release dates |
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Running time | 94 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $5 million |
Goats is a 2012
Plot
Fifteen-year-old Ellis Whitman (
Upon arriving at Gates Academy, Ellis befriends his roommate Barney Cannel (Nicholas Lobue), a cross-country runner, and Rosenberg, who usually does not get anything higher than a C in his classes, but is smart enough to sneak in
One day, Ellis receives a letter in the mail from his long-estranged father from
Over Christmas break, Ellis returns to Tucson, but feels betrayed by Goat Man when he discovers that he slept with their young but malicious neighbor, Aubrey (Adelaide Kane). His relationship with adults he grew up with is now challenged.
Cast
- David Duchovny as Javier / Goat Man
- Vera Farmiga as Wendy Whitman
- Graham Phillips as Ellis Whitman
- Ty Burrell as Frank Whitman
- Keri Russell as Judy Whitman
- Justin Kirk as Bennet
- Dakota Johnson as Minnie
- Alan Ruck as Dr. Eldridge
- Anthony Anderson as Coach
- Nicholas Lobue as Barney Cannel
- Steve Almazan as Jesus
- Adelaide Kane as Aubrey
- Olga Segura as Serena
- Minnie Driver as Shaman (uncredited)
Production
In May 2010, it was reported that Ty Burrell and Anjelica Huston had signed on to star in the film.[1] In January 2011, it was announced that David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga had been cast in leading roles for the film.[2] That same month, Keri Russell, Minnie Driver and Will Arnett were cast in supporting roles.[3] Arnett and Huston later dropped out of the cast, for unknown reasons, before filming began. Producer Daniela Taplin Lundberg commented on the casting, "Goats is that wonderful combination of hilarious and poignant, and we're so thrilled that actors as distinguished as this ensemble have responded to the script with such passion."[4] Principal photography for the film took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tucson, Arizona, and Watertown, Connecticut in February 2011.[5]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the
Reception
The film received generally negative reviews from film critics. Goats holds a 19% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 27 reviews, with an average rating of 4.69/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "Goats reaches for profundity but mostly offers inane bleating, with David Duchovny's beard proving the most distinguishing feature of this bland dramedy."[9] On Metacritic, the film has a 38 out of 100 rating, based on 13 critic reviews, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".[10]
Robert Abele from
Lisa Schwarzbaum of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "Mark Jude Poirier adapted the screenplay from his own lively 2001 coming-of-age novel. As directed by Christopher Neil, Goats reports the same events but loses the flavor of the journey."[13] The New York Times' Stephen Holden wrote, "If the aimless characters in Goats didn't feel so uncomfortably lifelike, it would be tempting to heap scorn on this wispy screen adaptation of Mark Jude Poirier's 2001 novel, directed by Christopher Neil from a screenplay by Mr. Poirier. Ms. Farmiga gives a bravely unsympathetic performance as the hysterical, self-pitying Wendy, who is filled with rage at her ex-husband, Frank. For all its verisimilitude, Goats doesn't add up to much."[14]
References
- ^ "Casting Notes: Thomas Dekker in Footloose?; Wes Bentley in Tilda; Tim Blake Nelson in Flypaper; Ty Burrell and Anjelica Huston in 'Goats'". /Film. May 30, 2010.
- ^ "David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga Cast in 'Goats'". /Film. January 10, 2011.
- ^ "Duchovny, Farmiga join 'Goats' herd – Russell, Driver and Arnett also join indie comedy". Variety. January 10, 2011.
- ^ "David Duchovny, Vera Farmiga, Keri Russell, Minnie Driver, and Will Arnett Join Indie Comedy 'Goats'". Collider. January 10, 2011.
- ^ Goats Brings Star Power Economic Lift to Tucson
- ^ Lowe, Justin (January 25, 2012). "Goats: Sundance Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 7, 2012). "Sundance Sales Continue: Image Collars 'Goats' For U.S." Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (August 9, 2012). "Hard to Have Dreams if Mom's a Nightmare: 'Goats,' With David David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga". The New York Times.
- ^ "Goats (2012)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
- ^ "Goats Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved June 12, 2016.
- ^ Abele, Robert (August 9, 2012). "Review: Baffling 'Goats' wastes a lot of talent". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Stewart, Sara (August 10, 2012). "Impressive cast, but we've herd it all before". New York Post.
- ^ Schwarzbaum, Lisa (August 10, 2012). "Goats (2012) Review". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (August 9, 2012). "Hard to Have Dreams if Mom's a Nightmare – 'Goats' With David David Duchovny and Vera Farmiga". The New York Times.
External links
- Goats at IMDb
- Goats at Rotten Tomatoes