The Tender Bar (film)
The Tender Bar | |
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Directed by | George Clooney |
Screenplay by | William Monahan |
Based on | The Tender Bar by J. R. Moehringer |
Produced by |
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Starring |
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Narrated by | Ron Livingston |
Cinematography | Martin Ruhe |
Edited by | Tanya M. Swerling |
Music by | Dara Taylor[1] |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Amazon Studios |
Release dates |
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Running time | 104 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
The Tender Bar is a 2021 American
It received a
Plot
In 1973, nine-year-old JR Maguire and his mother Dorothy move back in with her parents on Long Island. Abandoned by his deadbeat father Johnny, a radio DJ known as "the Voice", JR grows up with his mother's working class family. He finds a surrogate father in his uncle Charlie, the owner of a local bar, "The Dickens".[2]
JR often listens to the Voice on the radio, and Johnny calls with plans to take him to a baseball game, but fails to show up and later flees the state. Imparting life lessons to JR, Charlie shares his love of reading and encourages him to become a writer, while Dorothy is determined that her son will have the college education she never had. Though her own well-educated father never made anything of his life, she insists that JR will one day attend
Johnny makes a brief visit, beating up Charlie when he heckles him for his absence in JR's life. Confronting a school psychologist for exploiting JR to hit on Dorothy, Charlie is impressed by his nephew's writing. JR's grandfather accompanies him to a father-and-son breakfast, and explains that Dorothy is having her cancerous thyroid removed. She recovers, and JR's knack for word puzzles earns him a spot in Charlie and his friends' bowling league.
As a teenager, JR has an interview at Yale and meets a priest on the train to
Continuing his studies, JR encounters the same priest on the train, and is unsuccessful in winning Sidney back. Graduating in 1986, he receives one of his father's sporadic phone calls. JR presents his mother with a class ring, but disappoints her by eschewing law school and moving home to work on his novel. Ignoring his friend Wesley's advice, he continues to pursue Sidney with guidance from Charlie, and is hired as a trainee at The New York Times.
Learning that Sidney has married her college boyfriend, JR is let go from the Times. Charlie is briefly hospitalized, and encourages JR to incorporate his recent setbacks into his novel. On Charlie's advice, JR finds his father in North Carolina, but realizes that he remains an abusive alcoholic. Johnny assaults his girlfriend and JR has him arrested, finally standing up to his father.
Returning home, where his mother has found a new job, JR moves to Manhattan, but not before Charlie gives him his car. Charlie and his drinking buddies see his nephew off, and JR is determined to prove himself as a writer. During the credits, young JR spends a day at the beach with Charlie and his friends.
Cast
- Ben Affleck as Charlie Maguire
- Tye Sheridan as JR Maguire
- Daniel Ranieri as young JR
- Ron Livingston as future JR / the narrator
- Lily Rabe as Dorothy Maguire
- Christopher Lloyd as Grandpa Maguire
- Max Martini as "The Voice"; Johnny Michaels, JR's father
- Sondra James as Grandma Maguire
- Michael Braun as Bobo
- Matthew Delamater as Joey D
- Max Casella as Chief
- Rhenzy Feliz as Wesley
- Ivan Leung as Jimmy
- Briana Middleton as Sidney
Production
The project initially began development in 2013 at
Clooney was confirmed as director in December 2020, with Ben Affleck entering negotiations to star.[5] Affleck's role was confirmed in February 2021, along with the casting of Tye Sheridan and Lily Rabe as the leads.[6][7] In March 2021, Christopher Lloyd, Sondra James, Max Martini, Michael Braun, Matthew Delamater, Max Casella, Rhenzy Feliz, Ivan Leung, Briana Middleton, and Daniel Ranieri joined the cast.[8]
Principal photography began on February 22, 2021 at various locations in Eastern Massachusetts, and concluded on April 14.[9][10] Filming sites included the Belvidere neighborhood of Lowell; Downtown Beverly Massachusetts; the Granite Park neighborhood of Braintree; and a vacant restaurant building at South Shore Plaza, also in Braintree.
Release
The film premiered at the
Reception
Critical response
On the
A. O. Scott of The New York Times wrote: "It’s not the kind of movie that will knock you out, but it won’t leave you with a headache and a dry mouth, either. It’s a generous pour and a mellow buzz."[15] Sheri Linden of The Hollywood Reporter wrote: "If it struggles to find a rhythm, especially in the early going, there’s no question that it sends you off on a gentle high."[11]
Accolades
Year | Award | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
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2021 | St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Awards | Best Soundtrack | The Tender Bar | Nominated | [16] |
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Ben Affleck | Nominated | [17] | |
2022 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | [18][19] | |
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | [20] |
References
- ^ "Dara Taylor Scoring George Clooney's 'The Tender Bar'". Film Music Reporter. October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
- Decider. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
The Tender Bar script is based on the best-selling 2005 memoir of the same name by J. R. Moehringer, which tells the true story of Moehringer's childhood growing up in Long Island, New York in the 1970s and '80s.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 6, 2013). "Sony, Ted Melfi Teaming On Adaptation Of J.R. Moehringer Memoir 'The Tender Bar'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 12, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (July 24, 2020). "George Clooney To Direct Adaptation Of 'The Tender Bar' For Amazon Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 19, 2020. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (December 9, 2020). "Ben Affleck Eyed To Star in Amazon And George Clooney's 'Tender Bar' Adaptation". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 9, 2020. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ^ Kit, Borys (February 10, 2021). "Tye Sheridan Joins Ben Affleck in George Clooney's 'Tender Bar' for Amazon". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ Kit, Borys (February 16, 2021). "Lily Rabe Joins Ben Affleck in George Clooney's 'Tender Bar' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (March 2, 2021). "George Clooney's 'The Tender Bar' Rounds Out Cast, Amazon Studios Adaptation Of J.R. Moehringer Memoir Starts Production". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
- ^ Slane, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "George Clooney is filming a new movie in Boston, and Bend Affleck will reportedly join him". The Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Barbuto, Dana (April 14, 2021). "Movie cameras roll in Braintree for George Clooney's 'The Tender Bar'". The Patriot Ledger. Archived from the original on May 4, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Linden, Sheri (October 10, 2021). "Ben Affleck and Tye Sheridan in George Clooney's 'The Tender Bar': Film Review | BFI London 2021". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ Davis, Edward (September 22, 2021). "First Look: George Clooney's 'The Tender Bar' With Ben Affleck Hits Theaters In December Before Prime Video 2 Weeks Later". The Playlist. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
- ^ "The Tender Bar". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 8, 2022.
- Fandom, Inc.Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Scott, A. O. (December 15, 2021). "'The Tender Bar' Review: Where Everybody Knows His Name". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2021.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 19, 2021). "The 2021 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ Jorgenson, Todd (December 20, 2021). "DFW FILM CRITICS NAME 'POWER OF THE DOG' BEST FILM OF 2021". DFWFCA. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
- ^ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (December 13, 2021). "Golden Globes 2022: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 9, 2022). "Golden Globes: The Power Of The Dog, West Side Story, Succession Lead Way – Complete Winners List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 12, 2022). "SAG Awards Nominations: 'House Of Gucci', 'Power Of The Dog', 'Succession', 'Ted Lasso' Top Lists". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
External links
- The Tender Bar at IMDb
- Official screenplay