Affluenza (film)
| Affluenza | |
|---|---|
_poster.jpg) Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kevin Asch |
| Produced by | Morris S. Levy |
| Screenplay by | Antonio Macia |
| Story by |
Kevin Asch Antonio Macia |
| Starring |
Ben Rosenfield Gregg Sulkin Grant Gustin Nicola Peltz |
| Music by | MJ Mynarski |
| Cinematography | Timothy Gillis |
| Edited by | Suzanne Spangler |
Production company |
Lookbook Films Mega Films |
| Distributed by | Filmbuff |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Affluenza is a 2014 American drama film directed by Kevin Asch and written by Antonio Macia. It is loosely based on The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.[1] It was the first leading role for actor Ben Rosenfield, and also starred Gregg Sulkin, Nicola Peltz and Grant Gustin.
Plot
In 2008, Fisher Miller (Ben Rosenfield), a young photography student, has a meeting with a wealthy businessman Mr. Carson (Roger Rees) to help him get into art school, only to be told his work reflects the decline of a generation rather than its future hope, Carson laments this as he declares his generation are going out of business in a "fire sale".
It then flashes back a month before the financial crash as Fisher moves in with his aunt Bunny and uncle Philip (Samantha Mathis and Steve Guttenberg) in Great Neck, New York, to escape his middle-class life for the mansions of the young, beautiful elite of Long Island's moneyed class. With a stash of high-quality weed and a vintage camera, he gains access to his gorgeous cousin Kate's (Nicola Peltz) circle of wealthy and indulged friends, just as their entitled reality is about to spin out of control as Fisher learns that being part of this group always comes at a cost. A revealing take on the hidden perils of privilege ensues as Fisher befriends the stepson of the community's richest resident, Dylan Carson (Gregg Sulkin), an insecure outsider in his own world who uses his money in an attempt to gain the acceptance he craves. Central to his pursuit is the love of his former flame Kate, now dating the preppy Todd (Grant Gustin). Through Fisher's help, Dylan attempts to regain Kate's affection only for the triangle to come crashing down, just as the financial system around them, with devastating consequences for all those involved.
As Fisher retorts to Mr. Carson in the present, "what's the point of making all that money if you can't connect to the people that you love?", a lesson they'll all learn in the most tragic of ways as Fisher, Kate and Dylan's family fortunes crumble. Money really doesn't buy happiness, no matter how much they want it.
Cast
- Ben Rosenfield as Fisher Miller
- Gregg Sulkin as Dylan Carson
- Nicola Peltz as Kate Miller
- Grant Gustin as Todd Goodman
- Steve Guttenberg as Philip Miller
- Samantha Mathis as Bunny Miller
- Valentina de Angelis as Jody
- Danny Burstein as Ira Miller
- Adriane Lenox as Professor Walker
- Roger Rees as Mr. Carson
- Patrick Page as Jack Goodman
- Carla Quevedo as Gail
- John Rothman as Rabbi Cohen
- Kevin Asch as Photographer
- Joe Cross as Shaman
- Taylor Gildersleeve as Beth
- Barry Rohrssen as Detective
Production
In July 2012, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Grant Gustin had landed the lead role.[2] The main role eventually went to Ben Rosenfield, with Gustin taking a supporting role. Gregg Sulkin was latter cast as the film's Jay Gatsby character Dylan and Nicola Peltz was cast as Rosenfield's cousin, completing the main cast.[3]
Release
The film premiered at the SVA Theater in New York City on July 9, 2014, and was released in the United States on July 11, 2014 in a limited release and through video on demand.[4]
Reception
Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported that 23% of thirteen surveyed critics gave the film a positive review; the average rating was 3.5/10.[5] Metacritic rated it 30 out of 100 based on twelve reviews.[6] Andrew Barker of Variety described it as "an empty recasting of The Great Gatsby among Long Island rich kids."[7] Frank Scheck of The Hollywood Reporter wrote that the film "attempts to tackle weighty themes but ultimately feels as shallow as the lives of most of its principal characters."[8] Ben Kenigsberg of The New York Times called it a "millennial-chiding takeoff on The Great Gatsby" whose "vapid moralizing owes more to Bret Easton Ellis than to F. Scott Fitzgerald."[9]
References
- ↑ "'Affluenza': Long Islander Kevin Asch's teenage 'Great Gatsby'". Newsday. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
- ↑ Siegel, Tatiana (July 11, 2012). "'Glee' Star Grant Gustin Lands Lead in Indie Film 'Affluenza' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved June 12, 2012.
- ↑ http://variety.com/2012/film/news/pair-contract-for-affluenza-1118057020/
- ↑ "'Affluenza' Premiere at the SVA Theater". Gotham. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ↑ "Affluenza (2014)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ↑ "Affluenza". Metacritic. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ↑ Barker, Andrew (July 11, 2014). "Film Review: 'Affluenza'". Variety. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ↑ Scheck, Frank (July 9, 2014). "'Affluenza': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 9, 2014.
- ↑ Kenigsberg, Ben (July 10, 2014). "If Gatsby Were Coming of Age Today ...". The New York Times. Retrieved August 10, 2014.