Empire of Light (film)

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Empire of Light
Empire of Light (film).jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySam Mendes
Written bySam Mendes
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRoger Deakins
Edited byLee Smith
Music by
Production
company
Distributed bySearchlight Pictures
Release dates
  • 3 September 2022 (2022-09-03) (Telluride)
  • 9 December 2022 (2022-12-09) (United States)
  • 13 January 2023 (2023-01-13) (United Kingdom)
Running time
113 minutes[1]
Countries
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
LanguageEnglish

Empire of Light is a 2022 romantic drama film written and directed by Sam Mendes. The film stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth.

Empire of Light premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2022, and is scheduled to be theatrically released in the United States on 9 December 2022, and in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2023, by Searchlight Pictures.

The film has received mixed reviews from critics, who praised the performances of Colman, Ward and Jones, Mendes' direction, cinematography, visuals, and score, but criticized the screenplay.

Premise[]

A love story that takes place in an English coastal cinema during the 1980s.

Cast[]

Production[]

It was announced in April 2021 that Sam Mendes had set his next film, which he would write and direct all by himself this time around, at Searchlight Pictures. Olivia Colman was in talks to star in the film and Roger Deakins was announced to serve as cinematographer.[2] Colman would be confirmed in July, with Micheal Ward also joining the cast.[3] In December, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke and Tanya Moodie were added to the cast.[4]

Filming began on 7 February 2022 in Margate on the Isle of Thanet, Kent.[5][6][7] Tom Brooke and Hannah Onslow were confirmed to star in late February.[8] Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film's score.[9]

Release[]

Empire of Light had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2022, followed by a screening at the Toronto International Film Festival on 12 September 2022. The film is set for a limited theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures in the United States on 9 December 2022,[10] and will later be released in the United Kingdom on 13 January 2023.

Reception[]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 50% based on 38 reviews, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The critics' consensus reads: "Empire of Light contains some fine performances and a few flashes of brilliance, but this tribute to the magic of cinema is disappointingly mundane."[11] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 60 out of 100 based on 15 reviews.[12]

References[]

  1. ^ "Empire of Light".
  2. ^ Kroll, Justin (6 April 2021). "Searchlight Lands Sam Mendes' Next Film 'Empire Of Light' Starring Olivia Colman". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  3. ^ Kroll, Justin (27 July 2021). "Sam Mendes Sets 'Small Axe: Lovers Rock's Micheal Ward To Star Opposite Olivia Colman in Searchlight's 'Empire Of Light'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  4. ^ Grobar, Matt (21 December 2021). "'Empire Of Light': Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke & Tanya Moodie Join Sam Mendes' Searchlight Pictures Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  5. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (14 October 2021). "Sam Mendes On Post-Pandemic Broadway 'The Lehman Trilogy' Return & How Ted Sarandos Helped Keep British Stage Afloat During Lockdown". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  6. ^ Wright, Joe (22 November 2021). "Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman and directed by Sam Mendes, to be filmed at Dreamland in Margate". Kent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  7. ^ "Empire of Light". Film & Television Indiustry Alliance. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  8. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (28 February 2022). "Sam Mendes Starts Production On Empire Of Light; Tom Brooke & Hannah Onslow Join Cast Of Searchlight Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ^ "Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Scoring Sam Mendes' 'Empire of Light'". Film Music Reporter. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  10. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (15 July 2022). "Searchlight Pictures Dates Sam Mendes' Empire Of Light For Q4". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  11. ^ "Empire of Light". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Empire of Light 2022". Metacritic. Retrieved 4 September 2022.

External links[]

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