The Tender Bar (film)

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The Tender Bar
The Tender Bar poster.jpg
Official release poster
Directed byGeorge Clooney
Screenplay byWilliam Monahan
Based onThe Tender Bar
by J. R. Moehringer
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMartin Ruhe
Edited byTanya M. Swerling
Music byDara Taylor[1]
Production
companies
Distributed byAmazon Studios
Release dates
  • October 10, 2021 (2021-10-10) (LFF)
  • December 17, 2021 (2021-12-17) (United States)
Running time
104 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Tender Bar is a 2021 American coming-of-age drama film directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by William Monahan. The film is an adaptation of the 2005 memoir of the same name by J. R. Moehringer, and recounts Moehringer's life growing up on Long Island. It stars Ben Affleck, Tye Sheridan, Daniel Ranieri, Lily Rabe, and Christopher Lloyd.

The film was released in a limited release on December 17, 2021, by Amazon Studios, following to the wide expansion on December 22, 2021, prior to streaming on Prime Video on January 7, 2022. It received mixed reviews from critics, though Affleck was nominated for the Golden Globe Award and Screen Actors Guild Award for his performance.

Premise[]

Set in 1970s Long Island,[2] 9-year-old J. R. Maguire and his mother Dorothy move back in with his grandparents following her breakup with his father. There, he forms a bond with his Uncle Charlie, the owner of a local bar. Charlie acts as a surrogate father to J. R. and encourages him in his pursuit of becoming a successful writer. Charlie's mother is determined that he will go to Yale or Harvard and become a lawyer.

Cast[]

Production[]

The project initially began development in 2013 at Sony Pictures and Chernin Entertainment, with Ted Melfi set as writer and director.[3] Upon his exit, Sony placed the project into turnaround, with Amazon Studios picking up the rights in July 2020. George Clooney entered negotiations to direct the film from a screenplay by William Monahan. Clooney was also attached to produce the film alongside his Smokehouse Pictures producing partner Grant Heslov. Ted Hope was also announced as a producer under his first-look deal at Amazon Studios.[4] 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 castings 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 of the film.[8] Principal photography performed at various locations in Eastern Massachusetts, began on February 22, 2021 and concluded on April 14, 2021.[9][10] Filming sites included a location in the Belvidere neighborhood of Lowell, Massachusetts, a location in the "Granite Park" neighborhood of Braintree, Massachusetts, and a vacant restaurant building at the South Shore Plaza, also in Braintree, Massachusetts.

Release[]

The film had its world premiere during the London Film Festival on October 10, 2021.[11] It was released in a limited release on December 17, 2021, prior to streaming on Prime Video on January 7, 2022.[12]

Reception[]

Critical response[]

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 52% of 154 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 5.6/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "It's well-acted and suffused with a warm nostalgic glow, but none of that is enough to overcome The Tender Bar's sleepy, sentimental noodling."[13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 54 out of 100 based on 32 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[14]

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.
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 Pending [20]

References[]

  1. ^ "Dara Taylor Scoring George Clooney's 'The Tender Bar'". Film Music Reporter. October 4, 2021. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  2. ^ Menta, Anna (January 7, 2022). "'The Tender Bar' True Story: What to Know About J.R. Moehringer And the Real Bar He Wrote About". 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ Slane, Kevin (February 12, 2021). "George Clooney is filming a new movie in Boston, and Bend Affleck will reportedly join him". Boston.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
  10. ^ 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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ "The Tender Bar". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved January 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "The Tender Bar". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ Neglia, Matt (December 19, 2021). "The 2021 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  17. ^ Jorgenson, Todd (December 20, 2021). "DFW FILM CRITICS NAME "POWER OF THE DOG" BEST FILM OF 2021". DFWFCA. Retrieved December 27, 2021.
  18. ^ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (December 13, 2021). "Golden Globes 2022: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2021.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ 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[]

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