Alice (2022 film)

Alice
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKrystin Ver Linden
Written byKrystin Ver Linden
Produced byPeter Lawson
Starring
CinematographyAlex Disenhof
Edited byByron Smith
Music byCommon
Production
companies
  • Stampede Ventures
  • Steel Springs Pictures
Distributed by
Release dates
  • January 23, 2022 (2022-01-23) (Sundance)[1]
  • March 18, 2022 (2022-03-18) (United States)
Running time
100 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$16–23 million[2]
Box office$373,043[3]

Alice is a 2022 American crime thriller film set in the 1970s, written and directed by Krystin Ver Linden, in her directorial debut. The film stars Keke Palmer, Jonny Lee Miller, Common, Gaius Charles, and Alicia Witt.

Alice had its world premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2022,[4] and was released in the United States on March 18, 2022, by Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment. The film received mixed reviews from critics. It was nominated in three categories for the NAACP Image Awards, and nominated for the Saturn Award for best independent film.

Synopsis

Alice is enslaved on a 19th-century style plantation in Georgia, owned by Paul Bennet. Attempting to escape, she runs through a vast forest and emerges onto a Georgia highway in 1973. She meets Frank, a truck driver who helps her adjust to the truth of the time period, and that she has been misled her whole life. After reading some books explaining when and how all other plantations ended, and tracking down Rachel, the ex-wife of her "owner", she is able to convince Frank about the plantation. Inspired by Pam Grier's character in the film Coffy, she persuades Frank to go back with her, so that she can exact revenge on Bennet and free the rest of the "domestics" being held there.

Cast

Production

In September 2019, it was announced Krystin Ver Linden would direct and write the film.[5] The publicity for the film states that it is "inspired by the true events of a woman of servitude in 1800s Georgia, who escapes the 55-acre confines of her captor to discover the shocking reality that exists beyond the tree line ... it's 1973."[6][7] Elements of the film's background are loosely based on the narrative of Mae Louise Miller, who escaped from slavery in the 1960s.[8]

In June 2020, Keke Palmer, Common, Jonny Lee Miller, and Sinqua Walls joined the cast of the film, with Palmer also serving as an executive producer.[6][9][10] In November 2020, Gaius Charles and Alicia Witt joined the cast of the film.[11]

Principal photography began in October 2020 in Savannah, Georgia.[12]

Release

It had its premiere at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2022.[4] Prior to, Roadside Attractions and Vertical Entertainment acquired distribution rights to the film.[13]

Reception

Box office

In the United States and Canada, the film earned $173,624 from 169 theaters in its opening weekend.[14]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 29% of 70 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.8/10. The website's consensus reads, "Alice's well-intentioned attempt to reckon with racism sadly misses the mark on multiple levels, although Keke Palmer's performance remains a consistent bright spot."[15] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 47 out of 100, based on 19 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[16]

Accolades

Accolades received by Black Panther: Wakanda Forever
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Black Reel Awards February 6, 2023 Outstanding Score Common Nominated [17]
[18]
NAACP Image Awards February 25, 2023 Outstanding Writing in a Motion Picture Krystin Ver Linden Nominated [19]
Outstanding Breakthrough Creative in a Motion Picture Nominated
Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture Keke Palmer Nominated
Palm Springs International Film Festival January 13, 2023 Directors to Watch Krystin Ver Linden Won [citation needed]
Saturn Awards October 25, 2022 Best Independent Film Alice Nominated [20]
[21]

References

  1. ^ Patten, Dominic; D'Alessandro, Anthony (December 9, 2021). "Sundance 2022: Hybrid Festival Sees Princess Diana, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dakota Johnson, Bill Cosby, NYC Rock'n'Roll & Regina Hall Fill Lineup". Deadline. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  2. ^ "Alice (2022) Movie Cast, Plot, Trailer, Release Date & More". rockncomiccon.com. February 21, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  3. ^ "Alice (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
  4. ^ a b D'Alessandro, Anthony; Patten, Dominic (2021-12-09). "Sundance 2022: Hybrid Festival Sees Princess Diana, Michael Kenneth Williams, Dakota Johnson, Bill Cosby, NYC Rock'n'Roll & Regina Hall Fill Lineup". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2021-12-09. Retrieved 2021-12-09.
  5. ^ McNary, Dave (September 16, 2019). "Krystin Ver Linden to Direct Slavery Drama 'Alice' for Stampede, Steel Springs (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  6. ^ a b Gardner, Chris (June 11, 2020). "Keke Palmer to Star in True-Story Thriller 'Alice'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  7. ^ Rafter, Darcy. "The chilling true story Keke Palmer movie Alice is based on". The Focus. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  8. ^ "Black People in the US Were Enslaved Well into the 1960s". Vice. February 27, 2018. Retrieved April 2, 2022.
  9. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (June 24, 2020). "Common, 'Elementary's Jonny Lee Miller Join Keke Palmer In 'Alice' Indie Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  10. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (June 25, 2020). "'American Soul' Star Sinqua Walls Cast In Krystin Ver Linden's 'Alice' Thriller". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  11. ^ Vlessing, Etan (November 30, 2020). "Alicia Witt to Star in Slave Thriller 'Alice' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 30, 2020.
  12. ^ "'ALICE' Starring Common, Keke Palmer Open Casting Call & Auditions (UPDATE)". Project Casting. October 12, 2020. Retrieved October 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Kroll, Justin (December 16, 2021). "Vertical Entertainment And Roadside Attractions Land Domestic Rights To Keke Palmer-Common Pic 'Alice' Prior To Sundance Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  14. ^ "Domestic 2022 Weekend 11". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 24, 2022.
  15. ^ "Alice". Rotten Tomatoes.
  16. ^ "Alice". Metacritic.
  17. ^ Complex, Valerie (December 15, 2022). "Black Reel Awards Nominations Announced For 23rd Annual Ceremony; The Woman King And Black Panther: Wakanda Forever Lead With 14 Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 16, 2022. Retrieved December 22, 2022.
  18. ^ Complex, Valerie (February 6, 2023). "The Woman King Wins Big At The 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  19. ^ Pierre, Mekishana (February 25, 2023). "2023 NAACP Image Awards: Complete Winners List". Entertainment Tonight. Archived from the original on February 26, 2023. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  20. ^ Tinoco, Armando (August 12, 2022). "Saturn Awards Nominations: The Batman, Nightmare Alley, Spider-Man, Better Call Saul Top List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  21. ^ O'Rourke, Ryan (October 26, 2022). "Saturn Award Winners Headlined By Everything Everywhere All At Once, Top Gun Maverick, and Better Call Saul". Collider. Archived from the original on October 26, 2022. Retrieved February 26, 2023.