Georgetown (film)

Georgetown is a 2019 American crime drama film directed by Christoph Waltz (in his feature directorial debut) and written by David Auburn. It is based on Franklin Foer's 2012 New York Times Magazine article "The Worst Marriage in Georgetown", which details the 2011 murder of 91-year-old socialite Viola Herms Drath by her much-younger second husband in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Waltz stars alongside Vanessa Redgrave, Annette Bening and Corey Hawkins.

This article is about the Christoph Waltz film. For the capital and largest city of Guyana, see Georgetown, Guyana.

Georgetown
Film poster
Directed byChristoph Waltz
Written byDavid Auburn
Based on"The Worst Marriage in Georgetown"
by Franklin Foer
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyHenry Braham
Edited byBrett M. Reed
Music byLorne Balfe
Production
companies
Distributed byVertical Entertainment
Release dates
  • April 27, 2019 (2019-04-27) (Tribeca)
  • May 14, 2021 (2021-05-14) (United States)
Running time
99 minutes[1][2][3]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$2,132[2]

It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27, 2019. It received a limited release in the United States on May 14, 2021, by Vertical Entertainment.

Plot

The film opens with an on-screen disclaimer:

This story does not, in any way, claim to be the truth. Nonetheless it is inspired by real events.[4]

The plot is based on and is a fictionalized account of the 2011 murder of Viola Herms Drath by her husband Albrecht Gero Muth.[5][6] In the movie, Ulrich Mott, an ambitious, grandiose, and dishonest social climber becomes the main suspect in the death of his wealthy and much older wife, Elsa Breht.[7]

Cast

Production

It was announced in May 2015 that Christoph Waltz would make his feature directorial debut with The Worst Marriage in Georgetown, in which he would also star as the main character Ulrich Mott.[8]

In May 2017, Vanessa Redgrave was cast in the film, now titled Georgetown, as the wealthy socialite Mott marries in order to up his social status.[9] Annette Bening joined the film in September, with filming commencing in Toronto between August 3 and September 16, 2017.[10][11]

Release

It had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27, 2019.[12] Its earliest theatrical release was in Italy on June 16, 2020.[2] It was released in the United States on May 14, 2021, in a limited release by Vertical Entertainment. It was released on video on demand on May 18, 2021, by Paramount Home Entertainment.[13]

Reception

Box office

Georgetown grossed $2,132 in Italy.[2]

Critical response

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 58% based on 26 reviews, with an average rating of 6.3/10.[3] On Metacritic, it holds a weighted average score of 49 out of 100, based on eight critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[14]

John DeFore of The Hollywood Reporter praised the film, noting that "it's the kind of serious but broadly appealing, modestly scaled picture that people love to say doesn't exist any more."[15]

In The New York Times, Calum Marsh praised Waltz's performance, saying that "he is a pleasure to watch."[16]

References
  1. "Georgetown". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  2. "Georgetown (2019)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  3. "Georgetown (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  4. White, Armond (May 21, 2021). "Swamp Creatures in Georgetown". National Review. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  5. Sands, Peggy (May 20, 2021). "'Georgetown,' a Film About Murder. Or Is It?". The Georgetowner. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  6. Byck, Daniella (April 30, 2021). "Watch the Trailer for "Georgetown," a Movie Based on a Notorious DC Murder". Washingtonian. Retrieved July 18, 2023.
  7. Georgetown Nell Minow May 14, 2021 Contributing Editor at RogerEbert.com
  8. Fischer, Russ (May 6, 2015). "Christoph Waltz Will Direct And Star In 'The Worst Marriage In Georgetown'". /Film. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  9. Mitchell, Robert (May 8, 2017). "Cannes: Vanessa Redgrave Joins Christoph Waltz's Directorial Debut 'Georgetown'". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  10. McNary, Dave (September 11, 2017). "Film News Roundup: Annette Bening to Star in Christoph Waltz's Directorial Debut 'Georgetown'". Variety. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  11. Southey, Alex (July 27, 2017). "6 movie and TV productions filming in Toronto this August". Daily Hive. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  12. Hayes, Dade (March 5, 2019). "Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Feature Lineup, With Screen Time For John DeLorean, Muhammad Ali, Chelsea Manning". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  13. "Poster And Trailer For GEORGETOWN Starring Christoph Waltz". Rama Screen. April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
  14. "Georgetown Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved May 22, 2021.
  15. DeFore, John (April 28, 2019). "'Georgetown': Film Review | Tribeca 2019". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  16. Marsh, Calum (May 18, 2021). "'Georgetown' Review: It's Not a Lie if You Believe It". The New York Times. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
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