National Anthem (2023 film)

National Anthem is a 2023 drama film directed by Luke Gilford, in his debut feature-length picture, who co-wrote the screenplay with David Largman Murray and Kevin Best. The film stars Charlie Plummer, Eve Lindley, Mason Alexander Park, Rene Rosado, and Robyn Lively.

National Anthem
Directed byLuke Gilford
Written by
  • David Largman Murray
  • Kevin Best
  • Luke Gilford
Produced by
  • Mickey Liddell p.g.a.[1]
  • Pete Shilaimon p.g.a.
  • Kevin Garland
  • Gina Marcheschi
  • Jasmine Daghighian
Starring
CinematographyKate Arizmendi
Edited by
  • Amber Bansak
  • Josh Schaeffer
Music by
Production
company
Release dates
  • March 10, 2023 (SXSW)
  • September 7, 2023 (TIFF)
Running time
99 minutes[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

National Anthem premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival on March 10, 2023.[1] The film has received positive reviews from critics, with praise going towards the directing, screenplay, cinematography, and performances of its cast (particularly Plummer and Lindley).

Synopsis

Dylan (Plummer), a 21-year-old who lives in rural New Mexico and works as a construction worker to help support his little brother and alcoholic mother, joins a community of queer ranchers and rodeo performers.[1][2][3]

Cast

Production

National Anthem was directed by Luke Gilford, marking his feature film debut. The screenplay was co-written by Gilford, David Largman Murray, and Kevin Best, and was inspired by Gilford's monograph titled National Anthem: America's Queer Rodeo.[4]

Release

National Anthem premiered at the 2023 SXSW Festival on March 10, 2023.[1] The film had its international premiere at the 2023 Toronto International Film Festival on September 7, 2023.[5][6]

Reception

National Anthem has been met with positive critical reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 94% based on 16 critic reviews, with an average rating of 7.8/10.[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 75 out of 100, based on 6 reviews indicating "generally favourable reviews".[8]

Reviewing the film for RogerEbert.com, following its SXSW premiere, Brian Tallerico described the film as "both progressive and old-fashioned at the same time" and wrote "Gilford has a strong eye—he captures the wide-open spaces of this beautiful country with a blend of awe and grace—but it's his work with performers and characters that announces a major talent." He also highlighted the performances of Plummer, Lindley, and Park as the standouts.[9] Deadline Hollywood's Damon Wise said that the film presents "a sweetness and simplicity to its philosophy of see-and-be-seen that will likely make this an easy festival crowd-pleaser."[10] Matthew Jacobs, writing for Vulture, compared the film to The Rider, The Power of the Dog, and The Sisters Brothers, particularly in "dissecting the masculinity [which is] often deemed inherent to the Western genre's landscapes" and praised the directing, cinematography, soundtrack, and Plummer's performance.[11] He also called the film "a stunning start to [Gilford's] film career."[12]

Writing for Paste, Aurora Amidon gave the film a score of 8.5 out of 10, writing that "the beauty of National Anthem is that it effortlessly challenges all expectations and preconceived notions," and lauded the directing, screenplay, and performances of Plummer and Lindley.[13] Erin Brady of /Film gave it a score of 8 out 10 and named it "a moving and well-crafted debut." She also praised the cinematography, screenplay, and performances of Plummer and Lindley, and called Gilford "a powerful voice in modern queer art."[14] Letterboxd included the film in its "Best of SXSW 2023" list and wrote, "This is an all-around beautiful film, expanding on Gilford's collection of photographs of the same name. For that book, Gilford spent three years documenting the queer rodeo subculture. Those beautiful people also appear here alongside stars Charlie Plummer and Eve Lindley, in dreamy sequences that highlight the beauty of living as your full, authentic self."[15]

References
  1. "National Anthem". SXSW. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  2. Galuppo, Mia (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Sets Donald Glover Show 'Swarm', Apple 'Tetris' Movie for Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  3. D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 1, 2023). "SXSW Second Wave Includes UAR's 'Bottoms', Donald Glover's 'Swarm' Series, Michelle Yeoh's 'American Born Chinese' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  4. Rooney, David (March 11, 2023). "'National Anthem' Review: Charlie Plummer Leads a Tender and Timely Rural Queer Awakening Drama". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  5. "Toronto International Film Festival shines spotlight on the unmissable 2023 Centrepiece programme". TIFF. Retrieved August 12, 2023.
  6. "National Anthem". TIFF. Archived from the original on August 22, 2023. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  7. "National Anthem", Rotten Tomatoes, retrieved September 25, 2023
  8. "National Anthem", Metacritic, retrieved March 24, 2023
  9. Tallerico, Brian (March 16, 2023). "SXSW 2023: National Anthem, Molli and Max in the Future, Northern Comfort". RogerEbert.com. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  10. Wise, Damon (March 11, 2023). "'National Anthem' Review: Luke Gilford's Light, Gender-Fluid Rites-Of-Passage Movie Blazes A Mild Trail Through The Wild West". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  11. Jacobs, Matthew (March 13, 2023). "National Anthem, the Queer Rodeo Drama Making SXSW Swoon". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  12. Jacobs, Matthew (March 20, 2023). "15 Movies We Loved at SXSW". Vulture. Vox Media. Archived from the original on March 23, 2023. Retrieved March 23, 2023.
  13. Amidon, Aurora (March 13, 2023). "National Anthem is a Luscious, Breathtaking Take on Americana". Paste. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  14. Brady, Erin (March 14, 2023). "National Anthem Review: Classic Americana Is Turned On Its Head In Powerful Queer Ballad". /Film. Archived from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
  15. "Best of SXSW 2023". Letterboxd. March 28, 2023. Archived from the original on March 28, 2023. Retrieved March 28, 2023.
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