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Cyrano (film)

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Cyrano
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJoe Wright
Screenplay byErica Schmidt
Based on
Cyrano de Bergerac
1897 play
by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySeamus McGarvey
Edited byValerio Bonelli
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 2 September 2021 (2021-09-02) (Telluride)
  • 25 February 2022 (2022-02-25) (United States and United Kingdom)
Running time
124 minutes
Countries
  • United States
  • Canada
  • United Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Budget$30 million[1]
Box office$6.4 million[2][3]

Cyrano is a 2021 romantic drama musical film directed by Joe Wright and produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, and Guy Heeley, from a screenplay written by Erica Schmidt, based on the 2018 stage musical by Schmidt, Aaron Dessner, Bryce Dessner, Matt Berninger, and Carin Besser, itself based on the 1897 Edmond Rostand play Cyrano de Bergerac. The film stars Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Kelvin Harrison Jr., and Ben Mendelsohn.

Cyrano premiered at the 48th Telluride Film Festival on 2 September 2021, and was released in the US and the UK on 25 February 2022. The film was a box office bomb, grossing $6.4 million on a $30 million budget. It received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised Dinklage's and Bennett's performances and the soundtrack. It was nominated for several awards, including a Best Motion Picture and Best Actor (Dinklage) at the 79th Golden Globe Awards, four nominations at the 75th British Academy Film Awards and a Best Costume Design nod at the 94th Academy Awards.

Plot

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The beautiful orphan Roxanne attends the theater with the old, vain and showy Duke De Guiche, who is determined to marry her. Roxanne wishes to marry for love, even though she does not have much money and would benefit greatly from marriage to a duke. While taking her seat, she and newly recruited soldier, Christian de Neuvillette, see each other and are instantly infatuated. As the play begins, Roxanne's childhood friend, the dwarven, highborn cadet Cyrano de Bergerac, objects to the lead actor and chases him off the stage with rhyming insults, then duels a man who mocks Cyrano's physical condition (the famous 'nose monologue' in Rostand's original work is replaced by another text).

Roxanne fails to realize that Cyrano is desperately in love with her. She tells Cyrano she has fallen for Christian and asks him to arrange a meeting. Though heartbroken, Cyrano meets Christian and discovers he is inarticulate and incapable of expressing his feelings. Not wanting to disappoint Roxanne, he writes countless letters expressing his own deep feelings for her, which Christian delivers as his own writing.

When Christian and Roxanne meet in person, he is unable to match Cyrano's powerful words that caused her to fall in love with Christian. Roxanne declares she needs more than simple platitudes and storms off. Later, Cyrano helps Christian make amends by hiding in the shadows and whispering what to say to Roxanne. She forgives Christian as a priest delivers a letter from De Guiche, declaring that he will either marry her or have his way with her. Roxanne and Christian hastily marry, infuriating De Guiche, who arranges for Christian and Cyrano's unit to be sent to the war front.

While at war, Cyrano sends Roxanne a letter from Christian every day and risks his own life to keep Christian alive. De Guiche eventually sends their unit on a suicide mission, and Cyrano reveals he has already written a final letter to Roxanne. Christian sees the letter is stained with tears and realizes Cyrano loves Roxanne, and that the man Roxanne really loves is Cyrano. He asks Cyrano to tell Roxanne everything. He then runs out to meet the enemy's guns and is killed.

Three years later, Cyrano is impoverished and in ill-health from war wounds that never fully healed. Roxanne remains his close friend. Sensing he is about to die, Cyrano meets with Roxanne and asks for Christian's final letter. He recites it from memory, revealing he wrote all of Christian's letters. Cyrano and Roxanne declare their love for each other just before he dies in her arms.

Cast

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Production

[edit]
Cyrano director Joe Wright

It was announced in August 2020 that Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer had acquired the rights to the film, which was written by Erica Schmidt, based on her stage musical Cyrano. The film was produced by Working Title Films, and Joe Wright was set to direct. Peter Dinklage and Haley Bennett reprised their roles from the stage musical, with Ben Mendelsohn and Brian Tyree Henry also cast.[5] Kelvin Harrison Jr. joined the cast in September 2020.[6] Bashir Salahuddin later joined the cast to replace Henry.[7] Music for the film was written by members of the National, who also wrote the music and lyrics for the stage musical.[5]

Principal photography began in Sicily (Noto, Syracuse, Scicli) in October 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. All of the vocal performances for the musical numbers were recorded live on set.[8][7][9]

Music

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The film's opening number, "Someone To Say," was released as a single on October 8, 2021, followed by "Somebody Desperate" on December 3, 2021. The latter song was written exclusively for the film and plays during the end credits.[10] The soundtrack was released on Decca Records on December 10, 2021.[11]

Release

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The film had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021.[12][13] By the end of its festival run, it screened at the Hamptons,[14] Mill Valley,[15] Rome,[16] and Savannah.[17]

The film was widely theatrically released in the United States and the United Kingdom on February 25, 2022. The film was originally scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the United States on December 25, 2021, but the release date was then moved to December 31.[7] In November 2021, the film's release plans were changed by United Artists Releasing in an effort to better position itself for Academy Awards qualification and contention: it had an exclusive one-week theatrical run in Los Angeles on December 17, prior to a planned limited theatrical release on January 21, 2022, before expanding in subsequent weeks.[18] The release date in the US was shifted to a limited release on January 28, before opening wide on February 11.[19] It was shifted again to a solely wide release on February 25, without a limited release,[20] on the same date as its release in the UK.[21] The UK release was originally scheduled for release on January 14, but was postponed by Universal Pictures as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic response.[22]

The film was released on streaming on March 9, 2022, and on Blu-ray and DVD on April 19, 2022, by Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.[23]

It is also the last MGM title to be released before the studio was acquired by Amazon on March 17, 2022.[24]

Reception

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Box office

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Cyrano grossed $3.9 million in the United States and Canada, and $2.5 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $6.4 million.[3][2]

In the United States and Canada, Cyrano was released alongside Studio 666, and was projected to gross $2–5 million from 797 theaters in its opening weekend.[25] The film earned $1.4 million in its opening weekend, finishing ninth at the box office.[26][27] It made $678,783 in its second weekend, finishing eighth.[28] The film dropped out of the box office top ten in its third weekend, finishing eleventh with $398,932.[29]

Outside the U.S. and Canada, the film earned $1.04 million from 10 international markets in its opening weekend.[30]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 85% of 248 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The website's consensus reads: "Uneven yet ultimately hard to resist, Joe Wright's Cyrano puts a well-acted musical spin on the oft-adapted classic tale."[31] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 66 out of 100, based on 46 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[32]

Accolades

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Accolades received by House of Gucci
Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
Detroit Film Critics Society December 6, 2021 Best Film Cyrano Won [33]
Best Actor Peter Dinklage Won
Best Use of Music Cyrano Nominated
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association December 6, 2021 Best Score Aaron and Bryce Dessner Nominated [34]
Golden Globe Awards January 9, 2022 Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Cyrano Nominated [35]
Best Actor – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical Peter Dinklage Nominated
Hollywood Critics Association February 28, 2022 Best Comedy/Musical Film Cyrano Nominated [36]
Best Actor Peter Dinklage Nominated
Best Original Song Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, and Kelvin Harrison Jr.
(for "Every Letter")
Nominated
Costume Designers Guild Awards March 9, 2022 Excellence in Period Film Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran Nominated [37]
Critics' Choice Awards March 13, 2022 Best Actor Peter Dinklage Nominated [38]
British Academy Film Awards March 13, 2022 Outstanding British Film Joe Wright, Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Guy Heely, and Erica Schmidt Nominated [39]
Best Costume Design Massimo Cantini Parrini Nominated
Best Makeup and Hair Alessandro Bertolazzi and Siân Miller Nominated
Best Production Design Sarah Greenwood and Katie Spencer Nominated
Academy Awards March 27, 2022 Best Costume Design Massimo Cantini Parrini and Jacqueline Durran Nominated [40]
Satellite Awards April 2, 2022 Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Cyrano Nominated [41]
Best Actor Peter Dinklage Nominated
Best Costume Design Massimo Cantini Parrini Won

References

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  1. ^ Thompson, Anne (January 4, 2022). "Why Joe Wright Threw Caution to the Winds on Cyrano After Woman in the Window Left Him Reeling". IndieWire. Retrieved January 20, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Cyrano (2022)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Cyrano (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved April 7, 2022.
  4. ^ Marc, Christopher (August 27, 2021). "Joe Wright's Period Romance Musical 'Cyrano' With Peter Dinklage & Haley Bennett Arriving December 31". The Playlist. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 4, 2020). "MGM Lands 'Cyrano'; Joe Wright-Directed Working Title Stage Adaptation Stars Peter Dinklage, Haley Bennett, Brian Tyree Henry & Ben Mendelsohn". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 6, 2021.
  6. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (September 18, 2020). "Kelvin Harrison Jr. Joins Peter Dinklage In 'Cyrano' Musical At MGM". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  7. ^ a b c Ford, Rebecca (August 26, 2021). "Joe Wright Wanted to Make Something "Really Beautiful" During a Pandemic—So Here Comes Cyrano". Vanity Fair. Retrieved August 27, 2021.
  8. ^ Daniels, Nia (September 8, 2020). "GoT's Peter Dinklage to film Cyrano in Sicily". The Knowledge Online. Retrieved October 12, 2020.
  9. ^ "Cyrano Star Peter Dinklage on Singing Live and the Unlimited Potential of Classic Characters [Interview]". February 25, 2022.
  10. ^ "The National's Aaron and Bryce Dessner announce 'Cyrano' soundtrack". NME. October 6, 2021.
  11. ^ "'Cyrano' Soundtrack Album Released | Film Music Reporter".
  12. ^ "Telluride Film Festival Program Guide" (PDF). Telluride Film Festival. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  13. ^ Hammond, Pete (September 1, 2021). "Telluride Film Festival: Will Smith's 'King Richard', Peter Dinklage Musical 'Cyrano', Joaquin Phoenix In 'C'mon C'mon', Ken Branagh's 'Belfast' Set To Premiere". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "Hamptons International Film Festival: CYRANO". Guild Hall. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  15. ^ Miller, Stuart (October 7, 2021). "Mill Valley Film Fest Fetes Spirited In-Person Return". Variety. Archived from the original on October 7, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  16. ^ Grater, Tom (October 6, 2021). "Rome Film Festival To Fete Quentin Tarantino, Tim Burton; Chloe Zhao's 'Eternals' Set As Closing Film". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on October 6, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  17. ^ "Cyrano". SCAD Savannah Film Festival. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  18. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 9, 2021). "'Cyrano': UAR/MGM Positions Joe Wright Musical With Mid-December Awards Season Qualification, Wider Break In Early 2022". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 9, 2021. Retrieved November 21, 2021.
  19. ^ Cyrano Movie [@CyranoMovie] (January 6, 2022). ""I wanted to create something entirely new" ... Experience director Joe Wright's vivid world of #CyranoMovie. Opening in select cities, January 28. Everywhere Feb 11. #MGMStudios" (Tweet). Retrieved January 11, 2022 – via Twitter.
  20. ^ United Artists Releasing. "Cyrano Release". Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  21. ^ Grater, Tom (January 6, 2021). "Universal Delays 'Cyrano' UK Release As Omicron Continues Surge". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 6, 2022. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
  22. ^ Ritman, Alex (January 6, 2022). "Universal Postpones U.K. Release of Cyrano (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  23. ^ "Cyrano (2021)".
  24. ^ Maas, Jennifer (March 17, 2022). "Amazon Closes $8.5 Billion Acquisition of MGM". Variety. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
  25. ^ Robbins, Shawn (February 23, 2022). "Weekend Box Office Forecast: Uncharted and Dog Look to Continue Success as Cyrano and Studio 666 Debut". Boxoffice Pro. Retrieved February 25, 2022.
  26. ^ "Domestic 2022 Weekend 8". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  27. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 27, 2022). "Uncharted & Dog Keep Box Office Warm In Second Weekends Before The Batman Conquers – Sunday AM Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
  28. ^ "Domestic 2022 Weekend 9". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  29. ^ "Domestic 2022 Weekend 10". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  30. ^ Tartaglione, Nancy (February 27, 2022). "Uncharted Darts To $226M WW, Spider-Man: No Way Home Tops Titanic's Original Global Run – International Box Office". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
  31. ^ "Cyrano". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved June 26, 2023. Edit this at Wikidata
  32. ^ "Cyrano". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  33. ^ "Detroit Film Critics Society Announces 2021 Nominations". Detroit Film Critics Society. December 3, 2021. Archived from the original on December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 3, 2021.
  34. ^ "The 2021 WAFCA Awards". Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association. December 4, 2021. Retrieved December 4, 2021.
  35. ^ 2022 Golden Globe Nominations: 'Licorice Pizza,' 'Squid Game,' 'West Side Story,' and More
  36. ^ "DUNE, CODA, AND BELFAST LEAD THE 5TH ANNUAL HCA FILM AWARDS NOMINATIONS". Hollywood Critics Association. December 2, 2021. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  37. ^ Pener, Degen (January 26, 2022). "Costume Designers Guild Awards: 'House of Gucci,' 'Dune,' 'Squid Game' Among Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  38. ^ "Film Nominations Announced for the 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards | Critics Choice Awards". Retrieved January 6, 2022.
  39. ^ Grater, Tom (February 3, 2022). "BAFTA Film Awards: 'Dune' & 'The Power Of The Dog' Lead Nominations". Deadline. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  40. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly; Lewis, Hilary (February 8, 2022). "Oscars: Full List of Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2022.
  41. ^ Anderson, Erik (December 1, 2021). "'Belfast,' 'The Power of the Dog' lead 26th Satellite Awards nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 1, 2021.
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