Ida Red (film)
| Ida Red | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | John Swab |
| Written by | John Swab |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Matt Clegg |
| Edited by | John David Allen |
| Music by | David Sardy |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Saban Films |
Release dates |
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Running time | 111 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Ida Red is a 2021 American action crime thriller film written, directed, and co-produced by John Swab. It stars an ensemble cast that includes Josh Hartnett, Sofia Hublitz, William Forsythe, Deborah Ann Woll, George Carroll, Mark Boone Junior, Beau Knapp, Frank Grillo, and Melissa Leo. It follows an incarcerated crime boss who, living on borrowed time, turns to her son and brother to pull off one huge heist to buy her freedom.
The film had its world premiere at the 74th Locarno Film Festival on August 11, 2021. It was released in select theaters and on VOD on November 5, 2021, by Saban Films. It received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics.
Plot[edit]
Ida "Red" Walker (Melissa Leo), the biological mother of a criminal family, sits rotting in jail. She is a widow as a result of the bust that nabbed her. Now that she's got cancer, she wants to die in freedom. So she plots both a parole and, true to form, a heist.
Her son is a successful career criminal, ethical Wyatt (Josh Hartnett) and so is brother, psycho Dallas (Frank Grillo). There is also sister Jeanie (Deborah Ann Woll), estranged from Ida because she married kind and dim cop Bodie Collier (George Carroll). Their rebellious teen kid Darla (Sofia Hublitz) is drawn to uncle Wyatt and is romantically involved with local dirtbag Petey (Nicholas Cirillo).
Wyatt's having a hard time after a truck heist goes wrong, and cranky FBI Special Agent Lawrence Twilley (William Forsythe), who is partnering with Collier, is on the trail. Dallas, who appoints himself cleaner, nastily shoots people responsible for the screw-up, or their kin.
Cast[edit]
- Josh Hartnett as Wyatt Walker
- Frank Grillo as Dallas Walker
- Melissa Leo as Ida "Red" Walker
- Sofia Hublitz as Darla Walker
- William Forsythe as Lawrence Twilley
- Deborah Ann Woll as Jeanie Walker
- George Carroll as Bodie Collier
- Mark Boone Junior as Benson Drummond
- Beau Knapp as Jay
- Nicholas Cirillo as Petey
- Ben Hall as Stewart Prince
- Bruce Davis as Shug
- Danny Boy O'Connor as Bird
- Kadar Wesley Price as Dede
- Dash Melrose as Carter
- James Whitecloud as Chua
- Mark Ward as Lionel
- John Swab as Jerry
Production[edit]
Ida Red was inspired by films such as Hardcore (1979), Cruising (1980), Thief (1981), and Heat (1995).[2] In August 2020, it was announced that Frank Grillo, Melissa Leo, Josh Hartnett, and William Forsythe were set to star in the film, with John Swab directing from his screenplay.[3] It was produced by Jeremy M. Rosen, Swab, and Robert Ogden Barnum for Roxwell Films, in association with Bondit Media Capital. This is the third feature collaboration between Swab and Rosen.[3]
Principal photography took place from August to September 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The film was shot in and around Tulsa, Oklahoma, with strict precautions taken on set, following Oklahoma and SAG-AFTRA COVID-19 protocols.[4] The original music was composed by David Sardy.[5]
Release[edit]
It had its world premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in August 11, 2021.[6] It will have its North American premiere at the Fantasia International Film Festival, also in August 2021.[7] Prior to, Saban Films acquired U.S. and U.K. distribution rights to the film.[8] It is scheduled to be released on November 5, 2021.
Reception[edit]
Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a 33% approval rating based on 18 reviews, with an average rating of 5.10/10.[9]
Angie Han, writing for The Hollywood Reporter, criticized the first scene as "set in tedium and confusion" but highlighted two memorable elements categorizing them in "what-does-this-remind-me-of feeling" part of the film and Grillo's performance. However, Han said that Ida Red does not make much impression and concluded, writing that "[the film] turns out to be just the latest faint echo of stories we’ve heard too many times already."[10]
References[edit]
- ^ "Ida Red". Locarno Film Festival. Archived from the original on April 9, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ Mathai, Jeremy (September 27, 2021). "Ida Red: Release Date, Cast, And More". /Film. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (August 26, 2020). "'Ida Red': Frank Grillo, Melissa Leo & Josh Hartnett Lead Cast In Action-Thriller Shot During The Pandemic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 17, 2024. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ McDonnell, Brandy (September 2, 2020). "Oscar winner Melissa Leo, Frank Grillo and Josh Hartnett starring in Oklahoma filmmaker John Swab's new feature 'Ida Red,' now filming in Tulsa". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ "'Ida Red' Soundtrack Album Released". Film Music Reporter. November 5, 2021. Archived from the original on September 25, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2024.
- ^ Grater, Tom (July 1, 2021). "Locarno Unveils 2021 Line-Up: Abel Ferrara's Ethan Hawke-Starrer 'Zeros And Ones' To World Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
- ^ Lang, Jamie (July 21, 2021). "Takashi Miike's 'The Great Yokai War – Guardians' to Close Quebec's Fantasia Festival 2021". Variety. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
- ^ Ritman, Alex (July 8, 2021). "Cannes: Saban Lands Josh Hartnett, Melissa Leo, Frank Grillo Action-Thriller 'Ida Red' for U.S., U.K. (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 8, 2021.
- ^ "IDA RED". rottentomatoes.com. Retrieved January 8, 2023.
- ^ Han, Angie (October 26, 2021). "'Ida Red': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 31, 2021.
