Waves (2019 film): Difference between revisions
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==Plot== |
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{{Long plot|date=July 2020}} |
{{Long plot|date=July 2020}} |
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Tyler Williams is a popular high school senior on the [[scholastic wrestling|wrestling team]]. Outside of school, he parties with his friends and spends time with his girlfriend Alexis Lopez, but is routinely pushed to be better by his domineering father, Ronald. Unbeknownst to anyone at school or home, Tyler suffers from a Level 5 [[SLAP tear]], which he keeps secret from his family and team by discreetly stealing his father's painkillers. Against the recommendation of his doctor, Tyler continues to wrestle competitively until he is violently thrown onto his shoulder during a match, causing irreparable damage and ending his season, as well as his career. Tyler's life is further complicated when he receives a text from Alexis, who reveals that her period is late, indicating that she is [[Pregnancy|pregnant]]. He takes her to get an [[abortion]], but |
Tyler Williams is a popular high school senior on the [[scholastic wrestling|wrestling team]]. Outside of school, he parties with his friends and spends time with his girlfriend Alexis Lopez, but is routinely pushed to be better by his domineering father, Ronald. Unbeknownst to anyone at school or home, Tyler suffers from a Level 5 [[SLAP tear]], which he keeps secret from his family and team by discreetly stealing his father's painkillers. Against the recommendation of his doctor, Tyler continues to wrestle competitively until he is violently thrown onto his shoulder during a match, causing irreparable damage and ending his season, as well as his career. Tyler's life is further complicated when he receives a text from Alexis, who reveals that her period is late, indicating that she is [[Pregnancy|pregnant]]. He takes her to get an [[abortion]], but she has a last-minute change of heart. On the way home, the couple has a fight and Alexis walks home alone. |
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Distraught, Tyler begins drinking heavily and abusing drugs at parties with his friends. Eventually, Tyler texts Alexis, who is willing to mend their relationship. She tells Tyler that she has decided to keep the child with support from her family, but when Tyler demands to speak to her in person, Alexis breaks up with him and blocks his number, sending him into a rage as he destroys his bedroom. The night of the school's "Maverick Ball", a grounded Tyler goes on [[Instagram]] and sees a picture showing Alexis posing with another boy. He gets high and attempts to leave the house, but is confronted by his stepmom, Catherine. |
Distraught, Tyler begins drinking heavily and abusing drugs at parties with his friends. Eventually, Tyler texts Alexis, who is willing to mend their relationship. She tells Tyler that she has decided to keep the child with support from her family, but when Tyler demands to speak to her in person, Alexis breaks up with him and blocks his number, sending him into a rage as he destroys his bedroom. The night of the school's "Maverick Ball", a grounded Tyler goes on [[Instagram]] and sees a picture showing Alexis posing with another boy. He gets drunk and high and attempts to leave the house, but is confronted by his stepmom, Catherine. His father attempts to defuse the situation, but Tyler throws him to the floor and leaves. |
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He drives to a house party, where he sees Alexis go upstairs with the boy from the photo. Tyler's younger sister Emily notices his arrival from a distance but says nothing, and Tyler drinks heavily before following Alexis to the garage |
He drives to a house party, where he sees Alexis go upstairs with the boy from the photo. Tyler's younger sister Emily notices his arrival from a distance but says nothing, and Tyler drinks heavily before following Alexis to the garage. An exchange of words leads to an argument, which turns physical when Alexis slaps Tyler and he hits her back, causing her head to hit the floor. She begins to bleed out, and, horrified, Tyler flees. Ronald arrives shortly after, finding Emily, who tearfully confirms Ronald's suspicions. Tyler returns home before attempting to run away on foot. However, he is quickly caught and arrested by the police. Paramedics attempt to resuscitate Alexis, but she dies from her injuries. |
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Despite a guilty plea, Tyler is sentenced to life in prison for [[Murder (United States law)#Degrees|second-degree murder]], with the eligibility of [[parole]] after thirty years |
Despite a guilty plea, Tyler is sentenced to life in prison for [[Murder (United States law)#Degrees|second-degree murder]], with the eligibility of [[parole]] after thirty years. After school one day, Emily is approached by Luke, an awkward but kindhearted classmate who was also one of Tyler's wrestling teammates. He asks her out to lunch and the two begin dating. Emily begins to open up to Luke, participating in activities outside of school with him, such as swimming with [[manatee]]s. During this time, Emily also overhears Ronald and Catherine arguing about Tyler, with Ronald blaming Catherine for her lack of presence in his and Emily's lives, and Catherine accusing Ronald of putting too much pressure on Tyler. During a conversation they have while fishing, Emily reveals to Ronald that she feels guilty knowing that she could've stopped Tyler and that she hates him for what he did. Ronald advises her not to hold a grudge against her brother and that no matter what, he loves them both. The two reconcile. |
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Meanwhile, Emily and Luke become closer, eventually having sex for the first time. Emily learns from Luke that his estranged, abusive father is dying of cancer, and she urges him to make amends with him with the time he has left, as Emily and Tyler's mother died from a drug overdose when they were young. The two drive to [[Columbia, Missouri]], where Luke's father is residing, and upon seeing his son, Luke's father's spirits are lifted. He begins to survive longer than expected, but passes away overnight. Emily consoles a mourning Luke on the drive home to [[Miami]] while Catherine visits Tyler in prison, Alexis' parents grieve, and Ronald reconnects with Catherine. Sometime after arriving home, Emily rides her bike down an empty street, lifting her arms from the handlebars, having found peace. |
Meanwhile, Emily and Luke become closer, eventually having sex for the first time. Emily learns from Luke that his estranged, abusive father is dying of cancer, and she urges him to make amends with him with the time he has left, as Emily and Tyler's mother died from a drug overdose when they were young. The two drive to [[Columbia, Missouri]], where Luke's father is residing, and upon seeing his son, Luke's father's spirits are lifted. He begins to survive longer than expected, but passes away overnight. Emily consoles a mourning Luke on the drive home to [[Miami]] while Catherine visits Tyler in prison, Alexis' parents grieve, and Ronald reconnects with Catherine. Sometime after arriving home, Emily rides her bike down an empty street, lifting her arms from the handlebars, having found peace. |
Revision as of 07:31, 7 July 2020
Waves | |
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![]() Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Trey Edward Shults |
Written by | Trey Edward Shults |
Produced by |
|
Starring | |
Cinematography | Drew Daniels |
Edited by |
|
Music by | |
Production companies |
|
Distributed by | A24 |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 135 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Box office | $2 million[1] |
Waves is a 2019 American drama film written, directed, produced and co-edited by Trey Edward Shults. It stars Kelvin Harrison Jr., Lucas Hedges, Taylor Russell, Alexa Demie, Renée Elise Goldsberry, and Sterling K. Brown. Set against the vibrant landscape of South Florida, it traces the emotional journey of a suburban family as they navigate love, forgiveness, and coming together in the aftermath of a loss.
It had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2019, and was released in the United States on November 15, 2019, by A24. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances (particularly that of Harrison, Russell, and Brown), cinematography, and Shults' direction.
Plot
![]() | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. (July 2020) |
Tyler Williams is a popular high school senior on the wrestling team. Outside of school, he parties with his friends and spends time with his girlfriend Alexis Lopez, but is routinely pushed to be better by his domineering father, Ronald. Unbeknownst to anyone at school or home, Tyler suffers from a Level 5 SLAP tear, which he keeps secret from his family and team by discreetly stealing his father's painkillers. Against the recommendation of his doctor, Tyler continues to wrestle competitively until he is violently thrown onto his shoulder during a match, causing irreparable damage and ending his season, as well as his career. Tyler's life is further complicated when he receives a text from Alexis, who reveals that her period is late, indicating that she is pregnant. He takes her to get an abortion, but she has a last-minute change of heart. On the way home, the couple has a fight and Alexis walks home alone.
Distraught, Tyler begins drinking heavily and abusing drugs at parties with his friends. Eventually, Tyler texts Alexis, who is willing to mend their relationship. She tells Tyler that she has decided to keep the child with support from her family, but when Tyler demands to speak to her in person, Alexis breaks up with him and blocks his number, sending him into a rage as he destroys his bedroom. The night of the school's "Maverick Ball", a grounded Tyler goes on Instagram and sees a picture showing Alexis posing with another boy. He gets drunk and high and attempts to leave the house, but is confronted by his stepmom, Catherine. His father attempts to defuse the situation, but Tyler throws him to the floor and leaves.
He drives to a house party, where he sees Alexis go upstairs with the boy from the photo. Tyler's younger sister Emily notices his arrival from a distance but says nothing, and Tyler drinks heavily before following Alexis to the garage. An exchange of words leads to an argument, which turns physical when Alexis slaps Tyler and he hits her back, causing her head to hit the floor. She begins to bleed out, and, horrified, Tyler flees. Ronald arrives shortly after, finding Emily, who tearfully confirms Ronald's suspicions. Tyler returns home before attempting to run away on foot. However, he is quickly caught and arrested by the police. Paramedics attempt to resuscitate Alexis, but she dies from her injuries.
Despite a guilty plea, Tyler is sentenced to life in prison for second-degree murder, with the eligibility of parole after thirty years. After school one day, Emily is approached by Luke, an awkward but kindhearted classmate who was also one of Tyler's wrestling teammates. He asks her out to lunch and the two begin dating. Emily begins to open up to Luke, participating in activities outside of school with him, such as swimming with manatees. During this time, Emily also overhears Ronald and Catherine arguing about Tyler, with Ronald blaming Catherine for her lack of presence in his and Emily's lives, and Catherine accusing Ronald of putting too much pressure on Tyler. During a conversation they have while fishing, Emily reveals to Ronald that she feels guilty knowing that she could've stopped Tyler and that she hates him for what he did. Ronald advises her not to hold a grudge against her brother and that no matter what, he loves them both. The two reconcile.
Meanwhile, Emily and Luke become closer, eventually having sex for the first time. Emily learns from Luke that his estranged, abusive father is dying of cancer, and she urges him to make amends with him with the time he has left, as Emily and Tyler's mother died from a drug overdose when they were young. The two drive to Columbia, Missouri, where Luke's father is residing, and upon seeing his son, Luke's father's spirits are lifted. He begins to survive longer than expected, but passes away overnight. Emily consoles a mourning Luke on the drive home to Miami while Catherine visits Tyler in prison, Alexis' parents grieve, and Ronald reconnects with Catherine. Sometime after arriving home, Emily rides her bike down an empty street, lifting her arms from the handlebars, having found peace.
Cast
- Kelvin Harrison Jr. as Tyler Williams, a high school senior
- Taylor Russell as Emily Williams, Tyler's younger sister
- Sterling K. Brown as Ronald Williams, Tyler and Emily's father
- Lucas Hedges as Luke, one of Tyler's teammates and Emily's love interest
- Renée Elise Goldsberry as Catherine Williams, Tyler and Emily's stepmother
- Alexa Demie as Alexis Lopez, Tyler's girlfriend
- Clifton Collins Jr. as Bobby Lopez, Alexis' father
- Vivi Pineda as Elena Lopez, Alexis' mother
- Neal Huff as Bill
- Bill Wise as Coach Wise
- David Garelik as Ryan, a friend of Tyler
- Ruben E.A. Brown as Wally
- Harmony Korine as Mr. Stanley
- Krisha Fairchild as English Teacher
Production
Kevin Turen and James Wilson served as producers on the film, with A24 producing and distributing[2][3] and with Trey Edward Shults directing, producing, from a screenplay he wrote.
Casting
In July 2018, it was announced Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Taylor Russell joined the cast of the film. In August 2018, Alexa Demie joined the cast.[4]
Filming
Principal photography began on July 9, 2018 in Broward County, Florida.[5]
Music
Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film's score, replacing Shults' frequent collaboration with Brian McOmber. In an interview, Shults stated, "I got one of the coolest e-mails of my life one day that Trent Reznor was a fan and wanted to meet. I got on a plane as soon as I could and went to L.A. and met him and Atticus for lunch. Instantly, the energy was great. They had seen and dug my other movies and just wanted to work together."[6] The score was released on November 26, 2019, on Nine Inch Nails' online store.[7]
The film's soundtrack features a compilation of contemporary rap, R&B, alternative, and experimental pop music from artists including Animal Collective, Tame Impala, Frank Ocean, A$AP Rocky, Kendrick Lamar, The Shoes, H.E.R., Tyler, the Creator, Fuck Buttons, Amy Winehouse, Kanye West, THEY., Kid Cudi, Colin Stetson, SZA, Chance the Rapper, Radiohead, and Alabama Shakes. Shults shot the film with certain songs in mind, and sent a rough cut of the film to the artists. He had trouble securing some songs, but eventually cleared many of them.[8] The full list of songs used in the film was made available on A24's website, in an article where Shults annotates the usage of the songs.[9]
Release
Waves premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2019.[10][11] It screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on September 10, 2019.[12][13] It was released on November 15, 2019 in New York City and Los Angeles, expanding to major U.S. cities the week after, with a wide release set for December 6.[14] In September, Focus Features acquired the international distribution rights to the film, excluding Canada, China and Japan.[15]
Reception
Box office
Waves grossed a total of $1.7 million in the United States.[1] In its limited opening weekend, the film made $134,333 from four theaters, a per-venue average of $33,583.[16] Expanding to 21 theaters the following weekend the film made $168,760, and then $140,995 from 44 theaters in its third.[17][18]
Critical response
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 83% based on 226 reviews, with an average rating of 7.77/10. The site's consensus reads: "An up-close look at one family's emotional ups and downs, Waves captures complicated dynamics with tenderness and grace."[19] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 80 out of 100, based on 45 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[20]
IndieWire's Eric Kohn gave the film a B+, stating "It’s a definitive statement on the present moment, evoking the sheer horror of every uncertain exchange, and the courage involved in moving ahead regardless of what it means for the future".[21] Justin Chang of the Los Angeles Times called it "deeply rooted in its characters’ consciousness, alert to the feelings of dread, shame, rage and despair that threaten to bring these fast-moving lives to a standstill".[22] It was chosen by the National Board of Review as one of the ten best films of the year.[23]
Accolades
Award | Date of Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Reel Awards | February 6, 2020 | Outstanding Motion Picture | Trey Edward Shults, Kevin Turen, and James Wilson | Nominated | [24] |
Outstanding Actor | Kelvin Harrison Jr. | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Male | Won | ||||
Outstanding Supporting Actor | Sterling K. Brown | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Supporting Actress | Taylor Russell | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Breakthrough Performance, Female | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Ensemble | Avy Kaufman | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Original Score | Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Cinematography | Drew Daniels | Nominated | |||
Casting Society of America | January 30, 2020 | Studio or Independent – Drama | Avy Kaufman and Mark Mullen | Nominated | [25] |
Film Independent Spirit Awards | February 8, 2020 | Best Supporting Female | Taylor Russell | Nominated | [26] |
Gotham Awards | December 2, 2019 | Best Feature | Waves | Nominated | [27] |
Breakthrough Actor | Taylor Russell | Won | |||
Los Angeles Online Film Critics Society | TBA | Best Picture | Waves | Nominated | [28] |
Best Supporting Actor | Sterling K. Brown | Nominated | |||
Best Supporting Actress | Taylor Russell | Nominated | |||
Breakthrough Actor | Kelvin Harrison Jr. | Nominated | |||
Taylor Russell | Nominated | ||||
Best Cast | Cast of Waves | Nominated | |||
Best Independent Film | Waves | Nominated | |||
Best Cinematography | Drew Daniels | Nominated | |||
Best Score | Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross | Nominated | |||
NAACP Image Awards | February 22, 2020 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Sterling K. Brown | Nominated | [29] |
National Board of Review | December 3, 2019 | Top Films | Waves | Won | [30] |
See also
References
- ^ a b "Waves (2019)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (July 2, 2018). "Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown to Star in Musical 'Waves' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ N'Duka, Amanda (July 2, 2018). "Kelvin Harrison Jr. Re-Teams with Trey Edward Shults in A24's 'Waves', Starring With Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Kroll, Justin (August 15, 2018). "'Mid90s' Actress Alexa Demie Joins Lucas Hedges, Sterling K. Brown in A24's 'Waves' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved August 15, 2018.
- ^ "Trey Edward Shults' New Movie 'WAVES' Open Casting Call". Project Casting. June 19, 2018. Retrieved August 7, 2018.
- ^ Hicks, Luke (November 21, 2019). ""Godspeed": Trey Edward Shults On WAVES, His Most Personal Film Yet". Birth.Movies.Death. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "WAVES (ORIGINAL SCORE) - Nine Inch Nails". Nine Inch Nails. November 26, 2019. Retrieved December 2, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Buchanan, Kyle (December 10, 2019). "How 'Waves' Got Kanye and Kendrick on Its Soundtrack". The New York Times. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "The Annotated Waves Playlist". A24 Films. December 6, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2020.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Hammond, Pete (August 29, 2019). "Telluride Film Festival: 'Ford V Ferrari', 'Judy', 'Motherless Brooklyn', Weinstein-Inspired Drama 'The Assistant' Among Premieres Headed to 46th Edition – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ "Telluride Program Guide" (PDF). Retrieved August 29, 2019.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (August 13, 2019). "'The Aeronauts,' 'Burnt Orange Heresy' Added to Toronto Film Fest Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ "Waves". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (August 22, 2019). "A24 Opening Trey Edward Shults' 'Waves' in Prime Awards Season November Spot". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 22, 2019.
- ^ Kay, Jeremy (September 6, 2019). "Focus Features acquires international rights to TIFF selection 'Waves' (exclusive)". Screen International. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
- ^ Brueggemann, Tom (November 17, 2019). "'Waves' Makes Box Office Splash as Amazon and Netflix Stay Quiet". IndieWire. Retrieved November 17, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Brueggemann, Tom (November 24, 2019). "'Dark Waters' Leads Tepid Arthouse Openers at Crowded Box Office". IndieWire. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Brueggemann, Tom (December 1, 2019). "'Harriet,' 'Jojo Rabbit,' and 'Parasite' Reap Holiday Box Office Bounty". IndieWire. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "Waves (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved July 4, 2020.
- ^ "Waves Reviews". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ Kohn, Eric (August 30, 2019). "'Waves' Review: Trey Shults' Dizzying Tearjerker Depicts How a 21st-Century Family Can Fall Apart". IndieWire. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Chang, Justin (November 13, 2019). "Review: 'Waves' shatters expectations with a family drama that's pure cinema". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "National Board of Review 2019: 'The Irishman' Wins Best Film, Adam Sandler Named Best Actor". National Board of Review. December 3, 2019. Retrieved December 3, 2019.
- ^ Morales, Wilson (December 11, 2019). "20th Annual Black Reel Awards - Nominees Announced". Black Film. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Schaffstall, Katherine (January 2, 2020). "Artios Awards: 'Hustlers,' 'Knives Out,' 'Rocketman' Among Casting Society Film Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 6, 2020.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (November 21, 2019). "2020 Independent Spirit Awards Nominees: 'Marriage Story,' 'Uncut Gems,' and More". IndieWire. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Sharf, Zack (December 2, 2019). "Gotham Winners: 'Marriage Story' Wins Big as Gerwig, Awkwafina Steal the Show Backstage". IndieWire. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Neglia, Matt (November 25, 2019). "The 2019 Hollywood Critics Association (HCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Haring, Bruce (January 9, 2020). "NAACP Image Awards Nominees: 'Harriet,' 'When They See Us', Netflix Lead Way". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2020.
- ^ Sharf, Zack (December 3, 2019). "National Board of Review 2019: 'The Irishman' Wins Best Film, Adam Sandler Named Best Actor". IndieWire. Retrieved December 5, 2019.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
External links
- Official website
- Waves at IMDb
- Waves at Rotten Tomatoes
- Waves at Metacritic