The Freebie
| The Freebie | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Katie Aselton |
| Written by | Katie Aselton |
| Produced by | Adele Romanski |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Benjamin Kasulke |
| Edited by | Nat Sanders |
| Music by | Julian Wass |
| Distributed by | Phase 4 Films[1] |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 80 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $16,613[2] |
The Freebie is a 2010 American independent film directed by Katie Aselton that had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.[3] The plot centers on a married couple who, frustrated by the lack of sex in their relationship, allow each other a one-night stand.[4] The film is largely improvised.
Plot
Darren and Annie have a comfortable relationship built on love, trust and communication, enjoying each other's company and still laughing at each other's jokes. However, their sex life has become dormant. When a dinner party conversation with friends leads to an honest discussion about the state of their love life, they begin to flirt with an idea for a way to spice their marriage up. They each agree to one night of freedom, no strings attached, no questions asked.
Cast
- Dax Shepard as Darren
- Katie Aselton as Annie
- Frankie Shaw as Coffee girl
- Ross Partridge as Bartender
- Sean Nelson as John
- Bellamy Young as Jessica
- Joshua Leonard as Dinner Party Guest
- Marguerite Phillips as Emily
- Ken Kennedy as Ken
- Scott Pitts as Scott
- Lenora Pitts as Lea
Production
The script had originated as a detailed 6-page outline, with the rest of the dialogue being improvised.[5] For some scenes, Aselton would let the camera roll for as long as 30 minutes, and then would choose which dialogue made it into the final cut.[6] Dax Shepard signed on to play Darren after another actor exited the project.[7]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in the inaugural NEXT section.[8] It was acquired by Phase 4 Films and went on to screen at SXSW.[1] It was given a limited theatrical release on September 17, 2010.[9]
Reception
The Freebie holds a 55% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 5.6/10 from 29 critics.[9] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 54 out of 100, based on eight critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[10]
Todd McCarthy of Variety gave the film a positive review, writing: "From a performance P.O.V., Aselton and Shepard hold the screen well and are most watchable, and Aselton does a fluid directing job within the limited challenge she set for herself production-wise. Benjamin Kasulke’s HD lensing is bright and sharp, while Nat Sanders’ editing is very crisp."[11]
Andrew Schenker of Slant gave the film a negative review and a 1.5/10 rating, writing: "Never are Aselton's failings more evident than in a pair of dinner party scenes, one of which opens the film, and which involve the central couple and their friends in a discussion of the nature of romance."[12]
References
- ^ a b Coates, Kristen (February 3, 2010). "[Sundance Review] Aselton Impresses With Low-Budget 'Freebie'". The Film Stage. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
- ^ "The Freebie (2010)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ "The Freebie". Festival Genius. Archived from the original on December 14, 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2012.
- ^ Holden, Stephen (September 16, 2010). "Loving Couple Wonder Where the Ardor Went". The New York Times.
- ^ "Katie Aselton director, The Freebie". prepshootpost.blogspot.com. December 6, 2009. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ Carter, Lance (January 24, 2011). "Interview: The League's Katie Aselton talks about her directorial debut, The Freebie!". DailyActor.com. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ Rich, Katey (September 16, 2010). "Exclusive Interview: Katie Aselton Moves Up To Directing With The Freebie". CinemaBlend.com. Archived from the original on September 18, 2010. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ "A Conversation with Katie Aselton, Ben Kasulke, and Nat Sanders (THE FREEBIE)". Hammer to Nail. September 16, 2010. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ a b "The Freebie". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "The Freebie". Metacritic. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ McCarthy, Todd (February 7, 2010). "Review: 'The Freebie'". Variety. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
- ^ Schenker, Andrew (September 12, 2010). "The Freebie". SlantMagazine.com. Retrieved March 3, 2016.