American Symphony (film)
American Symphony | |
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Directed by | Matthew Heineman |
Produced by |
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Starring | Jon Batiste |
Cinematography |
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Edited by |
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Music by | Jon Batiste |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | Netflix |
Release dates |
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Running time | 104 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
American Symphony is a 2023 American biographical documentary film, written, shot, and edited by Matthew Heineman. It explores a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste, his music career, and his wife's struggle with leukemia.
It had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023, and was released by Netflix on November 29, 2023. The film received a Best Original Song nomination at the 96th Academy Awards.
Premise
[edit]Explores a year in the life of musician Jon Batiste, chronicling his career in music (including his 11 nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards) and the struggles his wife, Suleika Jaouad, faces with leukemia.
Release
[edit]American Symphony had its world premiere at the 50th Telluride Film Festival on August 31, 2023.[2] Shortly after, Netflix and Higher Ground Productions acquired distribution rights to the film.[3] It was released on November 29, 2023.[4]
Reception
[edit]On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 93% of 27 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's consensus reads: "More than a standard musician's documentary, American Symphony uses its behind-the-scenes access to present a portrait of courage and creativity."[5] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 74 out of 100, based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[6]
Accolades
[edit]Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Academy Awards | March 10, 2024 | Best Original Song | Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") | Nominated | [7] |
Alliance of Women Film Journalists | January 3, 2024 | Best Documentary | American Symphony | Won[a] | [8] |
American Cinema Editors | March 3, 2024 | Best Edited Documentary (Theatrical) | Sammy Dane, Matthew Heineman, Jim Hession, and Fernando Villegas | Nominated | [9] |
Astra Film and Creative Arts Awards | January 6, 2024 | Best Documentary Feature | American Symphony | Nominated | [10] |
Black Film Critics Circle | December 20, 2023 | Best Documentary | Won | [11] | |
Black Reel Awards | January 16, 2024 | Outstanding Documentary Feature | Nominated | [12] | |
Outstanding Score | Jon Batiste | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Original Song | Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") | Nominated | |||
Capri Hollywood International Film Festival | January 2, 2024 | Best Documentary Feature | American Symphony | Won | [13] [14] |
Cinema Audio Society Awards | March 2, 2024 | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Mixing for Motion Picture – Documentary | Tom Paul, Tristan Baylis, and Ryan Collison | Nominated | [15] |
Cinema Eye Honors | January 12, 2024 | Outstanding Production | Lauren Domino, Matthew Heineman, and Joedan Okun | Nominated | [16] |
Outstanding Original Score | Jon Batiste | Nominated | |||
Audience Choice Prize | American Symphony | Nominated | |||
The Unforgettables | Jon Batiste and Suleika Jaouad | Won | |||
Critics' Choice Documentary Awards | November 12, 2023 | Best Documentary Feature | American Symphony | Nominated | [17] |
Best Music Documentary | Won | ||||
Best Director | Matthew Heineman | Nominated | |||
Best Score | Jon Batiste | Won | |||
Best Cinematography | Tony Hardmon, Matthew Heineman, and Thorsten Thielow | Nominated | |||
Best Editing | Sammy Dane, Jim Hession, Matthew Heineman, and Fernando Villegas | Nominated | |||
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | December 18, 2023 | Best Documentary Film | American Symphony | Won | [18] |
Denver Film Critics Society | January 12, 2024 | Best Documentary Feature | Nominated | [19] | |
Golden Reel Awards | March 3, 2024 | Outstanding Achievement in Music Editing – Documentary | Ignacio Bonet | Nominated | [20] |
Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Documentary | Tristan Baylis, Tom Paul, Leslie Bloome, Matt Snedecor, and Mark Filip | Nominated | |||
Houston Film Critics Society | January 22, 2024 | Best Documentary Feature | American Symphony | Nominated | [21] [22] |
Indiana Film Journalists Association | December 17, 2023 | Best Documentary | Nominated | [23] [24] | |
Las Vegas Film Critics Society | December 13, 2023 | Best Documentary | Nominated | [25] | |
Middleburg Film Festival | October 22, 2023 | Documentary Spotlight Award | Matthew Heineman | Won | [26] |
Montclair Film Festival | October 30, 2023 | Audience Award – Documentary Feature | American Symphony | Won | [27] |
Documentary Filmmaker Award | Matthew Heineman | Won | |||
NAACP Image Awards | March 16, 2024 | Outstanding Documentary (Film) | American Symphony | Nominated | [28] |
North Texas Film Critics Association | December 18, 2023 | Best Documentary Film | Nominated | [29] | |
Oklahoma Film Critics Circle | January 3, 2024 | Best Documentary | Won | [30] | |
Philadelphia Film Festival | October 29, 2023 | Audience Award – Documentary Feature | Won | [31] | |
Producers Guild of America Awards | February 25, 2024 | Outstanding Producer of Documentary Theatrical Motion Pictures | Won | [32] | |
San Diego Film Critics Society | December 19, 2023 | Best Documentary | Nominated | [33] | |
San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle Awards | January 9, 2024 | Best Documentary Film | Nominated | [34] | |
Satellite Awards | March 3, 2024 | Best Motion Picture – Documentary | Nominated | [35] | |
Best Original Song | Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") | Nominated | |||
Best Sound (Editing and Mixing) | Tristan Baylis, Matt Snedecor, and William Tzouris | Nominated | |||
Society of Composers & Lyricists | February 13, 2024 | Outstanding Original Score for an Independent Film | Jon Batiste | Nominated | [36] |
Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production | Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") | Nominated | |||
St. Louis Film Critics Association | December 17, 2023 | Best Documentary Film | American Symphony | Won[b] | [37] |
Vancouver Film Critics Circle | February 12, 2024 | Best Documentary | Nominated | [38] | |
Virginia Film Festival | October 29, 2023 | Audience Award – Documentary Feature | Won | [39] | |
Directorial Achievement Award | Matthew Heineman | Won | |||
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | December 10, 2023 | Best Documentary | American Symphony | Nominated | [40] |
Woodstock Film Festival | September 30, 2023 | Audience Award – Best Documentary Feature | Won | [41] | |
World Soundtrack Awards | October 17, 2024 | Best Original Song | Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson ("It Never Went Away") | Nominated | [42] |
Notes
[edit]- ^ Tied with Smoke Sauna Sisterhood.
- ^ Tied with Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.
References
[edit]- ^ "American Symphony (12A)". BBFC. November 3, 2023. Retrieved February 5, 2024.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (August 30, 2023). "Telluride Lineup Includes World Premieres of 'Saltburn,' 'The Bikeriders' and 'Rustin' With Tributes for Yorgos Lanthimos and Wim Wenders". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Feinberg, Scott (September 18, 2023). "Jon Batiste Doc 'American Symphony' Acquired by Netflix and Higher Ground; Oscar Run Set for This Season". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (October 12, 2023). "Jon Batiste and Dan Wilson Enter Oscars Race for Original Song With Netflix Doc 'American Symphony'". Variety. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
- ^ "American Symphony". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "American Symphony". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
- ^ "Oscar Nominations 2024: See the Full List Here". Vanity Fair. January 23, 2024. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ Merin, Jennifer (December 22, 2023). "2023 EDA Awards Nominees". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
- ^ Pond, Steve (January 25, 2024). "ACE Eddie Awards 2024: The Complete List of Nominees". TheWrap. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (December 7, 2023). "'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer' Lead Hollywood Creative Alliance (HCA) Astra Awards Nominations". AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (December 20, 2023). "Black Film Critics Circle Winners: American Fiction Takes Home Top Honors". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (December 15, 2023). "Black Reel Awards Nominations: 'The Color Purple' And 'Rustin' Dominate". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 16, 2023.
- ^ "OPPENHEIMER DIRECTED BY CHRISTOPHER NOLAN TO BE HONORED WITH THE "CAPRI BEST ENSEMBLE CAST AWARD 2023"" (Press release). Capri Hollywood International Film Festival. December 17, 2023. Retrieved December 29, 2023.
- ^ "A Capri trionfa Oppenheimer con 7 Awards, poi Barbie e Maestro". Agenzia Nazionale Stampa Associata (in Italian). January 2, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (January 9, 2024). "Cinema Audio Society Awards Nominations: Barbie, Oppenheimer, The Eras Tour & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Saperstein, Pat (November 16, 2023). "'Kokomo City' Leads Nominations for Cinema Eye Documentary Honors". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Zilko, Christian (November 13, 2023). "'Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie' Sweeps the Critics Choice Documentary Awards (Complete Winners List)". IndieWire. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Jorgenson, Todd (December 18, 2023). "DFW Film Critics Name The Holdovers Best Picture of 2023". Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (January 12, 2024). "The 2023 Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Tangcay, Jazz (January 16, 2024). "Oppenheimer Dominates Motion Picture Sound Editors Golden Reel Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
- ^ Darling, Cary (January 9, 2024). "Barbie, Oppenheimer lead Houston Film Critics Society's nominations". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on January 9, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
- ^ Darling, Cary (January 22, 2024). "Houston Film Critics Society names Poor Things the best film of 2023". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Rogers, Nick (December 12, 2023). "Nominations Announced for the 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association Awards". Midwest Film Journal. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 17, 2023). "The 2023 Indiana Film Journalists Association (IFJA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 13, 2023). "The 2023 Las Vegas Film Critics Society (LVFCS) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (October 23, 2023). "Cord Jefferson's 'American Fiction' Wins Audience Award at Middleburg Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "2023 Montclair Film Festival Award Winners Announced! | Montclair Film". montclairfilm.org. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (January 25, 2024). "Colman Domingo, Keke Palmer, Ayo Edebiri, Victoria Monét Lead NAACP Image Awards Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 18, 2023). "The 2023 North Texas Film Critics Association (NTFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (January 3, 2024). "The 2023 Oklahoma Film Critics Circle (OFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Bogg, Smalley (November 1, 2023). "Winners of the Philadelphia Film Festival Awards". phindie. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Bergeson, Samantha (January 12, 2024). "PGA Awards 2024 Nominations: Maestro, Killers of the Flower Moon, and Past Lives Among Contenders". IndieWire. Archived from the original on January 12, 2024. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
- ^ Anderson, Erik (December 15, 2023). "San Diego Film Critics Society (SDFCS) Nominations". AwardsWatch. Archived from the original on December 15, 2023. Retrieved December 15, 2023.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (January 5, 2024). "The 2023 San Francisco Bay Area Film Critics Circle (SFBAFCC) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 5, 2024.
- ^ "IPA Reveals Nominations for the 28th Satellite™ Awards". International Press Academy. December 18, 2023. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 21, 2023). "The 2023 Society Of Composers And Lyricists (SCL) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 22, 2023.
- ^ Anderson, Eric (December 10, 2023). "2023 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Nominations". awardswatch.com. AwardsWatch. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (January 22, 2024). "Oppenheimer Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations With Six Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2024.
- ^ "Award Winners". Virginia Film Festival. May 9, 2018. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ Neglia, Matt (December 9, 2023). "The 2023 Washington DC Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) Nominations". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Award Winners from the 24th Annual Woodstock Film Festival". Woodstock Film Festival. October 1, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
- ^ "Discover the first nominees for the 2024 World Soundtrack Awards!". World Soundtrack Awards. August 7, 2024. Retrieved August 7, 2024.