Knucklehead (2015 film)
| Knucklehead | |
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| Directed by | Ben Bowman |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Soopum Sohn |
| Edited by | Katie Ennis |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by | RLJ Entertainment |
Release date |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Knucklehead is a 2015 American drama film directed by Ben Bowman. It premiered at the 2015 BAMCinématek New Voices in Black Cinema festival.[1]
Plot
[edit]Convinced that prescription drugs can cure his mental disorder, a neighborhood eccentric (Gbenga Akinnagbe) ventures out of Brooklyn's housing projects to escape his controlling mother (Alfre Woodard), and to find the one doctor who he believes can treat him.
Cast
[edit]- Gbenga Akinnagbe as Langston
- Alfre Woodard as Sheila
- Amari Cheatom as Julian
- Carla Duren
- Nikiya Mathis
- Justin Myrick
- Lauren Hodges
- DeWanda Wise as Charlotte
Release
[edit]The film premiered as the opening night film at the BAMCinématek New Voices in Black Cinema festival at the Brooklyn Academy of Music on March 26, 2015.[2] It was scheduled for release in the U.S. and Canada in late 2016.
Critical reception
[edit]Colin Covert gave the film a positive review in Newsweek, writing: "Deftly combining melancholy, tragedy and sly humor, the story is engineered so its gripping drama dovetails neatly with the lead's starry-eyed optimism and the likability of sundry supporting characters. As if juggling chainsaws, Bowman delivers a film that is both troubling and comically upbeat"[3]
Julie Walker, writing for The Root, said "Knucklehead packs an emotional punch," and declared that Gbenga Akinnagbe "owns the movie" in his first leading role as the mentally challenged Langston.[4]
John Defore at The Hollywood Reporter praised the cast, also citing Akinnagbe for his "sympathetic performance" in a film "that will attract attention for a brutal turn by Alfre Woodard as his controlling mother." Justin S. Myrick is called out for his portrayal of Arthur, Langston's young friend with, "a smartass spark that animates scenes and balances the bleak situation at home."[5]
Accolades
[edit]| Awards and nominations | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Date of ceremony | Venue | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
| Dances With Films | June 6, 2015 | TCL Chinese Theatre | Industry Choice Award | Knucklehead | Won | [6] |
| American Black Film Festival | June 14, 2015[7] | New York Hilton Midtown | VH-1 Audience Award | Knucklehead | Won | [8] |
| Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Film Festival | April 24, 2015 | Saint Anthony Main | Best Narrative Feature ("MN Made") | Knucklehead | Won | [9] |
| Baltimore International Black Film Festival | October 11, 2015 | Charles Theatre | Best Narrative Feature | Knucklehead | Won | [10] |
| First Time Feature Director ("Oscar Micheaux Award") | Ben Bowman | Won | ||||
| Black Reel Awards | February 20, 2016 | Washington, D. C. | Outstanding Independent Feature | Knucklehead | Nominated | [11] |
References
[edit]- ^ "A Mother's Clutch Makes Its Mark". New York Times. March 21, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
- ^ "Knucklehead". bam.org. Brooklyn Academy of Music. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
- ^ "This 'Knucklehead' Will Make You Laugh, and Cry". Newsweek. May 3, 2015.
- ^ "Abuse and Mental Illness Add a Double Dose of Drama to Alfre Woodard's New Film". The Root. March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2021.
- ^ "'Knucklehead': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. March 27, 2015.
- ^ "Clay Riley Hassler's 'Homeless' Wins Top Prize at Dances With Films Festival". The Wrap. June 7, 2015.
- ^ "2015 Winners". abff.com. American Black Film Festival.
- ^ American Black Film Festival Editors (June 14, 2015). "2015 Winners". abff.com. American Black Film Festival. Retrieved August 7, 2016.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "MSPIFF ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF JURIED COMPETITION AND AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS". mspfilm.org.
- ^ "Baltimore International Black Film Festival". facebook.com.
- ^ "BLACK REEL AWARDS '16 WINNERS & NOMINEES". blackreelawards.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020.