Empire of Light
Theatrical release poster
Directed bySam Mendes
Written bySam Mendes
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyRoger Deakins
Edited byLee Smith
Music by
Production
companies
Distributed by
Release dates
  • 3 September 2022 (2022-09-03) (Telluride)
  • 9 December 2022 (2022-12-09) (United States)
  • 9 January 2023 (2023-01-09) (United Kingdom)
Running time
113 minutes[2]
Countries
  • United Kingdom[3]
  • United States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$11.4 million[1]

Empire of Light is a 2022 British romantic drama film directed, written, and co-produced by Sam Mendes. Set in an English coastal town in the early 1980s, the film is about the power of human connection during turbulent times. It stars Olivia Colman, Micheal Ward, Monica Dolan, Tom Brooke, Tanya Moodie, Hannah Onslow, Crystal Clarke, Toby Jones, and Colin Firth.

The film had its world premiere at the 49th Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2022, and was released by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures through a limited theatrical release in the United States on 9 December 2022 and theatrically in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2023. Empire of Light received praise for Colman and Ward's performances and Roger Deakins's cinematography, but the screenplay was criticised. At the 80th Golden Globe Awards, the film was nominated for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for Colman, while Ward received a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 76th British Academy Film Awards. It also received a nomination for Best Cinematography at the 95th Academy Awards.[4]

Plot

In 1980, Hilary Small works as a duty manager at the "Empire Cinema", Margate, on the north coast of the English county of Kent. Hilary struggles with bipolar disorder, lives alone, has been prescribed lithium by her GP, and is having extramarital sex with her boss Donald Ellis.

New employee Stephen, who is Black British and lives with his mother Delia, a nurse, starts his new job at the cinema. Hilary is taken with the handsome and charming Stephen, and the two bond when she shows him the cinema's beautiful but disused upper floor.

Hilary becomes jealous when Stephen begins hanging out with Janine, a younger employee. While watching New Year's Eve fireworks from the cinema roof, Hilary impulsively kisses Stephen. The two of them begin a sexual relationship. Hilary cuts off Donald and, happy about the new relationship, stops taking her medication.

Hilary sees Stephen being harassed by a group of skinheads on the street and later deal with a racist customer and Stephen confides in her about the racism he faces. Hilary and Stephen go to the beach, where Stephen tells her about his first love, Ruby, who works at the same hospital as his mother. When Stephen asks about her past, she goes on an agitated rant about men and angrily destroys a sand castle they had been building.

Neil, a colleague, discovers their relationship and warns Stephen of Hilary's mental health. He tells Hilary it would be best if they end their sexual affair. Donald informs the workers that the cinema has been chosen for the regional premiere of Chariots of Fire (1981). At the premiere, a manic Hilary gets on stage and delivers an agitated speech before informing Donald's wife about their affair. Hilary's mental health deteriorates. While Stephen is at her flat checking on her, mental-health authorities break down her door and take her to be re-institutionalised. (He watches while hiding in the next room.)

Weeks later, back at the theatre, Donald has been replaced and Stephen begins training with Norman, the cinema's projectionist. He runs into Ruby at the cinema, and they start dating again. Hilary is released from the hospital and returns to work. Stephen advises her to see a movie at the cinema, something she has never done. During her welcome-back party, a skinhead crowd marches past the theatre. When they see Stephen, they break in and assault him. Hilary accompanies him to the hospital, where she meets Stephen's mother.

As Stephen recuperates, Hilary initially stays away. Norman confides in her that he has a son he has not seen in many years because he abandoned his family and cautions her not to run away. She visits Stephen in the hospital. His mother tells Hilary that she makes Stephen happy. An overjoyed Hilary rushes back to the theatre and has Norman play a movie for her: Being There (1979).

Stephen returns to the cinema but informs Hilary that, following her advice, he has decided to return to college and will be leaving town. Stephen remembers his times with Hilary at a going-away dinner with Ruby and his mother. The two meet in a park, where Hilary gives him a book and finally bids him goodbye.

As Stephen leaves on the train, he reads from the book: High Windows by Philip Larkin.

Cast

Production

The Dreamland Margate Cinema signage was changed to "Empire Cinema" during production of the film.

It was announced in April 2021 that Sam Mendes had set his next film, which he would write and direct himself at Searchlight Pictures. Olivia Colman was in talks to star and Roger Deakins was announced as cinematographer.[5] Colman was confirmed in July, with Micheal Ward also joining the cast.[6] In December, Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke and Tanya Moodie were added to the cast.[7] Tom Brooke and Hannah Onslow were confirmed to star in late February.[8] Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross composed the film's score.[9]

Filming began on 7 February 2022 at Margate on the Isle of Thanet in Kent.[10][11][12] The Dreamland Margate Cinema building was remodelled and renamed until 15 May 2022.[13]

The film includes several pieces of music that are being played on a record player in the film, such as Bob Dylan's "It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding)", Cat Stevens's "Morning Has Broken" and Joni Mitchell's "You Turn Me On, I'm a Radio".[14]

Release

Empire of Light premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on 3 September 2022.[15] It received a limited theatrical release by Searchlight Pictures in the United States on 9 December 2022 and was released theatrically in the United Kingdom on 9 January 2023.[16][17]

The film was released for VOD on 7 February 2023, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on 21 February 2023.[18][19][20]

Reception

Critical response

The performance of Olivia Colman received critical acclaim.

The film has received mixed reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 45%, based on 242 reviews, with an average rating of 5.8/10. The site's critics consensus reads: "Empire of Light contains some fine performances and a few flashes of brilliance, but this tribute to the magic of cinema is disappointingly mundane."[21] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 54 out of 100, based on 48 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[22] A more favourable review in The Guardian said the film was a "poignant, wonderfully acted drama".[14]

Matt Zoller Seitz of RogerEbert.com, rating the film 2.5 out of 4 stars, wrote that it "starts out a bit dim and unfocused and becomes sharper and more illuminating as it unreels." He also praised Roger Deakins' cinematography and Olivia Colman's performance, but was more critical of the character of Stephen: "[H]e remains an abstraction for too long, to the point where it looks like the film is setting him up as more of a plot device (or sacrificial lamb) than a man. The movie trembles with intimations of impending doom for Stephen, and the dialogue mentions then-recent racial incidents. But [Sam] Mendes presents his anger, fear and distress with the same dissociated stare that freezes Hilary in her tracks when she sees skinheads tormenting Stephen on a sidewalk."[23]

Accolades

Award Date of ceremony Category Recipient(s) Result Ref.
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards 28 January 2023 Best Grownup Love Story Empire of Light Nominated [24]
Academy Awards 12 March 2023 Best Cinematography Roger Deakins Nominated [25]
Alliance of Women Film Journalists 5 January 2023 Best Cinematography Nominated [26]
American Society of Cinematographers 5 March 2023 Feature Film Nominated [27]
Black Reel Awards 6 February 2023 Outstanding Supporting Actor Micheal Ward Nominated [28]
Outstanding Breakthrough Actor Nominated
British Academy Film Awards 19 February 2023 Best Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated [29]
Outstanding British Film Sam Mendes and Pippa Harris Nominated
Best Cinematography Roger Deakins Nominated
Critics' Choice Awards 15 January 2023 Best Cinematography Nominated [30]
Florida Film Critics Circle 22 December 2022 Best Cinematography Nominated [31]
Best Score Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Runner-up
Golden Globe Awards 10 January 2023 Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Olivia Colman Nominated [32]
Golden Reel Awards 26 February 2023 Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Feature Dialogue / ADR Oliver Tarney and Rachael Tate Nominated [33]
Guild of Music Supervisors Awards 5 March 2023 Best Music Supervision in a Trailer – Film Matthew Bailey and Shawn Stevens ("Home") Nominated [34]
Hollywood Music in Media Awards 16 November 2022 Best Original Score – Feature Film Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross Nominated [35]
Houston Film Critics Society 18 February 2023 Best Original Score Nominated [36]
Las Vegas Film Critics Society 12 December 2022 Best Actress Olivia Colman Nominated [37]
Best Cinematography Roger Deakins Nominated
London Film Critics' Circle 5 February 2023 British Actress of the Year Olivia Colman[lower-alpha 1] Nominated [38]
Satellite Awards 3 March 2023 Best Cinematography Roger Deakins Nominated [39]
Best Costume Design Alexandra Byrne Nominated
Toronto International Film Festival 8–18 September 2022 TIFF Ebert Director Award Sam Mendes Won [40]
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 12 December 2022 Best Cinematography Roger Deakins Nominated [41]
Women Film Critics Circle 19 December 2022 Best Screen Couple Olivia Colman and Micheal Ward Nominated [42]

References

  1. 1 2 "Empire of Light (2022)". Box Office Mojo. IMDb. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Empire of Light (15)". BBFC. Retrieved 4 January 2022.
  3. ↑ "Empire of Light (2022)". Cineuropa. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  4. ↑ 2023|Oscars.org
  5. ↑ Kroll, Justin (6 April 2021). "Searchlight Lands Sam Mendes' Next Film 'Empire of Light' Starring Olivia Colman". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  6. ↑ Kroll, Justin (27 July 2021). "Sam Mendes Sets 'Small Axe: Lovers Rock's Micheal Ward to Star Opposite Olivia Colman in Searchlight's 'Empire of Light'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  7. ↑ Grobar, Matt (21 December 2021). "'Empire of Light': Colin Firth, Toby Jones, Crystal Clarke & Tanya Moodie Join Sam Mendes' Searchlight Pictures Drama". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
  8. ↑ Tartaglione, Nancy (28 February 2022). "Sam Mendes Starts Production on 'Empire of Light'; Tom Brooke & Hannah Onslow Join Cast of Searchlight Pic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
  9. ↑ "Trent Reznor & Atticus Ross Scoring Sam Mendes' 'Empire of Light'". Film Music Reporter. 23 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
  10. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (14 October 2021). "Sam Mendes on Post-Pandemic Broadway 'The Lehman Trilogy' Return & How Ted Sarandos Helped Keep British Stage Afloat During Lockdown". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  11. ↑ Wright, Joe (22 November 2021). "Empire of Light, starring Olivia Colman and directed by Sam Mendes, to be filmed at Dreamland in Margate". Kent Online. Retrieved 29 November 2021.
  12. ↑ "Empire of Light". Film & Television Industry Alliance. 3 January 2022. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  13. ↑ Harper, Brad (23 February 2022). "Dreamland in Margate transformed into cinema for new Sam Mendes film Empire of Light starring Olivia Coleman and Colin Firth". Kent Online. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  14. 1 2 Bradshaw, Peter (12 September 2022). "Empire of Light review – Olivia Colman shines in Sam Mendes's darkening hymn to cinema". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
  15. ↑ Zilko, Christian (2 September 2022). "New 'Empire of Light' Images Offer a Closer Look at Sam Mendes' Love Letter to Cinema". IndieWire. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
  16. ↑ Kroll, Justin (6 April 2021). "Searchlight Lands Sam Mendes' Next Film 'Empire of Light' Starring Olivia Colman". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  17. ↑ "UK trailer and release date for cinematic love letter Empire of Light". Flicks UK. 10 January 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  18. ↑ Remley, Hilary (25 January 2023). "'Empire of Light' Arrives on Digital & Blu-ray Next Month". Collider. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  19. ↑ "Empire of Light Blu-ray (Blu-ray + Digital HD)". Blu-ray.com. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  20. ↑ "Empire of Light DVD Release Date". DVDs Release Dates. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  21. ↑ "Empire of Light". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  22. ↑ "Empire of Light Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  23. ↑ Seitz, Matt Zoller. "Empire of Light movie review & film summary (2022)". RogerEbert.com. Retrieved 23 January 2023.
  24. ↑ Malkin, Marc (28 January 2023). "'Top Gun: Maverick' Named Best Picture at AARP's Movies for Grownups Awards". Variety. Retrieved 28 January 2023.
  25. ↑ Jones, Ian (13 March 2023). "UK has modest success at 2023 Oscars with four wins". The Independent. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  26. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (5 January 2023). "'Banshees of Inisherin', 'Everything Everywhere', 'Women Talking' Tie for Most Wins at Alliance of Women Film Journalists Awards". Variety. Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  27. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (5 March 2023). "'Elvis' DP Mandy Walker Makes History as First Woman to Win Top Honors at American Society of Cinematographers Awards – Full Winners List". Variety. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  28. ↑ Complex, Valerie (6 February 2023). "'The Woman King' Wins Big at the 23rd Annual Black Reel Awards". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 6 February 2023.
  29. ↑ Yossman, K.J.; Ravindran, Manori (19 February 2023). "'All Quiet on the Western Front' Dominates BAFTA Awards With Record-Breaking Seven Wins". Variety. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  30. ↑ Panaligan, EJ; Earl, William (15 January 2023). "Critics' Choice Awards 2023 Full Winners List: 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', 'Abbott Elementary' and 'Better Call Saul' Take Top Honors". Variety. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
  31. ↑ Anderson, Erik (22 December 2022). "2022 Florida Film Critics Circle winners: 'Decision to Leave', 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' are top winners". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
  32. ↑ Lang, Brent; Moreau, Jordan (10 January 2023). "'The Fabelmans', 'The Banshees of Inisherin' Win Big at Revamped Golden Globes (Complete Winners List)". Variety. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  33. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (26 February 2023). "MPSE Golden Reel Awards: 'Top Gun: Maverick', 'Elvis', 'del Toro's Pinocchio' & 'Stranger Things' Among Winners – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  34. ↑ Grein, Paul (6 March 2023). "'Everything Everywhere All at Once' Wins Big at 2023 Guild of Music Supervisors Awards: Full Winners List". Billboard. Retrieved 6 March 2023.
  35. ↑ Grein, Paul (16 November 2022). "Rihanna's 'Wakanda Forever' Song, Terence Blanchard Win at 2022 Hollywood Music in Media Awards: Full List". Billboard. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
  36. ↑ Anderson, Erik (18 February 2023). "2022 Houston Film Critics Society (HFCS) winners". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
  37. ↑ Anderson, Erik (12 December 2022). "2022 Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards: 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' wins seven". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
  38. ↑ Ramachandran, Naman (5 February 2023). "'The Banshees of Inisherin', 'Tar' Lead London Critics' Circle Awards". Variety. Retrieved 5 February 2023.
  39. ↑ "2022 Awardees". International Press Academy. Retrieved 18 March 2023.
  40. ↑ "Toronto International Film Festival announces Empire of Light director Sam Mendes as recipient of TIFF Ebert Director Award" (Press release). TIFF.net. 16 August 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2023.
  41. ↑ Anderson, Erik (12 December 2022). "Washington DC Critics go for 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', 'Glass Onion', 'The Banshees of Inisherin'". AwardsWatch. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  42. ↑ Neglia, Matt (19 December 2022). "The 2022 Women Film Critics Circle (WFCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved 22 December 2022.

Notes

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