Knucklehead
Directed byBen Bowman
Written by
  • Bryan Abrams
  • Ben Bowman
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySoopum Sohn
Edited byKatie Ennis
Music by
  • Mike Shobe
  • Benjamin Wright
Production
companies
  • Hayden5
  • Imaginary People Productions
Distributed byRLJ Entertainment
Release date
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

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

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

Release

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

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

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

  1. ↑ "A Mother's Clutch Makes Its Mark". New York Times. March 21, 2015. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Knucklehead". bam.org. Brooklyn Academy of Music. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  3. ↑ "This 'Knucklehead' Will Make You Laugh, and Cry". Newsweek. May 3, 2015.
  4. ↑ "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.
  5. ↑ "'Knucklehead': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. March 27, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Clay Riley Hassler's 'Homeless' Wins Top Prize at Dances With Films Festival". The Wrap. June 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ "2015 Winners". abff.com. American Black Film Festival.
  8. ↑ 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)
  9. ↑ "MSPIFF ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF JURIED COMPETITION AND AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARDS". mspfilm.org.
  10. ↑ "Baltimore International Black Film Festival". facebook.com.
  11. ↑ "BLACK REEL AWARDS '16 WINNERS & NOMINEES". blackreelawards.com. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020.
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