Mass (2021 Film)

''Mass'' is a 2021 American drama film written and directed by Fran Kranz in his directorial debut. It stars Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, and Martha Plimpton as grieving parents who meet to discuss a tragedy involving their sons. The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 30, 2021, and was released on October 8, 2021, by Bleecker Street. At the BAFTA Awards, Dowd received a nomination for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Plot

Jay and Gail Perry are parents grieving the death of their son Evan, a victim of a high school shooting. Richard and Linda are the parents of the teenage perpetrator Hayden, who killed himself after his shootings. Six years after the tragedy, both couples agree to meet and talk in a private room at an Episcopal Church. The couples had met previously, in which Jay and Gail made hurtful comments toward Richard and Linda when they were all going through the public legal procedures that resulted from the incident. Jay had since publicly advocated for gun control and against gun ownership as Richard
* Ann Dowd as Linda
* Jason Isaacs as Jay Perry
* Martha Plimpton as Gail Perry
* Breeda Wool as Judy
* Kagen Albright as Anthony
* Michelle N. Carter as Kendra

Production

In November 2019, it was announced that Fran Kranz would write and direct ''Mass'' in his feature directorial debut, with Reed Birney, Ann Dowd, Jason Isaacs, and Martha Plimpton attached to star. Breeda Wool joined the cast in December 2019. The film was shot over a roughly two week period in late 2019 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Hailey, Idaho on January 30, 2021 in the ''Premieres'' section. In May 2021, Bleecker Street acquired distribution rights to the film. By the end of its run, the film will have screened at film festivals in Busan, Charlottesville, London, San Sebastian, Sudbury, Woodstock and Zurich. It is scheduled to be released on October 8, 2021. In September 2021, Sky Cinema acquired the UK and Ireland distribution rights. In the United States, the film was screened in four theaters; two in New York and two in Los Angeles.

Reception

Box office

In its opening weekend, ''Mass'' earned $13,485 from four theaters.

Critical response

The site's critics consensus reads, "''Mass'' requires a lot of its audience, but rewards that emotional labor with a raw look at grief that establishes writer-director Fran Kranz as a filmmaker of tremendous promise."

Kranz's direction and storytelling techniques received praise. The ''Chicago Reader'' compared the film to the works of playwright Tennessee Williams, calling it "riveting and unforgettable." Richard Whittaker from ''The Austin Chronicle'' had a similar response and said in his review that the story was "perfectly told." Writing for '' Little White Lies'', Hannah Strong summarized the film as a "study of human pain and anger in painstaking detail, supported by a script which is hauntingly realistic without dipping into mawkish or exploitative territory." Owen Gleiberman, from ''Variety'', said the film "announces Fran Kranz as a bold new filmmaker who has earned the right to excavate a subject as sensitive as this one."

The performances in the film also received praise. While ''Entertainment Weekly'' said it was "an exceptional opportunity to watch four great character actors," ''Salon.com'' said the film "gives each member of the ensemble cast a big speech to emote and express what their characters are feeling. The conversation is certainly compelling as it builds." In his review for ''The Hollywood Reporter'', David Rooney said the film was "a harrowing watch, but a cathartic one, with each of the four superb principal actors delivering scenes of wrenching release." Furthermore, '' Vox'' journalist Alissa Wilkinson said ''Mass'' "leaves plenty of breathing room for characters to have authentic moments of emotion and puts a gentle, grace-filled frame around an almost unspeakable tragedy. It's a showcase for its performers, but it's also a valuable experience for its audience."

Accolades

References

External links

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Official screenplay

{{Navboxes
, title = Awards for ''Mass''
, list =
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast
{{Independent Spirit Robert Altman Award
{{Seattle Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Cast
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble

2021 directorial debut films
2021 drama films
2021 independent films
2020s English-language films
American drama films
American independent films
Bleecker Street films
Films about grieving
Films about parenting
Films about school violence
Films shot in Idaho
2020s American films