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Drama

The Death & Life of John F. Donovan

-

A decade after the death of an American TV star, a young actor reminisces about the written correspondence he once shared with the former, as well as the impact those letters had on both their lives.

Release Date : 2019-03-13

Language :CzechEnglish

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Sons of ManualLyla FilmsWarp Films

Production Country : CanadaUnited Kingdom

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Kit Harington

Character Name : John F. Donovan

Original Name : Kit Harington

Gender : Male

Natalie Portman

Character Name : Sam Turner

Original Name : Natalie Portman

Gender : Female

Jacob Tremblay

Character Name : Rupert Turner

Original Name : Jacob Tremblay

Gender : Male

Susan Sarandon

Character Name : Grace Donovan

Original Name : Susan Sarandon

Gender : Female

Kathy Bates

Character Name : Barbara Haggermaker

Original Name : Kathy Bates

Gender : Female

Ben Schnetzer

Character Name : Rupert Turner (21 y.o.)

Original Name : Ben Schnetzer

Gender : Male

Thandiwe Newton

Character Name : Journalist

Original Name : Thandiwe Newton

Gender : Female

Jared Keeso

Character Name : James Donovan

Original Name : Jared Keeso

Gender : Male

Chris Zylka

Character Name : Will Jefford Jr.

Original Name : Chris Zylka

Gender : Male

Amara Karan

Character Name : Miss Kureshi

Original Name : Amara Karan

Gender : Female

Emily Hampshire

Character Name : Amy Bosworth

Original Name : Emily Hampshire

Gender : Female

Michael Gambon

Character Name : Man in Diner

Original Name : Michael Gambon

Gender : Male

Sarah Gadon

Character Name : Liz Jones

Original Name : Sarah Gadon

Gender : Female

Susan Almgren

Character Name : Aunt Faith

Original Name : Susan Almgren

Gender : Female

Jane Wheeler

Character Name : Aunt Anne

Original Name : Jane Wheeler

Gender : Female

Craig Eldridge

Character Name : Uncle Patrick

Original Name : Craig Eldridge

Gender : Male

Lukas Rolfe

Character Name : Cedric

Original Name : Lukas Rolfe

Gender : Male

Ari Millen

Character Name : Big Billy

Original Name : Ari Millen

Gender : Male

Gijs Blom

Character Name : Rupert's Boyfriend

Original Name : Gijs Blom

Gender : Male

Rob Baker

Character Name : Late Night Show Host

Original Name : Rob Baker

Gender : Male

Ellen David

Character Name : Adam's Mother

Original Name : Ellen David

Gender : Female

Pat Kiely

Character Name : Director

Original Name : Pat Kiely

Gender : Male

Anne Mroczkowski

Character Name : News Anchor

Original Name : Anne Mroczkowski

Gender : Female

James Marchant

Character Name : Police Officer

Original Name : James Marchant

Gender : Male

Suzanne Virdee

Character Name : Female Anchor

Original Name : Suzanne Virdee

Gender : Male

Guenièvre Sandré

Character Name : Barmaid

Original Name : Guenièvre Sandré

Gender : Female

Sangita Patel

Character Name : Journalist #1

Original Name : Sangita Patel

Gender : Female

Hamza Haq

Character Name : Journalist #2

Original Name : Hamza Haq

Gender : Male

Matthew Raudsepp

Character Name : Hellsome High Actor

Original Name : Matthew Raudsepp

Gender : Male

Michael Brunet

Character Name : Cashier

Original Name : Michael Brunet

Gender : Male

Michael Dozier

Character Name : Lawyer #1

Original Name : Michael Dozier

Gender : Male

Harvey Diamond

Character Name : Lawyer #2

Original Name : Harvey Diamond

Gender : Male

Pierre-Luc Lafontaine

Character Name : Fan in the Club

Original Name : Pierre-Luc Lafontaine

Gender : Male

Vincent Messina

Character Name : Young Fan

Original Name : Vincent Messina

Gender : Male

Anthony Luigi Aguiar

Character Name : Young Fan

Original Name : Anthony Luigi Aguiar

Gender : Male

Cassie Luk

Character Name : Young Fan

Original Name : Cassie Luk

Gender : Male

Hannah Morgan Lord

Character Name : Young Fan

Original Name : Hannah Morgan Lord

Gender : Male

Rebecca Windheim

Character Name : Young Fan

Original Name : Rebecca Windheim

Gender : Female

Dakota Jamal Wellman

Character Name : Eric (uncredited)

Original Name : Dakota Jamal Wellman

Gender : Male

Leni Parker

Character Name : Bonnie (uncredited)

Original Name : Leni Parker

Gender : Female

Katy Breier

Character Name : Trish (uncredited)

Original Name : Katy Breier

Gender : Female

Alison Louder

Character Name : Hellsome High Actress (uncredited)

Original Name : Alison Louder

Gender : Female

Brent Skagford

Character Name : Editor #1 (uncredited)

Original Name : Brent Skagford

Gender : Male

Carolyn Fe

Character Name : Porter (uncredited)

Original Name : Carolyn Fe

Gender : Female

Connor McMahon

Character Name : Intern (Sasha) (uncredited)

Original Name : Connor McMahon

Gender : Male

Holly Bernier

Character Name : Journalist (uncredited)

Original Name : Holly Bernier

Gender : Female

Sam Taylor Buck

Character Name : Young Daniel (uncredited)

Original Name : Sam Taylor Buck

Gender : Male

Daniel Murphy

Character Name : Editor #2 (uncredited)

Original Name : Daniel Murphy

Gender : Male

Reviews

C

cityguide

@cityguide

2021-06-23

Perhaps best known as the film that Jessica Chastain’s role was cut from, Xavier Dolan’s upcoming drama is still plenty star-studded, featuring a cast that includes Natalie Portman, Jacob Tremblay, Thandie Newton, Susan Sarandon, and Kit Harington. Though little is truly known about the project — only a single 17-second teaser trailer has been released — it’s described as a reminiscence on the life and death of an American TV star (Kit Harington), as told through his then 11-year-old pen pal (Jacob Tremblay)

S

SWITCH.

@maketheSWITCH

2021-06-23

You can see Xavier Dolan reaching for something grand with this film, a bigger story than he has ever attempted before and even more romantic questions of identity and self, but while one of the problems of 'The Death and Life of John F. Donovan' is that there are too many questions being asked, it doesn't mean that any of them aren't worth asking. This is still a Xavier Dolan film, and for all the right reasons, even down to his continuing dissection of the complex relationships between mothers and sons, and when he has sure footing, his flashes of spectacle in this film are really wonderful. He also connects so beautifully with his cast, with almost all of them in perfect step with him. This isn't a hidden masterpiece, but it also is nowhere near a disaster. It's an arresting misstep from a deeply passionate filmmaker who cares about every frame, who is trying for something genuine and honest, and yes, he chooses the framework of the privileged and the white, but these are (for all their problems) our modern mythical figures. To Rupert, John is a god, a superhero, an ideal to reach for, and the ultimate understanding of the film is that it is far more important to be human than iconic. In many ways, through his journey to discover that for himself, this is the gift that John gives Rupert in his letters. 'The Death and Life of John F. Donovan' will be a curiosity in the (hopefully long) career of this gifted filmmaker, and to be honest, a failed curiosity from Xavier Dolan is still a film worth every second. - Daniel Lammin Read Daniel's full article... https://www.maketheswitch.com.au/article/review-the-death-and-life-of-john-f-donovan-xavier-dolans-flawed-but-fascinating-english-language-debut