Framing John DeLorean
{{short description|2019 documentary}}
{{Distinguish|text = Driven, a 2018 dramatic film about the life of John DeLorean}}
{{Infobox film
| name = Framing John DeLorean
| image = Framing John DeLorean poster.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Theatrical release poster
| director = Don Argott
Sheena M. Joyce
| producer = Tamir Ardon
Nick Spicer
Don Argott
Sheena M. Joyce
| screenplay = Dan Greeney
Alexandra Orton
| story = Tamir Ardon
Don Argott
Sheena M. Joyce
| starring = Alec Baldwin
Morena Baccarin
Josh Charles
Dean Winters
Michael Rispoli
Jason Jones
| music = Brooke Blair
Will Blair
| cinematography = Matthew Santo
| editing = Demian Fenton
| studio = XYZ Films
9.14 Pictures
| distributor = Sundance Selects
| released = {{Film date|2019|4|30|Tribeca|2019|6|7|United States}}
| country = United States
| language = English
| budget =
}}
Framing John DeLorean is a 2019 American documentary film directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce and written by Dan Greeney and Alexandra Orton, about the life of John DeLorean. The film stars Alec Baldwin, Morena Baccarin, Josh Charles, Dean Winters, Michael Rispoli and Jason Jones. The film was released on June 7, 2019, by Sundance Selects.
While the film is structured as a documentary with a number of involved people as interview subjects, the film also features reenactments of certain important scenes of DeLorean's story. It also features behind the scenes footage of the participants of the reenactment scenes with the cast and crew, who provide their views on DeLorean out-of-character.
==Cast==
- Alec Baldwin as John DeLorean
- Morena Baccarin as Cristina Ferrare
- Josh Charles as Bill Collins
- Dean Winters as John Valestra
- Michael Rispoli as Jim Hoffman
- Jason Jones as Jerry West
- Dana Ashbrook as Ben Tisa
- Josh Cooke as Howard Weitzman
- Sean Cullen as Roy
- William Hill as GM executive
- Eli Tokash as Zach DeLorean
- Kayla Foster as Colleen
- Grayson Eddey as Zach DeLorean
- Porter Kelly as Court clerk
Interviews for the documentary segments include Baldwin and Baccarin, as well as Bill Collins and Zach DeLorean.
Release
The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 30, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/framing-john-delorean-alec-baldwin-starring-hybrid-doc-reframes-controversial-automaker-1206571 |title='Framing John DeLorean': Alec Baldwin-Starring Hybrid Doc Reframes Controversial Automaker |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2019-05-03 |accessdate=2019-05-10}} It was released on June 7, 2019, by Sundance Selects,{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/framing-john-delorean-trailer-alec-baldwin-as-disgraced-auto-exec-1192633 |title='Framing John DeLorean' Trailer: Alec Baldwin as Disgraced Auto Exec |publisher=The Hollywood Reporter |date=2019-03-06 |accessdate=2019-05-10}} and was given a limited release in the UK on July 19 through Universal Studios.[https://www.theguardian.com/film/2019/jul/19/alec-baldwin-you-naughty-english-could-fold-sex-into-dentistry Alec Baldwin:] 'You naughty English could fold sex into dentistry | October 19, 2019
=Home media=
Shout! Factory released the film in the United States and Canada on DVD and Blu-ray on October 1, 2019.[https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/Framing-John-DeLorean-Blu-ray/247014/ Framing John DeLorean] | Blu-ray | United States | Shout Factory | 2019 | 109 min | Not rated | Oct 01, 2019[https://www.blu-ray.com/Framing-John-DeLorean/1117308/#Releases Framing John DeLorean] Format Releases | Shout Factory | 2019 | 109 min | Not rated | Oct 01, 2019 It was released in the United Kingdom on digital download SD and HD on July 28, 2019.[https://www.thedigitalfix.com/film/content/107308/framing-john-delorean-digital-download/ Framing John DeLorean available via Digital Download in July] | 21 May 2019
Reception
=Box office=
Framing John DeLorean has grossed $145,626 in the United States and Canada, for a total worldwide gross of $145,626 against an unknown production budget.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=main&id=framingjohndelorean.htm|title=Framing John Delorean (2019)|website=Box Office Mojo|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}{{cite web|url=https://m.the-numbers.com/movie/Framing-John-Delorean-(Documentary)-(2019)|title=Framing John Delorean (2019)|website=The Numbers|accessdate=July 28, 2019}}
=Critical response=
On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The website's critical consensus reads, "Stranger than fiction and just as engrossing, Framing John DeLorean tells its incredible true story in appropriately freewheeling fashion."{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/framing_john_delorean|title=Framing John DeLorean (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}} On Metacritic, the film has a score of 67 out of 100, based on 17 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/framing-john-delorean |title=Framing John DeLorean Reviews |publisher=Metacritic |accessdate=6 August 2020}}
Owen Gleiberman of Variety wrote: "An absorbing documentary, with Alec Baldwin popping up in dramatic re-enactments, adds new insight to the inspiring and scandalous saga of John DeLorean, the auto magnate who got too high on his dream." Glenn Kenny for The New York Times wrote "Framing John DeLorean tells a quintessentially American story of ambition and greed, with plot twists a fiction writer might consider outlandish."[https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/06/movies/framing-john-delorean-review.amp.html Framing John DeLorean] – The New York Times | By Glenn Kenny | June 6, 2019 Allan Hunter, writing for Screen International, said, "The film is hugely impressive. DeLorean is a persuasive advocate of his own greatness, the hero of his own narrative". Adding "Baldwin provides a running commentary on DeLorean’s nature and motivations, while we witness Baldwin being fitted with prosthetics and the jet black caterpillar eyebrows that were a DeLorean feature. All very meta but perhaps not entirely essential."[https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/framing-john-delorean-tribeca-review/5138861.article Framing John DeLorean: Tribeca Review] | by Allan Hunter, 1 May 2019
In contrast, Rafer Guzman of Newsday called it "an uneven blend of fact and fiction", noting that "scenes are really just elaborate re-enactments that distract us and stop the flow of information. Even less welcome are several “meta” moments in which Baldwin pontificates about the man he's playing"[https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/movies/framing-john-delorean-review-1.32219015 'Framing John DeLorean' review] | By Rafer Guzmán | 12 June 2019
References
{{Reflist}}