The Listener (film)

{{Short description|2022 film by Steve Buscemi}}

{{Use American English|date=March 2024}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}

{{Infobox film

| image = Listener 2024 film poster.jpg

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = Steve Buscemi

| writer = Alessandro Camon

| producer = {{Plainlist|

}}

| starring = {{plainlist|

  • Tessa Thompson

}}

| cinematography = Anka Malatynska

| editing = Kate Williams

| music = Aska Matsumiya

| studio = {{Plainlist|

  • Hantz Motion Pictures
  • Olive Productions
  • Sight Unseen Pictures

}}

| distributor = Vertical Entertainment

| released = {{Film date|2022|9|9|Venice|2024|3|29|United States}}

| runtime = 96 minutes{{Cite web |date=April 4, 2024|title=The Listener (15) |url=https://www.bbfc.co.uk/release/the-listener-q29sbgvjdglvbjpwwc0xmdiwmjix|access-date=April 5, 2024 |website=BBFC}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| budget =

| gross =

}}

The Listener is a 2022 American drama film directed by Steve Buscemi and written by Alessandro Camon. It stars Tessa Thompson in the film's only on-screen role as a helpline volunteer.

The film premiered at the 2022 Venice International Film Festival, and was released in the United States by Vertical Entertainment on March 29, 2024.

Plot

{{no plot|date=April 2024}}

Beth, a "listener" for callers to simply talk to, receives a call from a previous inmate who was just released a year ago, a man that just told his wife he doesn't love her anymore and a young woman whose abusive boyfriend wants to pimp her out which upsets Beth.

Beth then receives a call from a child sex offender, and he talks about his recent actions and asks Beth personal questions about her looks, challenging her that she doesn't understand his problems and difficulties because she's "good looking" and that he is horrid, and an evolutionary failure. She soon becomes uncomfortable speaking to this individual and ends the call.

As she goes through each call she receives, she uses methods to deter her vulnerability but also provides resources and encouragement to the callers.

Cast

=Voice cast=

Production

The Listener was directed by Buscemi from a script by Alessandro Camon. It is an American co-production between Olive Productions, Sight Unseen Pictures, and Hantz Motion Pictures.

Principal photography took place in Los Angeles between August and September 2021.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-listener-tessa-thompson-to-topline-new-steve-buscemi-film-1234854635/|title=The Listener: Tessa Thompson To Topline Latest Feature From Director Steve Buscemi|date=October 12, 2021|first=Matt|last=Grobar|website=Deadline Hollywood|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211012220335/https://deadline.com/2021/10/the-listener-tessa-thompson-to-topline-new-steve-buscemi-film-1234854635/|archive-date=October 12, 2021|url-status=live|access-date=October 12, 2021}}

Release

The Listener premiered as the closing film of the Giornate Degli Autori section of the 2022 Venice International Film Festival on September 9, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Calnan |first=Ellie |date=July 28, 2022 |title=Abel Ferrara, Steve Buscemi, Georgia Oakley, Fyzal Boulifa films among Venice's Giornate degli Autori line-up |url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/abel-ferrara-steve-buscemi-georgia-oakley-fyzal-boulifa-films-among-venices-giornate-degli-autori-line-up/5173023.article |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=Screen Daily |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Goodfellow |first=Melanie |date=July 28, 2022 |title=Abel Ferrara, Shia LaBeouf And Steve Buscemi Head To Venice Sidebar Giornate Degli Autori; San Sebastian Unveils Contenders For New Directors Award – Global Briefs |url=https://deadline.com/2022/07/abel-ferrara-shia-labeouf-venice-sidebar-giornate-degli-autori-1235079875/ |access-date=August 22, 2022 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}} It also screened

in Industry Selects section of the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival.{{Cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=2022-08-23 |title=TIFF Industry Selects Section Includes Steve Buscemi's The Listener, Bill Pohlad's Dreamin' Wild; Jason Reitman's Live Read Returns |url=https://deadline.com/2022/08/tiff-jason-reitman-steve-buscemi-bill-pohlad-1235098228/ |access-date=2022-08-24 |website=Deadline Hollywood |language=en-US}}

In February 2024, Vertical Entertainment acquired distribution rights to the film in North America, United Kingdom and Ireland, scheduling it for a day-and-date release in the United States on March 29, 2024.{{cite web|title=Tessa Thompson Helpline Drama 'The Listener' Directed By Steve Buscemi Lands At Vertical|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Matt|last=Grobar|date=12 February 2024|access-date=12 February 2024|url=https://deadline.com/2024/02/the-listener-movie-release-date-vertical-1235820612/}}

Reception

{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|74|6.60|46|consensus=|access-date=June 28, 2024|ref=y}} {{Metacritic film prose|64|9|ref=yes|access-date=June 28, 2024}}

References

{{reflist}}