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| Scene from The Exception |
In case you didn't know, A24 is one of the great purveyors of modern cinema. Since 2013, the studio has found a way to innovate independent cinema by turning each release into an event. As a result, A24 A-to-Z will be an ongoing series that looks at every release from the studio by analyzing its production history, release, criticisms, and any awards attention that it might've received. Join me on a quest to explore the modern heroes of cinema by exploring every hit and miss that comes with that magnificent logo. They may not all be great, but they more than make A24 what it is and what it will hopefully continue to be for ears to come.
Released: June 2, 2017
Release Number: 50
Directed By: David Leveaux
Starring: Lily James, Jai Courtney, Christopher Plummer
Plot: A German soldier tries to determine if the Dutch resistance has planted a spy to infiltrate the home of Kaiser Wilhelm in Holland during the onset of World War II, but falls for a young Jewish Dutch woman during his investigation.
Over the past five years, A24 has gone from one of the oddest indie film upstarts to an institution, producing masterpieces of every genre as well as producing Oscar-winning films. It's why there's something exciting about the studio releasing its 50th film, director David Leveaux's The Exception. While it's not as iconic or memorable as many of the studio's other 2017 releases, it was a breakthrough that proved that the studio could survive. With the return of Christopher Plummer (Remember) once again playing a Nazi, the drama took a controversial stance on love by exploring a doomed romance of a soldier and a secret agent sent to take down Kaiser Wilhelm II (Plummer). It's a drama that was perfectly of the moment, bringing actors Lily James and Jai Courtney to prominent roles in a period of their rising stars. It may not be the exceptional film to mark the second half of their first 100 films, but it was further evidence that no subject was off the table, and that even then it could be given tender detail and focus.
The story begins with the publication of "The Kaiser's Last Kiss" by Alan Judd. It was a fictionalized account of Kaiser Wilhelm II's final days as well as a love story between a couple close to the operation. For whatever reason, Plummer found himself attracted to the story and bought the rights for the film, seeking to make it with whoever he felt was capable enough. After a few drafts from various other writers and directors, he found the first time director Leveaux and that he had the best grasp on the project. While Plummer was attached to the project, Leveaux's big reason for taking the project was because he liked Plummer and felt that he would bring a lot to the role, that he was a committed enough actor to commit to a role of a man with a lot of impulses but no power to express them in any significant way.
James and Courtney would sign on in 2015. In the case of Courtney, he was coming off of a significant role in the comic book film Suicide Squad, where he was bulked up. It was agreed that he would look awkward in the uniforms in The Exception, so he performed cardio in order to get into a more appropriate shape. The film would also both of the actors' first nude scenes, with Courtney suggesting that he was comfortable while on set. The film would begin filming in September of 2015 in Belgium and would film for 33 days. Shooting in the country allowed for some authenticity, which included certain scenes that were shot in the same house where Kaiser Wilhelm II lived and operated. As a whole, the production lacked any major controversy. Leveaux was especially impressed by Plummer's performance, which was just as charismatic as he had hoped.
The film would have its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016. With positive reviews to its name, many found James' performance to be a breakout favorite. This lead to a decent sized buzz for the film, which would continue to play film festivals around the world. The Exception's distribution rights were bought by A24 and DirecTV, who would give the film a theatrical release on June 2, 2017 as well as a video on demand release. With all things considered, the film continued the DirecTV's division of A24 films not doing well at the box office, earning $803,571. However, it was still a fairly high payoff for a film with its release strategy, as most of these films perform an eighth as well. This was likely benefited from the rising profile Courtney after Suicide Squad as well as James, who would also star in the hit Baby Driver the same month, as well as the World War II drama Darkest Hour later that Fall. It wasn't a runaway hit, but it at least showed some signs of success.
This would be especially true when it came to the critical response. The Exception would earn a 75% rating on critics aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes. Peter Debruge of Variety lead the positive feedback, suggesting that "Elegant, well-acted and a good deal sexier than the material might suggest." Others were more critical, such as Mark Feeney of Boston Globe, who liked the film but noted "It's hopeless tosh - but expertly done hopeless tosh." However there were those who disliked the film, such as David Aldridge of Radio Times that decried "Plummer and Janet McTeer, as the Kaiser's wife, bring their customary class to proceedings. But they can't save a tepid mishmash that seems undecided whether it's wartime romance, spy drama or fanciful political fable." The film may have been nobody's biggest hit of the year (Plummer would get an Oscar nomination that Fall for All the Money in the World), but it was an admirable effort nonetheless.
For the most part, The Exception was not really that for A24's 50th film. While the studio didn't do a lot of World War II movies, it usually did films with a bit more creativity on display. Still, it was a good film full of solid performances that elevated the taboo subject. Even then, it was one of the more below-the-radar films of 2017, which would only continue to become more of a standout year as the second half of the year kicked into gear. That would show as soon as the studio's next film, which would be the most divisive film since 2016's The Witch. It was also the return of a director who made his big break with an intimate family drama. Now it was time to shift gears more towards a horror film that would leave audiences either scared or bored, depending on where they stood on atmospheric horror. From the director of Krisha comes It Comes At Night.
Up Next: It Comes At Night (2017)
Over the past five years, A24 has gone from one of the oddest indie film upstarts to an institution, producing masterpieces of every genre as well as producing Oscar-winning films. It's why there's something exciting about the studio releasing its 50th film, director David Leveaux's The Exception. While it's not as iconic or memorable as many of the studio's other 2017 releases, it was a breakthrough that proved that the studio could survive. With the return of Christopher Plummer (Remember) once again playing a Nazi, the drama took a controversial stance on love by exploring a doomed romance of a soldier and a secret agent sent to take down Kaiser Wilhelm II (Plummer). It's a drama that was perfectly of the moment, bringing actors Lily James and Jai Courtney to prominent roles in a period of their rising stars. It may not be the exceptional film to mark the second half of their first 100 films, but it was further evidence that no subject was off the table, and that even then it could be given tender detail and focus.
The story begins with the publication of "The Kaiser's Last Kiss" by Alan Judd. It was a fictionalized account of Kaiser Wilhelm II's final days as well as a love story between a couple close to the operation. For whatever reason, Plummer found himself attracted to the story and bought the rights for the film, seeking to make it with whoever he felt was capable enough. After a few drafts from various other writers and directors, he found the first time director Leveaux and that he had the best grasp on the project. While Plummer was attached to the project, Leveaux's big reason for taking the project was because he liked Plummer and felt that he would bring a lot to the role, that he was a committed enough actor to commit to a role of a man with a lot of impulses but no power to express them in any significant way.
James and Courtney would sign on in 2015. In the case of Courtney, he was coming off of a significant role in the comic book film Suicide Squad, where he was bulked up. It was agreed that he would look awkward in the uniforms in The Exception, so he performed cardio in order to get into a more appropriate shape. The film would also both of the actors' first nude scenes, with Courtney suggesting that he was comfortable while on set. The film would begin filming in September of 2015 in Belgium and would film for 33 days. Shooting in the country allowed for some authenticity, which included certain scenes that were shot in the same house where Kaiser Wilhelm II lived and operated. As a whole, the production lacked any major controversy. Leveaux was especially impressed by Plummer's performance, which was just as charismatic as he had hoped.
The film would have its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2016. With positive reviews to its name, many found James' performance to be a breakout favorite. This lead to a decent sized buzz for the film, which would continue to play film festivals around the world. The Exception's distribution rights were bought by A24 and DirecTV, who would give the film a theatrical release on June 2, 2017 as well as a video on demand release. With all things considered, the film continued the DirecTV's division of A24 films not doing well at the box office, earning $803,571. However, it was still a fairly high payoff for a film with its release strategy, as most of these films perform an eighth as well. This was likely benefited from the rising profile Courtney after Suicide Squad as well as James, who would also star in the hit Baby Driver the same month, as well as the World War II drama Darkest Hour later that Fall. It wasn't a runaway hit, but it at least showed some signs of success.
This would be especially true when it came to the critical response. The Exception would earn a 75% rating on critics aggregate website Rotten Tomatoes. Peter Debruge of Variety lead the positive feedback, suggesting that "Elegant, well-acted and a good deal sexier than the material might suggest." Others were more critical, such as Mark Feeney of Boston Globe, who liked the film but noted "It's hopeless tosh - but expertly done hopeless tosh." However there were those who disliked the film, such as David Aldridge of Radio Times that decried "Plummer and Janet McTeer, as the Kaiser's wife, bring their customary class to proceedings. But they can't save a tepid mishmash that seems undecided whether it's wartime romance, spy drama or fanciful political fable." The film may have been nobody's biggest hit of the year (Plummer would get an Oscar nomination that Fall for All the Money in the World), but it was an admirable effort nonetheless.
For the most part, The Exception was not really that for A24's 50th film. While the studio didn't do a lot of World War II movies, it usually did films with a bit more creativity on display. Still, it was a good film full of solid performances that elevated the taboo subject. Even then, it was one of the more below-the-radar films of 2017, which would only continue to become more of a standout year as the second half of the year kicked into gear. That would show as soon as the studio's next film, which would be the most divisive film since 2016's The Witch. It was also the return of a director who made his big break with an intimate family drama. Now it was time to shift gears more towards a horror film that would leave audiences either scared or bored, depending on where they stood on atmospheric horror. From the director of Krisha comes It Comes At Night.
Up Next: It Comes At Night (2017)
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