On the Count of Three
| On the Count of Three | |
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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Jerrod Carmichael |
| Written by |
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| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Marshall Adams |
| Edited by | |
| Music by | Owen Pallett |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | United Artists Releasing |
Release dates |
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Running time | 86 minutes[1] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
On the Count of Three is a 2021 American black comedy thriller film, directed by Jerrod Carmichael (in his feature directorial debut), from a screenplay by Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch. It stars Carmichael, Christopher Abbott, Tiffany Haddish, J. B. Smoove, Lavell Crawford, and Henry Winkler.
The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2021, and is scheduled to be released on May 13, 2022 by United Artists Releasing with Annapurna Pictures and Orion Pictures.
Synopsis
Val (Jerrod Carmichael) and Kevin (Christopher Abbott), two depressed best friends with a suicide pact, decide to live one last day before they kill each other.
Cast
- Jerrod Carmichael as Val
- Christopher Abbott as Kevin
- Tiffany Haddish as Natasha
- Henry Winkler as Dr. Brenner
- J. B. Smoove as Lyndell
- Lavell Crawford as Donny
- Jared Abrahamson as Wyatt
Production
In June 2019, it was announced Jerrod Carmichael and Christopher Abbott would star in the film, with Carmichael directing from a screenplay by Ari Katcher and Ryan Welch.[2] In November 2019, it was announced Tiffany Haddish, Henry Winkler, J. B. Smoove and Lavell Crawford had joined the cast of the film, with David Carrico & Adam Paulsen producing under their Valparaiso Pictures banner alongside Tom Werner serving as a producer under his Werner Entertainment banner, with principal photography commencing that same month.[3]
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2021 Sundance Film Festival on January 29, 2021, where Katcher and Welch were awarded the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.[4] Shortly after, Annapurna Pictures and MGM's Orion Pictures acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film, which will be released through their joint venture, United Artists Releasing.[5] It is scheduled to be released theatrically limitedly and on digital on May 13, 2022.
The film's first trailer was released on April 27, 2022, beginning with a slate promoting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.[6]
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 86% based on 66 reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's critics consensus reads, "It's occasionally uneven, but On the Count of Three finds director/star Jerrod Carmichael attempting an ambitious blend of drama and dark comedy -- and often succeeding."[7] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 73 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.[8]
David Ehrlich of IndieWire gave the film an A− and wrote: "Like a game of Russian roulette, this is a movie that would have seemed embarrassingly stupid if things had gone wrong. It’s a dangerous and somehow enjoyable movie that dances around the edge of an open wound from start to finish as it risks making light of the heaviest things that so many of its viewers will ever have to carry. But it’s exhilarating — a little at first, and then a hell of a lot — to see these characters find the kind of happiness worth dying for."[9] Benjamin Lee of The Guardian gave the film 3 out of 5 stars, saying: "While it’s ultimately a little too messy to work quite as well as it could have, given the interesting and ambitious ingredients, On the Count of Three is proof that Carmichael is a director to be excited about, hoping that perhaps he finds time to write his next script himself"[10]
Accolades
| Year | Award | Category | Subject | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Sundance Film Festival[11] | Grand Jury Prize - US Dramatic | Jerrod Carmichael | Nominated |
| Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award | Ari Katcher Ryan Welch |
Won | ||
| IndieWire Critics Poll[12] | Best Films Opening in 2022 | On the Count of Three | Nominated |
References
- ^ "On the Count of Three". Sundance Film Festival. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (June 3, 2019). "Exclusive: Quentin Tarantino Working with Jerrod Carmichael on 'Django/Zorro' Movie". Collider. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (November 18, 2019). "Jerrod Carmichael, Christopher Abbott Lead Ensemble Cast In 'On The Count Of Three' For Valparaiso & Tom Werner's Werner Entertainment". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Debruge, Peter (December 15, 2020). "Sundance Film Festival Lineup Features 38 First-Time Directors, Including Rebecca Hall and Robin Wright". Variety. Retrieved December 15, 2020.
- ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 12, 2021). "Annapurna Pictures Lands Jerrod Carmichael's Sundance Prize Winner 'On The Count Of Three;' Near $2M For NA Rights". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
- ^ https://www.indiewire.com/2022/04/on-the-count-of-three-trailer-jerrod-carmichael-directorial-debut-1234719462/
- ^ "On the Count of Three (2021)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
- ^ "On the Count of Three Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved May 4, 2022.
- ^ Ehrlich, David (January 30, 2021). "'On the Count of Three' Review: A Suicide Pact Turns Into Killer Buddy Comedy in Jerrod Carmichael's Debut". IndieWire. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ Lee, Benjamin (January 30, 2021). "On the Count of Three review – hit-and-miss suicide bromance comedy". The Guardian. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
- ^ "2021 Sundance Film Festival Awards Announced". www.sundance.org. Archived from the original on February 3, 2021. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
- ^ https://www.indiewire.com/2021/12/best-movies-2021-critics-survey-poll-performances-1234684568/