Swan Song (2021 Benjamin Cleary film)
2021 American film
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Swan Song is a 2021 American science fiction romantic drama film written and directed by Benjamin Cleary. The film stars Mahershala Ali, Naomie Harris, Awkwafina, Glenn Close, and Adam Beach.
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- Mahershala Ali
- Rebecca Bourke
- Jonathan King
- Jacob Perlin
- Adam Shulman
- Mimi Valdés
- Mahershala Ali
- Naomie Harris
- Awkwafina
- Glenn Close
| Swan Song | |
|---|---|
Release poster | |
| Directed by | Benjamin Cleary |
| Written by | Benjamin Cleary |
| Produced by |
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| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Masanobu Takayanagi |
| Edited by | Nathan Nugent |
| Music by | Jay Wadley |
Production companies |
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| Distributed by | Apple TV+ |
Release date |
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Running time | 112 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Swan Song was released in select theaters and on Apple TV+ on December 17, 2021. The film received generally positive reviews from critics.
Plot
When loving husband and father Cameron Turner is diagnosed with a terminal illness, he is presented with the option of sparing his family grief by having him replaced with a clone. Turner is torn about whether to discuss the option with his wife.
Cast
- Mahershala Ali as Cameron Turner, a family man suffering from a terminal illness.
- Ali also portrays Jack, Cameron's clone.
- Naomie Harris as Poppy Turner, Cameron's wife.
- Awkwafina as Kate, a previously cloned human.
- Glenn Close as Dr. Scott, the brash director of human cloning.
- Adam Beach as Dalton
- Lee Shorten as Rafa
- Dax Rey as Cory, Cameron and Poppy's son (age 8)
Production
In February 2020, Apple TV+ announced it had acquired the rights to the film, to be written and directed by Benjamin Cleary and star Mahershala Ali.[1] In September, Naomie Harris joined the cast,[2] and Awkwafina and Glenn Close signed on in November.[3][4] Adam Beach announced he was added to the cast in December.[5]
Principal photography began on November 9, 2020 in Vancouver, Canada[6][7] and concluded on February 6, 2021.[8] The film was released on December 17, 2021.[9]
Reception
Critical response
On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 80% of 100 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "Swan Song occasionally strays on the wrong side of maudlin, but Mahershala Ali's work in dual roles lends this sci-fi drama genuine heart."[10] On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 66 out of 100, based on 27 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[11]
Accolades
| Ceremony | Category | Recipient(s)/Nominee(s) | Results | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22nd Black Reel Awards | Outstanding Actor | Mahershala Ali | Nominated | [12][13] |
| 75th British Academy Film Awards | Best Actor in a Leading Role | Nominated | ||
| 2nd Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie | Nominated | ||
| Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Movie | N/a | Nominated | ||
| 79th Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama | Mahershala Ali | Nominated | [12][13] |
| 18th Irish Film & Television Awards | Best Film | N/a | Nominated | [14] |
| Best Director | Benjamin Cleary | Nominated | ||
| Best Script | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Nathan Nugent | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound | Steve Fanagan | Won | ||
| Best VFX | Ed Bruce & Manuel Martinez | Nominated | ||
| Rising Star | Benjamin Cleary | Nominated | [15] | |
| 53rd NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture | Mahershala Ali | Nominated | [12][13] |