Rudderless

Name: Rudderless
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Music
Released: October 17, 2014
Duration: 105 min
Rating: 52
Cast: Anton Yelchin, Billy Crudup, Felicity Huffman, Jamie Chung, Selena Gomez

2014

METASCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 19 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 68 Ratings

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7.9

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7.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 68 Ratings

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Rudderless

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Movie Details & Credits

Samuel Goldwyn Films | Release Date: October 17, 2014 | R

Starring: Anton Yelchin, Billy Crudup, Felicity Huffman, Jamie Chung, Selena Gomez

Summary: Sam (Billy Crudup), a former high-profile advertising executive, falls apart after the sudden death of his son. Living off the grid on a docked sailboat, he wastes away his days while drowning his pain in alcohol. When Sam discovers a box filled with his son's demo tapes and lyrics, his own child's musical talent is a revelation. CommuningSam (Billy Crudup), a former high-profile advertising executive, falls apart after the sudden death of his son. Living off the grid on a docked sailboat, he wastes away his days while drowning his pain in alcohol. When Sam discovers a box filled with his son's demo tapes and lyrics, his own child's musical talent is a revelation. Communing with his deceased son's dashed dreams, Sam learns each song and eventually musters the will to perform one at a local bar. When Quentin, a young musician in the audience, is captivated by the song, the unlikely duo form a rock band that becomes surprisingly popular and revitalizes both of their lives.… Expand

Director: William H. Macy

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Music

Rating: R

Runtime: 105 min

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Critic Reviews

Richard Roeper

Oct 16, 2014

Regardless of Crudup’s ranking as a box-office draw, he’s every inch the movie star in Rudderless, a rather strange but engrossing film with one of the more jarring twists of any film in recent memory. Read full review

Leah Greenblatt

Oct 16, 2014

An ill-judged twist pitches the story sideways, but Crudup's performance holds the center. His pain isn't soggy or showy; it just feels true. Read full review

John DeFore

Aug 15, 2014

Though some plot elements are pushily therapeutic, they're offset by others whose novelty distinguishes Rudderless from movies of its sort. Read full review

Bill Goodykoontz

Oct 16, 2014

Rudderless is a quietly ambitious film, and if it eventually collapses under the dramatic weight it's asked to shoulder — and it does — at least it's trying. Read full review

Sam Weisberg

Oct 14, 2014

The result, despite a few stellar moments, is a not-quite-tragic-enough meditation on mourning and self-healing, crossed with a not-quite-gritty-enough portrait of indie rockers trying to break big. Read full review

Dennis Harvey

Aug 15, 2014

Crudup does a lot to keep things watchable, playing with a slightly acidic wryness that suggests the character’s humor has only been heightened by his grieving hopelessness. Read full review

Keith Uhlich

Oct 14, 2014

What really makes Rudderless a full-blown affront is a late-breaking narrative revelation (no spoilers here) that’s meant to add resonant emotional depth, but instead comes off as jaw-droppingly repugnant. That’s appropriate, though, for a movie with no sense of direction. Read full review

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User Reviews

Malima

Oct 17, 2014

Ótimo filme, musicas maravilhosas, ansiosa para que chegue logo no Brasil, e eu praticamente amo filmes com historias baseadas em fatos reais, e além do mais com a Selena, merece a melhor nota sem duvidas....

4 of 5 users found this helpful41

erickx

Sep 1, 2015

amei a rainha teen no filme -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

DeividAlves_

Oct 17, 2014

I still didn't watched this movie, but only to read the story, see the trailer, and this perfect actors and actress, I'm sure of this is amazing, so excited to get watch it, and wanted that movie would come to Brazil's Cinema Theater..

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

wales7388

Jun 11, 2019

snubbed from various awards easily couldve been a contender for the sags or critics choice. gomez is a clear standout here

3 of 3 users found this helpful30

LeZee

May 14, 2016

An impact of the loss of a close one.

If you think it is some B movie, which is overrated, I would say your assumption is totally wrong. I did not know anything about this film either, I thought it was a Christian Bale movie, that's who I saw in the poster, but later I came to know it wasAn impact of the loss of a close one.

If you think it is some B movie, which is overrated, I would say your assumption is totally wrong. I did not know anything about this film either, I thought it was a Christian Bale movie, that's who I saw in the poster, but later I came to know it was a different guy. My thought on this changed after watching it, it is really a beautiful drama-music. One of the best films of the 2014 that I would have missed it if I had listened to the lies of the critics. So be careful while choosing such movies, because critics are not always right.

I believe you all had seen enough films based on the school shootings like 'Elephant'. This is a similar kind, except there's no violence in it, I mean the shootout was not shown, but a drama about its consequences, especially in the perspective of the parents. This tale focused on a father whose son had been killed in a such unfortunate event. How it affects his life was narrated wonderfully with some awesome music tracks. A father's mourning and his uncertain future to the self-discovery.

This is Willian H. Macy's directional debut film and he pulled it off quite superbly. Sadly, nobody talks about it in the line of other great films of the year, because it deserves an equal respect and praise. I am not the only one, there are others too who liked it a lot. A simple story and the perfect character exhibitions with the pleasing musics, all these worked in its favour. Supporting roles are enough, Billy Crudup should do more lead roles. After seeing his impressive performance in this I am confident that he can find his own place in the industry. And so Willian H. Macy, I'm looking forward for his future projects.

"There are 14 people in the audience and 10 of them are performers."

It was not inspired by the real story, except the school shootings, but the film incredibly told what happens after such incidents. The best part was balancing the emotions in the storytelling. After watching it in the first 10 minutes, I expected, in fact anybody expects it to be a tearjerker film, but it was not, even though I loved watching the rest of the film. And the twist was very casual which was not meant for the story or the characters, but for the viewers that related to the school shooting that we never saw. So there is a less possibility for us to expect it coming, but it also that brings a better conclusion to the heartwarming tale.

It was like someone's real life, yet not easy to predict the scenes. Cinematically it accomplished its quest to be a good film. Selena Gomez was in a guest role, but for a star like her it was unnecessary to play a small part, especially in a serious theme like this. Because unexpected anticipation grows in us and in the end that might lead to a disappointment, especially for her fans. That is not for her alone, but any other big stars, because it is not a comedy or a superhero film when they appear on the screen, the audience to go crazy. A character with the dialogues means something big, but anyway, she was bad at all.

It wasn't as good performance as Anton Yelchin's previous film '5 to 7' that I saw early this year, but yeah definitely a decent supporting character along with Laurence Fishburne's. Don't mistake it, it was not a powerful drama about grieving alone, but in its small specific expanse it reached what it wanted to tell the audience so perfectly. So, there are some fun parts as well in it in a small quantity. But overall, a film that fulfills its promise. By now you might know that I strongly recommend it, especially if anyone who had ever lost their loved ones, they will feel it in their heart more than others do.

9/10… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ShowMeMore

May 22, 2018

An absolutely excellent film with just the right mix of tragedy, comedy, love, regret and high drama. I did find it to be highly emotionally charged with the various characters being incredibly interesting. And then near the end is this realisation of what you've actually been watching....An absolutely excellent film with just the right mix of tragedy, comedy, love, regret and high drama. I did find it to be highly emotionally charged with the various characters being incredibly interesting. And then near the end is this realisation of what you've actually been watching.... It's an excellent film and I'll watch it more than once.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Somansky

Oct 27, 2014

OMG! I chose to watch this movie because of Mr Macy's rep as a fine actor and the hype and acclaim it received from the media. I should have walked out much earlier but kept disbelieving that an actor of Mr Macy's stature would make a movie this bad. The music is as trite, formulaic andOMG! I chose to watch this movie because of Mr Macy's rep as a fine actor and the hype and acclaim it received from the media. I should have walked out much earlier but kept disbelieving that an actor of Mr Macy's stature would make a movie this bad. The music is as trite, formulaic and generative as the dialogue. The main character is asked "Is that the best you got" after having advised his co-star, 'Quitters never win". He thinks for a moment and replies, "yeah that's the best I got". I would ask the same of Mr. Macy.… Expand

0 of 4 users found this helpful04

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