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- 2019
- PG-13
- Greenwich Entertainment
- 1 h 24 m
- 2019
- PG-13
- Greenwich Entertainment
- 1 h 24 m
Summary In the mid-19th century, Emily Dickinson (Molly Shannon) is writing prolifically, baking gingerbread, and enjoying a passionate, lifelong affair with her friend and sister-in-law Susan...yes this is the iconic American poet, popularly thought to have been a reclusive spinster. While seeking publication of some of the 1,775 poems written...
Directed By: Madeleine Olnek
Written By: Madeleine Olnek
- 2019
- PG-13
- Greenwich Entertainment
- 1 h 24 m
- 2019
- PG-13
- Greenwich Entertainment
- 1 h 24 m
Wild Nights with Emily
74
6.6
Where to Watch
Summary In the mid-19th century, Emily Dickinson (Molly Shannon) is writing prolifically, baking gingerbread, and enjoying a passionate, lifelong affair with her friend and sister-in-law Susan...yes this is the iconic American poet, popularly thought to have been a reclusive spinster. While seeking publication of some of the 1,775 poems written...
Directed By: Madeleine Olnek
Written By: Madeleine Olnek
Where to Watch
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
74
86% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
14% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable
Based on 14 Critic Reviews
74
86% Positive
12 Reviews
12 Reviews
14% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
This is a great example of Olnek's style. It's respectful, but it's also alive. It's serious, but it's also tongue-in-cheek. Olnek's approach gives Emily room to breathe. At last.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
6.6
60% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
40% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 10 User Ratings
6.6
60% Positive
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
40% Mixed
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
0% Negative
0 Ratings
0 Ratings
First of all, a warning. To fully appreciate this sly film, I think you have to like Emily **** poetry and be intrigued by the poet herself, and you also need to know quite a lot about Emily **** life and especially about the times in which she lived. That said, this film is a fun “riff” on all things Emily ****, and I would have to agree that it is also smart about how woman writers were treated then and are still treated today. I have loved Emily **** poetry since grammar school and I know quite a lot about it and her life – and I suspect a lot of other women do too. To like this film, I don’t think you need to know all this, but to get ALL the jokes, you definitely have to.
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This is a delightful film - tender, amusing, quite a light and fun watch. I liked that lines of Emily's poetry is displayed on screen. The relationship between Emily and Susan puts things in context. it is somewhat thought provoking, though I believe it isn't intended to be an entirely accurate/faithful period film but that didn't bother me - the themes are well conveyed. I enjoyed the piano pieces played throughout that feature in the background but don't make it difficult to hear the dialogue, thankfully. I enjoyed this film and would certainly recommend it to others, yes.
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This is an irreverent film, but its lightness is meaningful. With each silly flourish, Olnek offers joy and companionship to a figure whose history was more conveniently presented to generations of readers as solitary.
It’s a quick, funny movie.
The film’s playful tone is a corrective to a century of scholarship that insisted on projecting the image of a moody spinster onto Emily Dickinson.
“Wild Nights” largely sidesteps the worst tropes of biographical drama, but when it falls, it falls hard.
Despite the juicy details and fascinating topic, it’s disappointing that the stilted tone makes it so difficult to connect emotionally with this important story.
It might seem odd that Molly Shannon (who's usually known for being funny) would play reclusive, sullen poet Emily ****. But, even though this isn't a full-scale comedy, it does have a humorous approach to the secret lifelong love affair she had with her sister-in-law. The film offers insight into the frustrations of having her prolific output blocked by publishers (men) and features a sprinkling of her poems throughout. While the story is interesting and the approach is entertaining, the overall effect is not as enjoyable as a full-scale comedy and not as stimulating as social commentary. Instead of capturing the period with beautiful cinematography, it has a flat, low-budget look.
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This film does deserve credit for providing a new interpretation of Emily ****, and does describe the attempt to whitewash **** reputation after her death. And there are readings from **** many letters, previously unavailable. However, the film is not well written, there is little character development and many of the characters are cardboard stereotypes. The attempts at comedy are almost slapstick. Therefore, it is frequently tedious to watch.
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Production Company
Embrem Entertainment,
P2 Films,
Salem Street Entertainment,
UnLTD Productions
Release Date Apr 12, 2019
Duration 1 h 24 m
Rating PG-13
Awards
FilmOut San Diego, US
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Sidewalk Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
Champs-Élysées Film Festival
• 1 Win & 1 Nomination
