Release: Forever Hold the Peace

 

Forever Hold the Peace

Genre: Drama/Comedy

Director: Sian Heder

Writers: HG Hansen & Abbie Q

Cast: Maya Hawke, Ben Mendelsohn, Kathryn Hahn, Camila Morrone, Martha Plimpton, Rita Moreno, Fred Armisen, Nicholas Hamilton, Ruth Negga, Bex Taylor-Klaus, Nell Tiger Free, Erin Kellyman

Budget: $17,000,000

Domestic Box Office: $15,384,993

Foreign Box Office: $9,046,127

Total Profit: -$7,000,005

Reaction: Drama/Comedy films never have an easy time at the box office and this time is no different. Eight of the last ten films to include the genre combination have lost money at the box office.

"Forever Hold the Peace has a strong central premise filled with inherent dramatic irony. There is also some good character work in the script, and Maya Hawke shows that she has some star potential. That said, the film is absurdly long - for its genre(s) and really just in general. You could cut out over half the film's running time without trimming a thing that affects the actual story, just superfluous subplots and interactions that have no real impact. This was a fatal flaw, as the more time spent with Maya Hawke's Hazel, the less likable she becomes." - Cooper Wilson, The Earl Hays Press

"The movie is so long, a Dramatic Comedy never needs to be a long story, had me thinking repeatedly, when the film will be done. The writing feels clunky, the uber talented cast, should have been given more to work with but it ultimately fell very short of what I expected from cast and director. There are a few good things from the film, but unfortunately the bad outweigh the good." - J. Darrell Ellington, Behind the Camera

"Despite its overly long-winded runtime and lack of humor, Sian Heder's masterful direction enriches a coming-out story commendable for its heartfelt intentions. As a non-binary gay individual, I found personal resonance in the exploration of coming-out experiences. Maya Hawke stands out, navigating a complex situation. Ben Mendelsohn impressively portrays her tormented conservative father, and Katherine Hahn's presented from a fresh perspective. The supporting cast also delivers commendable performances. While it might not steal the spotlight this season & the soundtrack is weird at times, the sincere efforts invested make it worth the watch."  - Clara O'Boyle,  Irish Times

Rated R for sexuality/nudity and language