American Dreamer
Directed byPaul Dektor
Screenplay byTheodore Melfi
Story by
  • Theodore Melfi
  • Chris Wehner[1]
Based onA segment from This American Life
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyNicolas Bolduc
Edited byLisa Robison
Music byJeff Russo
Production
companies
  • Estuary Films
  • Goldenlight Films
  • Flying Firebird
  • Dektor Films
Release date
  • June 11, 2022 (2022-06-11) (Tribeca)
Running time
106 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

American Dreamer is a 2022 American black comedy film directed by Paul Dektor (in his feature debut) and written by Theodore Melfi. Based on a segment from the radio show This American Life, it stars Peter Dinklage as a professor who tries to buy the estate of a lonely widow played by Shirley MacLaine. Matt Dillon, Danny Glover, Kimberly Quinn, and Danny Pudi also star.

The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2022.

Premise

Dr. Phil Loder, a low-level, adjunct professor of economics at Harvard, has always dreamed of owning a home. His wish becomes a possibility when a lonely widow offers Phil her sprawling estate for pennies. The deal, however, is too good to be true.

Cast

Production

The independent film American Dreamer was first announced on February 2, 2021, with Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine, and Kimberly Quinn attached to star.[3] In March, Danny Glover, Matt Dillon, Danny Pudi, and Michelle Mylett joined the cast;[4] production began on March 15 in Vancouver, and was set to conclude on April 16, 2021.[5] Filming also took place in Victoria, British Columbia, where partial parts of the British Columbia Parliament Buildings were converted into "Brockton University" as the film is set in Massachusetts.[6]

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 11, 2022.[2][7]

References

  1. ^ "American Dreamer". Writers Guild of America West. September 2, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "American Dreamer". Tribeca Film Festival. Retrieved April 21, 2022.
  3. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (February 2, 2021). "Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine To Star In Paul Dektor-Helmed American Dreamer; Ted Melfi Script". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (March 22, 2021). "Dark Comedy American Dreamer Adds Danny Glover, Matt Dillon, Danny Pudi, Michelle Mylett". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ "DGC BC Production List" (PDF). Directors Guild of Canada. March 5, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 27, 2021. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
  6. ^ "Peter Dinklage, Shirley MacLaine among stars of movie being filmed in Victoria". CIVI-DT. April 5, 2021. Archived from the original on April 6, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  7. ^ Goldsmith, Jill (April 19, 2022). "Tribeca Festival Lineup Includes Corner Office With Jon Hamm, Ray Romano's Somewhere In Queens, More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 19, 2022.

External links

This American Life
Categories