C'mon C'mon (film)

* Chelsea Barnard
* Lila Yacoub
* Andrea Longacre-White
* Joaquin Phoenix
* Gaby Hoffmann
* Scoot McNairy
* Molly Webster
* Jaboukie Young-White
* Woody Norman
* Aaron Dessner
* Bryce Dessner
* September 2, 2021 (2021-09-02) (Telluride)
* November 19, 2021 (2021-11-19) (United States)

***C'mon C'mon*** is a 2021 American black-and-white drama film written and directed by Mike Mills. It stars Joaquin Phoenix, Gaby Hoffmann, Scoot McNairy, Molly Webster, Jaboukie Young-White, and Woody Norman. The film had its world premiere at the 48th Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021, and was released in limited theatres on November 19, 2021, by A24. It has received acclaim from critics.

## Plot

Johnny is a radio journalist traveling the country with his producing partners, interviewing children about their lives and their thoughts on the future. While in Detroit he receives a call from his sister Viv; they had not spoken for the past year since their mother's death from dementia. Viv asks Johnny if he can come to Los Angeles and watch her nine-year-old son Jesse, as she has to travel to Oakland to care for her estranged husband Paul struggling with mental illness. Johnny agrees, and he and Jesse quickly forge a bond despite Jesse’s obnoxious personality and Johnny’s unwillingness to talk about his own life.

Viv experiences difficulties dealing with Paul and has to stay longer than expected in Oakland, while Johnny is pressured by his partners to return to work. Johnny convinces Viv to let him take Jesse with him back to New York City. Jesse increasingly gets on Johnny’s nerves, and Johnny eventually snaps at Jesse, scaring him; he later apologizes at Viv’s urging. He shows Jesse how to operate his audio equipment and lets him come along to more interviews with children. Jesse continues to ask Johnny questions about his personal life and his relationship with Viv. We learn that Johnny and Viv fought over their mother’s deathbed with differing opinions on how to care for her, and that Johnny was once in a long-term relationship with a woman whom he still loves.

Jesse gets homesick and yearns to see his mother, while Johnny is increasingly pressured to return to the road and resume work. Johnny buys him a plane ticket back to LA, but en route Jesse requests to stop and use the bathroom, locking himself inside and refusing to leave until Johnny relents and lets him stay. Johnny takes Jesse to New Orleans as the crew continues to interview children. Jesse begins to ask questions about his father and what’s wrong with him, and expresses fear that he will grow up to have the same problems himself. Johnny reassures Jesse that won’t happen, as Viv has taught him how to deal with his emotions in a healthier way.

Viv later calls and says that Paul has accepted treatment and is doing much better, and the doctors are letting him come home. Johnny shares the good news with Jesse, who suddenly runs away through a park in fear. Johnny catches up and tells him it’s okay to say he’s not happy; they scream together in frustration until Jesse begins laughing. Viv flies to New Orleans to pick up Jesse and take him back to Los Angeles; Johnny promises to stay in touch with both of them. Johnny later sends Jesse a voice recording recounting everything that happened on their trip, as Jesse had requested so that he does not forget the experience.

## Cast

* Joaquin Phoenix as Johnny
* Gaby Hoffmann as Viv
* Woody Norman as Jesse
* Scoot McNairy as Paul
* Molly Webster as Roxanne
* Jaboukie Young-White as Fernando

## Production

In September 2019, it was announced Joaquin Phoenix had been cast in the film, with Mike Mills directing from a screenplay he wrote, with A24 distributing. In October 2019, Gaby Hoffmann joined the cast of the film.

Principal photography began in November 2019 and ended in January 2020. The film was shot primarily in New Orleans, New York, Los Angeles and Detroit. In December 2019, cinematographer Robbie Ryan revealed that he was shooting the film. In February 2020, it was announced that Woody Norman had joined the cast of the film.

In the film, Joaquin Phoenix's character, Johnny, works as a radio journalist. Co-star Molly Webster, who plays Roxanne, is a real-life public radio journalist and Senior Correspondent for WNYC's Radiolab.

## Release

*C'mon C'mon* had its world premiere at the Telluride Film Festival on September 2, 2021. By the end of its run, it will have screened at film festivals in Chicago, the Hamptons, Mill Valley, New York, Rome and San Diego. It was released on November 19, 2021.

## Reception

### Box office

In its opening weekend, the film made $134,000 from five theaters; its per-venue average of $26,800 was the best for a limited release since February 2020. In its second weekend, the film made $293,800 in 102 theaters.

### Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 95% based on 127 reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10. The website's critics consensus reads: "The sweet chemistry between Joaquin Phoenix and Woody Norman is complemented by writer-director Mike Mills' empathetic work, helping *C'mon C'mon* transcend its familiar trappings." On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 81 out of 100, based on 38 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".

## References

1. ↑ NYFF59 Schedule.
2. ↑ C'mon C'mon.
3. ↑ Joaquin Phoenix among stars headed to New Orleans: His next film, ‘C’mon C’mon,’ to begin shooting Tuesday. *The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate* (20 January 2020). Retrieved on January 23, 2020.
4. ↑ C’mon C’mon.
5. ↑ Template:Cite Box Office Mojo
6. ↑ ‘C’mon C’mon’: Joaquin Phoenix Shines & Empathy Flows In Mike Mills' Sublime, Micro-Traumatic Family Drama [Telluride Review].
7. ↑ Jaboukie Young-White. Retrieved on July 14, 2020.
8. ↑ Fleming, Mike Jr. (September 19, 2019). A24 Lands Joaquin Phoenix’s First Post-‘Joker’ Role; Collaboration With Mike Mills Shoots This Fall. Retrieved on November 3, 2019.
9. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (October 11, 2019). Exclusive: Gaby Hoffmann in Talks to Join Joaquin Phoenix in Mike Mills’ A24 Drama. Retrieved on November 3, 2019.
10. ↑ Joaquin Phoenix among stars headed to New Orleans: His next film, ‘C’mon C’mon,’ to begin shooting Tuesday. *The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate* (20 January 2020). Retrieved on January 23, 2020.
11. ↑ Joaquin Phoenix films new movie amid ‘Joker’ awards buzz. *Page Six* (17 January 2020). Retrieved on January 23, 2020.
12. ↑ Joaquin Phoenix gets back to work for the first time after Joker success. *Metro* (8 December 2019). Retrieved on January 23, 2020.
13. ↑ Untitled Mike Mills Project. Retrieved on November 3, 2019.
14. ↑ Joaquin Phoenix & Mike Mills Untitled Drama Set To Begin Filming In November – Will Shoot In New York, Los Angeles, Detroit and New Orleans (September 28, 2019). Retrieved on November 3, 2019.
15. ↑ Cinematographer Robbie Ryan On "Privileged Space" Of ‘Marriage Story’ Set & Delivering Cinema Without Being Showy (December 9, 2019). Retrieved on January 9, 2020.
16. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (February 11, 2020). A24 To Take Joaquin Phoenix’s First Post-‘Joker’ Movie To Berlin’s EFM, More Project Details Revealed. Retrieved on February 11, 2020.
17. ↑ Feinberg, Scott (2021-09-05). Telluride Awards Analysis: ‘C’mon C’mon’ a Fest Favorite, But Will It Register with Awards Voters? (en-US).
18. ↑ Molly Webster | WNYC Studios | Podcasts (en).
19. ↑ Telluride Film Festival Program Guide.
20. ↑ Hammond, Pete (September 1, 2021). Telluride Film Festival: Will Smith’s ‘King Richard’, Peter Dinklage Musical ‘Cyrano’, Joaquin Phoenix In ‘C’mon C’mon’, Ken Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ Set To Premiere.
21. ↑ C’mon C’mon (en-US).
22. ↑ Hinkle, Annette (2021-09-15). The Hamptons International Film Festival Announces 2021 Slate (en-US).
23. ↑ C’MON C’MON (en-US).
24. ↑ Pearce, Leonard (2021-08-19). 59th New York Film Festival Adds C’mon C’mon, Dune, Red Rocket, The French Dispatch & More (en-US).
25. ↑ NYFF59 Schedule.
26. ↑ Grater, Tom (2021-10-06). Rome Film Festival To Fete Quentin Tarantino, Tim Burton; Chloe Zhao’s ‘Eternals’ Set As Closing Film (en-US).
27. ↑ Gala Films (en-US).
28. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 23, 2021). A24 Sets Q4 Release Dates For Joaquin Phoenix Pic 'C’mon C’mon' & Sean Baker’s 'Red Rocket'.
29. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 20, 2021). 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' Calls Up $44M Opening Weekend – Sunday AM Update.
30. ↑ Tom Brueggemann (November 21, 2021). ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ $44 Million Opening Box Office Sets Up Sony to End the Year as a Star.
31. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (November 28, 2021). 'Licorice Pizza' Delivers: Paul Thomas Anderson Pic's Opening Among Filmmaker's Best With Record Screen Average – Specialty Box Office.
32. ↑ Template:Cite Rotten Tomatoes
33. ↑ Template:Cite Metacritic
34. ↑ Sharf, Zack (October 21, 2021). Gotham Awards 2021 Nominations: ‘Pig,’ ‘Green Knight,’ ‘Passing’ Compete for Best Feature. Retrieved on October 21, 2021.
35. ↑ Sharf, Zack (December 2, 2021). National Board of Review Winners 2021: ‘Licorice Pizza’ Takes Best Picture and Best Director. Retrieved on December 3, 2021.
36. ↑ Anderson, Erik (December 1, 2021). ‘Belfast,’ ‘The Power of the Dog’ lead 26th Satellite Awards nominations. AwardsWatch.

## External links

* *C'mon C'mon* at IMDb

Template:Mike Mills