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Ordinary Angels (film)

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Ordinary Angels
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJon Gunn
Screenplay by
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyMaya Bankovic
Edited byParker Adams
Music byPancho Burgos-Goizueta
Production
companies
Distributed byLionsgate
Release date
  • February 23, 2024 (2024-02-23)
Running time
118 minutes[2]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$12–13 million[3]
Box office$20.5 million[4][5]

Ordinary Angels is a 2024 American Christian drama film. Directed by Jon Gunn and written by Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig, it is based on true events that transpired during the 1994 North American cold wave.[6] It stars Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson, Nancy Travis, and Tamala Jones.

The film was theatrically released by Lionsgate on February 23, 2024. It received positive reviews from critics and has grossed $20 million against a production budget of $12–13 million.

Plot

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Set in 1994 in Louisville, Kentucky, the story follows Sharon Stevens, a successful hairdresser and co-owner of a salon, who finds new purpose in life after reading about five-year-old Michelle Schmitt, a little girl who has just lost her mother and urgently needs a liver transplant due to biliary atresia. Moved by Michelle's plight, Sharon attends the funeral, introduces herself to the grieving family, and offers her help.

The night before, Sharon had been out drinking and partying. Concerned about her behavior, her friend and co-owner of the salon, Rose, insists that she attend an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Although Sharon refuses to acknowledge her drinking problem at the meeting, she is profoundly affected when she later sees the news about the Schmitt family.

At the salon, Sharon shares with Rose her newfound sense of purpose: to help the Schmitts and find meaning in her own life. She organizes a 24-hour hair-a-thon to rally the community and raise funds to help Ed, Michelle's widowed father, pay off their mounting medical debts.

Meanwhile, Ed struggles with his financial burdens. When he returns home with only part of the groceries his mother, Barbara, requested, he confides in her about his overwhelming debt. Sharon soon arrives with over $3,000 she raised for them, though it only covers half the cost of Michelle's last transfusion. Barbara invites Sharon to dinner, where she gets to know the family better.

Upon discovering that the hospital bills total a staggering $400,000, Sharon, undeterred, insists that Ed show her his finances. Despite Ed's discomfort with accepting help, Sharon is determined to support the family. She accompanies Ed to a meeting where they secure 50 reroofing jobs from a company rebuilding after a tornado. While Ed works tirelessly, Sharon canvasses the community, seeking donations from local businesses. One day, Ed returns home to find Barbara with a twisted ankle and Sharon bonding with the girls, applying makeup and spending time with them.

Inspired by her connection with the Schmitt girls, Sharon seeks out her estranged, now-adult son, Derek. Although he remains hostile to her attempts at reconciliation, Sharon continues to try to rebuild their relationship.

When Michelle's health takes a turn for the worse, Sharon steps in to help with the girls, and later persuades Ed to take them all roller-skating, marking the occasion as a tribute to Derek's birthday, though it is never explicitly mentioned.

Sharon then meets with the hospital in a bid to eliminate Ed's debt. As Michelle's condition deteriorates, the doctor informs them that she only has four to six weeks left and urgently needs a liver transplant. Now at the top of the donor list, Michelle requires immediate access to a plane to fly her to Omaha. Once again, Sharon uses her persuasive skills to secure the necessary transportation.

Sharon arranges for a TV news crew to visit Ed's home to raise additional funds, but Ed, valuing his privacy, angrily dismisses them. That evening, when Barbara leaves Sharon in charge of the girls, Ed returns to find his daughter in a panic, fearing Sharon is dead. Realizing Sharon is intoxicated, Ed asks her to leave and not return.

As Christmas passes, Sharon finally resolves to quit drinking, begins attending AA meetings earnestly, and leaves Derek a heartfelt goodbye message. Meanwhile, the story about Michelle finally airs on local news. In mid-January, as Louisville is hit by a major snowstorm, a liver becomes available for Michelle, but she must reach Omaha within six hours.

Despite the airport being closed, Sharon persuades them to clear a runway and finds a pilot willing to brave the storm. Ed, meanwhile, plans a route to the airport, navigating around closed roads. When they encounter a fallen tree blocking their path, Ed uses a roadside emergency phone to relinquish the liver. However, a pickup truck arrives just in time to inform them of an alternate plan.

The news broadcast issues a call for a helicopter pilot, and a Vietnam War veteran volunteers. The town comes together to clear a space for the helicopter to land. In a moment of reconciliation, Derek arrives to help and makes amends with Sharon.

The operation, funded by donations, is a success. Michelle Schmitt goes on to graduate from college and marries a year later.

Cast

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Production

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Dave Matthews pitched the story to Jon Berg who brought the story to Lionsgate who brought it to Kevin Downes and the team at Kingdom Story Company.[10] In March 2022, the film was officially announced with Swank and Ritchson starring, with Jon Gunn directing and writing the most recent draft of the script with Jon Erwin. Meg Tilly and Kelly Fremon Craig contributed an earlier draft and received writing credit.[11][12][13] Filming occurred in Winnipeg in April 2022[14] and Albany, New York, in June 2022.[15]

Release

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Ordinary Angels was released theatrically by Lionsgate on February 23, 2024, and on-demand on March 26, 2024.[4] The film was originally scheduled to be released on October 13, 2023,[8] before the date was delayed to avoid competition with the concert film, Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour.[16] Shortly after, Sony Pictures Releasing International acquired some international distribution rights under the Stage 6 Films label. It was released in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2024.[2]

Reception

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Box office

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In the United States and Canada, Ordinary Angels was released alongside Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – To the Hashira Training and Drive-Away Dolls, and was projected to gross $5–7 million from 2,800 theaters in its opening weekend.[17] It ended up debuting to $6.5 million, finishing third at the box office.[3][18] The film made $3.9 million in its second weekend (a drop of just 38%), finishing third.[19]

Critical response

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On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 84% of 100 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.6/10. The website's consensus reads: "With a dash of grace and circumstance, this sweet display of humanity is stabilized by Hilary Swank in a role that plays to the heartstrings of all Ordinary Angels."[20] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the film a score of 57 out of 100, based on 16 critics, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[21] Audiences surveyed by CinemaScore gave the film a rare grade of "A+" on an A+ to F scale.[3]

Courtney Howard of Variety wrote, "In Swank's capable hands, the character's predictable arc is made formidable, conjuring sympathy and strength in spades. Plus, she brings a naturalism to the scenes shared with Mitchell and Hughes, rising stars in their own right, who efficiently deliver precociousness with the right amount of potency".[22]

References

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  1. ^ Lang, Brent (June 18, 2024). "Lionsgate, Media Capital Technologies Sign 'Significant' Multi-Year Slate Financing Deal". Variety. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Ordinary Angels (12A)". BBFC. March 15, 2024. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 25, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' At $120M+ WW Takes Out Three Little Birds At The Box Office – Sunday Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 25, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Ordinary Angels (2024)". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved June 8, 2024.
  5. ^ "Ordinary Angels". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  6. ^ Ochoa, David (January 17, 2024). "30th anniversary of Louisville's Snow Baby". WAVE 3.
  7. ^ King, Randall (March 24, 2022). "Hilary Swank shooting inspirational drama in Winnipeg". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  8. ^ a b Hudgins, Ryan (March 16, 2023). "Hilary Swank's 'Ordinary Angels' follows an act of heroism during a catastrophic storm". TODAY.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e f Grobar, Matt (April 18, 2022). "Kingdom Story Company's 'Ordinary Angels' Adds Nancy Travis, Tamala Jones & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  10. ^ "Award-Winning Producer of 'Ordinary Angels' is Hoping for a Big Impact". September 14, 2023.
  11. ^ Grobar, Matt (March 24, 2022). "Hilary Swank & 'Reacher' Breakout Alan Ritchson To Lead Kingdom Story Company's 'Ordinary Angels'; Lionsgate Distributing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  12. ^ "Ordinary Angels". Writers Guild of America West. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  13. ^ Grobar, Matt (March 16, 2023). "Lionsgate Dates Ordinary Angels Drama Starring Hilary Swank, Alan Ritchson". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  14. ^ McKendrick, Devon (April 25, 2022). "Where Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson have been spotted in Winnipeg". CTV News. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  15. ^ Singh, Sartaj (February 21, 2024). "Ordinary Angels: Where Was the Inspiring Movie Filmed?". The Cinemaholic. Retrieved December 8, 2024.
  16. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 1, 2023). "'Ordinary Angels' Flying Away From Taylor Swift – Release Date Change". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  17. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (February 21, 2024). "'Bob Marley: One Love' To Stay High As A Kite At Box Office Until 'Dune' Gang Arrives – Preview". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 21, 2024.
  18. ^ McClintock, Pamela (February 24, 2024). "Box Office: Bob Marley's One Love Still Rocking at No. 1, Madame Web and Drive-Away Dolls Spin Out". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (March 3, 2024). "'Dune: Part Two': How Sci-Fi Space Worm Epic Reared Head To $81.5M Opening After Strike Release Delay – Sunday Box Office Update". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 3, 2024.
  20. ^ "Ordinary Angels". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved November 26, 2024. Edit this at Wikidata
  21. ^ "Ordinary Angels". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  22. ^ Howard, Courtney (February 20, 2024). "Ordinary Angels Review: Hilary Swank and Alan Ritchson's Inspirational Weepy Tugs at the Heartstrings". Variety. Retrieved February 20, 2024.
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