Only (film)

Only
Directed byTakashi Doscher
Produced by
Starring
Release dates
  • April 27, 2019 (2019-04-27) (Tribeca Film Festival)
  • March 6, 2020 (2020-03-06)
Running time
98 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

Only is a 2019 American post-apocalyptic romance film, directed by Takashi Doscher and starring Freida Pinto and Leslie Odom Jr.[1]

Plot

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In the film, a couple, Will and Eva (played by Odom and Pinto), are forced to hide after ash from a comet containing a virus kills most of the women in the world.[1][2] The film has a non-chronological structure, with scenes from earlier in the outbreak interspersed with the main storyline.[3] The plot involves Will attempting to keep Eva safe from the government and bounty hunters, since women have become extremely valuable.[1][3] It has been compared to the comic series Y: The Last Man.[4]

Cast

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Release

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The film premiered at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival,[1] and was released in cinemas on 6 March 2020.[5] It was subsequently released on Netflix US on July 5, 2020, quickly skyrocketing into the top ten most watched films on the platform.[6][7]

Only was Doscher's second film, after Still, which he directed in 2018.[8] Before narrative film, Doscher co-directed the ESPN documentary, A Fighting Chance,[9] starring Kyle Maynard.

Reception

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The film received mixed reviews from critics, with a 40% score on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes (with 20 reviews in total).[5] Critics have praised the film's "somber, reflective screenplay",[3] and "warm, affectingly natural performances".[10] However, a few others have also criticized the film for its non-linear structure and the portrayal of Will and Eva's relationship, which has been polarizing for some viewers.[11] One critic has claimed the character of Will as misogynistic,[4] while another praised the film for depicting "a love that is powerful and transcendent."[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hipes, Patrick (4 November 2019). "Tribeca Sci-Fi Romancer 'Only' With Freida Pinto & Leslie Odom Jr To Hit Theaters In Vertical Deal". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Only (2020)". IMDb. 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Hunter, Allan (28 April 2019). "'Only': Tribeca Review". Screen Daily. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  4. ^ a b Puchko, Kristy (29 April 2019). "Tribeca Review: Imagine 'Y: The Last Man' But Genderswapped And Awful, Then You've Got 'Only'". Pajiba. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Only". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  6. ^ Bean, Travis. "The 10 Most Popular Movies On Netflix (So Far) In July". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  7. ^ Roth, Dany (2020-07-10). "The underrated sci-fi drama that's taking over Netflix". Looper.com. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  8. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (10 June 2019). "'Only' Helmer Takashi Doscher Inks With Verve". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  9. ^ A Fighting Chance, retrieved 2020-07-15
  10. ^ Bugbee, Teo (2020-03-05). "'Only' Review: A Desperate Dystopia Where Women Are Erased". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  11. ^ "'Only' Is a Polarizing New Thriller About a Virus That Kills Women". Observer. 2020-07-06. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
  12. ^ Nicholas, Lynnette (2019-04-29). "Tribeca19 Review: 'Only' Shines a Fresh Lens on Love". Black Girl Nerds. Retrieved 2020-07-15.
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