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Midas Man

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Midas Man
Theatrical release poster
Directed byJoe Stephenson[a]
Screenplay by
  • Brigit Grant
  • Jonathan Wakeham
Produced by
  • Trevor Beattie
  • Jeremy Chatterton
  • Tom Reeve
  • Perry Trevers
  • Billy Dietrich
  • Jacob Fortune-Lloyd
  • Steffen Wild
  • Asaf Nawi
  • Mark Borkowski
  • Peter Dunne
  • Saskia Thomas
  • Ian Hutchinson
  • Matthew Helderman
  • Luke Tayler
Starring
CinematographyBirgit Dierken
Edited byJoe Stephenson
Music byAlex Baranowski
Production
companies
  • Studio POW
  • Trevor Beattie Films
Distributed bySignature Entertainment
Release dates
  • 30 May 2024 (2024-05-30) (TJFF)
  • 30 October 2024 (2024-10-30) (United Kingdom)
Running time
112 minutes
CountryUnited Kingdom
LanguageEnglish
Box office$172,542[1]

Midas Man is a 2024 British biographical film about the life of music entrepreneur Brian Epstein, who managed the Beatles. Based on a screenplay by Brigit Grant and Jonathan Wakeham, the film is directed by Joe Stephenson, after previous directors Sara Sugarman and Jonas Åkerlund moved on from the project. Jacob Fortune-Lloyd stars in the lead role, alongside Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan, Darci Shaw, Ed Speleers, Charley Palmer Rothwell, Bill Milner, Jay Leno, and Blake Richardson.

After starting filming in October 2021, there were various hold-ups until it resumed in 2023, finishing that June. The film premiered at the 32nd Toronto Jewish Film Festival on 30 May 2024.[2]

Premise

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The film tracks how Brian Epstein rose to prominence by managing a series of popular artists including the Beatles, Cilla Black and Gerry and the Pacemakers before his sudden death in 1967 at the age of 32.

Cast

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Production

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Development

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The film is about music entrepreneur Brian Epstein.

Midas Man is a biographical film about Brian Epstein based on a story and screenplay by Brigit Grant. It is a British co-production between Studio POW and Trevor Beattie Films. It is also produced by Er Dong Pictures, who will distribute the film in China. In July 2020, Jonas Åkerlund was announced to direct.[3] In an interview with The Guardian, Åkerlund said he had been researching Epstein for almost two years. He also said he had talked with people who knew Epstein, including Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers: "He told me stories that haven't been printed yet and that we'll introduce into our film."[4] In April 2021, Jacob Fortune-Lloyd was cast in the lead role as Brian Epstein.[5] In July, the film's distribution rights in the U.K. and Ireland were sold to Signature Entertainment.[6] In the following months, Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan and Omari Douglas were cast in September,[7] and Rosie Day, Lukas Gage, Charley Palmer Rothwell and Bill Milner were cast in October.[8][9]

Filming

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The planned 12-week shoot began in Liverpool on 11 October 2021.[10] Principal photography, however, was put on hiatus for three weeks after Åkerlund left the production in November. An issued statement made the claim that filming would continue that same month in London and move to Los Angeles, California, in early January.[11] Sara Sugarman was hired as Åkerlund's replacement, with no reshoots expected to take place,[a] and filming scheduled to start again soon.[12][13] In late November, Jay Leno, Jonah Lees, Blake Richardson, Leo Harvey Elledge, Campbell Wallace and Adam Lawrence joined the cast and a first-look image was released featuring several cast members at Abbey Road Studios.[14][13] An issued statement said that after a three month break, filming would begin in the U.S. in late January 2022 before returning to the U.K.[15]

Filming ended up being on hiatus for over a year,[b] before finally taking place in May 2023 in Blackpool.[16] The following month, it was reported that Joe Stephenson had taken over as director from Sugarman,[a] who reportedly left due to scheduling issues and creative differences.[17] Principal photography was completed by Stephenson. It was also reported that Eddie Izzard, Ed Speleers, Darci Shaw, and Milo Parker had joined the cast; Speleers and Shaw replaced Lukas Gage and Rosie Day, respectively.[18]

Release

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On 30 May 2024, Midas Man held its Canadian premier at the 32nd Toronto Jewish Film Festival as the opening night film.[2] Studio POW and American Entertainment Investors sold North American distribution rights to Briarcliff Entertainment.[19] In Australia and New Zealand, Midas Man was distributed by Transmission Films and released on 29 August 2024. In UK and Ireland, Signature Entertainment launched the movie on Amazon Prime Video on 30 October 2024,[20] after a premier event at FACT Liverpool on 29 October 2024.[21] WW Entertainment released the movie in Belgium on 30 October 2024.[22]

Reception

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The Guardian gave the film 3/5 stars, calling it an "uneven but well-meaning biopic" and writing: "Lashings of archive footage and obvious theatrical techniques such as split-screen projections and fourth-wall breaking monologues to camera from Fortune-Lloyd help to distract from the fact that the budget isn’t sufficient to recreate key moments in the Beatles’ history ... It’s all a bit too sanctified and safe – lacking in rock’n’roll edge perhaps – but Fortune-Lloyd’s core performance is deeply empathic".[23]

The Daily Telegraph also awarded 3/5 stars, calling the film a "superficial yet rip-roaring biopic" and writing: "A more thoughtful character study would have been obliged to venture into the “fifth Beatle’s” psyche and unpick his struggles with his homosexuality and with the drug use that resulted in a fatal overdose at the age of 32. It would also have to get under the skin of the band he helped usher to global fame rather than, as is the case with Joe Stephenson’s rudimentary biopic, portray them as mere cut-outs, Bootleg Beatles-style cheeky chappies – a triumph of wigs and beards over perceptive screenwriting."[24]

NME gave the film 2/5 stars and wrote: "Midas Man has some empathy for its subject and a warm performance from Emily Watson as his mother Queenie, but no real curiosity about what made him tick. For this reason, it ultimately does a disservice to both Epstein the manager and Epstein the man."[25]

The Jewish Chronicle wrote "The film is pleasingly awash with 1960s period style and is anchored by Fortune-Lloyd’s moving portrait of a gay man tragically isolated, assaulted and blackmailed because of his homosexuality."[26]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c Original director Jonas Åkerlund left the project after disagreements with producers, and his replacement Sara Sugarman also left the film due to creative differences and scheduling conflicts following production delays.
  2. ^ a b The prolonged production caused several changes in the cast. The final cast list was obtained from the press kit downloaded from https://www.transmissionfilms.com.au/films/midas-man.

References

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  1. ^ "Midas Man – Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Toronto Jewish Film Festival - Midas Man, Opening Night Film, Canadian Premier". Toronto Jewish Film Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2024. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  3. ^ Ritman, Alex (2 July 2020). "Jonas Akerlund to Direct Brian Epstein Biopic Midas Man". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  4. ^ Alberge, Dalya (2 July 2020). "Top director to shoot biopic about Beatles manager Brian Epstein". The Guardian. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  5. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (16 April 2021). "The Queen's Gambit Star Jacob Fortune-Lloyd To Star As Beatles Manager Brian Epstein In Midas Man". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 19 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. ^ Grater, Tom; Wiseman, Andreas (29 July 2021). "Brian Epstein Pic Midas Man Pre-Sells To Signature In UK & Ireland; Deals Also Struck For Aus, France, More". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 9 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  7. ^ Grater, Tom (9 September 2021). "Emily Watson, Eddie Marsan & Omari Douglas Join Beatles Manager Biopic Midas Man". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  8. ^ Grater, Tom (21 October 2021). "Rosie Day To Play Cilla Black In Beatles Manager Biopic Midas Man; First Look At Jacob Fortune-Lloyd As Brian Epstein". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  9. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (28 October 2021). "Son Of Rambow & X-Men: First Class Star Bill Milner Joins Midas Man As Clive Epstein". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  10. ^ Daniels, Nia (11 October 2021). "Filming begins on Brian Epstein biopic, Midas Man". Kemps Film and TV Production Services Handbook. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
  11. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (2 November 2021). "Help! Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man Shuts Down Mid-Shoot With Director Jonas Akerlund Unlikely To Continue". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  12. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (18 November 2021). "Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man Hires New Director Mid-Shoot; Filmmaker Jonas Akerlund Issues Statement". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  13. ^ a b Wiseman, Andreas (24 November 2021). "Beatles Actors Revealed For Brian Epstein Movie Midas Man, First Look Images". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  14. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (22 November 2021). "Jay Leno To Play Ed Sullivan In Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 23 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  15. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (13 December 2021). "Beatles Manager Movie Midas Man Won't Restart Filming Until Late January". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  16. ^ Calderbank, Matthew (11 May 2023). "Beatles movie Midas Man filming in Blackpool with Hollywood and Netflix stars". Blackpool Gazette.
  17. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (9 June 2023). "We Can Work It Out: Beatles Manager Movie 'Midas Man' Gets Third Director To Finish Up Turbulent Production". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  18. ^ Ntim, Zac (14 June 2023). "Beatles Manager Movie 'Midas Man' Adds Suzy Eddie Izzard And Ed Speleers". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  19. ^ Lang, Brent (3 June 2024). "'Midas Man,' Drama About Beatles Manager Brian Epstein, Sells to Briarcliff Entertainment From Studio POW and American Entertainment Investors". Variety. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  20. ^ @signatureentertainmentuk (11 September 2024). "Proud to reveal that #MidasManMovie will launch on @PrimeVideoUK 30 October in 🇬🇧 & 🇮🇪 !" – via Instagram.
  21. ^ Grundy, Chris (18 September 2024). "Brian Epstein biopic 'Midas Man' to premiere at FACT Liverpool this October". The Guide Liverpool. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  22. ^ @wwentertainmentbe (24 September 2024). "MIDAS MAN vertelt het verhaal van Brian Epstein, de man die The Beatles ontdekte en omtoverde tot een wereldwijd fenomeen. Vanaf 30 oktober in de bioscoop!" – via Instagram.
  23. ^ Felperin, Leslie (30 October 2024). "Midas Man review – Jacob Fortune-Lloyd is heartfelt as Beatles' kingmaker". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  24. ^ Power, Ed (30 October 2024). "Midas Man: a flimsy portrait of the man who discovered The Beatles". The Telegraph. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  25. ^ Levine, Nick (21 October 2024). "'Midas Man' review: the genius who made The Beatles deserves better than this". NME. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
  26. ^ Nathan, John (4 November 2024). "Midas Man review: 'Epstein entrances in sympathetic biopic'". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
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