- Source: The Freebie
- Katie Aselton
- Joshua Leonard
- James Caan
- Lincity
- Highlight (grup musik)
- Daftar film bertema lesbian, gay, biseksual dan transgender
- Alan Arkin
- Héctor Elizondo
- Hello Neighbor
- The Freebie
- Freebie and the Bean
- Friends
- Freebie and the Bean (TV series)
- Razor and blades model
- Katie Aselton
- Product sample
- 2024 Labour Party freebies controversy
- Flight of the Conchords
- Late Night Counsell
The Freebie is a 2010 American independent film directed by Katie Aselton that had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival. The plot centers on a married couple who, frustrated by the lack of sex in their relationship, allow each other a one-night stand. The film is largely improvised.
Plot
Darren and Annie have a comfortable relationship built on love, trust and communication, enjoying each other's company and still laughing at each other's jokes. However, their sex life has become dormant. When a dinner party conversation with friends leads to an honest discussion about the state of their love life, they begin to flirt with an idea for a way to spice their marriage up. They each agree to one night of freedom, no strings attached, no questions asked.
Cast
Dax Shepard as Darren
Katie Aselton as Annie
Frankie Shaw as Coffee girl
Ross Partridge as Bartender
Sean Nelson as John
Bellamy Young as Jessica
Joshua Leonard as Dinner Party Guest
Marguerite Phillips as Emily
Ken Kennedy as Ken
Scott Pitts as Scott
Lenora Pitts as Lea
Production
The script had originated as a detailed 6-page outline, with the rest of the dialogue being improvised. For some scenes, Aselton would let the camera roll for as long as 30 minutes, and then would choose which dialogue made it into the final cut. Dax Shepard signed on to play Darren after another actor exited the project.
Release
The film had its world premiere at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival in the inaugural NEXT section. It was acquired by Phase 4 Films and went on to screen at SXSW. It was given a limited theatrical release on September 17, 2010.
Reception
The Freebie holds a 55% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, with an average rating of 5.6/10 from 29 critics. On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 54 out of 100, based on eight critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".
Todd McCarthy of Variety gave the film a positive review, writing: "From a performance P.O.V., Aselton and Shepard hold the screen well and are most watchable, and Aselton does a fluid directing job within the limited challenge she set for herself production-wise. Benjamin Kasulke’s HD lensing is bright and sharp, while Nat Sanders’ editing is very crisp."
Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote, "This minimalist indie with a title appropriate for a Judd Apatow comedy, is a smart seriocomic playlet with some emotionally harsh moments, although it refrains from plumbing its subject in agonizing depth." The San Francisco Chronicle's Mick LaSalle also gave a positive review, commenting "Aselton gets a lot said in 78 minutes. I think the main thing she says is something never overtly spoken, that life is essentially a lonely experience - even when we're surrounded by activity, and even if we never shut up."
Andrew Schenker of Slant gave the film a negative review and a 1.5/10 rating, writing: "Never are Aselton's failings more evident than in a pair of dinner party scenes, one of which opens the film, and which involve the central couple and their friends in a discussion of the nature of romance."
References
External links
The Freebie at IMDb
The Freebie at Rotten Tomatoes