Annie (2014 film)



Annie is a 2014 American musical comedy-drama film directed by Will Gluck, produced by Village Roadshow Pictures and Will Smith's Overbrook Entertainment and released by Sony Pictures' Columbia Pictures. A contemporary adaptation of the 1977 Broadway musical of the same name, the film stars Quvenzhané Wallis, Jamie Foxx, Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale and Cameron Diaz in her final film role before her retirement. The third film adaptation following Columbia's 1982 theatrical film and Disney's 1999 television film, Annie began production in August 2013 and was released theatrically on December 19, 2014 to generally negative reviews but was a box office success, grossing $133 million against a budget of $65 million.

Annie received two Golden Globe nominations in the categories of Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical (for Wallis) and Best Original Song. Conversely, the film received two Golden Raspberry nominations and won in the category of Worst Remake while Diaz was nominated for the Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actress.

Plot
In Harlem, Manhattan Island, New York City, Annie Bennett lives in foster care with several other girls under the care of Colleen Hannigan, a bitter former singer who spends her days drinking or trying to find a husband. Annie spends Fridays waiting outside Domani's restaurant, believing her parents will come for her because a note written on a receipt from Domani's says they would return. When a city inspector checks on Hannigan's (Cameron Diaz) treatment of the girls, Annie takes advantage of the situation; she manages to copy her social security number from his clipboard and heads off to get her information. Annie learns that there's nothing more about her than what she already knows.

Trying to save a Shiba Inu from bullies, Annie is nearly run over; however, she is saved by William Stacks (Jamie Foxx), a germaphobe cell phone mogul running for mayor. Annie's rescue goes viral on the internet, boosting Stacks popularity; per suggestion of Stacks' campaign manager Guy Danlily, Annie moves in with Stacks to boost his popularity further. Annie enjoys her new surroundings, befriending Stacks' assistant Grace Farrell. Annie also gets to adopt the stray dog from before, naming her Sandy. Bonding with Annie, Stacks reveals that he had humble beginnings in Queens; he never really knew his father due to his work hours, but believed he could understand him if he worked just as hard. Annie also helps Grace and Stacks begin realizing that they like each other romantically.

Per Annie's request, Stacks takes her and her friends in Hannigan's foster care to see the premiere of MoonQuake Lake. Stacks is uninterested in the movie at first, but soon becomes a major fan, along with Grace. Per Annie and Grace's insistence, Stacks joins in the after-movie party. After returning her friends home, Annie shows Grace her Friday routine of waiting to see if her parents will return; Grace sympathizes, agreeing to keep this a secret from Stacks. At Hannigan's, the girls accidentally wake her; Hannigan snaps at them, saying rich people aren't nice, and will ditch anyone they don't like any more (recalling her own past). Slightly hungover, she laments about her situation of foster kids and her desire to reclaim stardom.

When Annie is asked to read a speech during a charity event, she runs out, revealing that she doesn't know how to read (despite being 10 years old and attending school). Stacks decides to get her a special-ed teacher, but Guy decides that Annie will only hinder Stacks' campaign as his popularity isn't improving any more. Teaming up with Hannigan, Guy plans to have imposters claim Annie as their daughter to boost Stacks' popularity to the point where he wins; Guy will then share his payment with Hannigan. However, Guy plans to dump Annie back into the system after the election, not caring about her well-being. By the time Hannigan has second thoughts, Annie has already been kidnapped by the imposters; Hannigan tells Stacks about the plan, getting Guy fired. Stacks, Grace, Hannigan and the girls board Stacks' helicopter; aided by the police, they chase the getaway car into the park. Annie, thinking Stacks arranged this (due to the kidnappers believing Stacks, not Guy, paid them), is upset and refuses to believe him when he tells her he didn't know about the scheme. Stacks, to prove his innocence, announces to the press that he quits the mayoral race; Annie then helps Grace and Stacks admit their love. All three dance and sing happily.

Later, Annie announces the opening of the "Stacks Literacy Centre", to help children like herself, who couldn't read. Everyone sings Annie's Tomorrow; unhumorously, Hannigan attempts to continue singing after the song is done, only to receive stares that cue her to stop.

Cast

 * Quvenzhané Wallis as Annie Bennett, a child living in a foster home searching for her parents.
 * Jamie Foxx as Will Stacks, a wealthy politician and cell phone mogul based on Oliver Warbucks and Annie's father figure.
 * Rose Byrne as Grace Farrell, Stacks' faithful personal assistant and Annie's mother figure.
 * Cameron Diaz as Miss Colleen Hannigan, the cruel control freak who runs the foster home where Annie resides. She is based on Agatha Hannigan. She was a big singing star back in the 1990s but went crazy after drinking alcohol.
 * Bobby Cannavale as Guy Danlily, a "bulldog political adviser" to Stacks. He convinces Stacks to let Annie live with him for the press at first, but later proves that he doesn't care for her well-being. His motives are partly based on Rooster Hannigan.
 * Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje as Nash, "the tough but lovable bodyguard and driver for Stacks and a good friend of Annie." He evokes the traits of Punjab and The Asp.
 * David Zayas as Lou, the local bodega owner who is a friend of Annie and has a crush on Miss Hannigan and sees some good in her and finds out she isn't mean as she think she is. He evokes the traits of the laundryman Mr. Bundles.
 * Stephanie Kurtzuba as Mrs. Kovacevic, the New York Family Services worker who becomes close with Annie's case.


 * Tracie Thoms and Dorian Missick as Annie's "fake parents", based on the characters Lily St. Regis and Rooster Hannigan.
 * Nicolette Pierini as Mia Putnam, the youngest of Annie's foster sisters.
 * Amanda Troya as Pepper Ulster, the bossiest and oldest foster girl. She's thirteen-years-old, and thinks that nobody wants her because she's a teenager.
 * Eden Duncan-Smith as Isabella Sullivan, the second oldest of Annie's foster sisters.
 * Zoe Margaret Colletti as Tessie Dutchess, one of Annie's foster sisters. Tessie is in Annie's grade at school.
 * Cameos (Other cast members who aren't credited)
 * Ruby Rose Turner as Orphan 8
 * Patricia Clarkson as Focus Group Woman
 * Michael J. Fox as himself
 * Mila Kunis as Andrea Alvin, the lead actress in MoonQuake Lake
 * Ashton Kutcher as Simon Goodspeed, the lead actor in MoonQuake Lake
 * Shilpa Shetty as Herself
 * Bobby Moynihan as Guy in Bar
 * Rihanna as Moon Goddess, a supporting character in MoonQuake Lake
 * Scarlett Benchley as Sakana, a supporting character in MoonQuake Lake
 * Sia Furler as Animal Care & Control Volunteer
 * Rachel Crowther as a Street Dancer

Phil Lord and Christopher Miller's names appear in the end credits of MoonQuake Lake, a fictional film within the film. The scenes were actually directed by Lord and Miller.

Musical numbers
While the film incorporates notable songs from the original Broadway production, written by composer Charles Strouse and lyricist Martin Charnin, the songs themselves were rearranged by Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin to reflect its new contemporary setting. Executive music supervisor Matt Sullivan explained that there was a desire to make the film's use of music "seamless" rather than "abrupt", and to maintain the integrity and familiarity of the musical's most iconic songs, including "Tomorrow" and "It's the Hard Knock Life". The songs were rearranged with a percussive, pop-inspired style: in particular, "It's the Hard Knock Life"—whilst maintaining the use of "natural" sounds for its rhythm, was updated in a hip hop style. Lyrics to some songs were also updated to reflect the differences in the film's storyline and settings. Furler and Kurstin wrote three new songs for the soundtrack: "Opportunity", "Who Am I", and "Moonquake Lake". Furler additionally co-wrote "The City's Yours" with Stargate.


 * 1) "Maybe" – Annie, Mia, Isabella, Tessie and Pepper
 * 2) "It's the Hard Knock Life" – Annie, Mia, Isabella, Tessie and Pepper
 * 3) "Tomorrow" - Annie
 * 4) "I Think I'm Gonna Like It Here" – Annie, Grace and Mrs. Kovacevic
 * 5) "Little Girls" - Miss Hannigan
 * 6) "The City's Yours" – Will and Annie
 * 7) "Opportunity" – Annie
 * 8) "Easy Street" – Guy and Miss Hannigan
 * 9) "Who Am I?" – Miss Hannigan, Will, and Annie
 * 10) "I Don't Need Anything But You" - Will, Annie and Grace
 * 11) "Tomorrow (Ending)" - Cast
 * 12) "You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile" (end credits) - Sia

Development
Sony Pictures first announced the film in January 2011 with Jay-Z and Will Smith serving as producers and Smith's daughter Willow attached to play the lead role. In February 2011, Glee co-creator Ryan Murphy became front-runner to direct the film, but by March, he had declined.

The production soon began seeking a screenwriter, and actress Emma Thompson was considered. No developments arrived until May 2012, when Will Smith appeared on Good Morning America and provided updates, including that the film would be set in modern-day New York City, that Thompson was providing a script, and that Jay-Z would also provide newly written songs for the film. In July 2012, We Bought a Zoo screenwriter Aline Brosh McKenna wrote a second draft of the script. In August, it was announced production was to begin in Spring 2013.

In January 2013, Easy A director Will Gluck was hired to direct but Willow Smith had dropped out.

Casting
By February 2013, Beasts of the Southern Wild star and Oscar nominee Quvenzhané Wallis had replaced Smith in the lead role, and the film had scheduled a Christmas 2014 release.

In March 2013, the search for the rest of the cast continued, and Justin Timberlake was rumored for the role of Daddy Warbucks. This was proven false when Jamie Foxx signed on for the role, now named Will Stacks. In June 2013, Cameron Diaz was cast as Miss Hannigan, after Sandra Bullock declined.

In July 2013, Rose Byrne joined the cast as Grace Farrell, Stacks's faithful assistant and in August, Boardwalk Empire star and partner of Rose Byrne, Bobby Cannavale joined the cast as a "bulldog political adviser" to Will Stacks. In September, the rest of the cast was announced: Amanda Troya, Nicolette Pierini, Eden Duncan-Smith, and Zoe Colletti as Annie's foster sisters.

As of September 19, 2013, principal photography had begun. Shooting was done at Grumman Studios. Other scenes were filmed at the new Four World Trade Center.

Writing
While "rooted in the same story" according to Gluck, the 2014 film adaptation is a contemporary take on the 1977 Broadway musical and contains some differences from the original: The setting was changed from the 1930s—the era of Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency and the Great Depression—to present-day New York City. The opening school scene features class presentations by both the new Annie, and a student representing her classic appearance, discussing aspects of and parallels between the economic states of the two settings, such as the New Deal and the modern lower class.

The character of Oliver Warbucks was modified into William Stacks, an entrepreneur in the technology sector (particularly, the mobile phone industry) turned politician, who is trying to run for Mayor of New York City. Annie also no longer lives in an orphanage, but is kept in foster care. Miss Hannigan's first name is changed to Colleen, instead of her previous film name Agatha. While Hannigan is complicit in deceiving Stacks and Annie that Annie's birth parents have been found (conspiring with Stacks' campaign manager Guy Danlily), they are not impersonated by Hannigan's brother Rooster and his girlfriend Lily as in the original version. Instead, Guy has 'people he uses for this kind of work' take Annie. The fate of Annie's birth parents is left open, whereas in previous versions Hannigan reveals that they died sometime previously, but Annie has not been told.

Hannigan's character is softened from her prior appearances, to the point of experiencing guilt over her part in separating Stacks and Annie, and even helping to rescue Annie from her false parents in the film's finale. Annie's dog Sandy is a female in this film, as opposed to past adaptations where the dog is a male. Annie is Black in this film, originally being White in the past adaptions.

Release
The film officially premiered at the Ziegfeld Theater in New York City on December 7, 2014.

Piracy
On November 27, 2014, Annie was one of several films leaked by the "Guardians of Peace", a group that the FBI believes has ties to North Korea, following its breach of Columbia's parent company Sony Pictures Entertainment. Within three days of the initial leak, Annie had been downloaded by an estimated 206,000 unique IPs. By December 9, the count had risen to over 316,000. The chief analyst at BoxOffice.com felt that despite this, the leak was unlikely to affect Annie's box office performance as the demographic who pirates movies isn't the target audience for the film.

Home media
Annie was released on DVD and Blu-ray/DVD combo pack on March 17, 2015 by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment.

Box office
Annie opened on December 19, 2014, and earned $5.3 million on its opening day. In the first weekend, the film made $15.9 million, ranking third in the North American box office behind other new releases The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. The film grossed $85.9 million in North America and $47.9 million overseas for a worldwide total of $133.8 million.

Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 28% based on 148 reviews and an average rating of 4.5/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "The new-look Annie hints at a progressive take on a well-worn story, but smothers its likable cast under clichés, cloying cuteness, and a distasteful materialism." On Metacritic, the film has a score of 33 out of 100 based on 38 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of "A–" on an A+ to F scale.

PopMatters magazine rated Annie with a three out of ten, saying, "In its aggravatingly choreographed frenzy, the party scene epitomizes Annie: it's trying too hard both to be and not be the previous Annies, it's trying too little to be innovative or vaguely inspired. It's as crass as Miss Hannigan and as greedy as Stacks, at least until they learn their lessons. The movie doesn't appear to learn a thing." Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune gave Annie one-and-a-half stars, describing the adaptation as being "wobbly" and "unsatisfying", criticizing the commercialized nature of the plot changes, concluding that it was "finesse-free and perilously low on the simple performance pleasures we look for in any musical, of any period". Ben Sachs of the Chicago Reader gave the film three out of four stars, praising the "surprising amount of bite: the filmmakers openly acknowledge the similarities between the Great Depression and the present, and the populist message, however overstated, always registers as sincere." Sachs also praised director Will Gluck for "striking a buoyant tone that feels closer to classic Hollywood musicals than contemporary kiddie fare."

The soundtrack, rearranged by Sia Furler and Greg Kurstin, received a polarizing response from critics, with much criticism going towards the heavy use of auto-tune. Entertainment Weekly described its soundtrack as an auto-tuned "disaster", noting that "you won't ever hear a worse rendition of 'Easy Street' than the one performed by Diaz and Cannivale — I promise". David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter says "all but a handful of the existing songs have been shredded, often retaining just a signature line or two and drowning it in desperately hip polyrhythmic sounds, aurally assaultive arrangements and inane new lyrics." Matt Zoller Seitz however, praised the soundtrack's new songs.

The performances, however, were more positively received by some critics. IGN.com praised Wallis and Foxx for being "on-point" throughout much of the film, as well as Rose Byrne, calling her the "surprise" of the film. Matt Zoller Seitz called Wallis "the first Annie to bring something both culturally and personally new to this role", and praised the rest of the cast too, including Foxx and Byrne. Cameron Diaz's performance however, received polarized reviews, with critics praising her effort, but ultimately calling it too "vampy", as well as "strident and obnoxious". Peter Travers of Rolling Stone says that she "overacts the role to the point of hysteria". Months after the film's release, Diaz announced that she would retire from acting.