Levity (film)
| Company type | Film |
|---|---|
| Industry | Film industry |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Ed Solomon (director) |
| Headquarters | Montreal , Canada |
| Products | Drama film |
Levity is a drama film released in 2003, directed by Ed Solomon and starring Billy Bob Thornton, Morgan Freeman, Holly Hunter, and Kirsten Dunst. The film's musical score was created by Mark Oliver Everett, the lead of the band Eels. Filming took place in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Levity debuted as the opening feature at the 2003 Sundance Film Festival and was subsequently given a limited release in theaters on April 4, 2003.
Plot
After spending nearly 23 years incarcerated for killing a teenager during a robbery, Manuel Jordan is granted parole and returns to his old neighborhood seeking atonement. He resides in a community home managed by preacher Miles Evans and supports himself through work, carrying with him a photograph of Abner Easley—the young man he killed—as a constant reminder of his past actions.
Within this community setting, Manuel develops a friendship with Sofia Mellinger, a young woman facing her own struggles, and begins a relationship with Adele Easley, Abner’s older sister who does not know his true identity. When Adele’s defiant son becomes involved in violent incidents, Manuel takes it upon himself to steer the boy away from danger, furthering his pursuit of redemption.
Production
The narrative was inspired by writer-director Ed Solomon's experience tutoring incarcerated youths. He met a teenager serving a life sentence who kept a picture of his victim as a symbol of remorse and consequence. Known primarily for comedies such as Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Men in Black, Solomon originally intended to craft a lighter story centered on mentoring aspiring comedians. The character of Miles was specifically written with Morgan Freeman in mind.
Reception
On Rotten Tomatoes, Levity holds an approval rating of 34% based on 91 critic reviews, with an average score of 5.28/10; many reviewers criticized the film for its overtly heavy-handed themes. On Metacritic, it has garnered a score of 45 out of 100, reflecting mixed or average critical reception.
In Variety, Todd McCarthy labeled the film "a half-baked moral fable" that falls short in both narrative cohesion and religious exploration. Conversely, A. O. Scott of The New York Times commended the cast for delivering performances that added more authenticity than the storyline itself might have suggested.
Soundtrack
The soundtrack for Levity was produced by Mark Oliver Everett of the band Eels. Two songs from this album were also included in the movie Knocked Up.
- "What I Remember Most" – 2:17
- "Skywriting" – 2:07*
- "Running the Bath" – 0:31
- "Gravity" – 2:18
- "Haunted Piano #1" – 2:33
- "In Manual's Room" – 1:34
- "Taking a Bath in Rust" – 2:28*
- "Flashback Rules" – 1:44
- "Post-flashback Blues" – 1:19
- "Lonesome Subway" – 1:01
- "Haunted Organ #1" – 2:39
- "Sofia Writing in the Sky" – 2:23
- "To Adel Easley/Trouble in the Alley" – 6:40
- "Manual's Got a Train to Catch" – 5:04
- Performed by Eels
Personnel contributing to the soundtrack include:
- Ryan Boesch – engineering and mixing
- Tracy Bonham – violin and orchestration
- Jessica Catron – cello
- Mark Oliver Everett – vocals and guitar
- Wally Gagel – engineering and mixing
- Jim Lang – orchestration
- Jonathan Norton – drums and percussion
- Dan Pinder – technical support