Our Friend

2019 2h 4m EN

👍

7.2

SOLID

★7.2TMDB · 374

DramaRomance

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

After learning that his terminally ill wife has six months to live, a man welcomes the support of his best friend who moves into their home to help out.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Dakota Johnson
Nicole Teague
Casey Affleck
Matthew Teague
Jason Segel
Dane Faucheux
Cherry Jones
Faith Pruett
Jake Owen
Aaron
Denée Benton
Charlotte
Gwendoline Christie
Teresa
Reed Diamond
Peter

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Gabriela Cowperthwaite
Writers: Brad Ingelsby, Matthew Teague
Languages: English
Countries: United States of America

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 6

ERA

Did you know

Released 7 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, shot by Joe Anderson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Rob Simonsen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 6

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Colin Patton shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 6

CAST

Did you know

Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck and Jason Segel carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 6

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt9608818 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Gabriela Cowperthwaite directs. Joe Anderson behind the camera. Rob Simonsen scores. Colin Patton cuts. Produced in United States of America. Dialogue in English.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 7 years ago.
2Directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite, shot by Joe Anderson. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
3Original score by Rob Simonsen. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
4Editor Colin Patton shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
5Dakota Johnson and Casey Affleck and Jason Segel carry the top of the cast.
6IMDB entry: tt9608818 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
7Classified under 8 themes, including "friendship", "support", "melancholy", "based on true story".
8Released under 14 different titles around the world.

The technical file

Cinematography: Joe Anderson
Original score: Rob Simonsen
Editing: Colin Patton
Production design: Cara Brower
Costume design: Alana Morshead
Makeup / hair: Jacenda Burkett
Sound: Lindsey Alvarez
Stunt coordinator: Nick Loren
Runtime: 124 min · 2h 4m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Original language: EN
Certification (US): R
IMDB: Our Friend (2019)

Also by

Gabriela Cowperthwaite

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Trailers & featurettes

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Community reviews

What people are saying

Louisa Moore - Screen Zealots2021-03-09
★ 3/10
2020 was a tough year and 2021 isn’t starting out much better, so it’s poor timing for a studio to release a tearjerker like “Our Friend.” Movies about terminal illness are never fun to watch, but this one is such a downer that it may serve as an unwanted depressant for even the most upbeat viewers. Based on an award-winning Esquire magazine article, the film tells the true story of journalist Matt Teague (Casey Affleck) and his actress wife Nicole (Dakota Johnson), who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Seeing his best friend coping with a dying wife and struggling to be a good father to his two young daughters (Violet McGraw, Isabella Kai), Dane (Jason Segel) puts his own life on hold and moves in with Matt and Nicole to support them through the roughest of times. It’s a true gesture of steadfast friendship, with Dane standing by the family until the end. If this sounds like a bittersweet heartwarming story of devotion, it (mostly) is. The story is told in non-linear segments that travel through time and give us a glimpse of how things developed and how they eventually ended. The most horrific parts of Teague’s article are omitted from the film, with director Gabriela Cowperthwaite choosing instead to go the inspirational route. The sugar-coating feels phony and insincere, and even with knockout performances from the three leads, it’s still a huge downer. It’s a given that Affleck is always powerful in roles like this, but Segel is the real surprise. He gives Dane a sadness and empathy that feels real and is unexpected for an actor who has never shown such depth. A brief supporting turn from Cherry Jones as a home hospice nurse is the most memorable performance, showing a beautiful (and realistic) sympathy towards her client. I suppose “Our Friend” would be a solid drama for those looking to empty an entire box of Kleenex, but it’s a tough sell in times like these. It’s a story of humanity and friendship that isn’t as uplifting as it sounds, but there’s still a glimmer of joy to be found. By: Louisa Moore

Production companies