Rudderless
Billy Crudup plays Sam, a former high-profile advertising executive whose life is torn apart by the sudden death of his son. Living off the grid on a docked sailboat, he wastes away his days while drowning his pain in alcohol. When Sam discovers a box filled with his son's demo tapes and lyrics, his own child's musical talent is a revelation for him, a grieving father who felt he'd been absent from his son's life. Communing with his deceased son's dashed dreams, Sam learns each song and eventually musters the will to perform one at a local bar. When Quentin (Yelchin), a young musician in the audience, is captivated by the song, the unlikely duo forms a rock band that becomes surprisingly popular and revitalizes both of their lives.
31 March 1980, New Jersey, USA
6 July 1952, Alameda County, California, USA
25 November 1980, Minco, Oklahoma, USA
13 March 1950, Miami, Florida, USA
30 July 1961, Augusta, Georgia, USA
December 08, 2014
Skillfully directed by William H. Macy, "Rudderless" is one of those small independent films that it's a privilege to discover
November 10, 2014
The picture is performance-driven, without a wandering eye, to the extent that you can't help but feel moved every time Billy Crudup's Sam busts out his guitar.
October 31, 2014
Touching drama about father remembering lost son with music.
March 02, 2016
A lot of the emotional communication comes through in the music, especially when Sam cannot confront his own feelings, reminding us why we make music in the first place.
October 16, 2014
For all its noble intentions and loaded emotions, "Rudderless" proves a largely hollow, uninvolving affair.
December 19, 2016
It contains the seed of a much better film that is left unexplored. [Full review in Portuguese.]
October 16, 2014
The story takes an even sharper left turn in the last half hour, raising emotional issues it can't adequately address.
October 17, 2014
Rudderless is humane and almost entertaining.
January 09, 2015
Shock can lead to awe, but in the case of Rudderless, shock leads to "ahhh, they blew it."
October 16, 2014
The film is a roller-coaster of emotions and the jolt, when it comes, will send you reeling.
October 16, 2014
"Rudderless" isn't always smoothly paced, and features a plot twist that's awkwardly handled, but at its heart is a performance that resonates - and a director that, I hope, has more stories to tell.
October 17, 2014
Contrived or not, the story is put across with pleasing, unpretentious conviction and skill by Macy.
