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If I Stay is a 2014 American teen romantic drama film directed by R. J. Cutler and based on the 2009 novel of the same name by Gayle Forman. The film stars Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Joshua Leonard, and Stacy Keach.
| If I Stay | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | R. J. Cutler |
| Screenplay by | Shauna Cross |
| Based on | If I Stay by Gayle Forman |
| Produced by | Alison Greenspan |
| Starring | |
| Cinematography | John de Borman |
| Edited by | Keith Henderson |
| Music by | Heitor Pereira |
Production companies |
|
| Distributed by | Warner Bros. Pictures |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 106 minutes[2] |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $11 million[3] |
| Box office | $78.9 million[3] |
It was released on August 22, 2014, grossing $78.9 million worldwide against a budget of $11 million. The film received mixed reviews, with the Rotten Tomatoes consensus calling it "more manipulative than moving", although Moretz's performance was praised.
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Seventeen-year-old aspiring cellist Mia Hall and her family hear an announcement on the radio that school has been canceled due to high levels of snow. Since Mia's father Denny, a teacher, does not have to go to work as a result, her mother Kat, a travel agent, decides to call in sick to work so that the whole family can visit Mia's grandparents, who live on a farm.
As a child, Mia's parents recognized her interest and passion for the cello when she took her first music class, and hired a cello teacher for her. Kat soon after fell pregnant with Mia's younger brother Teddy, whom Mia suspects is the reason for her father's departure from his rock band. Years later, an adolescent Mia met Adam Wilde, a popular student and up-and-coming rockstar, while in the music room at school, and they soon began dating. Their relationship became strained when Adam's band Willamette Stone was signed to a label and Mia completed a successful audition at Juilliard. After discussing the future of their relationship, the two broke up on mutual terms, both not wanting to hinder the other other's ability to achieve their dreams.
In the present, the Hall family's car suddenly collides with an oncoming truck. Mia then sees her family's unconscious bodies lying on the road, while paramedics rush to their aid. When Mia tries to ask what is happening, they do not acknowledge her, and she realizes she is having an out of body experience. Mia follows the ambulance to the hospital, where her physical body is taken in for surgery. A sympathetic nurse whispers to Mia's unconscious body that it is up to her whether she wants to fight to stay alive.
As Mia undergoes surgery, she sees a doctor speaking with her grandparents, who are standing outside of a pediatric room where Teddy lies in a coma-like state. Adam arrives at the hospital to see Mia, but is not allowed in as he is not an immediate family member. It is then revealed that Kat was pronounced dead on arrival and Denny died on the operating table. Mia later finds out that Teddy has died from an epidural hematoma. George talks to Mia's body, revealing that when her father first discovered her talent for playing cello, he decided to sacrifice his career and sell his drum kit so he could fund her own future in music. He tearfully gives Mia permission to move on from this life if she wants to. Mia then decides to join her family on the other side.
After some time, Mia's condition stabilizes enough to receive more visitors. She is about to allow herself to succumb to her injuries, but stops when she hears the piece she performed at the cello recital she had attended with Adam, who is sitting next to her and playing the song for her on his iPod. He has also brought Mia's acceptance letter from Juilliard, and promises to do anything she asks of him if she stays. He then begins to play her a song he has written about her. Mia, after recalling all the happiest moments in her life, squeezes Adam's hand and opens her eyes, and he calls out her name.
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- Chloë Grace Moretz as Mia Hall
- Jamie Blackley as Adam Wilde
- Mireille Enos as Kat Hall
- Joshua Leonard as Denny Hall
- Stacy Keach as George Hall
- Aisha Hinds as Nurse Ramirez
- Lauren Lee Smith as Willow
- Liana Liberato as Kim Schein
- Aliyah O'Brien as EMT
- Jakob Davies as Teddy Hall
In December 2010, it was announced that a film based on the novel If I Stay was in the works at Summit Entertainment and that Dakota Fanning, Chloë Grace Moretz and Emily Browning were in talks to play Mia.[4] Catherine Hardwicke was attached to direct, but was replaced by Brazilian filmmaker Heitor Dhalia,[5] who also left the film later. On January 24, 2013, Moretz was officially cast to play the lead and R. J. Cutler was announced as the new director of the film.[6] Trevor Smith was brought on as associate producer.[7] The shooting of the film began on October 30 in Vancouver.[8]
In January 2014, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Warner Bros. were announced to be distributing the film and the release was set for August 22.[9]
Music
The music was composed by Heitor Pereira. The soundtrack was released on August 19, 2014 by WaterTower Music.[10] It peaked at number 54 on the Billboard 200 in the United States,[11] and number 77 in Australia.[12]
Vancouver-based alternative rock band Hawking appeared in the film numerous times as Willamette Stone.[13]
All the songs for Adam Wilde's band Willamette Stone, including the cover of The Smashing Pumpkins' song "Today", were produced by indie rock producer Adam Lasus.
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Box office
As of November 20, 2014, If I Stay has grossed a worldwide total of $78,396,071 against a budget of $11 million.[3]
If I Stay opened at #3 to 2,907 locations in North America behind Guardians of the Galaxy and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which were in their fourth and third weeks respectively. On its opening day the film earned $6,827,007 earning it the top spot for the day.[14]
Critical response
On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a rating of 35%, based on 142 reviews with an average score of 4.9/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Although Chloë Grace Moretz gives it her all and the story adds an intriguing supernatural twist to its melodramatic YA framework, If I Stay is ultimately more manipulative than moving".[15] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 46 out of 100, based on 36 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews".[16]
In his review for The New York Times, A. O. Scott praised Moretz's acting.[17] He added that the "music is both the best and the corniest part of If I Stay, which makes excellent use of the classical cello repertoire."[17] Writing for Variety, Justin Chang criticized Moretz's acting, explaining that "she comes off as a bit too self-assured to play the nerdy misfit."[18] Anthony Lane of The New Yorker wrote a critical review of the movie, saying, "The saddest thing about 'If I Stay' is that it affords Moretz so little opportunity to be non-sad." In the Los Angeles Times, Olivier Gettell summed up that critics saw the film was "clunky and uninspired."[19]
Accolades
| Award | Category | Recipient(s) | Result | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| People's Choice Awards | Favorite Dramatic Movie | Nominated | [20][21] | |
| Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress | Chloë Grace Moretz | Won | ||
| Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie: Drama | Won | [22] | |
| Choice Movie Actress: Drama | Chloë Grace Moretz | Won | ||
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If I Stay was released on DVD and Blu-ray on November 18, 2014 by 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (under license from MGM).[23]
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