Mending the Line is a 2022 American drama film written by Stephen Camelio, directed by Joshua Caldwell and starring Brian Cox, Sinqua Walls, Perry Mattfeld, Patricia Heaton and Wes Studi.

Mending the Line
Directed byJoshua Caldwell
Written byStephen Camelio
Produced byKelly McKendry
Scott MacLeod
Carl Effenson
Stephen Camelio
Joshua Caldwell
StarringBrian Cox
Sinqua Walls
Perry Mattfeld
Patricia Heaton
Wes Studi
CinematographyEve M. Cohen
Edited byWill Torbett
Music byBill Brown
Distributed byBlue Fox Entertainment
Release dates
  • September 29, 2022 (2022-09-29) (Woodstock)
  • June 9, 2023 (2023-06-09)
Running time
122 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$379,890[1][2]

Plot edit

Meet John Colter, a Marine wounded in Afghanistan, who returns home to the US but struggles deeply with the trauma of war. The memories of fallen friends haunt him, and he carries the weight of survivor's guilt, along with physical injuries that make daily life difficult.[3]

Cast edit

Production edit

In August 2021, it was announced that Cox and Walls would star in the film.[4]

Filming occurred in Montana in September 2021.[5]

Release edit

The film premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival on September 29, 2022.[6] It was also shown at the San Diego International Film Festival on October 22, 2022.[7] Then it was released in theaters on June 9, 2023.[8]

Through Sony Pictures, the movie arrived on Netflix on March 23, 2024.[9] The film shot up to #1 on the Netflix US Top Ten where it remained for five days and maintained its overall position in the Top Ten for the first week of its release. [10] The film also cracked the Netflix Global Top Ten at #10 despite only being available in the US.[11]

Reception edit

The film has a 76% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 21 reviews.[12]

Owen Gleiberman of Variety gave the film a positive review and wrote that it "has a rote TV-movie look and a few bland and rambling passages. But it delivers a truth about those who have served, about the reality of the demons that can linger in them, that’s tough and moving."[13]

Gary Goldstein of the Los Angeles Times also gave the film a positive review and wrote, "That said, the movie is worth a look for its lovely and magical fly-fishing sequences and stirring Big Sky vistas (shout out to cinematographer Eve Cohen), as well as its strong cast..."[14]

Bill Goodykoontz of The Arizona Republic awarded the film three stars out of five and wrote, "But through its setting and performances, “Mend the Line” has just enough going for it to recommend it."[15]

Award edit

The film won the Valor Award at the San Diego International Film Festival.[16]

References edit

  1. ^ "Mending the Line (2023) - Financial Information". The Numbers. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  2. ^ "Mending the Line (2023)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
  3. ^ "Movie Review Mending The Line (2023)". Upcoming Movies and Web Series reviews. 2023-07-03. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
  4. ^ Kroll, Justin (August 20, 2021). "Brian Cox And Sinqua Walls To Star And Exec Produce 'Mending The Line'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  5. ^ Elwell, Matt (September 7, 2021). "Fly fishing movie is being filmed in Southwest Montana". KBZK. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  6. ^ Hullender, Tatiana (September 23, 2022). "Brian Cox Teaches Sinqua Walls To Fish In Mending The Line [EXCLUSIVE CLIP]". Screen Rant. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. ^ Kraft, Tim (October 20, 2022). "Exclusive: Perry Mattfeld and Joshua Caldwell on Mending the Line and Telling Important Stories". MovieWeb. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  8. ^ Archer, Greg (June 7, 2023). "Mending the Line Review: You May Just Get Hooked". MovieWeb. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  9. ^ Moore, Kasey (2024-03-28). "'Mending The Line' Director on the Movie Becoming a Hit on Netflix". What's on Netflix. Retrieved 2024-03-30.
  10. ^ Schaefer, Sandy (2024-03-26). "A Brian Cox Led Drama Has Taken Claim Of Netflix's Number One Spot". SlashFilm. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  11. ^ "Top 10 Movies on Netflix Right Now". www.netflix.com. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  12. ^ "Mending the Line". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  13. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (June 9, 2023). "'Mending the Line' Review: In a Moving Drama, Brian Cox and Sinqua Walls Are War Veterans Who Help Each Other Heal". Variety. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  14. ^ Goldstein, Gary (June 8, 2023). "Review: 'Mending the Line' casts a familiar but effective story about remedy and redemption". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Goodykoontz, Bill (June 6, 2023). "'Mending the Line' isn't just another fly-fishing melodrama. Here's how it hooked me". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  16. ^ ""Mending the Line," filmed in Montana, premiers in Bozeman". KEMC. June 8, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.

External links edit