Wild Nights with Emily

Name: Wild Nights with Emily
Genre: History, Comedy
Released: April 12, 2019
Duration: 84 min
Rating: 74
Cast: Amy Seimetz, Brett Gelman, Dana Melanie, Elizabeth Everett, Jackie Monahan

2019

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Generally favorable reviews based on 14 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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6.9

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6.9	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 9 Ratings

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Wild Nights With Emily

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Movie Details & Credits

Greenwich Entertainment | Release Date: April 12, 2019 | PG-13

Starring: Amy Seimetz, Brett Gelman, Dana Melanie, Elizabeth Everett, Jackie Monahan, Joel Michaely, John Peña Griswold, Kevin Seal, Lee Eaton, Lisa Haas, Marc Alan Austen, Molly Shannon, Nick Fisher, Sasha Frolova, Stacey Alyse Cohen, Susan Ziegler

Summary: In the mid-19th century, Emily Dickinson (Molly Shannon) is writing prolifically, baking gingerbread, and enjoying a passionate, lifelong affair with her friend and sister-in-law Susan...yes this is the iconic American poet, popularly thought to have been a reclusive spinster. While seeking publication of some of the 1,775 poems writtenIn the mid-19th century, Emily Dickinson (Molly Shannon) is writing prolifically, baking gingerbread, and enjoying a passionate, lifelong affair with her friend and sister-in-law Susan...yes this is the iconic American poet, popularly thought to have been a reclusive spinster. While seeking publication of some of the 1,775 poems written during her lifetime, Emily finds herself facing a troupe of male literary gatekeepers too confused by her genius to take her work seriously. Instead her work attracts the attention of an ambitious woman editor, who also sees Emily as a convenient cover for her own role in buttoned-up Amherst's most bizarre love triangle. … Expand

Director: Madeleine Olnek

Genre(s): History, Comedy

Rating: PG-13

Runtime: 84 min

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

IndieWire Jude Dry

Mar 16, 2018

Molly Shannon is brilliant and warm as the literary icon. Read full review

Amy Nicholson

Mar 16, 2018

If the film has a flaw, its that it’s so preoccupied with balancing its furious feminism with gags about Victorian life that there’s little running time to lavish on Dickinson’s actual poetry. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Sheila O'Malley

Apr 12, 2019

This is a great example of Olnek's style. It's respectful, but it's also alive. It's serious, but it's also tongue-in-cheek. Olnek's approach gives Emily room to breathe. At last. Read full review

Pat Brown

Apr 8, 2019

The film’s playful tone is a corrective to a century of scholarship that insisted on projecting the image of a moody spinster onto Emily Dickinson. Read full review

Moira Macdonald

Apr 18, 2019

It’s a quick, funny movie. Read full review

Ty Burr

Apr 17, 2019

Beneath the japery and rough-edged filmmaking is an abiding love for the work — its passion and resilience — and respect for the women whose hidden lifelong language that work may have been. Read full review

Katie Walsh

Apr 11, 2019

Despite the juicy details and fascinating topic, it’s disappointing that the stilted tone makes it so difficult to connect emotionally with this important story. Read full review

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User Reviews

GinaK

Apr 24, 2019

First of all, a warning. To fully appreciate this sly film, I think you have to like Emily Dickinson’s poetry and be intrigued by the poet herself, and you also need to know quite a lot about Emily Dickinson’s life and especially about the times in which she lived. That said, this film is aFirst of all, a warning. To fully appreciate this sly film, I think you have to like Emily Dickinson’s poetry and be intrigued by the poet herself, and you also need to know quite a lot about Emily Dickinson’s life and especially about the times in which she lived. That said, this film is a fun “riff” on all things Emily Dickinson, and I would have to agree that it is also smart about how woman writers were treated then and are still treated today. I have loved Emily Dickinson’s poetry since grammar school and I know quite a lot about it and her life – and I suspect a lot of other women do too. To like this film, I don’t think you need to know all this, but to get ALL the jokes, you definitely have to.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

DawdlingPoet

Mar 31, 2022

This is a delightful film - tender, amusing, quite a light and fun watch. I liked that lines of Emily's poetry is displayed on screen. The relationship between Emily and Susan puts things in context. it is somewhat thought provoking, though I believe it isn't intended to be an entirelyThis is a delightful film - tender, amusing, quite a light and fun watch. I liked that lines of Emily's poetry is displayed on screen. The relationship between Emily and Susan puts things in context. it is somewhat thought provoking, though I believe it isn't intended to be an entirely accurate/faithful period film but that didn't bother me - the themes are well conveyed. I enjoyed the piano pieces played throughout that feature in the background but don't make it difficult to hear the dialogue, thankfully. I enjoyed this film and would certainly recommend it to others, yes.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

TVJerry

May 15, 2019

It might seem odd that Molly Shannon (who's usually known for being funny) would play reclusive, sullen poet Emily Dickinson. But, even though this isn't a full-scale comedy, it does have a humorous approach to the secret lifelong love affair she had with her sister-in-law. The film offersIt might seem odd that Molly Shannon (who's usually known for being funny) would play reclusive, sullen poet Emily Dickinson. But, even though this isn't a full-scale comedy, it does have a humorous approach to the secret lifelong love affair she had with her sister-in-law. The film offers insight into the frustrations of having her prolific output blocked by publishers (men) and features a sprinkling of her poems throughout. While the story is interesting and the approach is entertaining, the overall effect is not as enjoyable as a full-scale comedy and not as stimulating as social commentary. Instead of capturing the period with beautiful cinematography, it has a flat, low-budget look.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Beecee

May 9, 2019

This film does deserve credit for providing a new interpretation of Emily Dickinson, and does describe the attempt to whitewash Dickinson's reputation after her death. And there are readings from Dickinson's many letters, previously unavailable. However, the film is not well written, thereThis film does deserve credit for providing a new interpretation of Emily Dickinson, and does describe the attempt to whitewash Dickinson's reputation after her death. And there are readings from Dickinson's many letters, previously unavailable. However, the film is not well written, there is little character development and many of the characters are cardboard stereotypes. The attempts at comedy are almost slapstick. Therefore, it is frequently tedious to watch.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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