{{Short description|2019 comedy film by Dolly Wells}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox film | name = Good Posture | image = Good Posture poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = Dolly Wells | producer = {{Plainlist| * Maggie Monteith * Jamie Adams }} | writer = Dolly Wells | screenplay = | starring = {{Plainlist| * Grace Van Patten * Emily Mortimer * Ebon Moss-Bachrach * Timm Sharp * John Early }} | music = | cinematography = Ryan Eddleston | editing = Adelina Bichis | studio = {{Plainlist| * Dignity Film Finance * Talland Films * Twenty Dollar Pictures }} | distributor = Pinpoint Presents | released = {{Film date|2019|4|27|Tribeca|2019|10|4|United Kingdom}} | runtime = 91 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/good-posture-2019|title=Good Posture|publisher=Tribeca Film Festival|accessdate=March 13, 2019|archive-date=April 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190430181602/https://www.tribecafilm.com/filmguide/good-posture-2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> | country = United States | language = English | budget = | gross = $36,647<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt7647840/|title=Good Posture (2019)|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref> }} '''''Good Posture''''' is a 2019 American comedy-drama film written and directed by actress Dolly Wells, in her directorial debut. It stars Grace Van Patten as Lilian, a young woman who moves in with her father's friend, the famous and reclusive author Julia played by Emily Mortimer. Wells and Mortimer had previously collaborated on the British sitcom ''Doll & Em'', which they created, co-wrote, and starred in.
The film also stars Timm Sharp, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, John Early and Nat Wolff, with cameos from authors Zadie Smith, Martin Amis and Jonathan Ames.
==Plot== Lilian is a budding artist living in Brooklyn after her father abruptly moved to Paris with his girlfriend. After her boyfriend Nate dumps her for being immature and unmotivated, Lilian moves in with family friends Julia and Don.
While Don, a musician, is warm and friendly, Julia, a famous and reclusive novelist, immediately clashes with Lilian. After Don disappears following a fight with Julia, Julia sequesters herself in her room and begins communicating with Lilian through messages in Lilian's private journal.
After running into Nate and his co-worker, Laura, a filmmaker, Lilian claims she is working on a documentary about Julia, to impress her. Rather than ask Julia for permission, Lilian begins scouting for cameramen and uses her father's connections to contact famous writers and interview them about Julia.
While interviewing Jonathan Ames, Lilian learns that her father is back in New York City but has not contacted her. She also learns that Julia is using her as possible writing inspiration and has used her as inspiration before, when she was a child.
Julia accidentally discovers that Lilian is making a documentary when Lilian is late to meet her cameraman, Sol, and he enthusiastically tells Julia everything. Julia cuts off all communication with Lilian. Depressed, Lilian makes a move on Julia's reclusive dog walker George, who rebuffs her.
Lilian finally makes contact with her father who does not tell her that he and his girlfriend are engaged and expecting a child, despite Lilian having been made aware by other people.
Lilian decides to try to make amends with Julia by writing her an apology note and finally reading her most famous work, ''Good Posture''. Lilian obtains a job and decides to leave Julia's home. Before she leaves, Julia allows her into her room indicating she has forgiven Lilian.
The following morning, as Lilian leaves, she sees Julia outside for the first time, walking her dog. Julia meets Don and the two walk towards the subway together, as Lilian walks in the other direction.
==Cast== {{Cast listing| * Grace Van Patten as Lilian * Emily Mortimer as Julia Price * Timm Sharp as George * Ebon Moss-Bachrach as Don Price * John Early as Sol * Nat Wolff as Jon * Norbert Leo Butz as Neil * Condola Rashad as Laura * Mary Holland as Pauline * Gary Richardson as Nate }} The film contains cameo appearances from authors Zadie Smith, Martin Amis and Jonathan Ames.<ref name="screendaily.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/emily-mortimer-grace-van-patten-wrap-us-comedy-drama-good-posture-exclusive/5125201.article|title=Emily Mortimer, Grace Van Patten wrap US comedy drama 'Good Posture'|work=Screen Daily|accessdate=December 24, 2017|last=Grater|first=Tom|date=December 22, 2017}}</ref>
==Production== The screenplay was written by Wells, and it took ten days to film in Brooklyn, New York.<ref name="screendaily.com"/>
==Release== The film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 27, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/03/tribeca-film-festival-unveils-feature-lineup-with-films-spotlighting-john-delorean-muhammad-ali-chelsea-manning-1202569646/|title=Tribeca Film Festival Unveils Feature Lineup, With Screen Time For John DeLorean, Muhammad Ali, Chelsea Manning|website=Deadline Hollywood|first=Dade|last=Hayes|date=March 5, 2019|accessdate=March 5, 2019}}</ref> It was released in select theaters in the United Kingdom and Ireland on October 4, 2019, by Pinpoint Presents.<ref>{{cite web|last=Smith|first=Anna|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine/reviews-recommendations/good-posture-dolly-wells-bookish-comedy-emily-mortimer-grace-van-patten|title=Good Posture review: a cameo-studded bookish comedy set in Brooklyn|work=Sight & Sound|date=October 3, 2019|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Brady|first=Tara|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/film/six-of-the-best-films-to-see-in-cinemas-this-weekend-1.4039056|title=Six of the best films to see in cinemas this weekend|work=The Irish Times|date=October 4, 2019|access-date=May 19, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Kf-bBhGMc/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B3Kf-bBhGMc |archive-date=2021-12-26 |url-access=registration|title=#GoodPostureFilm opens on Fri 04 Oct at selected cinemas across the UK & Ireland.|publisher=Pinpoint Presents|date=October 3, 2019|access-date=May 19, 2021|via=Instagram}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
==Critical reception== On Rotten Tomatoes the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on reviews from {{RT data|count}} critics, with an average score of {{RT data|average}}.<ref name="tomatoes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/good_posture|title=Good Posture (2019)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Fandango|access-date={{RT data|access date}}}}</ref> On Metacritic the film has a score of 69 out of 100, based on reviews from 8 critics.<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web |title=Good Posture |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/good-posture |website=Metacritic}}</ref>
Critics were generally favorable on the film's debut. Tomris Laffly of ''Variety'' stated that "Dolly Wells' good-natured directorial debut can't escape a first-film feel" the critic also found it "just affable enough" and singled out actress Grace Van Patten for a "sensational" performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/good-posture-review-grace-van-patten-1203202372/|title=Tribeca Film Review: 'Good Posture'|website=Variety|first=Tomris|last=Laffly|date=May 1, 2019}}</ref> David Ehrlich, writing for ''IndieWire'', found the film "more than enjoyable enough to suggest that Wells is no slouch" but "more of a snack than a fulfilling meal" that "struggles to find its focus"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2019/04/good-posture-review-dolly-wells-grace-van-patten-1202128842/|title='Good Posture' Review: Dolly Wells' Charming Directorial Debut — Tribeca|website=IndieWire|first=David|last=Ehrlich|date=April 29, 2019}}</ref> Kimber Myers, critic for ''The Playlist'', praised the film, and wrote: "Wells' script is genuine and funny, authentic in its insights into real-feeling humans and their connections" and that it "treats its audience with intelligence and doesn't feel the need to explain everything, trusting the viewer will have what they need to understand what's happening and who these people are."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/good-posture-tribeca-review-20190429/|title=The Charming 'Good Posture' Features Terrific Performances From Grace Van Patten & Emily Mortimer|website=The Playlist|first=Kimber|last=Myers|date=April 29, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|7647840}}
{{Jamie Adams}}
Category:2019 films Category:2019 comedy-drama films Category:2019 directorial debut films Category:2019 independent films Category:American comedy-drama films Category:American independent films Category:Films produced by Jamie Adams Category:Films set in Brooklyn Category:Films shot in New York City Category:2019 English-language films Category:2019 American films Category:English-language comedy-drama films Category:English-language independent films