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Sound of Freedom (film)

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Sound of Freedom
File:The Sound of Freedom Poster.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed byAlejandro Monteverde
Written by
  • Rod Barr
  • Alejandro Monteverde
Produced byEduardo Verastegui
Starring
Cinematography
  • Gorka Gómez
  • Andreu Aec
Edited byBrian Scofield
Music byJavier Navarrete
Production
company
Santa Fe Films
Distributed byAngel Studios
Release dates
  • November 9, 2022 (2022-11-09) (Coronado)
  • July 4, 2023 (2023-07-04) (United States)
Running time
131 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
Budget$14.5 million[1]

Sound of Freedom is a 2022 American action film directed and co-written by Alejandro Monteverde. It stars Jim Caviezel, Mira Sorvino and Bill Camp. Caviezel plays Tim Ballard, a former government agent turned vigilante who embarks on a mission to rescue children from sex traffickers in Colombia.[2] It is produced by Eduardo Verastegui, who also plays a role in the film.

The film premiered at the 2022 Coronado Island Film Festival, and was released on July 4, 2023, by Angel Studios. It received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

Tim Ballard quits his job as a Special Agent with U.S. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to become a vigilante and embarks on a mission to rescue children from cartels and human traffickers in Latin America.[3][4]

Cast

Production

Development

Sound of Freedom was inspired by the work of Tim Ballard, the founder of Operation Underground Railroad, or O.U.R.),[6] an anti-trafficking activist. Work on the script began in 2015.[1]

Ballard personally requested that Jim Caviezel portray him, even though the actor does not resemble him. Ballard said that he was affected by Caviezel's role in The Count of Monte Cristo (2002).[7][8] Caviezel has stated that Sound of Freedom was the second most important film he has ever done, ranking behind his role as Jesus Christ in The Passion of the Christ (2004).[9][8]

The film's score is composed by Javier Navarrete.[10]

Filming

Principal photography began in the summer of 2018. The majority of the film was shot in Cartagena, Colombia.[11]

Additional scenes were shot in (Calexico, California),[12] including at the booth where Ballard worked as a DHS agent at the Calexico Port of Entry.[13]

Distribution

The film was completed in 2018 and a distribution deal was made with 20th Century Fox. However, that studio was purchased by the Walt Disney Company, which shelved the film. The filmmakers reportedly spent years trying to get the distribution rights back from Disney and take it to theaters.[14]

Verástegui approached Angel Studios with the release rights. Angel presented the film to an online group of 100,000 investors in its past projects called the Angel Guild, which gave it a "yes" vote within days.[1] In March 2023, Variety reported that Angel Studios had acquired the worldwide distribution rights, with a planned release during the second half of 2023.[2] Angel later set a release date of July 4, 2023.[15]

Angel used equity crowdfunding to raise the funds needed to distribute and market the film. 7,000 people invested, allowing Angel to meet its $5 million goal in two weeks.[1] They also encouraged patrons to "pay it forward" to allow people who might not otherwise see the movie to watch it in theaters for free.[16] Goya Cares, an anti-human trafficking foundation established by Goya Foods, announced its support as executive producer for the release.[17] Actor and director Mel Gibson endorsed the film in a video.[1]

Release

Sound of Freedom was scheduled to be shown at the 2022 Coronado Island Film Festival, which ran from November 9 to 13.[18]

The film was released in 2600 theaters on July 3, 2023.

Reception

Box office

On July 3, 2023, Deadline Hollywood reported that the film had sold $10 million in ticket pre-sales across 2,626 theaters, ahead of its domestic opening on July 4, 2023.[19]

Critical reception

On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 85% based on 13 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10.[20] Audience polled by CinemaScore gave this film a rare "A+" grade from the A+ to F scale.[21]

Variety's Owen Gleiberman gave the film a positive review, writing, "Let’s assume that, like me, you’re not a right-wing fundamentalist conspiracy theorist looking for a dark, faith-based suspense film to see over the holiday weekend. (The movie opens July 3.) Even then, you needn’t hold extreme beliefs to experience ‘Sound of Freedom’ as a compelling movie that shines an authentic light on one of the crucial criminal horrors of our time, one that Hollywood has mostly shied away from."[22]

Jackie K. Cooper called the film "an intense look at the scourge of child sex trafficking" and said it "holds your interest but difficult to watch."[20]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e A Child-Trafficking Thriller Is Taking on Hollywood. Who’s Behind It?
  2. ^ a b "Angel Studios Acquires Rights to Jim Caviezel Drama 'Sound of Freedom' Ahead of Theatrical Release (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. March 30, 2023.
  3. ^ "Sound of Freedom trailer released, focused on the fight against child exploitation".
  4. ^ "Operation Underground Railroad to be featured in new film 'The Sound of Freedom'". Great Bend Tribune. October 27, 2016. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Actuará al lado de Jim Caviezel" [Will act alongside Jim Caviezel] (in Spanish). Diario de Yucatán. November 1, 2019. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Merlan, Anna; Marchman, Tim (June 10, 2021). "Operation Underground Railroad's Carefully Crafted Public Image Is Falling Apart". Vice News. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  7. ^ Borchert, Brittany (September 12, 2018). "Jim Caviezel Plays Tim Ballard in "The Sound of Freedom"".
  8. ^ a b Toone, Trent (June 4, 2018). "Actor Jim Caviezel set to play second most important role in O.U.R. story 'The Sound of Freedom'". Deseret News.
  9. ^ "Jim Caviezel Stars in Hollywood Movie About Latter-Day Saint and Former CIA Agent Tim Ballard". LDS Living. September 10, 2018.
  10. ^ "Javier Navarrete Scoring Alejandro Monteverde's 'Sound of Freedom'".
  11. ^ "Cartagena: A gorgeous location for movie makers".
  12. ^ "Sound of Freedom" – via PressReader.
  13. ^ ‘Sound of Freedom’ Finally Makes it to Big Screen
  14. ^ Sound of Freedom film highlights child trafficking crisis: 'God's children are not for sale'
  15. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (May 12, 2023). "Jim Caviezel in Human Trafficking Thriller 'Sound of Freedom': Watch First Trailer (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  16. ^ "Jim Caviezel: 'Sound of Freedom' is 'best film I've done since "The Passion of the Christ"'"
  17. ^ GOYA CARES SUPPORTS THE PRODUCTION AND RELEASE OF NEW MOVIE SOUND OF FREEDOM TO RAISE AWARENESS OF THE CHILD TRAFFICKING EPIDEMIC
  18. ^ "The Coronado Island Film Festival Announces 2022 Program Slate". The Coronado Times. October 4, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2023.
  19. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 30, 2023). "Jim Caviezel Anti-Child-Trafficking Thriller 'Sound Of Freedom' Giving Indie Box Office A Pulse With $7M+ In Presales". Deadline.
  20. ^ a b "Sound of Freedom". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  21. ^ "Search "Sound of Freedom"". CinemaScore. Retrieved June 5, 2023.
  22. ^ ‘Sound of Freedom,’ Faith-Based Movie, Scores Impressive $10 Million in Presales
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