At Middleton

At Middleton
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Adam Rodgers
Produced by	Andy García Glenn German Sig Libowitz
Screenplay by	Glenn German Adam Rodgers
Starring	Andy García Vera Farmiga Taissa Farmiga Spencer Lofranco Peter Riegert Tom Skerritt
Music by	Arturo Sandoval
Cinematography	Emmanuel Kadosh
Edited by	Suzy Elmiger
Production company	CineSon Entertainment Look at the Moon Productions North by Northwest Entertainment
Distributed by	Anchor Bay Films
Release dates	May 17, 2013 (2013-05-17) (Seattle) January 31, 2014 (2014-01-31) (United States)
Running time	99 minutes
Country	United States
Language	English
Budget	$2.5 million
Box office	$53,837

At Middleton is a 2013 American romantic comedy film directed by Adam Rodgers and starring Andy García, Vera Farmiga, Taissa Farmiga, and Spencer Lofranco. Written by Glenn German and Adam Rodgers, the film follows a man and a woman as they meet and fall in love while taking their children on a college tour. The film had its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival on May 17, 2013. It was released in a limited release and through video on demand on January 31, 2014 by Anchor Bay Films.

Plot

Edith Martin (Vera Farmiga) and her highly strung daughter Audrey (Taissa Farmiga), and George Hartman (Andy García) and his unmotivated son Conrad (Spencer Lofranco), arrive for a campus tour of the quaint Middleton College led by junior "dingleberry" Justin (Nicholas Braun). When Edith and George wander off, the two bond as they try to reunite with the tour. When they meet the group in the library, Edith and George embarrass their children.

Audrey accuses Edith of not supporting her decision to go to Middleton, and as revenge, Edith lies and says that she and George are taking an exclusive tour of the campus with the university's Dean. Audrey and Conrad are then left alone with the rest of the "cookie cutter" tour, while Edith and George play hooky. The two borrow some bikes to explore the campus. They climb to the top of the belltower, and sneak into an acting class. During an acting exercize, the two emotionally connect.

Meanwhile, Audrey tells Conrad that the reason she wants to attend Middleton is so she can be mentored by Middleton's acclaimed professor Roland Emerson (Tom Skerritt). Conrad says he's keeping his options open. At lunch, Audrey calls the Dean's assistant, and finds out that Edith was lying about the exclusive tour. She then bumps into George and demands to know where her mother is. He tells her that Edith went to the observatory, when she is really having lunch with George in the cafeteria. Edith and George discuss their relationship, unsure of what it is since they are both married.

Audrey and Conrad go to the observatory, finding it locked. In her anger, Audrey insults Conrad, saying he's peaked in life and it's all downhill for him; Conrad walks off. George and Edith then meet film student Daphne (Daniella García), who offers George her computer so he can help out a heart patient. Edith and George then get high with Daphne and her boyfriend Travis (Stephen Borrello), and discuss their relationships with their children.

Audrey and Conrad go to their respective meetings with professors. Audrey has tea with Emerson, while Conrad meets Boneyard Sims (Peter Riegert), who runs the campus' radio station. Audrey finds out that Emerson is going on a sabbatical, meaning he won't be able to be her advisor should she attend Middleton. Audrey reacts angrily, and Emerson warns her that she might've crossed the line from ambition into obsession. Conrad realizes his interest is in radio.

Edith and George go back to the belltower, where they spend an intimate moment. Conrad apologizes to Audrey for her bad day, and informs her that he could see himself going to Middleton; Audrey tells him she no longer wants to go there. As Edith and George head back to their cars, they emotionally part ways. The two then embrace their children and drive off. Edith tells Audrey that they're going to be okay, and George requests Conrad take the long way home.

Cast

• Andy García as George Hartman
• Vera Farmiga as Edith Martin
• Taissa Farmiga as Audrey Martin
• Spencer Lofranco as Conrad Hartman
• Peter Riegert as Boneyard Sims
• Tom Skerritt as Roland Emerson
• Nicholas Braun as Justin
• Daniella García as Daphne
• Stephen Borrello as Travis
• Mirjana Jokovic as Professor Riley

Production

Development

The film was directed by Adam Rodgers, and co-written by Rodgers and Glenn German. It was produced by German, Andy García (who also stars in the film), and Sig Libowitz, via the production companies Look at the Moon Productions, CineSon Entertainment, and North by Northwest Entertainment.

Casting

In April 2012, it was reported that Vera Farmiga and Andy García had been cast in the film as Edith Martin and George Hartman, respectively. In June 2012, it was announced that Taissa Farmiga, Spencer Lofranco, and Nicholas Braun had been cast in the film, portraying Audrey Martin, Conrad Hartman, and Justin the admissions tour guide, respectively.

Filming

Principal photography for the film took place in Washington State, on the campuses of Gonzaga University in Spokane and Washington State University in Pullman, Washington, with a budget of $2.5 million. The film was originally set to shoot in May 2012 at the University of Mississippi in Oxford, but the shoot was pushed back and relocated to the Pacific Northwest. Filming began on July 16, 2012 and lasted four weeks.

Soundtrack

At Middleton (Original Score)
Soundtrack album by Arturo Sandoval
Released	September 9, 2014
Genre	Score
Length	41:55
Label	Perseverance Records

The soundtrack for the film titled At Middleton: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack was released in the United States on September 9, 2014 by Perseverance Records, in digital download and physical formats. The album was then released in the United Kingdom on October 27, 2014 in digital download and CD formats. It includes the original score composed by 10-time Grammy Award-winning jazz trumpeter Arturo Sandoval, and "There Was A Day" co-written and performed by Andy García. The album was one of 114 scores in contention for a nomination at the 2014 Academy Awards ceremony (for the Academy Award for Best Original Score), but ultimately lost out on a nomination.

Track listing
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Performer(s)	Length
1.	"Fanfare for a Son"	Arturo Sandoval	Sandoval	1:02
2.	"George's Cellphone"	Sandoval	Sandoval	0:47
3.	"A Slice of Heaven"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:18
4.	"Library Mezzanine"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:30
5.	"Bicycling"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:09
6.	"Up to the Belltower"	Sandoval	Sandoval	0:57
7.	"Acrophobic George"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:58
8.	"Bench Observers"	Sandoval	Sandoval	3:22
9.	"Chopsticks"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:13
10.	"Campus Cops"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:12
11.	"Lakeside Bench"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:47
12.	"Don't Want This Day to End"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:11
13.	"Edith and George Depart"	Sandoval	Sandoval	2:39
14.	"Dorm Source #1 (Arturo's Reggae)"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:20
15.	"To the Belltower"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:57
16.	"Not Yet"	Sandoval	Sandoval	1:27
17.	"Goodbyes"	Sandoval	Sandoval	3:07
18.	"End Credits"	Sandoval	Sandoval	5:12
19.	"There Was a Day"	Sandoval Andy García	Sandoval García	4:25
20.	"There Was a Day (Instrumental)"	Sandoval García	Sandoval	4:22
Total length:				41:55

• Songs that are included in the film, but excluded from the soundtrack include, "Otto Wood" by Snatches of Pink, "Musical Chairs" by Rumspringa, "Fanfare for the Common Man" by Aaron Copland, "The Quiet Crowd" by Patrick Watson and "The Great Divide" by The Mowgli's. Lead actors Andy García and Vera Farmiga performed the piano piece "Chopsticks" during a scene in the film, but were uncredited.
• All track titles, writing credits and performance credits courtesy of AllMusic.

Distribution

Release

In May 2012, Anchor Bay Films pre-bought U.S distribution rights to the film. The film had its world premiere at the Seattle International Film Festival on May 17, 2013, and subsequently screened at festivals including the Champs-Élysées Film Festival, Woodstock Film Festival, Boston Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, and the Mill Valley Film Festival. It was released in a limited release on January 31, 2014 in the United States.

Home media

The film was released onto DVD & Blu-ray on April 1, 2014. As of May 2016, the film has made an additional $385,952 via DVD sales and $31,549 via Blu-ray sales, for a total of $417,501.

Reception

Box office

The film was given a limited release in the United States through Anchor Bay Films, opening in a maximum of 20 theaters. It made $33,768 in its opening weekend for a per theater average of $1,688. The film went on to make a further $20,069 for a total domestic gross of $53,837.

Critical response

The film received a mixed reception from film critics. Review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a 59% rating based on 34 reviews. Metacritic gave the film a score of 60 out of 100, indicating "mixed or average reviews".

Susan Wloszczyna of RogerEbert.com wrote: "At Middleton is the just the sort of trite if inoffensive diversion that barely tiptoes into theaters before landing in the cable and video on demand listings. And Garcia and Farmiga, as good as they can be in the right roles, aren't doing themselves or their careers any favors with this sort of C-level effort. At least the ending is brazen enough not to conclude in a tidy fashion. But watching George and Edith cavort in slo-mo while being drenched in a campus fountain is antithesis of enjoying Annie Hall and Alvy Singer as those classic polar opposites engage in battle against a runaway lobster. One scene has comic snap. The other is merely soggy." Vulture critic Bilge Ebiri gave a positive review, stating: "At Middleton is a modest movie with modest aims, but at times it feels like a small miracle. A daylong romance starring Andy García and Vera Farmiga as two parents who meet cute while their kids tour the same small college, it takes a relatively undistinguished premise and sets itself apart with details that ring true. It's all fairly predictable enough. Edith (Farmiga) and George (Garcia) meet as they try for the same parking spot on the grounds of the titular, pastoral liberal arts institution; he's the type who backs into a parking spot, while she's the type who rolls in without looking to see if anyone else got there first... If Garcia has always brought a subtle, playful quality to even his most serious roles, Farmiga has always had a certain gravity to hers; this movie felt like the first time in ages I'd seen her smile. If At Middleton did nothing else than get these two underutilized actors to charm us for 90 minutes, it would have already been a pleasurable experience; that it does so while also telling a simple, touching story feels like a genuine indulgence."

Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times gave the film a positive review, writing: "Some advance publicity is describing At Middleton as a romantic comedy, but that is too simplistic a label for this delicate, restrained movie. Yes, it's full of droll humor, but it's also a bittersweet portrait of two people, who, in the process of helping their children choose a college, confront the emptiness of their respective marriages... Ms. Farmiga does lovely work as Edith, a woman who seems perpetually on the edge of losing control of her emotions, for reasons that she hides well. Her daughter, Audrey, is played by Taissa Farmiga, Ms. Farmiga's sister, who does a fine job of showing in subtle ways that she is just as tightly wound. Mr. Garcia, as a nerdy heart surgeon, and Spencer Lofranco, as his son, also pair nicely." Betsy Sharkey of The Los Angeles Times gave the film a lukewarm review: "Garcia and Farmiga have such an easy, natural chemistry that their on-screen sparkle helps mitigate the film's weaknesses. At others times, it serves to underscore what might have been. It's a feckless conundrum. Edith (Farmiga) is the free-spirited mom. Audrey is her serious, literary-minded daughter, nicely played by Farmiga's real-life sister Taissa, who shares Vera's luminous presence on screen. George (Garcia) is a cardiac surgeon, nattily uptight in his crisp white shirt and bow tie. He's with his reluctant son Conrad (Spencer Lofranco)... Together, Garcia and Farmiga are a sweetheart couple whose mild flirtation makes the time spent At Middleton bearable. With a stronger script, it might have turned into a beautiful day."

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2013	Boston Film Festival	Festival Prize – Best Actor	Andy García	Won
		Festival Prize – Best Actress	Vera Farmiga	Won
2013	Denver Film Festival	Festival Prize – Rising Star	Spencer Lofranco	Won
2013	Montreal World Film Festival	Golden Zenith for Best First Fiction Feature Film	Adam Rodgers	Nominated

External links

• At Middleton at IMDb
• At Middleton at Box Office Mojo
• At Middleton at Metacritic
• At Middleton at Rotten Tomatoes