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Collateral Beauty

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Tagline: We are all connected.
Keira as: Amy
Genre: Drama
Duration: 97 minutes
Written by: David Frankel
Directed by: Allan Loeb
Other cast: Will Smith, Edward Norton, Michael Peña, Kate Winslet
Release date: December 16, 2016
Production budget: $36m
Total worldwide gross: $88.5
Filming locations: New York City, New York, USA

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When a successful New York advertising executive suffers a great tragedy he retreats from life. While his concerned friends try desperately to reconnect with him, he seeks answers from the universe by writing letters to Love, Time and Death. But its not until his notes bring unexpected personal responses that he begins to understand how these constants interlock in a life fully lived, and how even the deepest loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.

Production Info

Will Smith’s father, Willard Carroll Smith, Sr., was dying while Smith researched this role. He has said that working on the film was extremely therapeutic in helping him deal with the ultimate loss of his dad.

When Will Smith heard about co-star Naomie Harris’s mom Lisselle Kayla’s Jamaican cooking during this shoot, he invited himself to her house, and dined with Naomie and her extended family.

Hugh Jackman was originally attached to the lead role, but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts. He was later replaced by Will Smith.

Original director, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, left the project over creative differences with New Line Cinema.

The real name of the character Love is Amy Moore. Aimee is French for “beloved,” so her name arguably means “loved more.” Additionally, when slurred together, Amy Moore sounds like the Spanish for love, amor.

The ad agency scenes were filmed at Wieden Kennedy, a real-life ad agency in New York City.

Rooney Mara was originally attached to star but later dropped out.

While Helen Mirren’s character is in the food shop, she stands near the food label ‘Pure Elizabeth’. She has played two historical English Queens named Elizabeth in different movies.

The scenes at Broadway-Lafayette train station was actually filmed at the Church Ave train station in Brooklyn, on the G/F line.

Critical Response

Will Ashton, The Playlist:

Above all else, however, Collateral Beauty is an actor’s showcase, and with an ensemble as talented as this one, you don’t have any shortage on dramatics. None of them are terrible per se, but only a few get enough opportunities to rise above the screenplay. Mirren is always a charming screen presence, and she shines more than she doesn’t here. Peña, similarly, is often the most grounded and reserved of the ensemble, Latimore is down-to-earth in a film that’s often not, and Knightley certainly knows how to spark the waterworks like her life depends on it.