Rudderless

2014 • 105 minutes

About this movie

Award-winning actor William H. Macy makes his directorial debut in this heartfelt and inspirational drama lead by an exemplary cast. Sam (Billy Crudup), a former high-profile ad executive, is devastated by the sudden death of his musician son. When Sam discovers a box filled with his son's demo tapes, the grieving father’s downward spiral comes to a standstill as he explores this unexpected gift. After mustering the will to perform one of the songs at a local bar, Sam meets and forms a friendship with Quentin (Anton Yelchin), a young musician. The unlikely duo forms a rock band that becomes a local sensation, and they set out on an emotional musical journey that ultimately revitalizes both of their lives.

Ratings and reviews

Some elements are a little hollow thanks to the preposterousness of the conceit that a rock band would spring up like this, and the quality of the music didn't match the level of the response it got in the movie audience. That said, though, there is a very important perspective here and I greatly appreciate seeing it. I had a feeling that the particular plot twist was coming thanks to something in the opening scene. Not going to give it away, watch the movie. There were some really fantastic performances by our key players, especially Billy Crudup who delivered with notable sensitivity.

Billy Crudop and Anton Yelchin were breathtakingly beautiful together in this amazing story. It was one of those movies that you watch and think about it heavily, for days after. It shows a side of pain that most people will never know, and won't ever see. Fantastic film! Nice work, William H. Macy!

And the Oscar goes to....Billy Crudup. He is so good in this, didn't realize till the movie ended and it hit me like a ton of bricks. a few good tunes, a few cheesy tunes and a couple of out of this world songs that really pull this extremely well written and well directed movie off. Warning if you only like movies with a lot of things blowing up, then this isn't for you. Actual emotions at work here and some very, very good acting especially from the male lead.