THE KID
LIONSGATE
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http://lionsgatepublicity.com/theatrical/thekid/
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Drama / Western
Rated R for violence and language March 8, 2019
99 minutes
Ethan Hawke, Dane DeHaan, introducing Jake Schur, Leila George, Adam Baldwin, and Chris Pratt
Vincent D’Onofrio
Andrew Lanham
Vincent D’Onofrio and Andrew Lanham
Jordan Schur, p.g.a., Nick Thurlow, Sam Maydew, p.g.a., David Mimran
LOGLINE:
A young fugitive is drawn into the world of Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid as he makes his way across the
American Southwest in a desperate attempt to save his sister’s life.
SYNOPSIS:
In this thrilling Western, a young boy, Rio (Jake Schur), is forced to go on the run across the American Southwest in a desperate attempt to save his sister (Leila George) from his villainous uncle (Chris Pratt). Along the way, he encounters Sheriff Pat Garrett (Ethan Hawke), on the hunt for the infamous outlaw Billy the Kid (Dane DeHaan). Rio finds himself increasingly entwined in the lives of these two legendary figures as the cat and mouse game of Billy the Kid’s final year of life plays out. Ultimately Rio is forced to choose which type of man he is going to become, the outlaw or the man of valor, and will use this self- realization in a final act to save his family.
Lionsgate and Mimran Schur Pictures present, in association with Suretone Pictures, a Mimran Schur Pictures / Suretone Pictures production.
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INTRODUCTION
The American Southwest, 1879. Poor families struggle to get by in towns just at their infancy. Lawlessness runs rampant in an environment where the rules have either not been designed, or have no means of being enforced. In this dangerous, exciting world, thirteen year old Rio (Jake Schur) finds himself with a horrible choice. His violent and unpredictable father is beating his mother, as he has done so many nights before. Rio knows this night is different, that he must act in this moment if he wants to save his mother’s life. He steals his father’s gun and shoots the man, killing him dead, right on the spot.
Through this horrible act, Rio has saved his own life, and the life of his older, teenage sister Sara (Leila George). Both are horrified to find that their mother has already died. They have no time to morn their loss. Rio’s uncle Grant (Chris Pratt) lives in their town, a somehow meaner bastard than even his now-deceased brother. Rio and Sara both know that if they stay, it will mean their certain death. Even if they run, there is no telling if they will be able to survive. But they have to try.
After a quick and violent confrontation with Grant, they flee. With only each other to rely on, they rush off against the backdrop of the Southwest, knowing that Grant, at any moment, could be right behind. Their only hope is in finding a friend their mother spoke of once in the far off town of Santa Fe.
One night later, the young siblings are too tired to run any farther. They fall asleep inside a small shack in the middle of a clearing. When they wake up, the famous outlaw Billy the Kid (Dane DeHaan) stands over them, a group of his lawless cohorts standing around them. Rio and Sara have unexpectedly wandered into a most dangerous part of American history.
Most of Billy’s men want the children thrown outside, but Billy knows Sheriff Pat Garrett (Ethan Hawke) is right behind, chasing him just as Grant must be chasing Rio and Sara. He keeps the children in the shack with them as they all get some much needed rest. Rio is in awe of the famous outlaw. To him, the presence of this dangerous criminal is the first good news they’ve had in days.
When the group wakes up, Pat Garrett and his men, all true men of the law, have found their hideout. A skirmish ensues, resulting in the capture of Billy and his men.
Despite Sara’s reluctance, Rio lets their presence be known to Sheriff Garrett. A gruff, taciturn man, Garrett eventually agrees to help the children get to Santa Fe. Over the new two days, Rio will grow to understand the dangerous dynamic between Billy and Garrett that has played out over the past few years. He will see positive and negative aspects in each man, and will begin to wonder which one of them he truly wishes to become as he continues his all too rapid journey of becoming a man.
When Santa Fe is reached, Rio and Sara run off. They find the friend of their mother, only to discover that Grant has found her first. Furious with his nephew for taking the only living soul that he has ever cared about, Grant kidnaps Sara, telling Rio that he will kill them both should he ever find them.
Without his sister, alone in the world, Rio is faced with a choice. Will he give up, or try to save her life? This will lead to Rio’s ultimate decision: he must find Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. One of them will surly help him.
With passion and sudden purpose, Rio rushes away from Santa Fe, not knowing that he is heading straight toward the dangerous, violent final months of confrontation between two of the most notorious characters the American Southwest has ever seen.
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ABOUT THE CAST
ETHAN HAWKE (Sheriff Pat Garrett)
“Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,” is a phrase a young Ethan Hawke took to heart while filming “Dead Poets Society,” the Academy Award®-winning drama that launched his career as an actor. Thirty years and several Tony Award® and Oscar® nominations later, he has emerged a multifaceted artist, challenging himself as a novelist, screenwriter, and director.
Hawke co-wrote and directed “Blaze,” a drama about the life of country western musician Blaze Foley. The film is based on the memoir Living in the Woods in a Tree by Foley’s life-long love Sybil Rosen, who served as co-writer with Hawke. “Blaze” is produced by Hawke and his wife Ryan for their Under The Influence banner, and reunited Hawke with “Born to be Blue” producer Jake Seal, and long-time collaborator John Sloss (“Boyhood”) from Cinetic Media. In addition to “Blaze,” Hawke also starred in Paul Schrader’s thriller “First Reformed,” in which he plays the lead opposite Amanda Seyfried.
Hawke also starred in “Maudie” opposite Sally Hawkins, which premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival and was released on June 16, 2017 by Sony Pictures Classics. Based on a true story, the film is an unlikely romance in which the reclusive Everett Lewis (Hawke) hires a fragile yet determined woman named Maud to be his housekeeper. “Maudie” charts Everett’s efforts to protect himself from being hurt, Maudie’s deep and abiding love for this difficult man and her surprising rise to fame as a folk painter.
Recently, Hawke starred alongside Rose Byrne and Chris O’Dowd in the Judd Apatow produced romantic comedy “Juliet, Naked” based on the best-selling novel of the same name. Previously, Hawke starred in Mark Gao, Basil Iwanyk and Gregory Ouanhon’s thriller “24 Hours to Live” directed by Brian Smrz. Soon, Hawke can be seen in Robert Budreau’s “Stockholm” opposite Noomi Rapace. The film is based on the true story of the 1973 bank heist and hostage crisis in Stockholm.
In 2016 alone, Hawke starred in five films, most notably of which was Robert Budreau’s “Born to Be Blue,” for which he received rave reviews out of the Toronto Film Festival for his depiction of legendary jazz trumpeter Chet Baker. IFC released the film on March 25, 2016. Hawke’s film “Maggie’s Plan,” a comedy in which he stars opposite Greta Gerwig and Julianne Moore, also premiered at the 2015 Toronto Film Festival, and was released by Sony Pictures Classics on May 20, 2016. Hawke also starred in “The Magnificent Seven,” directed by Antoine Fuqua. The MGM remake of the iconic film also stars Denzel Washington, Chris Pratt, and Peter Sarsgaard. The film made its world premiere at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival as the opening night film, and Sony released the film on September 23, 2016. Additionally, he was also seen in Noah Buschel’s “The Phenom,” which was released in June 2016, and Ti West’s “In a Valley of Violence” which premiered at the 2016 SXSW Film Festival, and opened nationwide on October 21, 2016.
Furthermore, Hawke’s graphic novel, “Indeh,” with illustrator Greg Ruth, was published by Grand Central Publishing on June 7, 2016. “Indeh” captures the narrative of two nations at war who strive to find peace and forgiveness in a time of great upheaval. It debuted at #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List for Hardcover Graphic Novels.
Hawke made his documentary directorial debut with “Seymour: An Introduction,” which premiered at the 2014 Telluride Film Festival and later played internationally at the Toronto International Film Festival. The project follows the life of the legendary pianist and piano teacher Seymour Bernstein. IFC released the film on March 13, 2015.
