Thomas Webb, the son of a publisher and his artistic wife, has just graduated from college and is trying to find his place in the world. Moving from his parents’ Upper West Side apartment to the Lower East Side, he befriends his neighbor W.F., a shambling alcoholic writer who dispenses worldly wisdom alongside healthy shots of whiskey.
Thomas’ world begins to shift when he discovers that his long-married father is having an affair with a seductive younger woman. Determined to break up the relationship, Thomas ends up sleeping with his father’s mistress, launching a chain of events that will change everything he thinks he knows about himself and his family.
The Only Living Boy in New York is a 2017 American drama film directed by Marc Webb and written by Allan Loeb. The film stars Callum Turner, Kate Beckinsale, Pierce Brosnan, Cynthia Nixon, and Jeff Bridges. The film was released on August 11, 2017, by Roadside Attractions and Amazon Studios.
On August 15, 2012, it was announced Marc Webb would direct the film. On November 4, 2014, Miles Teller joined the cast of the film. On September 8, 2016, Callum Turner joined the cast of the film to replace Miles Teller. On September 20, 2016, Kate Beckinsale joined the cast of the film. On September 23, 2016, Pierce Brosnan joined the cast of the film. On September 27, 2016, Kiersey Clemons joined the cast of the film. Principal photography began in October 2016.
About the Story
Thomas Webb (Callum Turner) is a college graduate who is still trying to figure out what he wants to do with his life and has a one-sided crush on his friend Mimi (Kiersey Clemons). One day, he meets his new neighbour, W.F. (Jeff Bridges), with whom he suddenly feels a connection. Thomas begins to spend time with W.F. and tells him about his life.
When Thomas hangs out in a bar with Mimi one day, they see his father, Ethan (Pierce Brosnan) together with another woman (Kate Beckinsale). Fearing that the affair would take a toll on his already depressed mother, Judith (Cynthia Nixon), Thomas starts to follow and finally confronts the woman. He is surprised when the other woman, Johanna, actually knows who Thomas is.
She tells him that she is a freelance editor working with his father and knows Thomas from his picture in Ethan’s office. After some time following and pleading with her to leave his father, Johanna mentions that Thomas is still a child who doesn’t know anything, including the fact that he actually wants to sleep with her. Telling this to W.F., W.F. asks if he really wants to sleep with her and Thomas reluctantly says that he does.
When attending a friend’s party, Thomas bumps into Johanna with another man. Having an argument after Thomas makes a crude remark about her, Thomas surprisingly kisses her which ends up with them making out passionately. An affair starts and Thomas begins to fall for Johanna. He tells her that since he was little, he has aspired to be a writer but Thomas’s dream was crushed when his father told him that his essays were only serviceable.
One day, when Thomas looks for W.F. in his apartment, he finds a manuscript titled The Only Living Boy in New York and that W.F. is actually a successful (although somewhat reclusive) writer. Thomas shows him his essays, and W.F. tells him that he does have a talent for writing. Thomas invites W.F. to a party at his father’s publishing company to which the writer reluctantly agrees. Thomas goes together with Mimi who begins to show feelings towards him. She asks him if he is having an affair with Johanna, which he denies. Thomas sees W.F. at the party and wants to introduce him to his mother, but W.F. suddenly disappears. Later, W.F. meets with Johanna and warns her not to hurt Thomas.
Johanna ends her relationship with Thomas, because Ethan has proposed to her. Angered by this, Thomas confronts his father while Johanna tries to dissuade him. Ethan is angered and leaves the room. Johanna tearfully tells Thomas that she really is in love with Ethan. She tells him that Thomas really doesn’t know anything, and shows a picture of Thomas in a tennis match, with W.F. captured in the background.
The Only Living Boy in New York (2017)
Directed by: Marc Webb
Starring: Callum Turner, Kate Beckinsale, Pierce Brosnan, Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Nixon, Kiersey Clemons, Tate Donovan, Wallace Shawn, Anh Duong, Debi Mazar, Richard Bekins, Ryan Speakman
Screenplay by: Marc Webb
Production Design by:
Cinematography by: Stuart Dryburgh
Film Editing by: Tim Streeto
Costume Design by: Michelle Matland
Set Decoration by: Ellen Christiansen
Art Direction by: Karen Schulz Gropman
Music by: Rob Simonsen
MPAA Rating: R for language and some drug material.
Distributed by: Amazon Studios, Roadside Attractions
Release Date: August 11, 2017
