The Art of Getting ByThe Art of Getting By
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The Art of Getting By is a 2011 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Sam Robards, Rita Wilson and Blair Underwood. It is the first feature by writer-director Gavin Wiesen. The film premiered under the title Homework at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Plot

George (Freddie Highmore) is a loner high school student with a penchant for drawing and skipping class. He has a nihilistic view of the world which is why he never does homework and skips school frequently. His academic delinquency puts him on academic probation.

One day while on the school roof he encounters another classmate, Sally (Emma Roberts), smoking. When a teacher appears, George pulls out a cigarette and takes the fall for Sally. They become friends.

On career day, George meets young artist, Dustin (Michael Angarano), finding him inspiring. He brings Sally with him to visit Dustin at his studio in Brooklyn and it becomes apparent that Dustin finds Sally attractive. She invites George to a New Year s Eve party where she dances with an ex-boyfriend and George gets drunk, goes outside, throws up, and falls asleep in an alley. Finding him there, she takes him to her place, putting him to bed on a pull-out next to her bed. They grow close and George gets more involved in school.

On Valentine s Day, they go out to dinner and Sally starts asking questions about what he thinks of her. George is evasive, and she asks him if he ll have sex with her. George freezes. Sally backtracks and claims she was kidding. He remains withdrawn and leaves early. He refuses to take Sally s calls and avoids her. One day Sally runs into Dustin in the street and after a while the two of them start a relationship. George, troubled by this, stops doing homework and is again sent to the principal s (Blair Underwood) office.

The principal gives George two choices: be expelled, or make up all of the work he has missed all year. Confronted by his mother and stepfather (Rita Wilson and Sam Robards) at home, he responds by telling his mother that his stepfather has been lying about work. The stepfather attacks him and George knocks him down before taking off. He goes to Sally s and, in the hallway, kisses her. Sally kisses back but breaks away as Dustin is in her apartment. Angry and hurt, George leaves.

The next morning, George finds his mother in the park and she tells him she s divorcing his stepfather. Consoling her, he begins to rethink his life. He decides to make the effort to do his assignments. His art teacher tells him he wants only one project, but that it must be honest and real. George works on his backwork and takes his final exams. Meanwhile, Sally continues seeing Dustin.

One day George gets a message from Sally. They meet and she tells him she s going backpacking with Dustin through Europe and skipping graduation. He tells her he s in love with her and they go back to her apartment, where they kiss. She tells him she loves him too and promises they ll be together one day. George turns in all his assignments and the principal tells him he ll know he s passed if his name is called at graduation. George s art teacher applauds him on his project.

At graduation, George is with Sally s friends with his mother in the audience. Sally is at the airport with Dustin. George s name is called and his mother applauds. Afterwards George is in the art classroom looking at his art project, the portrait of Sally. She walks in, joining him looking at the painting as the film closes.

Cast

  • Freddie Highmore as George Zinavoy
  • Emma Roberts as Sally Howe
  • Michael Angarano as Dustin Mason
  • Alicia Silverstone as Ms. Herman
  • Rita Wilson as Vivian Sargent, George s mother
  • Blair Underwood as Principal Bill Martinson
  • Elizabeth Reaser as Charlotte Howe
  • Sam Robards as John Sargent, George s stepfather
  • Marcus Carl Franklin as Will Sharpe
  • Sasha Spielberg as Zoe Rubenstein
  • Jarlath Conroy as Harris McElroy
  • Ann Dowd as Mrs. Grimes

Production

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2014)

The film finished shooting in New York City on April 23, 2010.

Soundtrack

The music from the film was released by Rhino Records on June 14 as a CD soundtrack with 12 tracks.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2011. The movie was released on Blu-ray Disc on November 29, 2011.

Reception

Box office

The Art of Getting By grossed $1.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $0.6 million in other territories, for a total of $2 million, against a production budget of $4 million.

Critical response

As of October 2021, the film holds a 19% approval rating on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 113 reviews with an average rating of 4.3/10. The site s consensus states: A sitcom-level twee mess that bakes in the typical manic pixie dream girl and boring, withdrawn boy hero. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film received a score of 36% based on 28 reviews, which indicates generally unfavorable reviews . The film was criticized as being a typical coming of age drama. Critics also targeted the writing, though actor Freddie Highmore and his co-star Emma Roberts were both praised for their performances. Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net noted, A New York City boy-meets-girl story may be something we ve seen many times before… but Wiesen brings something unique to the mix.

Awards and accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
2011 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic The Art of Getting By Nominated
2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy Emma Roberts Nominated

The Art of Getting By is a 2011 American romantic comedy-drama film starring Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano, Elizabeth Reaser, Sam Robards, Rita Wilson and Blair Underwood. It is the first feature by writer-director Gavin Wiesen. The film premiered under the title Homework at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival.

Plot

George (Freddie Highmore) is a loner high school student with a penchant for drawing and skipping class. He has a nihilistic view of the world which is why he never does homework and skips school frequently. His academic delinquency puts him on academic probation.

One day while on the school roof he encounters another classmate, Sally (Emma Roberts), smoking. When a teacher appears, George pulls out a cigarette and takes the fall for Sally. They become friends.

On career day, George meets young artist, Dustin (Michael Angarano), finding him inspiring. He brings Sally with him to visit Dustin at his studio in Brooklyn and it becomes apparent that Dustin finds Sally attractive. She invites George to a New Year s Eve party where she dances with an ex-boyfriend and George gets drunk, goes outside, throws up, and falls asleep in an alley. Finding him there, she takes him to her place, putting him to bed on a pull-out next to her bed. They grow close and George gets more involved in school.

On Valentine s Day, they go out to dinner and Sally starts asking questions about what he thinks of her. George is evasive, and she asks him if he ll have sex with her. George freezes. Sally backtracks and claims she was kidding. He remains withdrawn and leaves early. He refuses to take Sally s calls and avoids her. One day Sally runs into Dustin in the street and after a while the two of them start a relationship. George, troubled by this, stops doing homework and is again sent to the principal s (Blair Underwood) office.

The principal gives George two choices: be expelled, or make up all of the work he has missed all year. Confronted by his mother and stepfather (Rita Wilson and Sam Robards) at home, he responds by telling his mother that his stepfather has been lying about work. The stepfather attacks him and George knocks him down before taking off. He goes to Sally s and, in the hallway, kisses her. Sally kisses back but breaks away as Dustin is in her apartment. Angry and hurt, George leaves.

The next morning, George finds his mother in the park and she tells him she s divorcing his stepfather. Consoling her, he begins to rethink his life. He decides to make the effort to do his assignments. His art teacher tells him he wants only one project, but that it must be honest and real. George works on his backwork and takes his final exams. Meanwhile, Sally continues seeing Dustin.

One day George gets a message from Sally. They meet and she tells him she s going backpacking with Dustin through Europe and skipping graduation. He tells her he s in love with her and they go back to her apartment, where they kiss. She tells him she loves him too and promises they ll be together one day. George turns in all his assignments and the principal tells him he ll know he s passed if his name is called at graduation. George s art teacher applauds him on his project.

At graduation, George is with Sally s friends with his mother in the audience. Sally is at the airport with Dustin. George s name is called and his mother applauds. Afterwards George is in the art classroom looking at his art project, the portrait of Sally. She walks in, joining him looking at the painting as the film closes.

Cast

  • Freddie Highmore as George Zinavoy
  • Emma Roberts as Sally Howe
  • Michael Angarano as Dustin Mason
  • Alicia Silverstone as Ms. Herman
  • Rita Wilson as Vivian Sargent, George s mother
  • Blair Underwood as Principal Bill Martinson
  • Elizabeth Reaser as Charlotte Howe
  • Sam Robards as John Sargent, George s stepfather
  • Marcus Carl Franklin as Will Sharpe
  • Sasha Spielberg as Zoe Rubenstein
  • Jarlath Conroy as Harris McElroy
  • Ann Dowd as Mrs. Grimes

Production

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (September 2014)

The film finished shooting in New York City on April 23, 2010.

Soundtrack

The music from the film was released by Rhino Records on June 14 as a CD soundtrack with 12 tracks.

Release

The film had its world premiere at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2011. The movie was released on Blu-ray Disc on November 29, 2011.

Reception

Box office

The Art of Getting By grossed $1.4 million in the United States and Canada, and $0.6 million in other territories, for a total of $2 million, against a production budget of $4 million.

Critical response

As of October 2021, the film holds a 19% approval rating on film review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, based on 113 reviews with an average rating of 4.3/10. The site s consensus states: A sitcom-level twee mess that bakes in the typical manic pixie dream girl and boring, withdrawn boy hero. At Metacritic, which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the film received a score of 36% based on 28 reviews, which indicates generally unfavorable reviews . The film was criticized as being a typical coming of age drama. Critics also targeted the writing, though actor Freddie Highmore and his co-star Emma Roberts were both praised for their performances. Edward Douglas of ComingSoon.net noted, A New York City boy-meets-girl story may be something we ve seen many times before… but Wiesen brings something unique to the mix.

Awards and accolades

Year Award Category Nominee(s) Result
2011 Sundance Film Festival U.S. Dramatic The Art of Getting By Nominated
2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice Movie Actress: Romantic Comedy Emma Roberts Nominated

Year 2011
ReleaseDate 2011-06-17
RuntimeMins 83
RuntimeStr 1h 23min
Plot George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who has made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit.
Awards Awards, 1 win & 2 nominations
Directors Gavin Wiesen
Writers Gavin Wiesen
Stars Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano
Produced by Kara Baker,Patrick Baker,Matthew Vose Campbell,P. Jennifer Dana,Darren Goldberg,Jonathan Gray,Anthony Gudas,Andrew Levitas,Chris Marsh,Gretchen McGowan,Henry Pincus,Nick Quested,David Sweeney,Gia Walsh
Music by Alec Puro
Cinematography by Ben Kutchins
Film Editing by Mollie Goldstein
Casting By Jodi Angstreich,Maribeth Fox,Laura Rosenthal
Production Design by Kelly McGehee
Set Decoration by Matthew W. Herschel
Costume Design by Erika Munro
Makeup Department Jill Karol,Michelle Kearns,Cynthia O’Rourke,Debbie Peiser,Joelle Troisi,Betsy Kelly Marshall
Production Management Amy Dempsey,Darren Goldberg
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Nicholas R. Bell,Luke Tomalin Sherman
Art Department Joseph C. Allen,Caitlin Arbeiter,Amanda Bayne,Robert Bohn,Stephen Caputo,Heather Corbett,Nola Denett,Liza Grant,Nicole Heffron,Linda Kellerman,Vincent Lamberti,Alicia Leatherbury-Lamberti,Andrew Levitas,Laurie Lopez,Tristan Lopin,Michelle McLoota,Joe Murray,Racey North,Angela Rogers,Patrick Schofield,John Schombs,Lizabeth Sodbinow,Maria Sylvania,Sergey Voronin,Graham Wichman
Sound Department Shaun Brennan,David Briggs,Lewis Goldstein,Mike Guarino,Allison Howe,Sebastien Lacheray,Guillermo Pena-Tapia,Tom Ryan,Alex Soto,Wen Hsuan Tseng,Adam Horley,John Soukup
Visual Effects by Sheila F. Sullivan
Stunts Manny Siverio,Patrick M. Walsh
Camera and Electrical Department Gregory Almond,Kara Baker,Jason Beasley,Daniel Choy Boyar,Steve Briante,Alexander H. Browne,Randolph Carty,Matthew Caton,Gillian Crosson,Katie Dainson,Andrew Engert,Jay Feather,Lizzie Ford-Madrid,Tim Gillis,Raymond Haddad,Sara Hahn,Hiroshi Hara,Hunter Herrick,Eric Hora,Holly Hosman,Dave Isern,Ari Issler,Matthew Jacobs,Aric Jacobson,Bruce Jones,Andy Kromphardt,Bryan Landes,Robert Lau,Daniel Luebke,Gene Malkin,Adam McDaid,Jim McGibbon,Neil Meschino,Marc-Eric Nielsen,Megan Nole,Joseph Paolini,Virginie Perez,Daniel Puissant,Samantha Sa,Kyle Sather,Mark Schafer,Stephanie Simpson,John Spicer,George Tur,Chris Wiesehahn,Fletcher Wolfe,G.T. Womack,Casey Wooden,Ryan Minelli,Manuel Monsalve
Casting Department Lori Eastside
Costume and Wardrobe Department Sarah Cuno,Megan Dudley,Keri Langerman,Martina Melendez,Hollie Nadel,Sara Gabrielle Paterno,Shelby Saboy
Editorial Department Chris Beardsley,Danielle Boiardi,Bob Borden,Joseph Borges,Hannah Carpenter,Sophie Corra,John Dowdell,Peter Heady,Brian Kelly,Joe Klotz,Ian Kuhnert,Jean Lane,Ben Lay,Mackenzie Luzzi,Tim Maxwell,Bo Mehrad,Michelle Morris,Amina Ouchater,Michael Pasqualone,Martine Phelan-Roberts,Dave Pickett,Samein Priester,Geoffrey Richman,Sasha Sagan,Tim Spitzer,Colin Stewart,Joe Violante,Svetlana Zill,Victoria Anderson,Tonianne Fleig,Moritz Fortmann,Richie Roefaro,Justin B. Tolley
Location Management Diego Rodriguez,Tom Sexton,Matthew Sullivan
Music Department Levon Broussalian,Linda Cohen,Benji Lysaght,Jason Lytle,Andy Marshall,Alec Puro,Irl Sanders,Krish Sharma,Matt Shlapak,Eamon Shumow,Colleen Grace Rourke,Eamon Ryland
Script and Continuity Department Andrea Ulrich
Transportation Department Joe Santorelli
Additional Crew Jeruschka Argenziano,Ainsley Bartholomew,Andrew Beguin,Joel Blanco,George Brassey,Alex Browne,Chris Browne,Dave Brubaker,Jerome Butler,Daniel Carter,Wendy Cohen,Nicole Compas,Tristan Cowen,David Basil Demase,Brian Donegan,Patrick Eaton,Riaya Aboul Ela,Alyssa Fannick,Elizabeth Garrett,Lowell Greenblatt,Kerri Hundley,William Jackson,Steven Julien,Betsy Kagen,Louis Katz,Brad Keikes,Feifei Ling,Dion Matthews,Márcia Mayer,Ross Miller,Mike Mizrahi,Chadia Mokhchane,Kristina Negri,Rob Plonskier,Roma Ramchandani,Miguel Rosales,Patrick Schofield,Gary E Schreiber,Alexis Schwerin,Jeff Smith,Greg Starr,Ian M. Stratford,Joshua Thurston,Marcia Warnes,Joan Washington,Skylar A. Wilman,Penny Wolf,Sam Wood,Andy Wride
Thanks Christopher Barish,Alysse Bezahler,Boaty Boatwright,Shana Eddy-Grouf,Jeffrey Fierson,Michael Fritzio,Courtney Haas,John Hadity,Jake Paltrow,Charlotte Ronson,Hilary Stabb,Tory Tunnell,Jim Valdez
Genres Drama, Romance
Companies Goldcrest Pictures, Mint Pictures, Island Bound Productions
Countries USA
Languages English
ContentRating PG-13
ImDbRating 6.5
ImDbRatingVotes 59103
MetacriticRating 36
Keywords principal,artist,high school,rebellious teenager,fatalist
Year 2011
ReleaseDate 2011-06-17
RuntimeMins 83
RuntimeStr 1h 23min
Plot George, a lonely and fatalistic teen who has made it all the way to his senior year without ever having done a real day of work, is befriended by Sally, a popular but complicated girl who recognizes in him a kindred spirit.
Awards Awards, 1 win & 2 nominations
Directors Gavin Wiesen
Writers Gavin Wiesen
Stars Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Michael Angarano
Produced by Kara Baker,Patrick Baker,Matthew Vose Campbell,P. Jennifer Dana,Darren Goldberg,Jonathan Gray,Anthony Gudas,Andrew Levitas,Chris Marsh,Gretchen McGowan,Henry Pincus,Nick Quested,David Sweeney,Gia Walsh
Music by Alec Puro
Cinematography by Ben Kutchins
Film Editing by Mollie Goldstein
Casting By Jodi Angstreich,Maribeth Fox,Laura Rosenthal
Production Design by Kelly McGehee
Set Decoration by Matthew W. Herschel
Costume Design by Erika Munro
Makeup Department Jill Karol,Michelle Kearns,Cynthia O’Rourke,Debbie Peiser,Joelle Troisi,Betsy Kelly Marshall
Production Management Amy Dempsey,Darren Goldberg
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director Nicholas R. Bell,Luke Tomalin Sherman
Art Department Joseph C. Allen,Caitlin Arbeiter,Amanda Bayne,Robert Bohn,Stephen Caputo,Heather Corbett,Nola Denett,Liza Grant,Nicole Heffron,Linda Kellerman,Vincent Lamberti,Alicia Leatherbury-Lamberti,Andrew Levitas,Laurie Lopez,Tristan Lopin,Michelle McLoota,Joe Murray,Racey North,Angela Rogers,Patrick Schofield,John Schombs,Lizabeth Sodbinow,Maria Sylvania,Sergey Voronin,Graham Wichman
Sound Department Shaun Brennan,David Briggs,Lewis Goldstein,Mike Guarino,Allison Howe,Sebastien Lacheray,Guillermo Pena-Tapia,Tom Ryan,Alex Soto,Wen Hsuan Tseng,Adam Horley,John Soukup
Visual Effects by Sheila F. Sullivan
Stunts Manny Siverio,Patrick M. Walsh
Camera and Electrical Department Gregory Almond,Kara Baker,Jason Beasley,Daniel Choy Boyar,Steve Briante,Alexander H. Browne,Randolph Carty,Matthew Caton,Gillian Crosson,Katie Dainson,Andrew Engert,Jay Feather,Lizzie Ford-Madrid,Tim Gillis,Raymond Haddad,Sara Hahn,Hiroshi Hara,Hunter Herrick,Eric Hora,Holly Hosman,Dave Isern,Ari Issler,Matthew Jacobs,Aric Jacobson,Bruce Jones,Andy Kromphardt,Bryan Landes,Robert Lau,Daniel Luebke,Gene Malkin,Adam McDaid,Jim McGibbon,Neil Meschino,Marc-Eric Nielsen,Megan Nole,Joseph Paolini,Virginie Perez,Daniel Puissant,Samantha Sa,Kyle Sather,Mark Schafer,Stephanie Simpson,John Spicer,George Tur,Chris Wiesehahn,Fletcher Wolfe,G.T. Womack,Casey Wooden,Ryan Minelli,Manuel Monsalve
Casting Department Lori Eastside
Costume and Wardrobe Department Sarah Cuno,Megan Dudley,Keri Langerman,Martina Melendez,Hollie Nadel,Sara Gabrielle Paterno,Shelby Saboy
Editorial Department Chris Beardsley,Danielle Boiardi,Bob Borden,Joseph Borges,Hannah Carpenter,Sophie Corra,John Dowdell,Peter Heady,Brian Kelly,Joe Klotz,Ian Kuhnert,Jean Lane,Ben Lay,Mackenzie Luzzi,Tim Maxwell,Bo Mehrad,Michelle Morris,Amina Ouchater,Michael Pasqualone,Martine Phelan-Roberts,Dave Pickett,Samein Priester,Geoffrey Richman,Sasha Sagan,Tim Spitzer,Colin Stewart,Joe Violante,Svetlana Zill,Victoria Anderson,Tonianne Fleig,Moritz Fortmann,Richie Roefaro,Justin B. Tolley
Location Management Diego Rodriguez,Tom Sexton,Matthew Sullivan
Music Department Levon Broussalian,Linda Cohen,Benji Lysaght,Jason Lytle,Andy Marshall,Alec Puro,Irl Sanders,Krish Sharma,Matt Shlapak,Eamon Shumow,Colleen Grace Rourke,Eamon Ryland
Script and Continuity Department Andrea Ulrich
Transportation Department Joe Santorelli
Additional Crew Jeruschka Argenziano,Ainsley Bartholomew,Andrew Beguin,Joel Blanco,George Brassey,Alex Browne,Chris Browne,Dave Brubaker,Jerome Butler,Daniel Carter,Wendy Cohen,Nicole Compas,Tristan Cowen,David Basil Demase,Brian Donegan,Patrick Eaton,Riaya Aboul Ela,Alyssa Fannick,Elizabeth Garrett,Lowell Greenblatt,Kerri Hundley,William Jackson,Steven Julien,Betsy Kagen,Louis Katz,Brad Keikes,Feifei Ling,Dion Matthews,Márcia Mayer,Ross Miller,Mike Mizrahi,Chadia Mokhchane,Kristina Negri,Rob Plonskier,Roma Ramchandani,Miguel Rosales,Patrick Schofield,Gary E Schreiber,Alexis Schwerin,Jeff Smith,Greg Starr,Ian M. Stratford,Joshua Thurston,Marcia Warnes,Joan Washington,Skylar A. Wilman,Penny Wolf,Sam Wood,Andy Wride
Thanks Christopher Barish,Alysse Bezahler,Boaty Boatwright,Shana Eddy-Grouf,Jeffrey Fierson,Michael Fritzio,Courtney Haas,John Hadity,Jake Paltrow,Charlotte Ronson,Hilary Stabb,Tory Tunnell,Jim Valdez
Genres Drama, Romance
Companies Goldcrest Pictures, Mint Pictures, Island Bound Productions
Countries USA
Languages English
ContentRating PG-13
ImDbRating 6.5
ImDbRatingVotes 59103
MetacriticRating 36
Keywords principal,artist,high school,rebellious teenager,fatalist