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is a simple favor true story

by Linwood McGlynn MD Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Fans of "A Simple Favor" probably aren't shocked to learn that this completely absurd story isn't based in reality; instead, the story was adapted from Darcey Bell's 2017 novel of the same name.May 17, 2021

Is a Simple Favor based on a book?

A Simple Favor is a 2018 American comedy thriller film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Jessica Sharzer, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Darcey Bell.

Who are the actors in a Simple Favor?

A Simple Favor is a 2018 American comedy mystery thriller film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Jessica Sharzer, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Darcey Bell. The film stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Linda Cardellini, Rupert Friend,...

Is'a Simple Favor'based on a true story?

But is A Simple Favor a true story, or is it a work of fiction? The movie's storyline sounds like a Lifetime movie dialed up to 11. It's about a mommy blogger (Kendrick) who seeks to uncover the truth behind the disappearance of her mysterious, high-class friend (Lively).

How much money did a Simple Favor make?

A Simple Favor (film) A Simple Favor was released in the United States on September 14, 2018, by Lionsgate. The film received generally favorable reviews from critics, with praise for the plot twists and performances of Kendrick and Lively, and has grossed over $87 million worldwide.

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Who is A Simple Favor based on?

Darcey BellA Simple Favor (film)A Simple FavorScreenplay byJessica SharzerBased onA Simple Favor by Darcey BellProduced byPaul Feig Jessie HendersonStarringAnna Kendrick Blake Lively Henry Golding Andrew Rannells13 more rows

Is A Simple Favor based on Gone Girl?

Adapted from Darcey Bell's novel, A Simple Favour is like an updated version of Gone Girl with extra comic elements thrown in. Feig combines flippant, off-beat humour with plot twists you would expect to find in the most most morbid and feverish film noir. Its clash in storytelling styles is bracing and original.

What actually happened in A Simple Favor?

Stephanie and Emily finally meet again at Faith's grave to have a glass of martini with a twist (just how Emily liked her drink). Emily disclosed that she and Faith had a stillborn triplet named Charity, and their parents blamed the two for her death. The twins left Michigan and got tattoos for charity on their wrists.

Did Blake Lively play both twins in A Simple Favor?

Although she played both Emily and her twin sister, Blake Lively is only credited with playing Emily Nelson.

Who is Anna Kendrick married to?

She began dating English cinematographer Ben Richardson in February 2014, after they met while filming Drinking Buddies. That relationship has since ended. As of 2022, Kendrick is dating actor Bill Hader.

Is A Simple Favor LGBT?

A Simple Favor is queer in the sense that it is deeply strange. And there is, in fact, a love interest from lesbian times past, played by Linda Cardellini. But more than that, there is an obsession between women and a playful wickedness to this movie that makes us feel a lot of gay feelings.

Is Emily faith or hope?

Once Emily disappears, Stephanie starts digging and, after a long journey, finds out that Emily's been lying about her identity. Her real name is Faith and she's got an identical twin named Hope.

Why did Emily run away in A Simple Favor?

Eventually, as Stephanie left breadcrumbs for Emily in her vlog making her aware that she was on to her, Emily and her made contact and the audience was let in on the truth: Emily had been blackmailed by her drug-addicted estranged twin sister and murdered her to keep their arson killing of their abusive father a ...

What should I watch after A Simple Favor?

More Movies Like A Simple FavorMiss Sloane (2016)Molly's Game (2017)Secret In Their Eyes (2015)Dark Places (2015)Knives Out (2019)The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)Jennifer's Body (2009)Rough Night (2017)More items...•

Where was simple favor filmed?

TorontoWhile the film is set in Connecticut, it was filmed in Toronto, with the 7 Ashley Park Road digs serving as Lively's onscreen home.

Is there a second book to A Simple Favor?

There was no sequel to Darcey Bell's "A Simple Favor" novel, so there's nothing to go off when it comes to speculating about the sequel's title. Fans will just have to wait and see what the film's producers decide on.

Who plays Faith McLanden in A Simple Favor?

Blake LivelyFaith McLanden (Blake Lively) was the hidden secondary villainess from the 2018 film, A Simple Favor.

Is a simple Favour a parody?

It seems to be a note-for-note parody of Gone Girl, but then sometimes it also seems to take itself seriously as a mom-noir thriller in the vein of The Girl On The Train or The Woman In The Window. The tonal inconsistencies make it somewhat hard to watch, because you're never quite sure what's coming.

What should I watch after A Simple Favor?

More Movies Like A Simple FavorMiss Sloane (2016)Molly's Game (2017)Secret In Their Eyes (2015)Dark Places (2015)Knives Out (2019)The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)Jennifer's Body (2009)Rough Night (2017)More items...•

Is there a second book to A Simple Favor?

There was no sequel to Darcey Bell's "A Simple Favor" novel, so there's nothing to go off when it comes to speculating about the sequel's title. Fans will just have to wait and see what the film's producers decide on.

Who is the actress in A Simple Favor?

Blake LivelyEmily NelsonAnna KendrickStephanie SmothersLinda CardelliniDiana HylandMelissa O'NeilBethJean SmartMargaret McLandenSugenja SriDennis Nylon ReceptionistA Simple Favor/Actresses

What inspiration did Bell get from her book A Simple Favor?

So although Bell may have drawn bits of inspiration from the works of other authors and from her own life, it appears that A Simple Favor was largely crafted from her imagination — and now she'll get a chance to see her creation play out on the big screen.

Why is Emily so compelling?

Emily was so compelling to me because she learned how to use the pleasure in this impulse to gain power — and look good doing it.". Lionsgate Films. As for real life inspirations, Bell relied at least somewhat on her job as a preschool teacher to gain some inspiration for her other main character, Stephanie (Kendrick).

Did Bell get inspiration from her imagination?

So although Bell may have drawn bits of inspiration from the works of other authors and from her own life, it appears that A Simple Favor was largely crafted from her imagination — and now she'll get a chance to see her creation play out on the big screen. This article was originally published on Sep. 11, 2018.

Is A Simple Favor a true story?

The film also stars an Asian male love interest, Henry Golding, for its non-Asian female stars, an extreme rarity in a Hollywood film. And while these factors make the film unique and interesting, it's still the film's plot that's most intriguing. But is A Simple Favor a true story, or is it a work of fiction ?

What is a simple favor?

A Simple Favor is a 2018 American black comedy crime thriller film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Jessica Sharzer, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Darcey Bell.

Who directed A Simple Favor?

It was also announced that the film would be directed by Paul Feig, with Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively "in talks" for the lead roles.

Why did Stephanie and Emily start the fire?

Stephanie contrives to meet with Emily, who explains she and her sister started the fire to kill their abusive father. The sisters fled separately with a plan to reunite later, but Faith didn't turn up. Emily built a career and family when, 14 years later, Faith reappeared. Now an alcoholic and heroin addict, she threatened to tell about the murder unless paid a million dollars. Emily drowned Faith in the lake, but tells Stephanie she committed suicide and that Sean planned the insurance scam.

How much did A Simple Favor gross?

A Simple Favor grossed $53.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $44.1 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $97.6 million, against a production budget of $20 million.

When was A Simple Favor released?

A Simple Favor was released in the United States on September 14, 2018, by Lionsgate. Critics praised the plot twists, and the performances of Kendrick, Lively and Golding. The film grossed $97 million worldwide on a $20 million budget.

Who is Stephanie's half brother?

Stephanie shares that as a teenager, she had sex with her half-brother Chris. Emily is frustrated by the lack of success of her husband, English professor Sean Townsend, and their poor financial situation. Stephanie babysits Emily's son while Sean is in London.

Who bought the rights to A Simple Favor?

Development. In January 2016, it was announced that 20th Century Fox had bought the film rights to author Darcey Bell's novel A Simple Favor prior to the book's publication. The story was pitched as being similar to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train.

What is the movie A Simple Favor about?

How does one best describe A Simple Favor, the truly bonkers new thriller from Paul Feig starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick? Upon first look at the trailer, it seemed like yet another polished Hollywood response to Gone Girl, David Fincher’s sleek blockbuster adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s novel about a housewife who escapes her old life and goes on a villainous tear. A Simple Favor has similar themes; it revolves around Stephanie, a devoted mommy vlogger (Kendrick) and her best friend Emily (Lively), a mysterious, sartorially blessed P.R. exec who up and disappears one day. For the first half of the movie, it’s just that—a straight-faced drama about a missing woman, peppered with twinges of dark humor. But the second half takes that Gone Girl splash and mixes it with the true-crime satire of Serial Mom, John Waters’s glossy 1994 romp about a picture-perfect housewife with a taste for murder. Which is to say, it loses its mind and takes the audience on a crazy, flashy journey, amping up each plot twist with a bigger, wilder plot twist. Let’s break it down, shall we?

What is Emily's real name in A Simple Favor?

Once Emily disappears, Stephanie starts digging and, after a long journey, finds out that Emily’s been lying about her identity. Her real name is Faith and she’s got an identical twin named Hope.

Did Emily shoot Sean on Mommy Vlogger?

But the secret twist moral is one should never cross a mommy vlogger! After Emily shoots Sean, Stephanie reveals that she’s actually been live-streaming the whole entire exchange via a tiny little camera on her chest that looks like a button.

What happens in A Simple Favor?

All these twists and reveals lead to the grand finale of A Simple Favor, in which Stephanie, Emily and Sean get together - with Stephanie aiming to get Emily to admit to what she's done while Emily wants to kill Stephanie for everything she's uncovered, as well as for sleeping with Sean when they thought Emily was dead.

Who plays Stephanie in A Simple Favor?

Paul Feig's latest, A Simple Favor, is a crime thriller that features plenty of twists and reveals as one woman investigates the disappearance of another - now we break down that ending. Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively star in the movie as single mom Stephanie Smothers and fellow mother Emily Nelson, respectively.

How do Stephanie and Emily become friends?

However, when Emily mysteriously vanishes, Stephanie takes it on herself to investigate her friend's disappearance. Along the way, the secrets both women have kept hidden for years are revealed.

Why did Emily disappear?

She pleads for money and Emily seemingly agrees, but it's a ploy because Emily can't let her twin destroy her new life - the life she built when her twin left her alone to fend for herself. The two go for a swim in the lake for old time's sake and Emily drowns her sister. Then, Emily makes the body look like hers (the two have matching tattoos they got after running away) and fakes her own death so that Sean can get the payout on the life insurance policy. Sean, meanwhile, had no idea about Emily's plan until she shows up later and tells him.

Is A Simple Favor entertaining?

Whether the movie is as good as others in the genre is up to the viewer, but A Simple Favor is certainly entertaining.

Is A Simple Favor a crime thriller?

Adapted from the book of the same name by Darcey Bell, A Simple Favor is a crime thriller in the vein of Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl and Paula Hawkins' The Girl on the Train - both of which were adapted to film to varying success. Trailers for A Simple Favor teased another such twisty mystery, but with Feig behind the camera - who's known for his comedies Bridesmaids and Ghostbusters - viewers knew to expect plenty of humor, too. Now, we focus on the twists and reveals featured in A Simple Favor and break down everything that happens.

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Overview

A Simple Favor is a 2018 American black comedy crime thriller film directed by Paul Feig from a screenplay by Jessica Sharzer, based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Darcey Bell. The film stars Anna Kendrick, Blake Lively, Henry Golding, Andrew Rannells, Linda Cardellini, Rupert Friend, and Jean Smart and follows a small town vlogger who tries to solve the disappearance of her myste…

Plot

Widowed single mother Stephanie Smothers runs a vlog featuring crafts and recipes for parents. She becomes friends with Emily Nelson, the mother of her son's schoolmate and a PR director for a fashion company, and the two exchange confessions over martinis. Stephanie shares that as a teenager, she had sex with her half-brother Chris. Emily is frustrated by the lack of success of her husband, English professor Sean Townsend, and their (well-hidden) poor financial situation.

Cast

• Anna Kendrick as Stephanie Smothers
• Blake Lively as Emily Nelson / Hope McLanden and Faith McLanden
• Nicole Peters & Lauren Peters as Hope McLanden and Faith McLanden (16 years old)
• Henry Golding as Sean Townsend

Production

In January 2016, it was announced that 20th Century Fox had bought the film rights to author Darcey Bell's novel A Simple Favor prior to the book's publication. The story was pitched as being similar to Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. Creative Artists Agency represented the movie rights in the deal with Fox.
In June 2017, it was announced that A Simple Favor would be extricated from 20th Century Fox …

Release

The film was released on September 14, 2018.
On May 1, 2018, Blake Lively hid all pictures from her Instagram account to promote the film. The first teaser trailer was released on May 2, 2018, followed by the second teaser trailer, which was released on May 24.

Reception

A Simple Favor grossed $53.5 million in the United States and Canada, and $44.1 million in other territories, for a total worldwide gross of $97.6 million, against a production budget of $20 million.
In the United States and Canada, A Simple Favor was released alongside White Boy Rick, Unbroken: Path to Redemption and The Predator, and was projected to gross $12–15 million from 3,102 theaters in its opening weekend. It made $5.9 million on its first day (including $900,000 fr…

Sequel

In May 2022, a sequel was announced, with Feig returning to direct the film, and Kendrick and Lively set to reprise their roles. Lionsgate will co-produce the film with Amazon Studios.

External links

• A Simple Favor at IMDb
• A Simple Favor at Metacritic
• A Simple Favor at Rotten Tomatoes

1.Is A Simple Favor Based On A True Story? - Looper.com

Url:https://www.looper.com/412732/is-a-simple-favor-based-on-a-true-story/

34 hours ago Darcey Bell’s debut novel the thriller, A Simple Favor (2017), made headlines when the film rights were bought before the book had published.The film was released in 2018, starring Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively. The story begins with an entry from Stephanie’s mommy blog, begging her online community for help. The fossil record constitutes some of the most important …

2.Is 'A Simple Favor' A True Story? The Thriller Feels Like A …

Url:https://www.bustle.com/entertainment/is-a-simple-favor-a-true-story-the-thriller-feels-like-a-mystery-novel-11864651

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3.Is 'A Simple Favor' Based On A True Story? The Thriller …

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4.A Simple Favor (film) - Wikipedia

Url:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Simple_Favor_(film)

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5.A Simple Favor: Let’s Talk About That Ending, Shall We?

Url:https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/09/a-simple-favor-movie-ending

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6.A Simple Favor Ending: Disappearance & Twists Explained

Url:https://screenrant.com/simple-favor-movie-ending-twists-explained/

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