Wheeler (2017)
Storyline
The story of an aspiring musician from Kaufman, Texas who travels to Nashville with the lifelong dream of trying his hand at country music. By embodying the title character under prosthetic make up, actor Stephen Dorff successfully infiltrates Music City and takes his character on an authentic singer / songwriter journey. With the help of key allies on the ground, "Wheeler" converses with real people in real locations, with every musical number performed live. The line between reality and fiction blurs as Wheeler chases his dream in this touching tribute to old school country legends.
Directors
Writers
Cast
Kris Kristofferson, Stephen Dorff, Audrey Spillman, Bobby Tomberlin, Bart Herbison, Jim Ed Norman, Travis Meadows, Josh Adelstein, William Todd Austin, David Bates, Dena Brown, Sherri Callahan, Jennie DiDominzio, Ron Harman, Mary Haynes, Jennifer Lewis, William Minor, Erika Wollam Nichols, Ryan Ross, Marcia Campbell Thomas, Craig White, Michael Woodrum, Dorothy Daniel
Trailer
Reviews
90
It’s a terrific film that deserves far more attention than its low-profile release is likely to receive.
63
Slant Magazine
Ryan Ross's Wheeler is at its strongest as a showcase for Stephen Dorff’s husky, lived-in performance.
63
Is Wheeler filled with twangy clichés? Yes, but this attempt at pseudo cinema verite basically rests on Dorff’s slim, plaid-shirted shoulders—and dang if he doesn’t make this simple yet sincere saga hit more than a few high notes.
60
Viewers who don't mind the lack of dramatic tension may appreciate Dorff's credible take on his modest, gentlemanly character.
30
The term “vanity project” doesn’t come close to adequately describing the hubristic folly that is Wheeler, an excruciatingly dull and self-indulgent faux documentary
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