Copperhead (2013 film)

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2013}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2013}}

{{short description|2013 film directed by Ron Maxwell}}

{{Use American English|date=April 2026}}

{{Infobox film

{{Infobox film

| name = Copperhead

| name = Copperhead

| image = Copperhead 2013 film.jpg

| image = Copperhead 2013 film.jpg

| alt =

| alt =

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| caption = Theatrical release poster

| director = [[Ronald F. Maxwell|Ron Maxwell]]

| director = [[Ronald F. Maxwell|Ron Maxwell]]

| story = [[Harold Frederic]]

| story = [[Harold Frederic]]

| screenplay = [[Bill Kauffman]]

| screenplay = [[Bill Kauffman]]

| released = {{Film date|2013|06|28}}

| released = {{Film date|2013|06|28}}

| runtime = 118 minutes

| runtime = 118 minutes

| country = {{ubl|Canada|United States}}

| country = United States

| language = English

| language = English

| budget = $12 million{{cite web |title=Would You Have Been a Copperhead?|url=https://cinemafaith.com/reviews/copperhead/|work=Cinema Faith|author=Ron Steury |date=August 15, 2016|accessdate=March 5, 2019}}

| budget = $12 million{{cite web |title=Would You Have Been a Copperhead?|url=https://cinemafaith.com/reviews/copperhead/|work=Cinema Faith|author=Ron Steury |date=August 15, 2016|accessdate=March 5, 2019}}

| gross = $171,740{{cite web |title=Copperhead (2013)|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=copperhead.htm |accessdate=July 28, 2013 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}

| gross = $171,740{{cite web |title=Copperhead (2013)|url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=copperhead.htm |accessdate=July 28, 2013 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]}}

}}

}}

'''''Copperhead''''' is a 2013 [[drama (film and television)|drama]] film directed by [[Ronald F. Maxwell|Ron Maxwell]] and starring [[Billy Campbell]], [[Angus Macfadyen]], [[Augustus Prew]], [[Lucy Boynton]], Casey Thomas Brown, and [[Peter Fonda]]. The film is based on the 19th-century novel ''The Copperhead'' by [[Harold Frederic]]. The film was shot at [[Kings Landing Historical Settlement]] in New Brunswick, Canada and is set in upstate New York. It was released in the United States on June 28, 2013, to poor reviews and critical responses.

'''''Copperhead''''' is a 2013 American [[Historical drama|historical]] [[War film|war]] [[drama film]] produced and directed by [[Ronald F. Maxwell|Ron Maxwell]] and starring [[Billy Campbell]], [[Angus Macfadyen]], [[Augustus Prew]], [[Lucy Boynton]] and [[Peter Fonda]]. The screenplay, written by [[Bill Kauffman]], is based on the 19th-century novel ''The Copperhead'' by [[Harold Frederic]]. Set in [[Upstate New York]], the film is about a family of [[Peace Democrats|antiwar Union Democrats]], commonly known as "copperheads".

''Copperheads'' is Maxwell's third film about the American Civil War, following [[Gettysburg (1993 film)|''Gettysburg'']] (1993) and [[Gods and Generals (film)|''Gods and Generals'']] (2003). It was released in the United States on June 28, 2013, and was a critical and commercial failure.

==Plot==

==Plot==

==Cast==

==Cast==

{{castlist|

* [[Billy Campbell]] as Abner Beech

* [[Billy Campbell]] as Abner Beech

* [[Angus Macfadyen]] as Jee Hagadorn

* [[Angus Macfadyen]] as Jee Hagadorn

* [[Augustus Prew]] as Ni Hagadorn

* [[Augustus Prew]] as Ni Hagadorn

* [[Lucy Boynton]] as Esther Hagadorn

* [[Lucy Boynton]] as Esther Hagadorn

* [[Peter Fonda]] as Avery, the community blacksmith

* [[Peter Fonda]] as Avery

* [[Key Williams]] as Neels Robert

* Key Williams as Neels Robert

* [[Casey Thomas Brown]] as Thomas Jefferson "Jeff" Beech, son of Abner and M'Rye

* Casey Thomas Brown as Thomas Jefferson "Jeff" Beech

* [[François Arnaud (actor)|François Arnaud]] as Warner Pitts

* [[François Arnaud (actor)|François Arnaud]] as Warner Pitts

* [[Josh Cruddas]] as Jimmy Hurley, Irish son of Mick and roommate to the Beeches

* Josh Cruddas as Jimmy Hurley

* [[Genevieve Steele]] as M'Rye Beech, Abner's wife and Jeff's mother

* Genevieve Steele as M'Rye Beech

* [[Ryan Doucette]] as Byron Truax

* [[Ryan Doucette]] as Byron Truax

}}

==Production==

==Production==

The film had the working title ''Copperhead: The War at Home''.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} Filmed at [[Kings Landing Historical Settlement]] in New Brunswick, Canada,{{cite news | first=Etan | last = Vlessing | url = http://playbackonline.ca/2012/05/28/u-s-civil-war-era-copperhead-shoot-embraces-new-brunswick/ | title= Copperhead Shoot Embraces New Brunswick | work = PlayBack | publisher = Brunico Communications Ltd. |date=May 28, 2012}}> [[Jason Patric]] initially starred,> but was replaced by [[Billy Campbell]] after production commenced due to what director Maxwell called "creative differences".{{cite web | url =https://www.deadline.com/2012/06/the-killing%E2%80%99s-billy-campbell-replaces-jason-patric-on-copperhead/ | title ='The Killing's' Billy Campbell Replaces Jason Patric on 'Copperhead' | first =Dominic | last =Patten | website =[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date =June 5, 2012 | accessdate =July 10, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003341/http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/the-killing%E2%80%99s-billy-campbell-replaces-jason-patric-on-copperhead/ | archive-date =October 5, 2013 | url-status =dead }} ''Copperhead'' was produced by Bryan Cassels and co-produced by Ron Maxwell and John Houston.

The film had the working title ''Copperhead: The War at Home''.{{citation needed|date=July 2013}} [[Jason Patric]] was initially attached to star,"playback">{{cite news | first=Etan | last = Vlessing | url = http://playbackonline.ca/2012/05/28/u-s-civil-war-era-copperhead-shoot-embraces-new-brunswick/ | title= Copperhead Shoot Embraces New Brunswick | work = PlayBack | publisher = Brunico Communications Ltd. |date=May 28, 2012}} but was replaced by [[Billy Campbell]] after production commenced due to what director Maxwell called "creative differences".{{cite web | url =https://www.deadline.com/2012/06/the-killing%E2%80%99s-billy-campbell-replaces-jason-patric-on-copperhead/ | title ='The Killing's' Billy Campbell Replaces Jason Patric on 'Copperhead' | first =Dominic | last =Patten | website =[[Deadline Hollywood]] | date =June 5, 2012 | accessdate =July 10, 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20131005003341/http://www.deadline.com/2012/06/the-killing%E2%80%99s-billy-campbell-replaces-jason-patric-on-copperhead/ | archive-date =October 5, 2013 | url-status =dead }}

Filming took place mostly at [[Kings Landing Historical Settlement]] in New Brunswick, Canada.

==Reception==

==Reception==

===Critical response===

===Critical response===

On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]] holds an approval rating of 21% based on 19 reviews, and an average rating of 4.74/10.{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/copperhead_2013/ |title=Copperhead (2013)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} On [[Metacritic]], which uses a [[weighted average]], the film has a score of 34 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/copperhead|title=Copperhead reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=March 7, 2019}}

On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]] holds an approval rating of 21% based on 19 reviews, and an average rating of 4.74/10. name=":1">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/copperhead_2013/ |title=Copperhead (2013)|website=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} On [[Metacritic]], which uses a [[weighted average]], the film has a score of 34 out of 100, based on 12 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable" reviews.{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/movie/copperhead|title=Copperhead reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=March 7, 2019}}

Stephanie Merry of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' gave the film two out of four stars, remarking, "The story offers uncommon insights on the endlessly parsed period in history, but its execution sometimes falls short. Both the production quality and the persistent, sentimental soundtrack create a made-for-TV feel."{{cite news | last =Merry | first =Stephanie | title ='Copperhead' movie review | newspaper =[[The Washington Post]] | date =27 June 2013 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/copperhead-movie-review/2013/06/27/382b96c6-ddb4-11e2-b797-cbd4cb13f9c6_story.html | accessdate =30 June 2013}} Mark Olsen of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' shared similar criticism, opining, "Where [[Tony Kushner]]'s screenplay for [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[Lincoln (2012 film)|Lincoln]]'' found energetic drama in political wrangling and historical events, ''Copperhead'' crams far too much of its action into its last 30 minutes after a rambling, drawn-out set up. Painfully lugubrious, any sting ''Copperhead'' might contain for its contrarian's view of history is undone by its wayward sense of storytelling."{{cite web | last =Olsen | first =Mark | title =Wayward pace tarnishes 'Copperhead' | work =[[Los Angeles Times]] | date =27 June 2013 | url =https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-copperhead-review-20130626,0,1299086.story | accessdate =30 June 2013}}

Stephanie Merry of ''[[The Washington Post]]'' gave the film two out of four stars, remarking, "The story offers uncommon insights on the endlessly parsed period in history, but its execution sometimes falls short. Both the production quality and the persistent, sentimental soundtrack create a made-for-TV feel."{{cite news | last =Merry | first =Stephanie | title ='Copperhead' movie review | newspaper =[[The Washington Post]] | date =27 June 2013 | url =https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/copperhead-movie-review/2013/06/27/382b96c6-ddb4-11e2-b797-cbd4cb13f9c6_story.html | accessdate =30 June 2013}} Mark Olsen of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' shared similar criticism, opining, "Where [[Tony Kushner]]'s screenplay for [[Steven Spielberg]]'s ''[[Lincoln (2012 film)|Lincoln]]'' found energetic drama in political wrangling and historical events, ''Copperhead'' crams far too much of its action into its last 30 minutes after a rambling, drawn-out set up. Painfully lugubrious, any sting ''Copperhead'' might contain for its contrarian's view of history is undone by its wayward sense of storytelling."{{cite web | last =Olsen | first =Mark | title =Wayward pace tarnishes 'Copperhead' | work =[[Los Angeles Times]] | date =27 June 2013 | url =https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-copperhead-review-20130626,0,1299086.story | accessdate =30 June 2013}}

==Relation to director's previous works==

==Relation to director's previous works==

''Copperhead'' is Maxwell's third Civil War film, though the director does not consider it to be part of the trilogy he has planned along with ''[[Gettysburg (1993 film)|Gettysburg]]'' (1993) and ''[[Gods and Generals (film)|Gods and Generals]]'' (2003), as he expected to conclude the series with a final film centered on the end of the war.{{cite news|last=Raleigh|first=Brendan|title=Maxwell's 'Copperhead' to Strike on Screen for Civil War Anniversary|url=http://www.frederickgorilla.com/maxwells-copperhead-to-strike-on-screen-for-civil-war-anniversary|accessdate=May 30, 2013|newspaper=Frederick Gorilla|location=[[Frederick, Maryland]]|date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004031804/http://www.frederickgorilla.com/maxwells-copperhead-to-strike-on-screen-for-civil-war-anniversary|archive-date=October 4, 2013|url-status=dead}}

''Copperhead'' is Maxwell's third Civil War film, though the director does not consider it to be part of the trilogy he has planned along with ''[[Gettysburg (1993 film)|Gettysburg]]'' (1993) and ''[[Gods and Generals (film)|Gods and Generals]]'' (2003), as he expected to conclude the series with a final film centered on the end of the war. name=":0">{{cite news|last=Raleigh|first=Brendan|title=Maxwell's 'Copperhead' to Strike on Screen for Civil War Anniversary|url=http://www.frederickgorilla.com/maxwells-copperhead-to-strike-on-screen-for-civil-war-anniversary|accessdate=May 30, 2013|newspaper=Frederick Gorilla|location=[[Frederick, Maryland]]|date=May 30, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004031804/http://www.frederickgorilla.com/maxwells-copperhead-to-strike-on-screen-for-civil-war-anniversary|archive-date=October 4, 2013|url-status=dead}}

==See also==

==See also==

[[Category:Films set in New York (state)]]

[[Category:Films set in New York (state)]]

[[Category:American Civil War films]]

[[Category:American Civil War films]]

[[Category:American historical drama films]]

[[Category:American war drama films]]

[[Category:Films directed by Ronald F. Maxwell]]

[[Category:Films directed by Ronald F. Maxwell]]

[[Category:Films based on American novels]]

[[Category:Films based on American novels]]