Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 08/24/2026 – Resentment is Noah Millman’s first feature film, which he directed and wrote. He previously served as Executive Producer of The Seagull and Infinitely Polar Bear. Moreover, he directed and wrote the film, which was released on August 14 on Amazon Prime Video and Fandango at Home. Furthermore, the film was developed after 16 years of Noah Millman’s work across various industries.
The intimate but outstanding cast featured three actors: Lawrence Gilliard Jr. (“The Walking Dead,” “Straight Out of Brooklyn”), Jen Ponton (“Dietland”, “Come on In”), and Patch Darragh (“Succession”, “Everything Sucks”).
Resentment is produced by Gone Fishing Media but is distributed by Buffalo 8. Emil Benjamin serves as co-producer, with Kinder Labatt as line producer and Ronan Lovely O’Connor as assistant line producer. Craig Cohen, Matthew Helderman, and Luke Taylor also serve as executive producers of Resentment.
What Is the Soul and Origin of RESENTMENT?
Resentment dives further into the relationship drama about vulnerable moments in our lives. Whether in marriages, friendships, or regrets. Specifically, everything unfolds in a single night and in a confined space. Nevertheless, it perfectly captures the intensity of the entire psychological drama. It explores fears of starting over, the struggle between ambition and compromise, and the courage required to finally pursue the work we are meant to do.
The Hollywood Times conducted an interview with Noah Millman, Laurence Gilliard Jr., and Jen Ponton to discuss his first featured film. They gave insightful, reflective answers to questions about the film that could help audiences gain a broader understanding of their worldview. We also discussed the film’s origin, character insights, and audience takeaways.
THT: You said that this movie came from a personal revelation in your own life that started the writing process for what became Resentment as a Whole. Can you discuss with us how this all started with you?
Noah Millman: I got together with a good friend, an old friend of mine, who I knew from high school. I came to his house, and we were having a couple of drinks. I was complaining about life, complaining about writing, complaining about my marriage, just generally being a, like, no-account whiner. He tore me to pieces and was kind of relentless about how I’m not living my life right. I’m a coward for not making the choices I need to make. It was just really tough, but I think he thought he was, you know, offering tough love. I didn’t really feel the love.”
Themes and Psychological Depth
He said that it was relentless, and it really shook and disturbed him. His partner asked why he continued to associate with someone that made them feel terrible. He used the experience to explore themes from that conversation later on, developing Resentment, a fictionalized story about the relationships among three characters.
David (Patch Darragh), who is a failed filmmaker having a mid-life crisis, struggling with his obsolescence and his thirst for alcohol. Coleman (Lawrence Gilliard Jr.), David’s old friend from college, is a successful, financed guy-turned-filmmaker who has hired David to edit his new horror film. Trish (Jen), David’s wife and the bar’s owner, whom he fears has been having an affair with Coleman.
Whether it is the strong taste of whiskey shots throughout the night that ignites the tension or the deep, awaiting truth dying to echo throughout the Brooklyn bar.
The film oozes sensuality, longing, and yearning layered with concealment and denial. The cast had strong chemistry, which made it easier to digest the scandal with gratitude. Actors used the biting, witty drama script to bring the characters to vivid life.
Who Are the Characters & Performance Representation
THT: What was it like playing that type of part? What was it like being in that atmosphere and how you engage from it as an actress?
Jen Ponton: It was very freeing. I think this is the case for women at large, but to put a niche on it. I also definitely think this is the case for plus-size women, especially when we’re younger; we don’t get many agencies in our roles, right?
It’s about being cute, pleasing while taking care of people. I play older characters, seeing how much power you can hold on to build for yourself. Seeing different qualities that we might have a stigma against, especially for women- being selfish, being strident, forthright, being duplicitous play, you know, power plays, all this stuff that we really, really loathe in women.
THT: I felt like she was more open. Like, I feel like the audience will greatly relate to her because it was just like, finally, let’s see a good villain.
Jen Ponton: I feel like this script was such permission to let myself walk into my middle age with a lot more power and a lot more swagger and let these things that as a 20-year-old, five-year-old, I would have been like, oh no, she’s cheating.
Exploring the Film’s Narrative Structure
THT: It was incredible, like the yearning between the two characters. How was it playing Coleman for you, Lawrence?
Lawrence Gilliard Jr.: I’ve always been drawn to those types of characters who have a certain type of conscience. A certain type of, you know, heart for people, you know. But in this instance, like I was saying, yeah, Coleman at the end of the day, what he felt was right was really about him getting what he wanted. Coleman is a man deeply unhappy in his relationship, jealous of his friend David, who married the woman he truly loves; he is driven by a desire to get what he wants, even at the cost of others’ feelings.
He praised the multi-dimensional nature of all three of their characters. Stating how Coleman was a “winner” but also misguided, with a real heart underneath.
Patch Darragh (David) was not present, but Lawrence, Noah, and Jen praised Patch for infusing deep humanity into an otherwise very difficult-to-like character like David. However, his sincere moment washes away some disdain.
Production & Collaborators for Resentment
Noah Millman credited the film’s cinematic feel largely to the work of collaborators, including Daniel Prosky (production designer), Valentina Caniglia (cinematographer), and Emil Benjamin (editor). The production was low-budget; making the confined single-location setting feel like “a whole world” was a central creative challenge.
Noah has had a diverse background, having previously worked on Wall Street and as a columnist/writer, and approaches life with many simultaneous interests.
THT: How are you feeling? Like, how are you feeling about all of this and the process it took to do it?
Noah Millman: Oh, I mean… The process had its ups and downs, but two of the people here (Lawrence, Jen) are definitely among the ups. I had absolute joy collaborating with them and honestly with almost everybody involved in the project. When you talk about making this space feel cinematic, I have to give a huge amount of credit to Daniel Prosky, our production designer. I have to give a huge amount of credit to Valentina Caniglia, our cinematographer, and her whole team. I have to give a huge amount of credit to both of their teams because they were big teams.
Also, to my editor and co-producer, Emil Benjamin, who was a real collaborator in the post-production phase and has become an incredibly close friend. I feel very grateful for the great team involved in making it. I view us all as co-creators. It started with a script. That was me, but the rest of it is a group effort.
Audience Takeaways Including Personal Takes
Jen Ponton hopes the audience walks away from Resentment feeling better about themselves and their bodies. She wants the film to inspire firmer personal boundaries and the courage not to self-sacrifice endlessly for others. Lawrence Gilliard Jr. wants the audience to take away the lesson of owning your truth: don’t lie to yourself about your feelings, don’t stay in situations that make you unhappy, and be honest with your friends.
Trish was described as the “sauce” and emotional center of the story, the sun around which the other characters revolve. She was the sauce of the whole story, the middle between the men. A character who is very self-aware. Embracing traits such as being forthright, selfish, and duplicitous as part of full humanity rather than as flaws, as Jen pointed out.
Both Lawrence Gilliard Jr. and Jen Ponton agreed that the film’s true emotional core lies in Trish’s character.
David’s character hides his insecurity behind this unearned ego despite his domination of Coleman. It spins you, watching other people achieve what you feel you owe. Especially at a low time in your life, when it is harder to see the rays above your world. Relatable anger, but there is more behind this hostility.
Resentment Plus Regret Is Not a Life Led
Independent films like Resentment are fortunate to be made right now. Therefore, it is imperative that we, as the audience, do our part to support these works, for they provide concrete examples in the fight for literacy and in combating the fascist culture that devalues the humanities and the arts.
Noah Millman pivoted from finance to writing, and now he’s finished his first feature film. Making a change despite being a decade into a different career. That friend of his saved his life in the end.
I giggle just remembering that Millman said that after he got a call. From that same friend who cussed his life out the next morning. Asking him to write a play based on their conversations.
Trish, Coleman, and David prove that three is indeed too big of a crowd. Still, two can be too snug for eternity. Who is to blame for their woes? Perhaps it’s time for them to do more introspection.
Where to Watch or Purchase Resentment?
Here is where to watch and purchase Resentment (2026), with a total running time of 1hr and 22min. You can find it online today on Prime Video and Fandango.
Resentment Trailer Below
Where to Catch Up with Resentment?
NOAH MILLMAN OFFICIAL WEBSITE: https://www.noahgmillman.com/
DISTRIBUTOR WEBSITE: https://buffalo8.com/project/resentment/
Official WEBSITE: https://www.resentment-film.com/
CAST: Lawrence Gilliard, Jr. (” The Wire,” “The Walking Dead,” “The Deuce”) as Coleman, Patch Darragh (” Succession”) as David, Jen Ponton as Trish, Erik Gullberg as Christian, Sedly Bloomfield as Vinson, Mitzi Akaha as Molly, Kelley Quinn as Horror Film Woman, Heather Gibson as Vinson’s First Associate, Sean-Michael Wilkinson as Tech Bro, Jayden Wright as Trish’s Bar Dance Partner.
