UnowPriceless hyped garbage

Fairaher The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Aneesa Wardle The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Rosie Searle It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

pontifikator An excellent movie scripted by Phillip Jayson Lasker with a very good performance from Mick Jagger. The film stars Jagger and Andy Garcia, with James Coburn, Anjelica Huston, Olivia Williams, and Julianna Margulies. Michael Des Barres deserves special mention for his performance as Nigel.Garcia plays a would-be author with the interesting name of Byron Tiller. Tiller has had a book published to some good reviews, but it's in the remainder bin: a $25 novel for only $3.99. With no sales, he's off the list for his publisher. We see him with a wife who loves him unconditionally and a son who's a toddler that they both dote on. Unable to get an advance from his publisher, a job, a loan, or any income at all, Tiller is approached by the owner of an agency called Elysian Fields, a dissolute man with his life written all over his face and named Luther Fox.I was very surprised that Jagger acquitted himself so well; he channeled Noel Coward beautifully without overdoing it. His acting was subtle and understated -- he inhabited the role of Luther Fox with no hint of Mick showing through. Fox corrupts Tiller with charm and savoir faire. Elysian Fields is an escort service for women. Fox reads Tiller like the book he is and sets Tiller up with the young wife of an aged Pulitzer Prize winning novelist. And then the twists begin. The aged novelist, Alcott, has lost it. He's written a novel, but it's not good. As Tiller begins an affair with Andrea Alcott, Alcott begins a literary partnership with Tiller. With the promise of co-authorship, Tiller works with Alcott to rewrite Alcott's novel while Tiller continues his affair with Mrs. Alcott -- with Alcott's beaming approval. The real seduction is not Tiller's seduction by Andrea, the real seduction is the promise of fame, with the obvious wealth on display at the Alcott mansion. Tiller's real prostitution is to the husband, not the wife, because that's where he pours his soul.Tiller's wife notices. She's aware only that he is working as co-author with Alcott, and she sees Tiller draining himself, leaving less for their son and for her. Meanwhile, we have interspersed scenes between Fox and his first client, played by Huston. Occasionally Fox and Tiller meet and share a drink and some conversation. These scenes cap what's going on in the movie. Lasker has a script in which all the characters are fully formed, and they bring an entire life along with them.Although the movie has a Hollywood ending, there are some depths plumbed by the characters which have a reality all too often missing in Hollywood movies. I wonder where Lasker has been during his life. There's a great deal of loss in this film.For lighter fare with a similar theme, I recommend "The Seduction of Joe Tynan,"" written by Alan Alda, who plays the lead character; also starring are Barbara Harris as Mrs. Tynan, Meryl Streep as the interloper, Rip Torn, Melvyn Douglas, and others you'll recognize now who were unknown then.

Lee Zebold As necessity is the mother of invention, this story brings us to the essence of a man who will do anything to provide for his family, even if it means risking its demise. There are very provocative truths brought forth exposing a man's desperation and men's failure at self respect making them impotent. It reveals the grist that men share which drives them to achieve against all odds.Surprise actor, Mick Jagger, does an excellent job with his character, showing an ability never seen in his normal singing life. Andy Garcia is the core character, and with style, and respect to the struggle, handles the part as a pro.

hachi9san Yet again Andy Garcia overacts in a terrible, preachy film. I sincerely fail to see the appeal of Garcia, and every film I have seen him in seems to contain some moral or other. This is no exception, but the moralists should look to Aesop for guidance, since this was an entirely predictable film. I won't risk IMDb's censure or censorship by giving away the plot... but if you are half as smart as the audience for this film is supposed to be, it would be impossible for me to tell you anything you won't figure out 30 minutes before it happens, at the latest. The characters are all flat and totally unengaging. The direction and cinematography are decent, but uninspired. The real flaw in this film is simply that it had a highly derivative story and uninspired script. It seems a stupid film for people who think they are smart. Avoid it if you are actually an intelligent, critical viewer. Sheer crap.

doraray I really gave this film a chance. Though it started just fine, enticingly even, it lost any unique and seductive qualities it possessed at the onset and turned into something laughable, at best. Even the refreshing (and quite effective) casting of Mich Jagger as the high class pimp could not pull this one out of the gutter. Also, Julianna Margulies was poorly cast. Desperate, desperate ending to what could have been a great piece of work. Shame. Skip it.