PlatinumRead Just so...so bad

Taraparain Tells a fascinating and unsettling true story, and does so well, without pretending to have all the answers.

Lollivan 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.

Sienna-Rose Mclaughlin The movie really just wants to entertain people.

moviesleuth2 Being in the arts is difficult. It's damn near impossible to make a living doing something in this field because everyone wants to do it, and so much is gambled onto one product. Just look at all the hopeful actors and actresses who wait tables while praying for a big break into the movie business. You either hit it big, or end up in the gutter; there's hardly any middle ground. That is the situation that allows the events of George Hickenlooper's near masterful film, "The Man from Elysian Fields" to take place.Byron Tiller (Andy Garcia) is a writer; he's got one book under his belt, but sales were in the tank. After his next book, which he spent 7 years working on, is rejected, he needs money...fast! Help comes from a man down the hall, named Luther Fox (Mick Jagger). He runs an escort service. Reluctantly, Byron agrees, which puts him into contact with Andrea Alcott (Olivia Williams), and her husband Tobias (James Coburn), who is a renowned author. But his newfound road to success may just cause him to lose his marriage to Dena (Juliana Margulies).The acting is top notch. Andy Garcia plays Byron in his usual low key way, but he brings a level of depth to the character that is not usually seen in many films. Mick Jagger defies the trend of music stars churning out bomb movies because they can't act. Jagger plays Fox with a cracking wit, but he also is able to give the character some extraordinary depth. Olivia Williams is terrific as Byron's beautiful client. She loves her husband dearly, but she needs a release that he can no longer give her. Fortunately for her, Tobias understands that, and is perfectly fine with her sleeping with Byron. James Coburn is terrific as Tobias. Tobias is a dying writer who has accepted his fate with wit, if not grace. But he still has his pride. TV star Juliana Margulies has made only a few ventures into film, but she fits right in as Byron's loving and devoted wife.Although the film has flaws, they are not with the screenplay. Simply put, this is one of the best screenplays I have ever heard. Every line has immense depth and intellect, and the wit crackles. There are a number of brilliant one-liners (the best one is not shown in the trailer, thank God). However, these are not the one-liners that appear so often in a David Spade movie. Instead, these are just very clever.The problems I had with the film is that when the film enters dark territory, such as when it shows Byron at his most desperate, it becomes unpleasant, and it ruins the spell that the movie works so hard to cast. This is partly due to George Hickenlooper, but mainly because the actors play their parts so well.This is a must-see for any adult film-goer who appreciates films with wit, depth and rich characters.

andreas-schmidt-pabst It makes me wonder that the makers of a movie in which there are so much comments about good and bad writing aren't able to use these criteria for their script. This movie has got no straight story line. I mean, what it's about? Literature, love, sex, all together? Well, nothing of it works well. There is no structure, no development, no climax and no satisfying end.I was very surprised, when I've read that this was meant to be a tragic comedy, because it wasn't funny at all. Neither it was demanding, thrilling or erotic, not to mention that there was no action in it.The characters are one-dimensional at the best, non defined or annoying. Concerning the part of Mick Jagger I soon asked myself, what his function was, after all. Also Byron's wife and her dad lose meaning for the story very soon.After all a waste of time that made me ask two things: 1. Had been dilettantes at work? 2.Who goes to cinema to watch stuff like that?

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.

MoovieMan I generally liked this film. Andy Garcia plays a convincing role as an unwilling male escort. Mick Jagger and James Coburn both gave excellent performances too and so did the women in the cast.Andy Garcia's Byron Tiller insisted on being a writer from beginning to end and was always uncomfortable in being viewed as a lover.However, I found a small flaw in a side plot of the story : it was rather unrealistic that Mick Jagger's character, having been in the male escort business for such a long time, could be a romantic fool in allowing himself to not only actually fall in love with a client but to believe earnestly that his love will be requited. I thought he should know better.