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.
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.