I was very amused at this Andy Garcia film about a down and out writer who was looking for a way to support his wife and child. He meet a strangely handsome, worldly man who offered him a job as a male escort which landed him a relationship with the wife of a world renown author very akin to Hemmingway.
The weakest part of this film was Garcia. He rarely pales but he did so by two surprise performers: Mick Jagger and James Coburn.
For the first time I saw Jagger as something other than a cameo and was impressed by his acting. Of course, not hanging with Mick (rock money is so vulgar) I can only imagine he acts the same way off stage: elegant, precise, moody, superbly well-spoken. As Garcia's mentor I first expected he was "the evil one" since his name was Luther Fox. But no, he was a nearly retired escort whose only customer was Angelica Huston.
James Coburn played cuckold to his wife Olivia Williams. Frustrated with failing health he had just finished his last and unknowingly worst novel. Through a few quick suspensions of disbelief Garcia was lover and co-author assigned to clean up the mess for publication. Coburn just radiated on screen. I think this was one of his best roles.
The film itself is hack despite the budget, the high powered cast, and production values. To me, seeing Jagger acquit himself as well as he did was a true revelation. Coburn the same.
This came out in 2001 and was over 1:45. Sometimes a chore to watch when Jagger, Williams, or Coburn are off screen.
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Topic - Surprise performances: "The Man From Elysian Fields" . . . - mr grits 16:40:36 02/21/12 (5)
- You've never seen "Performance" or you'd know Mick could act. nt - tinear 17:45:24 02/21/12 (1)
- NF showed my one star....I had forgotten it...completely..... - mr grits 20:59:53 02/25/12 (0)
- Brief clip . . . - mr grits 16:45:43 02/21/12 (2)
- RE: I love it - must see it... - Eldragon@gmx.com 21:33:09 02/22/12 (1)
- Picked it up in a $3 bin somewhere....haven't checked NF. * - mr grits 23:02:32 02/22/12 (0)