The Man From Elysian Fields
Wealth affords the ultimate extravagance.
Academy Award nominee Andy Garcia (Nominee, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Godfather 3, 1991), Mick Jagger (lead singer for The Rolling Stones) and Julianna Margulies (Ghost Ship, TV's ER) star in the provocative tale of a struggling novelist who resorts to extreme measures in order to provide for his family. Also starring Olivia Williams and Academy Award winner James Coburn (Winner, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, Affliction, 1997).
Becoming a successful writer remains an elusive dream for Byron Tiller (Garcia). No longer able to pay the bills, worried about his family's livelihood and seeing no other option, he reluctantly seeks employment as Elysian Fields-an upscale male escort service. But as Byron slowly succumbs to the demands of the job-and his own desires-a destructive pattern of deception threatens the very thing he sought to protect...his family. "A romantic drama about seduction and betrayal." -Leah Rosen, People.
Member Reviews
And one star might be too generous - Barb1
A ridiculous premise drives the 'action', to use the term loosely, around a series of characters that are just hard to feel sympathy for. Our lead character is a failed novelist who hasn't thought to pick up a part time job to help out his family in 7 years. Yes, he quit his advertising job and then spent 7 years writing a novel that did not make any money, and didn't think to get even a part time day job to support his indulgence. His wife is cute but one note: 'Oh honey I love you and support you no matter what!' The rich people who use the escort services aren't particularly interesting, although the depth of their self centredness, in the end, is absolutely breathtaking. Mick Jagger and the one other male escort we see are the only interesting characters, but they don't get a lot of screen time. The movie was slow paced, the characters make stupid choices that don't ring true, and the whole idea that rich beautiful women need to pay anyone for a roll in the hay is just too much of a stretch.Unbelievable, unwatchable, and underwhelming - QueerNorth63
Horrific story/casting/directing. This movie is so bad on so many levels, I don't know where to begin. Mick Jagger? Embarassing. The premise? Yeah, right----so not believable. The writing--horrific. Worst screenplay in years. Poor Andy Garcia......floundering around in a part playing a character that nobody would believe on the written page, let alone in a movie. It just starts at a bizarre premise and wanders into more incredibly unbelievable situations, one after another. Seriously warped mind wrote this, and an even more delusional one made it into a film. Don't bother.Who Would Have Thought? A Gem... - Riverdancer
I was rifling through my cable network's film channels when my attention was arrested by Andy Garcia talking with Mick Jagger. I had stumbled into a scene of The Man from Elysian Fields, directed by George Hickenlooper, and was compelled to watch the film until the end.
Byron Tiller (Garcia) is failing in his attempt to become a successful writer. Unable to adequately provide for his family and running out of options, oblivious to the emotional price he will have to pay, he seeks employment with a male-escort service: Elysian Fields, managed by Luther Fox (Jagger). Garcia’s performance in this film is subdued, and Jagger delivers an unexpected performance as the apparently jaded, ageing ex-escort, who, contrarily to the impression he gives and wants to give, is still an idealist at heart who harbours his own illusions. Garcia’s reluctance is obvious until he accompanies the wife of a famous but ailing writer, Tobias Alcott (Coburn) who makes Garcia a tantalizing proposition.
The film is poignant and very tasteful in its treatment of this delicate subject with its potential for the sordid. The great deception that ensues in the film, which could have been tragic, is turned to advantage; all the more so, since the world that is being portrayed in Elysian Fields deals in deception. Hickenlooper has, in my opinion, done a masterful job, in this film, of exploring what it means to use others and be used in return. He portrays the illusion of emotional discourse that covers a mercenary intent. True love is competently juxtaposed to the sadness of paying for attention and affection that cannot be got any other way. Andrea Alcott (Williams) and Tobias Alcott (Coburn) fool us, and Anjelica Houston gives us one of her best performances as Jennifer Adler, the woman Jagger escorted for years.
Do not miss seeing this film. The acting is compelling, as is the insight we are given into a world so rarely, yet so magnificently depicted in this film.
Member Reviews
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And one star might be too generous - Barb1
A ridiculous premise drives the 'action', to use the term loosely, around a series of characters that are just hard to feel sympathy for. Our lead character is a failed novelist who hasn't thought to pick up a part time job to help out his family in 7 years. ...Unbelievable, unwatchable, and underwhelming - QueerNorth63
Horrific story/casting/directing. This movie is so bad on so many levels, I don't know where to begin. Mick Jagger? Embarassing. The premise? Yeah, right----so not believable. The writing--horrific. Worst screenplay in years. Poor Andy Garcia......floundering ...Who Would Have Thought? A Gem... - Riverdancer
I was rifling through my cable network's film channels when my attention was arrested by Andy Garcia talking with Mick Jagger. I had stumbled into a scene of The Man from Elysian Fields, directed by George Hickenlooper, and was compelled to watch the film ...