This misleadingly titled but intriguing suspense drama
is a triangular tale involving a screenwriter, a studio executive, and his idle
wife.
This
unfortunately titled suspense drama is neither about someone who’s dying or
Gaulish. The Dying Gaul turns out to be the title of a screenplay.
When the studio executive played by Campbell Scott asks, why title it that, I
couldn’t help but agree. The script (the one in the movie) appears to be the
story of the screenwriter (Peter Sarsgaard) and his (male) lover, who’s just
died of AIDS. The third character in the story is the executive’s idle wife
(Patricia Clarkson), who’s really at the center of things. I’m being vague
about the plot because it’s better not to know, but it’s an intriguing tale of
unintended consequences. The way the suspense builds reminded me of Match
Point. This, the directorial debut of screenwriter Craig Lucas (The
Secret Lives of Dentists), is less polished, but certainly merits more than
its meager release on a couple dozen screens (nationally). The jarring,
dissonant score by minimalist pioneer Steve Reich is also noteworthy.
posted 9/17/13
No comments:
Post a Comment