Ivansxtc (2000)

Director:

Bernard Rose

Writers:

Leo Tolstoy (novel)
Bernard Rose (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 July 2002 (UK)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

A real Hollywood story.

Plot:

Update on Leo Tolstoy's "The Death of Ivan Ilyich," set in contemporary Hollywood.

Plot Keywords:

Beautiful Woman | One Word Title | Female Nudity | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 win & 5 nominations

Cast

Danny Huston	...	Ivan Beckman
Peter Weller	...	Don West
James Merendino	...	Danny McTeague
Adam Krentzman	...	Barry Oaks
Lisa Enos	...	Charlotte White
Alison Taylor	...	Nurse Jackie
Joanne Duckman	...	Marcia Beckman
Robert Graham	...	Sid Beckman
Caroleen Feeney	...	Rosemary Kramer
Sarah Danielle Madison	...	Naomi (as Sarah Goldberg)
Morgan Vukovic	...	Lucy Lawrence
Jay Lavender	...	Phil
Carol Rose	...	Judy Tarzana
Steve Dickman	...	Melvin
Wendy Rhoads	...	Missy

Also Known As:

Ivans xtc. (USA) (alternative spelling)
Ivans xtc. (To Live and Die in Hollywood) (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

Canada:94 min | UK:92 min | USA:93 min

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

UK:18

Company:

Alternative Investments of Michigan

Quotes:

[Upon hearing of Ivan Beckman's death]
Don West: What, did he freebase his face off?

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 2003 IFP Independent Spirit Awards (2003) (TV)

Soundtrack:

This may not be love

One of the most life affirming films I've ever seen.

This film is amazing. It begins by introducing a whole bunch of characters, including Danny Huston, none of whom have any redeeming features - scenes are frequently uncomfortable to the point of being cringe-inducing. It's when you realise that what everyone in the film is talking about is absolutely nothing or incredibly superficial to say the least is when you realise that what you're feeling is that there ARE no characters as such - they may as well be dead. They have nothing to say and when they do it's absolute worthless tosh. They are essentially characterless "characters". It's therefore impossible to feel any affinity, compassion or even empathy with anyone in the film - hence one's discomfort during viewing. And it's from this point of utter lifelessness that the film grows into one the most truly and deeply ALIVE films I've ever seen. Like one of those moments when you realise what you are when the clouds around your soul have been stripped off and you get a glimpse of your self. And it's pretty hard to put into words, but just like the guy from London who wrote the first review, my girlfriend and I were so stunned and emotionally moved into silence we didn't speak or rather just couldn't find WORDS that could justify what we'd just seen. I came out, sat in the foyer, said "what the f**k happened there?" and proceeded to smoke a cigarette knowing fine well I couldn't smoke there. (In light of the film, I think I just thought that stupid little humans' rules were often so pathetically insignificant they were laughable!) We were both absolutely amazed. But my advice is, of course, to see it yourself. Because after all, these are just words too.