Trust the Man (2005)

Director:

Bart Freundlich

Writer (WGA):

Bart Freundlich (written by)

Release Date:

1 September 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

He's doing the best he can

Plot:

After all the drama, cheating, and trial separations, two men (Crudup, Duchovny) fight to save their respective relationships.

Plot Keywords:

Love | Unitard | Watching TV | Porn Freak | Elevator Scene

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

David Duchovny	...	Tom
Julianne Moore	...	Rebecca
Sascha Gillen	...	Baby Maggie
Brianna Gillen	...	Baby Maggie
Liam Broggy	...	David
Scott Sowers	...	TerminEx Guy
Billy Crudup	...	Tobey
Maggie Gyllenhaal	...	Elaine
Garry Shandling	...	Dr. Beekman
Sarah Knowlton	...	Elaine's Boss
Brian Tarantina	...	Crazy Hair Driver
Justin Bartha	...	Jasper Bernard
David Greenspan	...	Francis, the Director
Dagmara Dominczyk	...	Pamela
Caroline Schlobohm	...	Shannon

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexual content.

Runtime:

USA:103 min | Argentina:103 min | Canada:103 min (Toronto International Film Festival)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Brazil:12 | Ireland:16 | Peru:14 | USA:R | Portugal:M/12 | Germany:o.Al. | Australia:M | Singapore:NC-16 | Finland:K-7 | UK:15 | South Korea:18 | Argentina:Atp | Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Sidney Kimmel Entertainment

Trivia:

The children of star Julianne Moore and writer/director Bart Freundlich make their movie debuts in "Trust the Man". Caleb Freundlich plays Cosmos, Pamela's son who punches David Duchovny and Liv Freundlich plays Moore's daughter Maggie in the final scenes.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: In the scene transitioning to the Christmas holidays, a shot of Central Park is shown with Christo and Jeanne-Claude's The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005 in the park. However, this display was unfurled on February 12, 2005 -- after the holidays were over.

Quotes:

[first lines]
David: I need help!
Tom: I'll go.

Movie Connections:

References The Way We Were (1973)

Pity it wasn't a French movie

I watched this movie hoping for a French-style witty and reflective comedy examining complex relationships. What a pity this wasn't a European movie set in the cafés and homes of Paris rather than New York!

After a promising 15 minutes when initial relationships are established, the whole thing rapidly descends into a series of cheap and corny attempts at humour all rounded off with the worst of Hollywood RomCom endings. Secondary characters such as the guy with the foreign accent are one dimensional and clichéd, so that an interesting comedy descends into not-very-funny farce, and the potential for comic examination of believable roles and relationships is lost.

The leads - especially Maggie Gyllenhall, Julianne Moore and David Duchovney - are (as always) excellent. But their contribution is in spite of, not because of, the script.

6/10 - but only to reflect the lead actors' efforts to rescue a really disappointing script.