Boogie Woogie (2009)

A comedy of manners set against the backdrop of contemporary London and the international art scene.

Director:

Duncan Ward

Writers:

Danny Moynihan (screenplay), Danny Moynihan (novel)

Stars:

Gillian Anderson, Alan Cumming, Heather Graham

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gillian Anderson	...	Jean Maclestone
Alan Cumming	...	Dewey Dalamanatousis
Heather Graham	...	Beth Freemantle
Danny Huston	...	Art Spindle
Jack Huston	...	Jo Richards
Christopher Lee	...	Mr. Alfred Rhinegold
Joanna Lumley	...	Mrs. Alfreda Rhinegold
Simon McBurney	...	Robert Freign
Meredith Ostrom	...	Joany
Charlotte Rampling	...	Emille
Amanda Seyfried	...	Paige Oppenheimer
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Bob Maclestone
Jaime Winstone	...	Elaine
Alfie Allen	...	Photographer
Gemma Atkinson	...	Charlotte Bailey

Storyline

In London's contemporary art world, everyone has a hustle. Art Spindle runs a high-end gallery: he hopes to flip a Mondrian for millions. One of his assistants, Beth, is sleeping with Art's most acquisitive client, Bob Macclestone. Beth wants Bob to set her up in her own gallery, so she helps him go behind Art's back for the Mondrian. Bob's wife, Jean, sets her eye on a young conceptual artist, Jo, who lusts after Art's newest assistant, Paige. Meanwhile, self-absorbed lesbian videographer Elaine is chewing her way through friends and lovers looking to make it: if she'll throw Dewey, her agent, under the bus, Beth may give her a show. And the Mondrian? No honor among thieves.

---

Plot Keywords:

art | gallery | agent | lesbian | videographer | 

---

Taglines:

Seduction. Betrayal. Death. There's an Art to Everything.

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 November 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Boogie Woogie - Sex, Lügen, Geld und Kunst

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$1,776 (USA) (23 April 2010)

Gross:

$1,776 (USA) (23 April 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Works International, The, Constance Media, Firefly

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Heather Graham and Christopher Lee had previously lent their voice talents in the video game EverQuest II as the leaders of the two opposing cities: Queen Antonia Bayle and Overlord Lucan D'Lere, respectively.

User Reviews

Entertaining and a great cast but too much going on

I'll admit that it didn't take much persuasion for me to go and see Boogie Woogie, but even though I admit part of me went to see boobs, I also went for the all-star cast and interesting and unique concept. It's a film with a Hollywood cast set in present day London with a focus on the art scene of the city; exploring people like artists and collectors. It's a refreshingly unique and modern set-up for a film and it works.

The story itself focuses on a painting called the Boogie Woogie by an artist named Mondrian. It's currently in the ownership of Alfred Rhinegold (Christopher Lee) and his wife Alfreda (Joanna Lumley). Their fortune is declining and so Alfreda decides to put the painting up for sale. Among those interested are aggressive gallery owner and ambi-sexual Art Spindle (Danny Huston) and the deep-pocketed collector Bob Maclestone (Stellan Skarsgard). Bob is married to Jean (Gillian Anderson) who he frequently cheats on with his secretaries and assistants. Beth Freemantle (Heather Graham) works for Spindle but manages to get away thanks to her intimate relationship with Bob.

Then there's gallery girl Paige (Amanda Seyfried), whose financier dad bagged a fortune and helped launch his daughter before being caught and imprisoned for unspecified fraud. Also inhabiting the decadent art world of the film is emerging young painter Jo (Jack Huston), who snorts coke and beds the horny older wives of extravagant collectors. The final character of note is Elaine (Jamie Winstone). Elaine is a lesbian art student with a fondness for cocaine and Heather Graham's boobs.

As you can tell, it's a massive cast of extremely colourful characters full of drugs and sex. All the actors do a terrific job thanks to their sharp acting and also the witty dialogue provided by the interesting script.

The problem with having such a huge cast is that it's a bit hard to keep track of things. The main plot strand seems to be Lumley's character trying to sell the painting, but then all the other characters seem to have their own stories as well which need to be fitted in. As great as the characters are, there simply isn't enough time to develop them enough to make some of them worthwhile. Some of the sex also seems a bit forced, the lesbian subplot with heather Graham and Jamie Winstone is hot and all but is it really needed (my heart says yes, my brain says no)? The director Duncan Ward is clearly at home though as some research led me to discover that he has history in the art world. He manages to make it very compelling and keeps the slightly bewildering but also interesting plot enjoyable. He is most definitely in his element and it shows; the film looks great.

Boogie Woogie is a very entertaining film. The concept is unique, the cast is excellent, the script and dialogue are very amusing and it looks great. The director also puts in a fine shift. Unfortunately, there's just too much going on; it's a brave and daring effort to release a film so different and props to the cast for signing up to it. If you can keep your head around all the plot strands then the great performances and script will keep you entertained.

3/5