Mercy (I) (2009)

A young novelist tries to write about love, but realizes he will first need some real-life experience before taking on the subject.

Director:

Patrick Hoelck

Writer:

Scott Caan

Stars:

Whitney Able, Bre Blair, John Boyd

Cast

Credited cast:
Whitney Able	...	Heather
Bre Blair
John Boyd	...	Erik
Dorian Brown	...	Dorian
James Caan	...	Gerry Ryan
Scott Caan	...	Johnny Ryan
Thom Cammer	...	Nigel
Erika Christensen	...	Robin
Kayley FitzMaurice	...	Front Desk Girl
Troy Garity	...	Dane
Balthazar Getty	...	Himself
Alexie Gilmore	...	Chris
Wendy Glenn	...	Mercy Bennett
Kelly Lynch	...	Herself
Milton A. Marsh III	...	Orderly

Storyline

Johnny Ryan is a facile writer of best sellers, and he's a womanizer. At a party in L.A. to celebrate the publication of his third book, he's arranged an assignation with one of the catering crew when he meets Mercy, a writer in town from New York. She turns out to be a critic whose review savages his book. He calls on her at her hotel, invites her out, and they find they enjoy each other. When her brief stay in L.A. is to end, he asks her to stay. Jump ahead: he's bearded, alone, and emotionally shut down. He visits his father, a university professor from whom he's estranged. What's going on? Where's Mercy?

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Plot Keywords:

one word title | asthma | character name in title

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

IFC Films [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

June 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kai sto vathos erotas

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend:

$1,776 (USA) (30 April 2010)

Gross:

$5,096 (USA) (7 May 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

IFC Films, Gold Pony Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min 85 min (European Film Market)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The second time that father/son James Caan and Scott Caan have collaborated together since A Boy Called Hate. In both these films, they play fictional father and son.

User Reviews

Raising Caan

Successful romance novelist Scott Caan (as Johnny Ryan) likes it when the women he picks up leave before he wakes up. While out with his boozing pal John Boyd (as Erik) to find new sex partners, Mr. Caan meets slender asthmatic Wendy Glenn (as Mercy Bennett). Her condition causes Caan to quit smoking. Caan tells Ms. Glenn she's the most beautiful woman he has ever seen, but flattery gets him nowhere. She's also discovered to be the one reviewer to pan his latest novel. Naturally, Caan wants Glenn even more...

The main character writes about romance for a living, but seeks only sexual gratification in real life. A good twist might have him lose his writing prowess upon meeting his soul mate, but that's not "Mercy". Caan wrote the script, and surely worked closely with debuting director Patrick Hoelck. Casting calls went out to the star's father James Caan (as Gerry), who convincingly plays his son's dad, and best friend Troy Garity (as Dane), son of actress Jane Fonda. Alas, the non-linear scenes and foreshadowing suffocate the movie.

***** Mercy (2/7/09) Patrick Hoelck ~ Scott Caan, Wendy Glenn, Troy Garity, James Caan