The Moderns (1988)

A struggling artist is hired to forge paintings, causing him to cross paths with his ex-wife and her powerful new husband.

Director:

Alan Rudolph

Writers:

Alan Rudolph, Jon Bradshaw

Stars:

Keith Carradine, Linda Fiorentino, Wallace Shawn

2 wins & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Keith Carradine	...	Nick Hart
Linda Fiorentino	...	Rachel Stone
Wallace Shawn	...	Oiseau
Geneviève Bujold	...	Libby Valentin (as Genevieve Bujold)
Geraldine Chaplin	...	Nathalie de Ville
Kevin J. O'Connor	...	Hemingway
John Lone	...	Bertram Stone
Charlélie Couture	...	L'Evidence (as Charlelie Couture)
Elsa Raven	...	Gertrude Stein
Ali Giron	...	Alice B. Toklas
Gailard Sartain	...	New York Critic
Michael Wilson	...	Surrealist Poet
Robert Gould	...	Blackie
Antonia Dauphin	...	Babette
Véronique Bellegarde	...	Laurette (as Veronique Bellegarde)

Storyline

Nick Hart is a struggling American artist who lives amongst the expatriate community in 1920s Paris. He spends most of his time drinking and socializing in local cafés and pestering gallery owner Libby Valentin to sell his paintings. He becomes involved in a plot by wealthy art patroness Nathalie de Ville to forge three paintings. This leads to several run-ins with American rubber magnate Bertram Stone, who happens to be married to Hart's ex-wife Rachel.

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Plot Keywords:

period drama | painting | drinking | art patroness | 1920s | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

R

Did You Know?

Trivia

Actress Linda Fiorentino replaced Meg Tilly in the part of Rachel Stone. Tilly was going to play Stone, but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts, before Fiorentino eventually signed on.

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Quotes

Oiseau: [while observing his own faked funeral] If it weren't for me, these people would think surreal was a breakfast food!

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood Mavericks (1990)

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Soundtracks

Un bel di
(1904) (uncredited)
from "Madame Butterfly"
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Played offscreen and sung by an unidentified female while Bertram and Rachel are in a tub

User Reviews

Delicious Immersion In An Artist's Parisian Life and Illusions

This film is, first of all, a love story--but a remarkably surprising one, and by no means ordinary. It starts with the usual expectations most of us have about Paris that Woody Allen recently utilized so effectively in Midnight In Paris, but instead of broad comedy, Director Alan Rudolph weaves a fascinating tale of intrigue in the art world, and peppers it with wit and ambiguity.

The smoky Parisian ambiance of Bohemian Cafes (mostly created in Canada) introduce the viewer to Keith Carradine's stereotypical starving artist--except that Carradine's role is written to surprise, and one is drawn into a labyrinth of conflicting emotions very quickly indeed. This film, like Thieves Like Us, demonstrates what a fine under-utilized actor Carradine continues to be.

The feeling of elation that comes from escaping from one's cares in another place washes through every bar and café and art opening, and the performances from such vibrant actors as kinky Geraldine Chaplin and quirky Wallace Shawn--and especially the intensely cold and controlled and fascinating John Lone enliven the two hours that linger long after the film is finished.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

May 1988 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Moderns

Filming Locations:

Montréal, Québec, Canada

Box Office

Budget:

$3,500,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$20,283, 17 April 1988

Gross USA:

$2,011,497

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,011,497

Company Credits

Production Co:

Nelson Entertainment, Alive Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

126 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby (as Dolby Stereo)

Color:

Black and White Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1