Ivans xtc. (2000)

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

Director:

Bernard Rose

Writers:

Lev Tolstoy (novel) (as Leo Tolstoy), Bernard Rose (screenplay)

Stars:

Danny Huston, Peter Weller, Lisa Enos

1 win & 5 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Danny Huston	...	Ivan Beckman
Peter Weller	...	Don West
Lisa Enos	...	Charlotte White
Joanne Duckman	...	Marcia Beckman
Angela Featherstone	...	Amanda Hill
Caroleen Feeney	...	Rosemary Kramer
Valeria Golino	...	Constanza Vero
Adam Krentzman	...	Barry Oaks
Heidi Jo Markel	...	Francesca Knight
James Merendino	...	Danny McTeague
Tiffani Thiessen	...	Marie Stein (as Tiffani-Amber Thiessen)
Morgan Walsh	...	Lucy Lawrence (as Morgan Vukovic)
Crystal Atkins	...	Jessie
Alex Butler	...	Brad East
Robert Graham	...	Sid Beckman

Storyline

Ivan Beckman, Hollywood's most sought after talent agent, the darling and crown prince of La-La Land is dead. How and why did it happen? Was it drugs, murder or excess, or perhaps something altogether more mundane? We begin with an ending and then catapult back a number of days to the apex of Ivan's brilliant career as he bags international megastar Don West onto his company's books, and then charts the highs, lows (and they are so very low) and extreme excesses of his final days.

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Plot Keywords:

prostitute | self destructiveness | male full frontal nudity | pubic hair | male pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

There's a fine lie between success and excess

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Quotes

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

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Connections

References The Haunting (1999)

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Soundtracks

Tristan and Isolde
Excerpts
Composed by Richard Wagner
Performed by Elmo Weber

User Reviews

Ultimately, deeply moving

I saw this movie without any real knowledge of what it was about (other than some vague memory of having read a good review and quick peruse of the cover at the rental store).

The use of video tape (rather than conventional film), hand held work, some rough cuts and supports acting that treads a fine line between jarring and being naturalistic all took soem time to tune in to (too used to slick Hollywood narrative style!).

But it was certainly worth the effort.

Partly an acidic take on the Hollywood machine (cynicism, drug abuse,deference) but also a film about a man (Ivan) desperately seeking meaning in a world where he can find none. The final scenes, where Ivan seems to come to terms with his end take on a strange beauty.

The decision to run all the credits up front, save for the music and an 'in memory of' add to the final poignancy.

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 July 2002 (UK)

Also Known As:

Ivans xtc.

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$9,121, 9 June 2002

Gross USA:

$47,027

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$47,027

Company Credits

Production Co:

Alternative Investments of Michigan, Enos/Rose Productions, Rhino Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1