The Dying Gaul (2005)

A grief-stricken screenwriter unknowingly enters a three-way relationship with a woman and her film executive husband - to chilling results.

Director:

Craig Lucas

Writer:

Craig Lucas (screenplay)

Stars:

Peter Sarsgaard, Campbell Scott, Patricia Clarkson

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview:
Patricia Clarkson	...	Elaine
Campbell Scott	...	Jeffrey
Peter Sarsgaard	...	Robert
Ryan Miller	...	Max
Faith Jefferies	...	Debbon
Robin Bartlett	...	Bella
Ebon Moss-Bachrach	...	Olaf
Kelli O'Hara	...	Liz
Dee Dee Flores	...	Emad
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Kelli
Don Johanson	...	Male Guest
Bill Camp	...	Malcolm
Linda Emond	...	Dr. Foss

Storyline

The gay screenwriter Robert, who is grieving the recent loss of his lover, writes a screenplay based on his biography and tries to sell it to the Hollywood producer Jeffrey. He offers one million dollars for his work, provided changes in the story replacing the dying man per a woman to make a commercial film. Jeffrey shows the screenplay to his wife Elaine, who loves to write and to plant flowers, and she is also delighted with the story. Robert works introducing the required modifications and Jeffrey, who is bisexual, has an affair with him. Meanwhile Elaine finds the gay website where Robert writes and she creates a fake profile to have conversation with him pretending that she is his deceased lover. Soon she learns the affair of her husband and she decides to leave him. But when the gay Robert discovers the truth, he has a breakdown and takes vengeance for Elaine with tragic consequences.

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Plot Keywords:

bare breasts | child | hollywood | sex | screenplay | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content and language

Details

Official Sites:

Holedigger Studios

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

January 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Kuoleva gallialainen

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$53,944, 6 November 2005

Gross USA:

$342,297

Company Credits

Production Co:

Holedigger Films, Rebel Park Pictures, Twopoundbad

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min 95 min (Ontario)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Linda Emond, who plays Dr. Foss, originated the role of Elaine Tishop in the stage play.

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Quotes

Jeffrey: You can do anything you want, as long as you don't call it what it is.

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Connections

References The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

User Reviews

Interesting, watchable, and maddening

I enjoyed this film, up to a point- and that point was almost exactly the half way mark, where the writer director chose to go the maudlin implausible route instead of sticking with what he had, which was wonderful.

To have three characters in conflict and resolve it without any fancy plot device would have been truly courageous, but sadly what started out so lovely descended into melodrama and tedium.

That being said, Craig Lucas is clearly a talent to watch, he did a marvelous job with the actors- particularly Peter Skaarsgard, who does wonderful work, and the script is smart and even touching in places.

Campbell Scott seemed miscast to me, wooden and distant at places but oddly brazen in others. I can't imagine a married studio executive actually touching and almost kissing a writer ON THE LOT. I found myself imagining what other actors would have done with the role, never a good sign. But then again, he was one of the producers, so Mr. Lucas had his hands tied.

All in all, the first act was so promising that I was angered by the way Lucas decided to end it.