Love Ranch (2010)

A drama centered around a married couple who opened the first legal brothel in Nevada.

Director:

Taylor Hackford

Writer:

Mark Jacobson

Stars:

Helen Mirren, Joe Pesci, Sergio Peris-Mencheta

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Helen Mirren	...	Grace Bontempo
Joe Pesci	...	Charlie Bontempo
Sergio Peris-Mencheta	...	Armando Bruza
Gina Gershon	...	Irene
Taryn Manning	...	Mallory
Scout Taylor-Compton	...	Christina
Bai Ling	...	Samantha
Elise Neal	...	Alana
Bryan Cranston	...	James Pettis
Rick Gomez	...	Tom Macy
M.C. Gainey	...	Warren Stamp
Gil Birmingham	...	Johnny Cortez
Emily Rios	...	Muneca
Melora Walters	...	Janelle
Raoul Max Trujillo	...	Hernan Prado (as Raoul Trujillo)

Storyline

In the mid-70s, near Reno, Grace Bontempo runs the Love Ranch, a legal brothel. Her husband Charlie, with big dreams, a felony record, and an aptitude for spending and infidelity, is the brothel's public face. On the day Grace's doctor tells her she has cancer in an advanced state, Charlie takes on new client, Argentine boxer Armando Bruza, Charlie's ticket to fame: he hopes to promote a fight with Ali. Because of Charlie's felonies, Grace is Bruza's titular manager. With the IRS and the church ladies circling the business, Grace takes the manager's role seriously and, along the way, Bruza charms her. Secrets play out: is there love at the Love Ranch? How will Charlie respond?

---

Plot Keywords:

female full frontal nudity | ex convict | woman wears a bikini | woman wears lingerie | brothel | 

---

Taglines:

When It Comes To Love... Everyone Pays A Price.

---

Genres:

Biography | Comedy | Drama | Romance | Sport

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for sexual content, pervasive language and some violence

Details

Official Sites:

Official Facebook

Country:

USA Germany

Language:

English

Release Date:

6 January 2011 (Netherlands)

Also Known As:

Havat ha'ahava

Filming Locations:

Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$25,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$60,353, 4 July 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$134,904, 25 July 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

Aramid Entertainment Fund,Film & Entertainment VIP Medienfonds 3 GmbH & Co. KG,Rising Star

Technical Specs

Runtime:

117 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color Black and White (archive footage)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The exteriors were built outside of tiny San Ysidro, New Mexico, population 180. Expansive Indian reservations stretch to the horizon in all four directions.

---

Goofs

The Pontiac Firebird that Armando drives is a model that was not released until 1979.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Grace Bontempo: Selling love will make you rich. That's what my mother taught me. Just don't put your heart in it.

---

Connections

Featured in Late Show with David Letterman: Helen Mirren/Colin Hanks/Cyndi Lauper featuring Allen Toussaint (2010)

---

Soundtracks

634-5789
Written by Steve Cropper & Eddie Floyd
Performed by Wilson Pickett
Courtesy of Atlantic Recording Corp.
By arrangement with Warner Music Group Film & TV Licensing

User Reviews

The little fun house on the desert

Something went wrong with this Taylor Hackford film which showed on cable recently. It boasts a good cast and it is a story based on a true story. The right elements should have come together to make this entry worth watching. The culprit seems to lie in the screenplay written by Mark Jacobson, which does not take advantage of the subject he was treating.

The story of Grace and Charley Bontempo, the owners of the brothel in the Nevada desert, lent itself for a lot more than comes out in the story. The owners had apparently a good relationship, although it becomes apparent there was no love left between them as the story begins. Charley had been cheating on Grace with anyone of the prostitutes in the place. Grace, the brain behind the business, finds out about the cancer she had to deal with, something that evidently has an effect on her dealings with their business.

Charley, a first class wheeler-dealer, sees an opportunity when Armando Bruza, an Argentine boxer, he discovers with a potential to go places. Grace did not appreciate that Bruza will move to the Love Motel, as Charley wants. Bruza develops an affection for the older woman, who takes the plunge, falling in love with the boxer, something that will lead into fatal consequences.

The main reason for watching "Love Ranch" is Helen Mirren's performance. She makes a case for Grace, the jaded madam of the house of ill repute. At times she seems not to be comfortable with her character, the way the script asks her to play her. Joe Pesci does his routine of being a wise guy. It is fun to watch him utter those four letter words he spices his vocabulary with. Sergio Peris-Mencheta is Bruza, the boxer who fell for the older woman. Gina Gershon does not have much to do.