Boogie Woogie (2009)

A comedy of manners set against the backdrop of contemporary London and the international art scene.

Director:

Duncan Ward

Writers:

Danny Moynihan (screenplay), Danny Moynihan (novel)

Stars:

Gillian Anderson, Alan Cumming, Heather Graham

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Gillian Anderson	...	Jean Maclestone
Alan Cumming	...	Dewey Dalamanatousis
Heather Graham	...	Beth Freemantle
Danny Huston	...	Art Spindle
Jack Huston	...	Jo Richards
Christopher Lee	...	Mr. Alfred Rhinegold
Joanna Lumley	...	Mrs. Alfreda Rhinegold
Simon McBurney	...	Robert Freign
Meredith Ostrom	...	Joany
Charlotte Rampling	...	Emille
Amanda Seyfried	...	Paige Oppenheimer
Stellan Skarsgård	...	Bob Maclestone
Jaime Winstone	...	Elaine
Alfie Allen	...	Photographer
Gemma Atkinson	...	Charlotte Bailey

Storyline

In London's contemporary art world, everyone has a hustle. Art Spindle runs a high-end gallery: he hopes to flip a Mondrian for millions. One of his assistants, Beth, is sleeping with Art's most acquisitive client, Bob Macclestone. Beth wants Bob to set her up in her own gallery, so she helps him go behind Art's back for the Mondrian. Bob's wife, Jean, sets her eye on a young conceptual artist, Jo, who lusts after Art's newest assistant, Paige. Meanwhile, self-absorbed lesbian videographer Elaine is chewing her way through friends and lovers looking to make it: if she'll throw Dewey, her agent, under the bus, Beth may give her a show. And the Mondrian? No honor among thieves.

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Plot Keywords:

voyeur | voyeurism | lesbian | nipple shield | cheating wife | 

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Taglines:

Seduction. Betrayal. Death. There's an Art to Everything.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong sexual content, graphic nudity, language throughout and some drug use

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

29 September 2017 (Taiwan)

Also Known As:

Juegos de placer

Filming Locations:

London, England, UK

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$1,776, 25 April 2010, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,776, 25 April 2010

Company Credits

Production Co:

The Works International, Constance Media, Firefly

Technical Specs

Runtime:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Sir Christopher Lee only has fifteen lines.

User Reviews

Solid Effort

If you enjoy watching bad people go down in flames, this film is for you. First-time director Duncan Ward shows a deft hand managing multiple story threads set against the malodorous intestinal cavity of the contemporary art world, while John Mathieson's photography, pleasing to the eye as always, works splendidly with the up-tempo jazz phrasings of composer Janusz Podrazik.

A sterling ensemble, led by Stellan Skarsgard, Gillian Anderson and Danny Huston, keeps us guessing and amused as lives and careers unravel. Special kudos to Jaime Winstone, who in the role of a fiercely ambitious performance artist looking to carve a name for herself, delivers the film's strongest performance. We are treated also to appearances by Christopher Lee, Joanna Lumley and Alan Cumming -- the film's most likable characters -- whose upright aims provide elegant counterpoint to the opposing riffraff inhabiting the story.

The film's only noticeable weak spot lies in the characters of Beth, played with limited effect by Heather Graham, and Joany, played by Meredith Ostrum, who seems to be impersonating a tree. Otherwise, a fine independent film. It will be interesting to see what Ward comes up with next.