Julianna Margulies Movie:

Editorial Review:
Add The Man from Elysian Fields to the list of essential movies about the pains of writing. This wry comedy-drama charts the frustrations of a financially strapped novelist (Andy Garcia) as he desperately and secretly agrees to be an "escort" for ladies who need, ah, escorting. This leads him into a Faustian bargain to help a beautiful client (Olivia Williams) whose husband, a once-great, now-dying writer (a mighty James Coburn), is struggling with a final work. Of course the fact that the men are sharing a project and a woman complicates matters--and Garcia's loyal wife (Julianna Margulies) is curious about all these nights spent away. The movie explores different levels of compromise and betrayal, yet it remains tartly amusing throughout. And it has a glorious casting inspiration: the director of the mysterious escort service is played by Mick Jagger, looking decadently elegant and purring like a vaguely satanic Siamese cat. --Robert Horton

The Man from Elysian Fields [Region 2] Reviews:
The Man From Elysian Fields
2009-05-31 - Okay, so I had never heard of this movie, but came across it at Blockbuster the other day. I'm an author, so the premise appealed to me, plus the added attraction of Mick Jagger, which intrigued me. Truthfully, I didn't expect much of this movie, but I found, happily, that it is very well done, and keeps you interested. A lot of twists and turns, sad moments, hopeful moments, and maybe even a happy ending. Andy Garcia, Julianna Margulies, James Coburn (how could you go wrong there), and Mr. Jagger all gave outstanding performances, as did Olivia Williams, as the angle/bitch. Garcia, as the tormented writer is superb, and easily identifiable. Mick Jagger gives a very surprisingly good performance, considering his other movie projects have been less than stellar...anyone who saw Ned Kelly would understand. Okay, so the movie "Performance" had some highlights, but mainly only in the close-to-end scene where he performed "Memo From Turner", but otherwise he just played the drugged out, self-absorbed, narcissistic rock star. "Free Jack City" did well, but let's face it, it was a walk through. Here, Jagger actually shows he has the potential of being a fine actor.

So, all in all, I highly recommend this movie. It's a fine film, and doesn't leave you going "huh?"

The Man from Elysian Fields Channels Aesop
2009-02-17 - THREE-AND-A-HALF STARS

What would you give up to get what you want? It's a question we answer in sundry ways each and every day. We sacrifice a sit-down breakfast to snatch an extra fifteen minutes of sleep. We give up an afternoon at the office to see a child's T-ball game. We go out for an evening on the town rather than work late remodeling the spare room. Each benefit requires a trade, each desire a cost. It's this axiom that's the beating heart of The Man from Elysian Fields.

Byron Tiller wants two things, namely to become a successful author and to provide for his wife and son. But a thriller about the lovechild of Hitler and Eva Braun went directly to the bargain bin, and Tiller now has to ask his father-in-law for loans in order to put groceries on the table. Unable to sell a new novel, he secretly seeks employment at the only place that will have him, an agency called Elysian Fields -- an escort agency. While he only plans to work just long enough to get back on his financial feet, he spies an opportunity when a client's husband turns out to be a Pulitzer-winning writer. But Tiller hasn't considered that risking one goal to achieve the other might endanger both.

I'll admit from the start that Elysian Fields is flawed. The style is anachronistic, the actors rely too much on profanity to provide emotional punch, and the closing comes across as unstructured and sloppy. Critics, though, disliked it for other reasons. Michael Wilmington of the Chicago Tribune decried the film's "message-mongering moralism," while Dallas Morning News' Tom Sime called it "absurdly sentimental." Yet the movie is more fable than drama and as such ought to wear its theme proudly on its sleeve, which works surprisingly well. We might not have to barter body and soul, but in ways silent and subtle we often pay for what we cannot have with the paradise we already own.

lesson of the movie Make sure you have something in writing.
2007-03-25 - The plot is extremely good. A writer in the dumps who needs money for his family takes a job with an escort service. He gets involved in one client problems. Who in the end, treats like what he is a paid prostitute. In the process, he losses his family.

The acting is good. In particular, I liked Mick Jagger. Who I think is a good actor.




Best Bad Film I've Ever Seen
2006-11-18 - This is worth seeing -- solid cast, solid acting, script with good potential and some good moments. Mick Jagger, as many have said, is very good. I personally had no idea he could act, and as soon as I realized he had a key role in what was promised to be a serious drama, I was disheartened. But I was very, very pleasantly surprised. If only for his sake, I wish this were a better film, or that at least it had gotten some attention. I frankly, had never even heard of it, and just happened to stumble across the DVD in the Public Library.

The film had enough potential that its lapses into folly and caricature were nearly unforgiveable. Earlier in the film, Julianna Margulies' character demonstrated a cloying interpretation of unconditional love that was more suited to a giggling adolescent than a mature adult. Margulies's acting displays sufficient range and intelligence in the film that it was clear (to me, anyway) that the fault for this early characterization lay more in the writing and direction than in any lack of skill on the part of the actor. Her character's father was portrayed as the cliched one-dimensional "I told my daughter you'd never amount to anything!" jerk.

There are a number of early scenes (particularly those used to set up the desperation of Garcia's character) that are so exaggerated or implausible that they do a real disservice to the film. Such exaggeration might work in a film more unapologetically committed to an allegorical approach (e.g., 'The Devil's Advocate'), but this film can't quite decide what it wants to be.

Worth seeing though. Some good stuff in there.

A pleasant surprise
2006-04-07 - I only rented this dvd because I wanted to see Mick Jagger in a serious role.
Much to my surprise, not only was he brilliant but the movie, I thought, was a pure gem.
Incredibly witty dialogue combined with a suberb ensemble of talent, the Man From Elysian Fields is one that could be labeled "a true sleeper".
It is rare to get to see Mick Jagger as an adult and what an outstanding job he did.
There is one scene in particular where he is proposing to Angelica Houston to leave her husband and marry him.
She pretty much laughs in his face and Jagger tries to shove it off like he wasn't hurt and it was incidental, but the expression on his face was full of devastation despite appearing to be laughing with her. Incredible.
You will laugh, cry and hopefully we all appreciate what we have a little more rather than focusing on the things we want, or, think we want.
Great, great movie.
These type are becoming fewer and further between.