The Man from Elysian Fields

Starring:Andy Garcia, Mick Jagger, Julianna Margulies, Olivia Williams, James Coburn, Michael Des Barres, Richard Bradford, Anjelica Huston, Xander Berkeley, Sherman Howard, Joe Santos, Susan Barnes, Tracey Walter, Asha Siewkumar, Kerry Li, Laura Meshell, Rosalind Chao, Elisa Gallay, Tommy Perna, Yasmin D'Mello
Director: George Hickenlooper
Studio: Sony Pictures
Product Type: DVD

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

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 father was the cliched "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.

I wish one could rate a movie 2.5 stars!.......2006-01-16

This movie tries really, really hard to be meaningful and insightful and, at times, it actually gets there. Unfortunately, it never quite pulls its story together and the ending is way simplistic and insulting. Still, Andy Garcia is very sympathetic while the real revelation is Mick Jagger who does an excellent job as the devilish pimp. Angelica Huston is also excellent in a small supporting role for which she barely gets credit (odd for an Oscar winner??!!). Anyway, I can't say I'd tell any friends about this movie or recommend it to anyone personally, but if you happen across it and watch it, you'll find a few things to like and a few to dislike. 2.5 stars.

To be or not to be loved........2005-11-08

Did not know about this film. I just found it at the video store on saturday.
The kind of film that you do not know why it is not a famous picture.
Very interesting subject. Changing roles; he is the one who has to be a prostitute to support his family. Very interesting, I do not think there are much more films about it.
Andy Garcia plays with the image of "latin lover" to give just the opposite message. "You can have a lot of things as a latin lover, but you also can loose everything because of it".
I think that alaso talks abou the way of living that we have; what is more important , to have a high level life or to have the ones you have besides. As it happens with Mick Jagger's character, at the end, what it is really important is love and be love.All the characters in the film do things because of love, to themselves or the others and all of them, are fighting till the end trying not to be alone. To betrayed yourself and others, to loose things in fighting for a dream....(Great perfomance of Jagger, never thought of him like a gentlemen, very elegant).
Good performaces in general, good soundtrack and a very good slow rythm in general. Very interesting film, I recommend it absolutely.

The Man from Elysian Fields [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Sweden ]

Average customer rating:

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR...

The Man from Elysian Fields [ NON-USA FORMAT, PAL, Reg.2 Import - Sweden ]
Director: George Hickenlooper
Manufacturer: Nordisk
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD
ASIN: B000FT3ZZS

Product Description

Sweden released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: it WILL NOT play on standard US DVD player. You need multi-region PAL/NTSC DVD player to view it in USA/Canada. LANGUAGES: English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), Danish (Subtitles), Finnish (Subtitles), Norwegian (Subtitles), Swedish (Subtitles), WIDESCREEN, SYNOPSIS: George Hickenlooper directs this psychological drama about an impoverished writer lost in a world of money, power, and male escorts. Though happily married with a young child, Byron Tiller (Andy Garcia) is struggling to make ends meet as a novelist. His last work, called "Hitler's Child," had an ignoble run in the bookstore bargain bins and his editor is not interested in his latest work about migrant workers. One day, he is approached by a dapper Brit named Luther Fox (Mick Jagger) who actually read Tiller's last opus. Luther explains that he runs an escort agency named Elysian Fields, which caters to rich women looking for intelligent companionship. Desperate for any kind of income source, Tiller takes the job while keeping the whole thing a secret from his loving wife (Julianna Margulies). He soon is rubbing elbows with the beautiful wife (Olivia Williams) of an aging Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Gradually, Tiller finds himself immersed in this strange new world that he cannot quite understand, much less explain to his spouse. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival.
SPECIAL FEATURES: Trailer(s), Scene Access, Interactive Menu, Cast/Crew Interview(s),

Customer Reviews:

BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR..........2006-06-02

This is a finely cast film with some terrific performances by the late James Coburn, Angelica Huston, and Mick Jagger. Not even they, however, can save this film from going belly up. The plot is improbable, and the main character, played by Andy Garcia, is unbelievable.

The plot is simple. Good-looking, former ad agency hotshot turned writer, appropriately named Byron (Andy Garcia), has written and published his first book that, despite warm reviews, has ended up as a remainder. His second book has been rejected by his publisher. His supportive, stay at home wife, Dena (Juliana Margulies), and young child need him to bring home the bacon, so what is an aspiring young writer to do? Why he turns to a male escort service that just happens to have an office in the same building in which Byron has an office that he uses for his writing. Right away you know that the film is in trouble, as one would think that a financially strapped writer would give up the luxury of an office rental.

This escort service is deliciously run by Luthor Fox, which Faustian role is played with silken, Machiavellian overtones by Mick Jagger due to a bit of inspired casting. Luthor himself still dabbles in the field by servicing Jennifer, one of his original clients, played with sophisticated finesse by Angelica Huston. Byron is initially reluctant to do this sort of work, because he does love his wife, and because he seems to have some moral scruples.

Fortuitously for him, Byron's first assignment is to escort a coldly beautiful, young woman named Andrea, played with icy hauteur by the lovely Olivia Williams. Andrea just happens to be married to aging Pulitzer Prize winning novelist, Tobias Alcott (James Coburn). Before Byron knows it, his moral scruples are blowing in the wind. It turns out that this assignment has him servicing both the Alcotts in ways he could never have imagined. Of course, his pact with the Alcotts has its short lived financial rewards, but its long term impact on his marriage, his writing career, and his psyche is another matter.

There are some juicy and memorable moments in the film. Tobias Alcott has a knack for entering his wife's room to chat, at just precisely the wrong moment. When Luthor decides to take his business arrangement with Jennifer to a new level, he gets an ego shattering surprise that has some cinematic interest. There are also some less than memorable moments in the film. The scene at the end, when Byron realizes just where his pact with the Alcotts has led him, causing him to indulge in an act of purely gratuitous vandalism, is a bit of ham handed, laughable overkill.

The plot holes also do not help this film. Byron's paying for an office in which to write, when he does not have two sticks to rub together, is ridiculous. Byron's seeming disinclination to get a "respectable" job does not really justify his resorting to getting a job with the escort service. His verbal pact with the crusty Tobias, regarding a collaborative writing effort, does not seem to be a sound basis for Byron getting a new house in a more upscale neighborhood and doing scads of shopping with Dena. Moreover, Byron's seeming naivete does not jive with his being a former ad agency hotshot. In short, Byron comes across as a bit of a dolt and, ultimately, unsympathetic. The character of Dena does not fare much better, as Ms. Margulies is too one dimensional as the sweetly trusting wife.

This film is moderately enjoyable, at best, and only so due to the stellar performances of Mick Jagger, James Coburn, and Angelica Huston. Andy Garcia and Juliana Margulies are eminently forgettable in their respective roles, while Olivia Williams manages to hold her own in an undeveloped role. The allegorical pretensions of the film are merely just that, as the film careens midway and degenerates into pure hogwash.

The Man From Elysian Fields (El Hombre De Los Placeres) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]

Average customer rating:

The Man From Elysian Fields (El Hombre De Los Placeres) [NTSC/REGION 1 & 4 DVD. Import-Latin America]
Director: George Hickenlooper
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Average customer rating:

lesson of the movie Make sure you have something in writing.
Best Bad Film I've Ever Seen
A pleasant surprise
I wish one could rate a movie 2.5 stars!
To be or not to be loved.

The Man from Elysian Fields [Region 2]
Starring: Andy Garcia , Mick Jagger , Julianna Margulies , Olivia Williams , and James Coburn
Director: George Hickenlooper
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Drama | Genres | DVD | Video

( M ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
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Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

lesson of the movie Make sure you have something in writing........2007-03-25

Best Bad Film I've Ever Seen.......2006-11-18

A pleasant surprise.......2006-04-07

I wish one could rate a movie 2.5 stars!.......2006-01-16

To be or not to be loved........2005-11-08

Charlie Rose with Mick Jagger (December 31, 2002)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Mick Jagger (December 31, 2002)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000HBL3P8
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

Mick Jagger, lead singer and songwriter of The Rolling Stones, opens up on music, his career behind and in front of the movie camera, and his relationship with Keith Richards.

Charlie Rose with Mick Jagger (November 14, 2002)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Mick Jagger (November 14, 2002)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000HBL3YE
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

Mick Jagger, lead singer and songwriter of The Rolling Stones, opens up on music, his career behind and in front of the movie camera, and his relationship with Keith Richards.

Charlie Rose with Mick Jagger (August 25, 2003)

Average customer rating:

Charlie Rose with Mick Jagger (August 25, 2003)

Manufacturer: Charlie Rose, Inc.
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Educational | Genres | DVD | Video

( C ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
ASIN: B000HBL2M2
Release Date: 2006-08-15

Description

Mick Jagger, lead singer and songwriter of The Rolling Stones, opens up on music, his career behind and in front of the movie camera, and his relationship with band mate Keith Richards.

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