A River Made to Drown In

Starring:Richard Chamberlain, Michael Imperioli, Ute Lemper, James Duval, Austin Pendleton, Talia Shire, Mike Starr, Richard Riehle, Michael Saucedo, James Karen, Michael Kearns, Michael O'Hagan, Lewis Arquette, Paul Marius, Jon Powell, Kane Picoy, Rene Rivera, Bette Ford, Lenny Juliano, Curt Lowens
Director: James Merendino, Alan Smithee
Studio: Picture This
Product Type: DVD

Description

Thaddeus Mackenzie (Chamberlain), a wealthy lawyer, learns that he is dying and decides to sell all of his property and visit his old friend Allen Hayden (Imperioli). Allen is a struggling artist with a passion for life who once survived by working the streets, but now is romantically involved with Eva, a wealthy European gallery owner living in L.A. Thaddeus implores Allen to find Jamie (Duval), a young street hustler that Thaddeus had once tried to rescue. Allen returns to the streets to face the dark corners of his past where he must choose between what he left behind and the uncertainty that lies ahead.

Customer Reviews:

Pointless.......2006-05-13

As "plot" summaries are mentioned earlier on these pages, let me get straight to the point: This is a godawful waste of time. The best thing that can be said about this film is that the camera angles were interesting. Other than that, this boring chatfest features a must-be-seen performance by Dick Chamberlain where he channels Bette Davis, Truman Capote, and Winston Churchill -- simultaneously.

So, a dying gay lawyer wants to leave his fortune to two hustlers he spent time with. Okay -- an intriguing premise. But unfortunately, there is not one single believable relationship or character in the entire film.

I kept watching this film in amazement. The "lead" hustler kept saying either to others or to himself, "What do you mean? Why did you say that? Why the f**k am I here? What the f**k does that mean?" and questions of that nature. And as he asked them, so did I: What was the meaning of this whole insane waste of time?

Then there were fun scenes with the "big stars" -- Talia Shire "plays" the "part" of "mother" of the second hustler. She has two pointless, irritating scenes, one where the only thing taking up the frame is her head and her hustler son's head as she rambles and goes on about something that had no meaning. Then later we get to see her sleeping in a chair. Good job, Talia! Another Oscar nomination for you!

But the worst offender of all is Dick Chamberlain. Dick says certain lines as if he has imbued them with some magical wit or humor or sarcasm, as if he has elevated them to some Shakespearean level. As if what he is forced to say has some meaning. Hate to break it to you Dick: it doesn't -- none of it does, did or will.

This movie almost defies description. If you want to study what not to do when making a movie, this would be an excellent reference.

This movie satisfied my curiousity about the lives of hustlers: sad, tragic, dangerous, filled with unhappiness and loneliness.

A Film with a Spot of Genius.......2005-10-18

I recently came across this film (DVD) never having had any clue of its existence. I was profoundly affected by it in no small measure due to the wonderful performances of the major players (as well as those of the supporting cast of very competent Hollywood regulars).
Richard Chamberlain (Thaddeus), Michael Imperioli (Allen) and James Duval (Jaime) in particular give heartfelt performances that, in my opinion, either confirmed reasons for (as in the case of Chamberlain) or predicted (as in the case of Imperioli and Duval) the great success of these actors . Chamberlain has intonations and expressions that come from nothing short of great insight into the pains of a character who is facing a death with romantic frustrations. Imperioli, on the other hand, displays a mix of decency and occasional rage which so typifies a person who has internal good within but still has been screwed up by the world around him.
James Duval displays uncanny understanding of the nuances of psychological complexity associated with many street hustlers who, very often, need a little love even when they may not let themselves admit it. He will forever be remembered and seen in this movie as the good looking, clean cut, tough, street smart kid who holds it all in until the end when he comes to realize the feelings he holds that he has previously been afraid to embrace. It's all masterfully summed up with his tearful expressions of affection towards the end of the film. The renderings of Clare De Lune in the background of the Santa Monica street scene at the beginning of the film and Mozart's Requiem at the end express the fleeting nature of youth, beauty and life while emoting deep feelings of sorrow and tragedy. The appropriate playing of Ave Verum Corpus towards the end of the film during the art show coincides with an action that Jamie has initiated which, as the ending of the movie seems to indicate, could result in a step towards his salvation (as well as Allen's).
A director's cut DVD should be made including a "making of "documentary. Independent films such as this are not to be forgotten. Period.

MURKY WATERS.......2004-07-22

"Man will not merely endure:
he will prevail....
....because he has a soul,
a spirit capable of compassion
and sacrifice and endurance."
-William Faulkner-
A RIVER MADE TO DROWN IN is a metaphor for the infamous Santa Monica Boulevard, in Hollywood, California. On these streets, prostitutes, primarily gay, ply their trade - wading out into the murky waters, into darkness ....deeper ....deeper....into the depths of degradation. Allen Hayden, played by the wonderful Michael Imperioli, is a street hustler who uses people, without feeling or involvement. Ute Lemper plays Eva, the wealthy owner of an art gallery. Allen hustles Eva to get his art exhibited, and never tells her of his past. Thaddeus MacKenzie is played brilliantly by Richard Chamberlain. He is a lawyer, who has sold all his worldly belongings, and is dying of Aids. Thaddeus represented young street hustlers when he had a thriving practice, and in the course of his professional services, helped himself to their charms. Jaime is played by the great James Duval.

The story begins with the arrival of the flamboyant Thaddeus, dressed in a designer white suit, requesting to stay with Allen in his seedy apartment. He sends Allen on a search for Jaime, as he claims they are the only two people he has ever loved, and wants them both present when he dies. Jaime and Allen watch their old friend die, and do some serious soul searching...looking at their own values....and come to terms with what is important in life.

The sad thing about this story, is that no one seemed to come to terms with anything LIFE SAVING, for it was a given, that if you stay on the boulevard long enough....it becomes A RIVER MADE TO DROWN IN.....and drown they did! Thaddeus commits suicide, convinced that his "special friends" do not know how to love or care. Jaime, continues to sell himself on the street, even though he is desperately looking to enrich his soul, but cannot find solace in the Buddhism, he is exploring. Allen is incapable of love, and even though he is deeply affected by Thaddeus's death, he stays on the boulevard....stepping back into the murky waters ...pulled down by the power of darkness....forced by the undercurrent of degradation....down....down ....into the depths of destruction. This was a difficult subject matter to deal with, because of the destructive aspects of the life. In the end, Thaddeus, who represents success in life, drowns in the river with everyone else.

YOU CAN WADE INTO THE WATER,
'TIL THE CURRENT PULLS YOU DOWN.
IT'S A RIVER...DEEP...AND MURKY,
MADE TO SWIFTLY MAKE YOU DROWN.

THIS MOVIE IS AWFUL!.......2004-03-10

I rented this movie on .99 cents night and it wasn't worth it. It wasn't worth the drive to the video store. Ugh!

Beyond Dreadful!!!!.......2004-01-25

I blindly picked up this turkey (without knowing anything about it) from the used rack of a Blockbuster store several months ago. I brought the DVD home and proceeded to get information on it via the internet. Amazon was my first stop and I must admit to nearly crying after reading the terrible reviews of others who had already seen the film - I hate casting money to the wind!!! But, I decided to watch the film anyway and form my own opinion about its quality. Well, this has to be one of the worst scripted, worst edited, worst scored and most poorly acted horrors I've ever seen. Richard Chamberlain's acting was so bad that I couldn't help wonder if he had taken laxatives throughout the production and was overacting because he really, really had to get to a bathroom!! He was abyssmal!! I recommend you rent this dreadful film if you're really intent on seeing it. Please, please don't waste your money buying it.

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