Bad Manners (1997)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

Jonathan Kaufer

Writers:

David Gilman (screenplay)
David Gilman (play)

Release Date:

9 October 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Plot:

Wes and Nancy are a married academics couple. One day they host Nancy's long-ago lover Matt and his current sexy girlfriend Kim...

Plot Keywords:

Jealousy | Ex Boyfriend | Musicologist | Older Man Younger Woman Relationship | Convertible

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

David Strathairn	...	Wes
Bonnie Bedelia	...	Nancy
Saul Rubinek	...	Matt
Caroleen Feeney	...	Kim Matthews
Julie Harris	...	Professor Harper
Robin Poley	...	First Musicologist
Daniel Koch	...	Musicologist
Steve Forbert	...	Coffeehouse Troubadour

MPAA:

Rated R for language and sexuality.

Runtime:

88 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

USA:R

Company:

Davis Entertainment Classics

Trivia:

The teacup held by Professor Harper (Julie Harris) is antique American china made by Stetson called American Beauty. The china was originally sold in grocery stores for pennies a piece, but is now quite valuable.

Extraordinary - a little 'off the beat'

An ageing couple of academics are stuck in a stale marriage. Her old boyfriend comes to stay for a few days with his (much younger) girlfriend. Things are tense from the beginning. And then $50 goes missing.

This is an extraordinary film. I started watching it while working on my computer - so the movie was just on in the background - but gradually it pulled me in and I couldn't take my eyes off it.

The scenario it sets up could have gone in a number of different directions. At one point early on I had a horrible feeling it was going to be a standard sex flick about middle-aged adultery. Or, after the money goes missing, it might have moved too fast and forced us to watch a bunch of repressed characters suddenly turning to screaming and violence. But no - it's classier than that. What we get instead is a slow-burning exploration of character and relationships. And it isn't at all clear where it is going to go.

I won't over-praise it. The film drags at times, and as others have said its origins as a stage play are very obvious (there's nothing intrinsically wrong with that, except that it does show a slightly limited imagination). The acting is good, rather than top-notch, and personally I always find Saul Rubineck is one of those actors who plays the same character every time.

So it is not perfect. But if you're in the mood for something a little 'off the beat,' it's worth watching. Just don't expect to get any work done while it's on!