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Mood:
- ContemplativeTouchingSincereBittersweet
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Plot:
- Writer's LifeFriendshipArtists and ShowbizCouplesFriendsGolden YearsAgingStarting Over more...
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Genres:
- DramaMelodrama
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Time/Period:
- Contemporary
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Place:
- New York
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Style:
- Talky
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Based on:
- Based on Book
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Attitudes:
- SeriousRealistic
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Starting Out in the Evening, 2007
English
USA
Profile of Starting Out in the Evening
Starting Out in the Evening can be described as contemplative, touching, and bittersweet. The plot revolves around the life of a writer, artists and showbiz, and friendship. The main genre is drama. In terms of style, Starting Out in the Evening is a melodrama and is talky. In approach, it is serious and realistic. It is located in New York. Starting Out in the Evening takes place in contemporary times. It is based on a book.
Summary of Starting Out in the Evening
Though he's spent most of his career as a character actor in supporting roles, Frank Langella gives the lead performance of a lifetime in STARTING OUT IN THE EVENING, based on the novel by Brian Morton. Flanked by Lili Taylor and Lauren Ambrose, Langella is the central piece in a film that focuses on its characters. The film begins with aging writer Leonard Schiller (Langella, SUPERMAN RETURNS), a man who feels as obsolete as the typewriter he is pounding away at. Though he has four novels to his credit, he has been working on his fifth for a decade. Enter Heather Wolfe (Ambrose, SIX FEET UNDER), a grad student who plans to write her thesis on Schiller's work. She cajoles the reluctant man into helping her, and they begin a curious friendship. Meanwhile, Schiller's daughter Ariel (Taylor, SIX FEET UNDER) struggles not only with her elderly father, but also with her own desire to have children as she approaches 40. She also grapples with the decision of reconnecting with an ex-boyfriend (Adrian Lester, HUSTLE).
As the fading writer Schiller, Langella doesn't give a bold performance that screams for Oscar's attention. Instead, the actor commands the screen with a quiet presence. Heather's attempts at friendship with Schiller--and eventual seduction--may feel awkward at times within the film, but Ambrose's performance is quite genuine. As always, Taylor is impressive, and it's good to see her get a heftier role. The film's other central character is New York's Upper West Side, a player that should receive top billing. Director Andrew Wagner (THE TALENT GIVEN US) allows the neighborhood to play a central role within his engaging film.
Details
| Language: | English |
| Country: | USA |
| Release date: | January 2007 |
| Runtime: | 111 min |
Cast and Crew
as Leonard Schiller
as Ariel Schiller
as Heather Wolfe
Photos
Clips
Critics Reviews
USA Today
- |
- by: Claudia Puig
The Hollywood Reporter
- |
- by: James Greenberg
Users Reviews
- 19.March.2009
- |
- by: Vic
- Vic rated this movie
8/10Great
