The life of one of the most infamous women in early '70s America gets a dramatization in this offbeat period biopic from co-directors Jeffrey Friedman and Robert Epstein. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi
Director: Jeffrey Friedman, Robert Epstein
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Robert Patrick, Wes Bentley.
Release Date: Aug 09, 2013
Rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language, drug use and some domestic violence.
Runtime: 1 hr. 33 min.
Genres: Drama
Review:
Lovelace boast an excellent cast and provocative subject matter. Unfortunately, the film’s direction and script takes the path of least resistance. The first half plays out like a love letter to the 70s while the second half screams made for TV Lifetime movie. Long time documentary filmmakers, Jeffrey Friedman and Robert Epstein, can’t find a proper tone for the film so they just split it up, giving us 2 versions of the same events. It might have worked if the script wasn’t so simplistic and clichéd. The characters are all broadly drawn with the titular character relegated to a victim for the better part and then short changing her transformation into a house wife and activist. There’s a better film in there somewhere but the people behind the camera can’t find it, it’s a shame because the cast is excellent. Amanda Seyfriend is excellent in the lead role. Seyfriend shows she’s got the range to show the character’s naivety, fear and strength. Peter Sarsgaard is equally tuned in throughout delivering a sleazy portrayal which just oozes through the screen even as the character gets more and more clichéd. The supporting cast is made up of interesting well known actors putting in strong performance in limited capacities; Sharon Stone Chris Noth and Bobby Cannavale are noteworthy. Sadly, Lovelace just can’t overcome its glaring issues with the script and direction.
C-
