The Dying Gaul Review!!!
SYNOPSIS: Robert, a screenwriter in LA, is about to sell his script for "The Dying Gaul" to Jeffrey, a production executive. As the two hash out the script-and the "necessary" change of the focus going from homosexual to heterosexual characters-Robert becomes adopted by Jeffrey's family. Parties, premieres, special screenings...all attended by Jeffrey's wife Elaine as well. Through a flippant comment one night, Elaine figures out where Robert spends his online time since his partner died: in a chat room. Elaine then pursues him, finding things out she doesn't want to know.
ANALYSIS: Some questions remain after watching this movie adapatation of a stage play. What possible motive does Elaine have for going after Robert online? How can Robert actually think his dead partner is talking to him through the computer? How does Elaine get private psychiatric files?
But lets back up first. It's fairly evident early on that Jeffrey is attracted to Robert. He says the things he wants to do to his body...lick him from top to bottom, for example...yet we don't get to see anything happening. When Robert and Elaine talk over the computer, he says he is involved with a man who has a wife, kids and is his boss on a project. All well and good, but in order for the audience to buy it, we have to see something happening between the two that will convince us of it. Some of the deleted scenes would have brought this out and it's a shame they got cut. (In one, though, it is made quite clear that Jeffrey and Elaine have an open marriage as long as the other partner is not a mutual friend and there is no love involved. Had it been left it, the only person Elaine could have been mad at is Jeffrey since Robert was never told of this "contract".)
And how does Elaine figure out something is going on between her husband and Robert? She doesn't walk in on them...she has conversations taped (we think, since that portion of the plot is glossed over and never explained) and pretends to be Robert's dead partner Malcolm online in order to get information out of him. Which leads to the above question: why in the world does someone who seems to be intelligent and rational think that a man he helped to kill is talking to him through a computer? Yes, Robert is very depressed over Malcolm's death and is liable to believe just about anything...but it just doesn't add up. Does he want Malcolm back so much that he'd believe anything there is to believe? And, assuming nothing else, why does Robert give information such as how Malcolm died and the fact he is stepping into a marriage to Malcolm? Absolution of guilt? If Malcolm is in heaven and he can see everything going on in the world, doesn't he know already?
Speaking of this whole online thing, why does Elaine feel the need to delve into Robert's psyche? If the script that good that she needs to know where it came from? If so, why doesn't the audience ever get to experience the wonder that is this mythical screenplay? With a cast like this (Patricia Clarkson, Campbell Scott and the ever mesmerizing Peter Sarsgaard), the acting keeps the narrative afloat long enough to get to the ending. But all the questions it leaves unanswered has the audience scratching their collective heads at the end. Sad missed opportunity.