The Dying Gaul (2005)

49% of critics liked it
(67 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(3,222 ratings)

An artist who compromises his work for money finds his heart and soul are also being toyed with by his new patrons in this drama. Robert (Peter Sarsgaard) is a playwright who has recently lost his longtime lover and business partner, Malcolm (Bill Camp), to AIDS-related illnesses. Robert has written… More An artist who compromises his work for money finds his heart and soul are also being toyed with by his new patrons in this drama. Robert (Peter Sarsgaard) is a playwright who has recently lost his longtime lover and business partner, Malcolm (Bill Camp), to AIDS-related illnesses. Robert has written a screenplay about their relationship, called "The Dying Gaul," and is interested in selling the project to powerful producer Jeffrey (Campbell Scott). However, while Jeffrey likes the script, he tells Robert that he's not about to spend money on a film about a gay couple -- though he'll give him one million dollars for the screenplay under the condition he turns the character of "Maurice" into a woman so the film will be easier to sell. While Robert is secretly appalled by the idea, he's also deep in debt and wants the film to be made, so he agrees to make the changes. Robert is soon invited into the inner circle of Jeffrey and his wife, Elaine (Patricia Clarkson), herself a talented screenwriter until their marriage put an end to her career. Jeffrey finds himself fascinated by Robert, and soon begins seducing him both physically and intellectually, while Elaine is also deeply attracted to him. As Robert and Elaine become close friends, she also begins pursuing him in on-line chat rooms, playing on his emotional weaknesses as she fashions a story of her own. The Dying Gaul was the first directorial credit for playwright and screenwriter Craig Lucas. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 35 min.
Directed By: Craig Lucas
Written By: Craig Lucas
Genres: Drama, Romance, Art House & International

In Theaters: Nov 4, 2005 Wide
On DVD: Mar 21, 2006
Studio: Strand Releasing

Critic Reviews

Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
The Dying Gaul isn't dead on arrival. But its death throes are only as interesting as the actors, characters and dialogue can make them.
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News
The film plays for keeps: It hurts and it doesn't back away from messy questions about art, commerce and conscience.
Robert Denerstein, Denver Rocky Mountain News
The movie always feels as if it's on the verge of a major discovery. It ends without convincing us that any such discovery has been made.
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post
The Dying Gaul begins with a Herman Melville quote: 'Woe to him who seeks to please rather than appall.' Let them serve not as words of wisdom, but of warning.
Jeff Strickler, Minneapolis Star Tribune
[E]xcept for some problems in the middle act, the movie is easy to swallow.
Steve Murray, Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Like minimalist composer Steve Reich's prickly, tense music on the soundtrack, the movie itself is too often too intellectual, experimental and abstract.
Jette Kernion, Cinematical
An absorbing, fascinating film, but disturbing and a little grim.
David Noh, Film Journal International
Sound silly? Well, it is, plus passé (as so many techno-concerned conceits soon become), self-indulgent and nihilistically nasty in tone.
James Plath, Movie Metropolis
Like an accomplished swimmer, this little film has its graceful moments, but the third act is marred too much by the equivalent of quick cannonballs into the deep end of the pool.
Nick Schager, Filmcritic.com
finds it difficult to infuse humanity into a character who essentially functions as a dramatic device
Ed Gonzalez, Slant Magazine
In the end, the film is only of interest for members of the Campbell Scott Honorary Gay Man Society.
Rob Thomas, Capital Times (Madison, WI)
Lucas' use of chat rooms as a plot-moving device is pretty hackneyed, and when the story takes a thriller-like turn in the third act, it feels really forced.
Kurt Loder, MTV
The Dying Gaul has the tight, nailed-down structure of a good play. But it's the actors who really lift the movie above the shortcomings of its plot.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
Verbally well-matched, morally ambiguously fascinating together, they are exciting to watch.* All three leads give extraordinary performances.
Steve Schneider, Orlando Weekly
Almost every time Gaul threatens to be overwhelmed by its maudlin tendencies and need to be 'about' something, it's rescued by its delicious sense of cruelty.
Jeff Vice, Deseret News, Salt Lake City
It's his heavy-handed and often ludicrous plotting that is the film's downfall.
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
The one thing Greek tragedy shouldn't desperately want is any kind of catharsis.
Stina Chyn, Film Threat
Has neither hero nor villain, only humans. Beyond imperfect, they are complicated thinkers, lovers, dreamers, and performers.

Read all 18 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Alice S

Simply simply gorgeous gorgeous movie about well, the usual - love, lust, betrayal, integrity, Buddhist philosophy, dead lovers communicating through the internet, murder by horticulture. You know, the usual. It's also, of course, a subtle and snide satire on the movie… More
Simply simply gorgeous gorgeous movie about well, the usual - love, lust, betrayal, integrity, Buddhist philosophy, dead lovers communicating through the internet, murder by horticulture. You know, the usual. It's also, of course, a subtle and snide satire on the movie industry, a passionate treatise on sexuality and sexual orientation, as well as a showcase of jaw-droppingly moving performances. Sarsgaard and Scott are completely un-self-conscious in their sex scenes. I feel bad giving it 4 stars because it was 5 for most of the way through, but the lack of closure on the ending really doesn't sit well with me. The alternate cut suffices, save for the out-of-place voice-over.
jay n

just awful
Rico Z

This movie, based on the New York City-produced play, is taut and very well put together. It follows the story of Robert, a screenwriter trying to get his controversial, gay-themed script produced. Jeffrey is the executive who promises Robert he'll make the film if Robert decides… More
This movie, based on the New York City-produced play, is taut and very well put together. It follows the story of Robert, a screenwriter trying to get his controversial, gay-themed script produced. Jeffrey is the executive who promises Robert he'll make the film if Robert decides to make some major changes to the script; changes that will test Robert's moral integrity. Jeffrey's wife Elaine, played by Patricia Clarkson, is a former writer herself and is struggling to maintain in her stale and monotonous marriage with Jeffrey. What follows is a story of seduction, deception and reflection on past tragedy. The story turns somewhat predictable and you see the ending coming from a mile away. But the good thing about this film is its life imitates art theme and the many angles you can see these characters from. Their story will compel you and Craig Lucas' script and directing will draw you into the world these these characters live in. The score for this film is very unusual and quite interesting. The cinematography is excellent, including the pool scenes and the silhouette office scenes.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"The Dying Gaul" takes place in 1995. Struggling writer Robert Sandrich(Peter Sarsgaard) has written a script called "The Dying Gaul" which was inspired by his lover Malcolm who had died that year of AIDS. The studio is willing to buy the… More
[font=Century Gothic]"The Dying Gaul" takes place in 1995. Struggling writer Robert Sandrich(Peter Sarsgaard) has written a script called "The Dying Gaul" which was inspired by his lover Malcolm who had died that year of AIDS. The studio is willing to buy the script for a million dollars but there is a problem. As the studio executive, Jeffrey(Campbell Scott) puts it - the American viewing public does not want to see a movie about gay men, so could he change the character dying of AIDS to a woman? Robert stalks off at first but then realizes there are more than a couple of things he can do with a million dollars like put his son through college. Jeffrey introduces Robert to his wife, Elaine(Patricia Clarkson), who used to be a screenwriter herself. At which point, Jeffrey becomes attracted to Robert. Complications ensue...[/font] [font=Century Gothic]"The Dying Gaul" is at its best when it is a condemnation of Hollywood's refusing to make any movies about gay men and lesbians("Brokeback Mountain" does come out next month.). When it makes a hard turn away from the political to the personal and even the new age, the movie weakens towards a very problematic ending. Peter Sarsgaard and Patricia Clarkson, being two of the best actors around, make this movie better than it should have been.[/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#000080]"Three of Hearts" is a documentary about a rather unique relationship and family. The relationship consists of two men and a woman who are all in love with each other - Sam & Steven & Samantha. Sam and Steven were in love first before they decided to add a woman to the mix. At the beginning of the movie, Samantha has just become pregnant for the first time.(And she will also give birth to a second child.) I was surprised to see they all work together at the same wellness center.[/color][/font] [font=Century Gothic][color=#000080]The moral of the documentary is that we spend too much time self-analyzing. Also, we rely too much on labels to define ourselves.[/color][/font]
Daniel P

Just fantastic, and I wouldn't change anything; I even like the abrupt ending. Peter Sarsgaard and Patricia Clarkson are magnificent. Review soon.
Sunil J

I liked some of the acting but the story itself was just okay.