The Man from Elysian Fields (2001)

51% of critics liked it
(70 reviews)
54% of users liked it
(1,428 ratings)

George Hickenlooper directs this psychological drama about an impoverished writer lost in a world of money, power, and male escorts. Though happily married with a young child, Byron Tiller (Andy Garcia) is struggling to make ends meet as a novelist. His last work, called "Hitler's Child," had an… More George Hickenlooper directs this psychological drama about an impoverished writer lost in a world of money, power, and male escorts. Though happily married with a young child, Byron Tiller (Andy Garcia) is struggling to make ends meet as a novelist. His last work, called "Hitler's Child," had an ignoble run in the bookstore bargain bins and his editor is not interested in his latest work about migrant workers. One day, he is approached by a dapper Brit named Luther Fox (Mick Jagger) who actually read Tiller's last opus. Luther explains that he runs an escort agency named Elysian Fields, which caters to rich women looking for intelligent companionship. Desperate for any kind of income source, Tiller takes the job while keeping the whole thing a secret from his loving wife (Julianna Margulies). He soon is rubbing elbows with the beautiful wife (Olivia Williams) of an aging Pulitzer Prize-winning writer. Gradually, Tiller finds himself immersed in this strange new world that he cannot quite understand, much less explain to his spouse. This film was screened at the 2001 Toronto Film Festival. ~ Jonathan Crow, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 46 min.
Directed By: George Hickenlooper
Written By: Philip Jayson Lasker
Genres: Drama

In Theaters: Sep 27, 2001 Wide
On DVD: Mar 18, 2003
Studio: Fireworks Pictures

Critic Reviews

Kirk Honeycutt, Hollywood Reporter
Acting is what sustains the unstable plot lines.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
A terrifically engaging, provocative movie.
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel
The direction, by George Hickenlooper, has no snap to it, no wiseacre crackle or hard-bitten cynicism.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
Pompous and garbled.
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
A rare comedy of manners, witty, wicked and worldly, and one of the best movies of the year.
Michael Wilmington, Chicago Tribune
Moves in such odd plot directions and descends into such message-mongering moralism that its good qualities are obscured.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
What really sneaks up is how involved one gets into these characters and their complicated relationships.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
It mixes banality with literature and comes up with a pap concoction.
Mark Robison, Reno Gazette-Journal
The tone keeps a marvelous balance between intelligence and pity.
Jon Popick, Planet Sick-Boy
Best of all is Garcia, who perfectly portrays the desperation of a very insecure man.
Philip Martin, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
...a trashy little bit of fluff stuffed with enjoyable performances and a bewildering sense of self-importance
Chris Gore, Film Threat
Smart and full of sharply drawn characters and wonderfully snappy dialogue.
Jim Lane, Sacramento News & Review
The film is hard to dismiss -- moody, thoughtful, and lit by flashes of mordant humor.

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Luke B

A mature and worldly screenplay is executed by actors giving elegantly crafted performances. Garcia, Jagger and Coburn all work together (despite Coburn and Jagger never sharing a scene). It's the way actions affect others and how ones own selfish desires can make or break a… More
A mature and worldly screenplay is executed by actors giving elegantly crafted performances. Garcia, Jagger and Coburn all work together (despite Coburn and Jagger never sharing a scene). It's the way actions affect others and how ones own selfish desires can make or break a person. The men not only assert their power to gain wealth and acceptance but are also exploited by their female counterparts. All characters evolve and learn life lessons without the screenplay coming across as a self help novel. Emotional and funny only hampered by a surprisingly uninspired montage and an ending that feels to happily rushed.
Anthony V

Plays out better than it sounds, due to the cast.