GOODBYE, LOVER
US, 1998, 102 minutes, Colour.
Patricia Arquette, Dermot Mulroney, Mary- Louise Parker, Ellen De Generes, Ray Mc Kinnon, Alex Rocco, Don Johnson, Andre Gregory, John Neville, Barry Newman.
Directed by Roland Joffe.
Goodbye, Lover seems an odd choice for British director, Roland Joffe, who had distinguished himself with such films as The Killing Fields, The Mission and City of Joy. Nothing spectacular or serious here. Rather,, this is a black comedy with some satiric ingredients and some deadly intentions. It Is entertainingly preposterous for those who enjoy this kind of satiric storytelling.
It is a Los Angeles story, focusing on a company where image is everything – rather a theme for the film. Two brothers are executives, Don Johnson and Dermot Mulroney – the latter is married to a very glamorous and blonde-wilful Patricia Arquette who is having an affair with the former.
Complications emerge when the husband finds out about the affair, lures his brother to the apartment, pretends to be on the verge of suicide when the couple then murder the brother. A lot of insurance is involved but the plan is spoilt when it seems that the dead man had married one of the office associates, Mary- Louise Parker, only days before in Las Vegas.
While there was the initial intrigue, there is even more with the couple going to an assassin for hire and contract being made. Then contracts are changed with some dire results.
There is a great deal of humour in the portrayal of the detective and her associate, Ellen De Generes and Ray Mc Kinnon, she for four sardonic and cynical remarks, he nicely ingenuous.
And just when all seems settled, there is a further twist, some blackmail – and a good luck happy ending for those who don’t deserve it.
The 1980s was the heyday for Roland Joffe and subsequent to this film his career was minor, although he did make the film about the founder of Opus Dei, There Be Dragons.
1. Black thriller-comedy? The emphasis on the dark, the emphasis on the comic? Sometimes over the top? Spoof?
2. A film from the late 1990s, the American city, businesses, image and politicians, the importance of image over reality? The emphasis on church? Intrigue, money deals, sexual infidelity, conspiracy to murder? A film of twists? Police investigations? The musical score? Especially with Sandra and her fondness for The Sound of Music and the various songs used throughout the film?
3. Introduction to Ben, at the office, efficient, the board meeting, the senator and the scandal? Plans for covering his reputation? Ben and his management, the members of the board, Peggy and her solutions? Jake and his arriving late, his criticisms, lack of interest? His being sent out?
4. Ben and Sandra, in the church loft, and the organ, the choir practice, the sexual encounter? Sandra and her relationship with Ben, with her husband, Jake as Ben’s brother? Going to the house, the bedroom, the inhabitants coming back, calling their bluff?
5. Sandra and Jake, the phone call to Ben, his entanglement with Peggy? His leaving and her being upset? The revelation that Jake knew about Ben? His coming to the house, Jake sitting on the balcony, his being pushed, hanging on, falling?
6. The police, Rita and her tough manner, offhand, her associate, his being ingenuous? The banter between the two, at his expense? The investigation of the case?
7. The revelation that Ben had gone to Las Vegas, the marriage to Peggy, the insurance money going to her? Sandra and Jake and the reaction? The plan to have Peggy murdered? The visit to Michael, the slot machines, his sinister background, hired assassin? Jake going back and changing the plan, ordering the murder of Sandra?
8. Rita and her associate, going to Las Vegas, his ingenuous response, going to the wedding chapel, the photo, the fact that Jake impersonated Ben for the wedding?
9. Sandra, suspicions, following Jake Peggy, the red wig, buying the car, the ATM, the document – and Rita later using all of this? Her pursuing Peggy and Jake, running them off the road, the crash and their deaths?
10. The assassin, coming to kill Sandra, rooted intervening and shooting him?
11. Sandra, Rita’s visit, her associate’s questions? Sandra covering herself and her grief? Rita’s return, the blackmail, wanting half the money? Sandra attempting to inject Rita and the tables being turned?
12. One year later, the room with the bars, the bank vault, Sandra signing away half the money?
13. Sandra and Rita out on the town, reaches transformation – and the irony of meeting the associate, his saying there were under arrest – and the joke? His being in the detail for protecting the senator?
14. The ironic good luck happy ending – and the final credits and Sandra taking up the collection in the church?
