THE MUSIC OF CHANCE
US, 1993, 98 minutes, Colour.
James Spader, Mandy Patinkin, M. Emmett Walsh, Charles Durning, Joel Gray, Samantha Mathis, Chris Penn, Paul Auster.
Directed by Philip Haas.
The Music of Chance is written by Philip Haas and his wife Belinda Haas, based on a novel by celebrated American author, Paul Auster (who appears in a cameo role as a driver in this film). This film predates the versions of Auster’s novel, Smoke and its sequel Blue in the Face.
Philip Haas has made comparatively few films. They include a version of A.S. Byatt's Angels and Insects and W. Somerset Maugham’s Up at the Villa (both featuring Kristen Scott Thomas).
The Music of Chance indicates a lyrical tone to the film while focusing on fate. The film is in some ways an existential film about gambling. It focuses on choice, possibilities, the consequences of choices.
James Spader portrays a gambler who encounters a fireman who is able to draw on his money to back Spader in a confrontation between two eccentric gambling millionaires played by Charles Durning and Joel Gray. This is a film about risk as well as about loss. There is a symbolic consequence – as the millionaires ask the two men to build a stone wall across their property.
The film also features Samantha Mathis and Chris Penn.
The film is about the sanity and insanity of gambling – used as a symbol for the human condition.
1.Philip Haas’s work? The novels of Paul Auster? Specialist film-making? Literary adaptation? American style?
2.The locations, the American road, homes, grounds? The musical score and the blend of classic and jazz?
3.The title, harmony, rhythms, patterns?
4.The title and luck, chance, fortune, choices of the will, the effect of circumstances?
5.Jack at the beginning of the story, his background, gambling? The truth in his story or not? The encounter with Jim? The risk, the experience? The end? The true story?
6.Jack, blood, his style, talk and manner, in the car, telling his story, gambling and bravado, his being persuasive, Jim believing him? The city, leaving and the proposal? The hotel, the clothes, the plan?
7.Jim and his background, fireman, wealth? The ride? Suspicious, pleasant, picking up Jack? The risk? Listening to his story, wary, the deal? The clothes, the plan? The arrival? The brothers?
8.Bill and Willie, their story? Millionaires? In the city? Coached? The Laurel and Hardy appearance, style? Their look? The house and the model house? White, their genial manner but their toughness? Losing and winning? The discussion, the car? The conditions? Their despising Jack? The contract? The food, leaving? Cruelty?
9.Calvin, rough, the gate, the warder? The rules, being lenient or not? His grandson? Floyd, the letters, the prostitute, the drinks? The drive and the crash? The relationship between Calvin and Floyd?
10.The game, Jim going out, the model, the second take, luck, more money, the car – and the cutting of the cards?
11.The contract, Jack’s attitude, Jim allowing it? The story of wealth? The issue of the wall? The caravan, the deal, food and needs, lifestyle, reading and music? The prostitute, the meal? Her character?
12.The wall and hard work, the stones (and the play on words of Stone’s name)? Calvin and his presence, the effect? Jack and the girl, Jim and his singing? Blake and listening?
13.The escape, Jack returning, Floyd’s behaviour, the hospital – death or not?
14.Jim, the end, the contract? The driving, the sister and the daughter?
15.The end, philosophical reflection about the meaning of life, the human condition? The fatalistic and cruel aspects? Creativity and wealth? Accepting of one’s fate?
