Michael Winterbottom and Steve Coogan team up again. They had previously combined to great effect in 24 Hour Party People and A Cock and Bull Story. It has to be said that, while this is a good enough film, it pales in comparison with those other two. Perhaps the main reason for this is, unlike Tony Wilson from 24 Hour Party People, the main character here isn't very sympathetic at all. Steve Coogan plays Paul Raymond in a similar bumbling way but it doesn't seem as true to character here. Coogan is still good, don't get me wrong, but he seems more on auto-pilot than usual. On paper the cast is really good. It's a who's who of British comedians and comic actors. In practice though, most of them have blink and you'll miss them roles, which was kind of unfortunate. Of the ones who do have bigger parts Chris Addison plays perhaps the least admirable character in the story, Men Only editor Tony Power, a man also with a truly appalling beard. Also Anna Friel is good as Raymond's long suffering wife.
It's a biopic about the porn baron Paul Raymond. But curiously, it lacks a bit of drama. Raymond has already made it when the story begins and the rest just adds further details such as the creation of Men Only magazine or specifics on personal relationships like with Fiona Richmond. Perhaps the main concurrent storyline is about his daughter who ended up dying of a drug overdose, this plot strand is the only one that provides any emotional fall for the central character. Raymond seems to have been a hopeless father, allowing his daughter to take cocaine with little concern and being entirely ambivalent to the existence of his first son. He is also a terrible husband and generally a somewhat sleazy individual. He isn't likable but not horrendous enough to be a great anti-hero.
The Look of Love sometimes feels like an attempt at a British Boogie Nights. It's stylised enough and similarly has a soundtrack that reflects the times. But it doesn't have the energy and fun of that movie. It does have a lot of nudity though that much is for sure. Of especial note on that front is a scene where Anna Friel is photographed while in a bubble bath. She looked pretty fantastic it has to be said. The sexiest moment in a film that doesn't really have very many despite the subject matter. In fairness, this is a good film; just one that I thought would be better considering the personnel involved.
It's a biopic about the porn baron Paul Raymond. But curiously, it lacks a bit of drama. Raymond has already made it when the story begins and the rest just adds further details such as the creation of Men Only magazine or specifics on personal relationships like with Fiona Richmond. Perhaps the main concurrent storyline is about his daughter who ended up dying of a drug overdose, this plot strand is the only one that provides any emotional fall for the central character. Raymond seems to have been a hopeless father, allowing his daughter to take cocaine with little concern and being entirely ambivalent to the existence of his first son. He is also a terrible husband and generally a somewhat sleazy individual. He isn't likable but not horrendous enough to be a great anti-hero.
The Look of Love sometimes feels like an attempt at a British Boogie Nights. It's stylised enough and similarly has a soundtrack that reflects the times. But it doesn't have the energy and fun of that movie. It does have a lot of nudity though that much is for sure. Of especial note on that front is a scene where Anna Friel is photographed while in a bubble bath. She looked pretty fantastic it has to be said. The sexiest moment in a film that doesn't really have very many despite the subject matter. In fairness, this is a good film; just one that I thought would be better considering the personnel involved.