Director: Rob Epstein, Jeffrey Friedman.
Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Peter Sarsgaard, Sharon Stone, Robert Patrick, Juno Temple, Chris Noth, Bobby Cannavale, Hank Azaria, Adam Brody, Chloe Sevigny, James Franco, Debi Mazar, Wes Bentley, Eric Roberts.
Running Time: 93 minutes.
Certificate: 18.
Synopsis: LOVELACE tells the story of the innocent Linda’s (Amanda Seyfried) rise as the lead performer in the porn industry’s most famous film, DEEP THROAT, and the downfall of Linda Lovelace the porn star alongside the rise of Linda the feminist.
LOVELACE tells a truly original and fascinating story told through flashbacks and foreshadowing, playing strongly with the theme of illusion and deceit. The line between sexual freedom and extortion is shown as blurred, as the film struggles to decide whether to sell itself through its sexuality, or by criticising the hostile environment in which Linda Lovelace finds herself in by marrying Chuck (Peter Sarsgaard).
Although Amanda Seyfried is strong as Linda Lovelace, she is easily outshined by Sarsgaard and Sharon Stone, with even Adam Brody playing a more interesting, yet ridiculous character in the three scenes he’s in. Stone brings great range to a character which could easily have been a strict and predictable Christian mother, acting with an intensity that is responsible for some of the film’s most heart wrenching moments. Similarly, Peter Sarsgaard depicts the ex-husband of Lovelace, Chuck Traynor, in such a manner to provoke a mixture of disdain but also understanding as to why Linda would fall for him and allow herself to be abused.
There are moments when LOVELACE tries too hard to send a message (any message), to the point where it is painful to watch the scenes due to their predictability. Linda is introduced as the innocent and virginal daughter of very strict, disciplinarian parents, with her innocence further emphasised in contrast to the wild and unpredictable, Patsy (Juno Temple) – it’s not difficult to see where the filmmakers were trying to go with this.
LOVELACE’s biggest flaw is its attempt to be funny while telling a story of abuse, prostitution and domestic violence. Self-mockery from men in the porn industry about their profession and drooling over a twenty year-old’s deep throating skills are sure to bring chuckles to an audience and on set, but feel very out-of-place in a dramatic film about Linda Lovelace’s life.
LOVELACE is released in UK cinemas on Friday August 23rd.
