Until the Night (2004)

User Rating:

4.3/10   

Director:

Gregory Hatanaka

Writer:

Gregory Hatanaka (writer)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

An unsuccessful writer, who leads a dissolute life, has an affair with an ex-lover, who is the wife of a once-celebrated actor, but their relationship pushes them to confusion and obsession. |

Plot Keywords:

Female Nudity | Model | Sex | Adultery

Cast

Norman Reedus	...	Robert
Kathleen Robertson	...	Elizabeth
Missy Crider	...	Mina
Sarah Lassez	...	Karina
Michael T. Weiss	...	Daniel
Matthew Settle	...	Michael
Aimee Graham	...	Cynthia
Boyd Kestner	...	David
Sean Young	...	Cosma
Stanley Herman	...	Dr. Meyers
Danielle James	...	Molly
Matthew Mahaney	...	Derek
Kaila Yu	...	Ali
Doralina Silander	...	Vanessa
Paula LaBaredas	...	Melanie

Runtime:

USA:87 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Company:

Pathfinder Pictures

If you live in L.A., you know these people

The thing that struck me the most about this movie is that I felt like I was at a party in L.A. watching real people. Elizabeth (Kathleen Robertson) is a successful businesswoman who cannot admit her life is imperfect even to her close friends. She's married to Daniel (Michael T. Weiss), a once-hot actor who now can't seem to motivate himself to do anything but sit around and drink. She cheats on him in a desperate search for some kind of emotional fulfillment, but still feels so responsible for him that she cannot leave him and cares for him like a mother with a sick child. Elizabeth's ex-boyfriend, Robert (Norman Reedus), a fashion photographer, lives in a world full of plastic hotties who have nothing of substance to offer him - certainly not the intelligent and understanding ear he needs. Yet, he cannot seem to relate to his live-in girlfriend, ex-actress Mina (Missy Crider), in any way that doesn't involve a video camera. Karina's mood swings don't help things much. When Robert and Elizabeth encounter one another again, sparks fly and they fall back into an affair without thinking too hard about it, a move that impacts everyone's life.

It is ironic that the character who comes off as the most emotionally healthy in this film is Cosma (Sean Young), the Hollywood madam Robert visits for instant gratification. Cosma seems to understand the futility of it all and has chosen to have a good time rather than analyze things too deeply. This is a sharp contrast to Robert, who is so typically L.A. in this aspect - he would analyze the label on a can of soup. All of these characters are incredibly wrapped up in themselves. They are so inside their own heads that you want to slap them and say "Snap out of it! Go volunteer somewhere! You're young and attractive, you live in L.A. and your life does NOT suck!" Instead, they analyze and give vent to all of their emotions and self-destruct in various ways. So, so true to life. A brilliant character study with some truly fine performances, most notably Kathleen Robertson, Norman Reedus and Sean Young. I highly recommend it!