This film opens with an amazing time-lapse sequence as the sun rises on Los Angeles. Among the first times we see people, it is as we learn of superagent Ivan Beckman's (Huston's) death. His agency cohorts are trying to do damage control and salvage client relationships. Those gathered at his funeral assume drugs played a key role in his demise. In fact, Beckman had a tumor, which prompted his out-of-control use of drugs and alcohol.
The film shifts to Beckman's last days as he works to secure Don West (Peter Weller) as a client. Beckman learns of his condition during a routine physical examination. He knows he cannot tip his hand to anyone -- not even his girlfriend (Lisa Enos) -- lest he relinquish all he has worked to achieve.
Thus begins his hedonistic and nihilistic dark plunge. Beckman tries to lose himself, self-destructing as he searches for some semblance of meaning or redemption in a profession and town seemingly incapable of providing either.
Based on Tolstoy's "The Live and Death of Ivan Ilyich," Bernard Rose shot this film on high definition video and uses a modified approach to the Dogme 95 style espoused by Lars von Trier (BREAKING THE WAVES, DANCER IN THE DARK).
--ldpaulson, Resident Scholar
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Analysis of IvansXTC
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- present (2000-2010)
Inner struggle or disability
Yes
Job/Profession/Poverty Story?
Yes
Job:
- agent (arts/sports/lobbyist)
Druggie/Wino problems?
- drugs
Brain/Body not working?
- dying
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 20's-30's
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard curly
Body type
- (man) average
Unclothed?
- Full Frontal
Events of movie makes character more...
- sad
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Smarter than most other characters
Physique
- physically sick
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) very short/crewcut
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 20%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Female
Age:
- 20's-30's
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 40%
Hair color
- blonde
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (woman) average
unclothed?
- full frontal
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- explicit references to deaths
Sex/nudity in movie?
Yes
What kind of sex:
- orgies
- seeing breasts
- seeing nude female butt
- seeing nude male butt
- seeing full frontal--women
- seeing full frontal--men
Any profanity?
- Some foul language
Is this movie based on a
- book
