The Moderns

The Moderns

Theatrical release poster
Directed by Alan Rudolph
Produced by David Blocker
Shep Gordon
Carolyn Pfeiffer
Written by Jon Bradshaw
Alan Rudolph
Starring Keith Carradine
Linda Fiorentino
John Lone
Wallace Shawn
Geneviève Bujold
Geraldine Chaplin
Kevin J. O'Connor
Music by Mark Isham
CharlElie Couture
Cinematography Toyomichi Kurita
Production
company
Nelson Entertainment
Distributed by Alive Films (theatrical)
MGM Home Entertainment (DVD)
Release dates
  • April 15, 1988
Running time
 126 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $5 million
Box office $2,011,497

The Moderns is a 1988 film by Alan Rudolph, which takes place in 1926 Paris during the period of the Lost Generation and at the height of modernist literature. The film stars Keith Carradine, Linda Fiorentino and John Lone among others.

American film critic, Roger Ebert, in his review stated that The Moderns is:

"sort of a source study for the Paris of Ernest Hemingway in the 1920s; it's a movie about the raw material he shaped into The Sun Also Rises and A Moveable Feast, and it also includes raw material for books by Gertrude Stein, Malcolm Cowley and Clifford Irving."[1]

Plot summary

Nick Hart (Keith Carradine) is an expatriate American artist living in Paris among some of the great artists and writers of the time, including Ernest Hemingway (Kevin J. O'Connor), Gertrude Stein (Elsa Raven), and Alice B. Toklas (Ali Giron).

Nick is torn between his wife Rachel (Linda Fiorentino) and Nathalie de Ville (Geraldine Chaplin) who hires him to forge her paintings. He must also contend with Rachel's current husband, Bertram Stone (John Lone), who does not know that his wife is still married to another man.

Cast

Production

Meg Tilly was set to play the part of Rachel Stone, but withdrew due to scheduling conflicts and Linda Fiorentino eventually signed on to replace her. Mick Jagger and Sam Shepard were considered to play Bertram Stone, before John Lone was immediately cast. Isabella Rossellini screen-tested for the role of Nathalie de Ville, but lost to Geraldine Chaplin.

Reception

The film received fairly positive reviews from critics, as it currently holds a 75% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. It was nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards including Best Supporting Male for John Lone, Best Screenplay and Best Cinematography.

Notes

  1. ↑ Roger Ebert's review of The Moderns

External links