The Man from Elysian Fields

Andy Garcia and Julianna Margulies team up here as a young, idealistic couple starting life in Pasadena. He is a writer who has published his first novel but can't find any interest in a second. She faithfully supports him as an artist. In order to make ends meet and (ironically) not lose the admiration of his wife, Garcia stumbles onto a job working for Luther (Mick Jagger) and his Elysian Fields escort service. What follows is the exploration of what it means to be an artist, a husband, a provider and a businessman. Jagger and Garcia are both able to highlight the internal negotiations necessary for the pursuit of balance and happiness. In many ways, these are the same questions that are raised in last years Up in the Air, and while this film is a bit darker, it may be even better. And as a side note, this is the original pairing of Garcia and Margulies, who again show up this year in City Island perhaps coincidentally also searching for personal/relational fulfillment.
4 stars (out of 5)