Love the Hard Way (2003)
Claire, a brilliant student, seeks answers to the meaning of life in the calm of her biology laboratory. One day, she meets a mysterious young man, Jack, at the cinema, and is intrigued by his style, assurance and audacity. Apart from his artistic activities, Jack has a regular scam going, ripping off foreign businessmen with his loyal mate Charlie and two actresses. But his tough guy exterior conceals a secret passion for old books, and he dreams of writing a novel one day. Jack falls hard for Claire's purity and curiosity. An unusual romance develops between them. But Jack is scared of their growing intimacy and rejects Claire, withdrawing into his shell. Abandoned and confused, Claire gradually begins to neglect her studies and embarks on a spiraling course of self-destruction, whilst Jack, who tries to ignore her, concentrates on his criminal activities. However, a sharp detective, named Linda Fox, is following his dodgy tracks.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Reviews
Good concept, poorly executed.
At first rather annoying in its heavy emphasis on reenactments, this movie ultimately proves fascinating, simply because the complicated, highly dramatic tale it tells still almost defies belief.
One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.
Blistering performances.
I love to watch this movie when I want to make myself suffer. Not because it's bad. It's incredibly goooooooooooodddd. It reminds me of both my ex fiancé and my husband. I have always had a thing for bad boys like the one Adrien Brody plays here. The guy who is afraid to be in touch with his feelings, but if you stay by his side long enough you will see that tiny inner beauty that will put butterflies into your stomach. Unfortunately, if you get too close to a guy like that, they will burn you... time and time again. I hate to admit I have been to the depths of despair like Claire goes, but I have and this movie rips open those wounds and allows me to bleed all over again. It can be very therapeutic.
I'm not going to finish watching this movie. I just can't buy much of anything about this movie. Everything from the lead actresses fake breasts to the improbable con jobs they run is just completely, literally unbelievable in any sense.Brody doesn't seem like a criminal - definitely not a rough, intimidating one - and it is difficult to see what about him would lure the girl out of her college world. It's even more difficult to see how she could go from someone who is sweet, sharp-witted, and presumably of near-genius IQ given her position in school, to someone suicidally stupid enough to serially risk getting murdered or contracting AIDS... especially since this transformation seemed to happen all in the one scene where she sees what she must have suspected was happening anyway: Brody in bed with another girl. I could go on picking it apart, but it isn't worth the time.Movies like this really aggravate me because it is obvious that a lot of talented people were involved, but the writers/producers have produced little more than a stylish insult to human intelligence. I get the feeling that what we are dealing with here is people coming from a cushy film-geek background aspiring to be hipsters, as opposed to people with something to say and/or a basis in real experience.
I am in awe of this movie, excuse me while I wipe away my tears. Adriene Brody and Charlotte Ayanna are brilliant as a couple of unlikely lovers. My favorite part about watching Brody perform is his ability to BE his character. I put my Summer of Sam Oxygen preconceived notions of the young actor and instead existed with Jack. I highly recommend this movie to everyone, but especially to aspiring actors/filmmakers like myself. The way this film is directed, acted, edited and written is so brilliant and so inspiring. I went into my next directing bit with a new outlook and won an award for the one act I did. Peter Sehr is a brilliant man and whoever was casting director is brilliant as well. I continue to enjoy everything Brody does and can't wait to follow his career for years to come.
I would have given this flick a 10, but there were some plotting issues and areas where things didn't get developed as well as they should have. However, I too was glued to this picture instantly! I saw it last night on cable and confess that I have a THING for Adrien Brody - so as soon as I saw that he way in it I was hooked. He didn't fail me - his performance is stunning. Not only is he really EASY to look at for 2 hours, but you have to watch - you don't want to take your eyes off him. The plot keeps you guessing and the extended cast is also great. We have all known a "bad boy" and with Adrien Brody in the part we can all understand why so many chicks fall so hard for them. Any woman that has had a boy who just "got under her skin" will find themselves mesmerized by Brody's performance. The female lead is gorgeous and does a great job too. The plot and characters are fascinating and you will be pulled in. A powerful flick!