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
Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike
Film Perfection
The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.
It's a movie as timely as it is provocative and amazingly, for much of its running time, it is weirdly funny.
This is the best movie I've ever seen. It's so bittersweet. The feel of it was real, I could really imagine it as real life. Brody didn't act like a fake punk.It's so sad because stuff like this does happen all the time. And it's the best movie, I can't stress that enough. It has great acting, even in parts with no lines, the pain or happiness is real. Adrien Brody is a fantastic actor.This is a better movie than Sideways or Closer or any other relationship melodrama. That's personal opinion. But i suggest all go out and see it, you won't be sorry, really.
Amazing performances by a very interesting cast. Wonderful to see Pam Grier, sans "camp," and in a perfect role. But most of all, Brody is endlessly fascinating as always. The choices he makes during his performances are always astounding and unique. And like his performance, the plot and dialog were full of unexpected little gems. Someone else said you're drawn into the world of this film completely and I agree. It's as if you were part of it, watching all these things unfold each day. So, the plot is at once very unconventional, given that it isn't quite as linear as most...and yet has all the elements necessary for a successful drama. I was spellbound, and have bought it now. A "must have" for my collection.
The movie I thought was interesting.I feel that Jack could not love anyone, and no matter how many times he told Claire that she wanted to change him.Claire was a moron. Jack kept telling her that he did not love her and to not get involved with him but she did not listen.The downward spiral that she put herself in after wards by becoming a hooker, was that at this point she was dead inside and felt nothing.Like in the photo booth she looked like a walking corpse. It looked as though she was going through the motions more than actually living her life at that point.
I'll believe that someone can get bit by a special poisonous spider and gain super powers before I'll believe that someone that looks like Charlotte Ayanna (and supposedly is a science student) would have ANYTHING to do with someone who looks and acts like Brody's character or would start to turn tricks for less than $10,000 per night. The acting is OK, and it is shot well, but the premise is a bit far-fetched. Brody isn't physically imposing enough to carry the role, and Ayanna is FAR too good looking. She would be at Columbia a month before she hooked up with the NYC jet set and, as for him...I mean...who does he intimidate acting like a thug? He's about 140 pounds soaking wet holding a brick...looks convincing as a starving war refugee, not as a tough-guy. Would have been better if Seda and Brody had switched roles. Pam Grier seems to just be going through the motions. The story is interesting, aside from the miscasting, but thoroughly unbelievable. Rent Mean Streets or Pope of Greenwich Village if you want a slice of the New York underworld that's a bit more palatable and easier to stomach.