Film review: 'Always Say Goodbye'
Photographer and Casanova, Nick believes that "sex is a good first date."
The women may be good-looking and willing, but his short flings are missing the "affinity" he requires for a serious relationship until a smart, sexy lady enters his life. Nick and Anne flirt and fall into bed, then she begins the laborious task of restoring his self-confidence and lust for success.
A well-received entry in the recent Hollywood Film Festival, "Always Say Goodbye" is the underwhelming debut of writer-director Joshua Beckett, who co-produced the low-budget romantic comedy and also stars as Nick. More festival action is predicted, and Beckett shows promise, but the film won't get much attention as a theatrical release.
Uneven and often lacking sizzle, "Always" is notable for its swinging attitude toward sex and intimate scenes between Beckett and the buoyant Marcia Cross as the good-natured Anne. The secondary action, however, is mostly uninvolving, and Beckett's direction is competent but restrained.
Charming and attentive, always polite and adaptable, Nick effortlessly makes women laugh. He's a chick magnet and knows it, but some in the audience may be unconvinced. Certainly, busy clothing designer Anne falls for him with little hesitation and won't let him go after they become lovers.
Alas, with a husbandless and pregnant sister (Dolly Draper) and a divorced mother (Liz Sheridan) to look after, Nick has to deal with more than growing up emotionally. On a mission of self-discovery, with the help of the near-perfect Anne, Nick stops whining, gets serious about his "art" and submits to experiments with sex toys.
Beckett is affable enough as a performer, but his writing isn't consistently funny, and the touchy talky encounters are often expanded to unnecessary lengths. Cross ("Melrose Place") is memorable in a glorified supporting role, as the filmmaker combines a breezy Woody Allen plot with the pretentiousness of Henry Jaglom and the lustfulness of Zalman King.
ALWAYS SAY GOODBYE
Blutopia Pictures
Writer-director: Joshua Beckett
Producers: Joshua Beckett, Sonya Burres
Director of photography: Jack Anderson
Editor: Gena Bleier
Production designers: Brian Peck, Daniel Bosler
Costume designer: Rona Heifetz
Music: Randall Willis
Casting: Mark Teschner
Color/stereo
Cast:
Nick Evans: Joshua Beckett
Anne Kidwell: Marcia Cross
Donna Evans: Polly Draper
Paul: Phillip Brock
Muriel: Liz Sheridan
Running time -- 95 minutes
No MPAA rating...
The women may be good-looking and willing, but his short flings are missing the "affinity" he requires for a serious relationship until a smart, sexy lady enters his life. Nick and Anne flirt and fall into bed, then she begins the laborious task of restoring his self-confidence and lust for success.
A well-received entry in the recent Hollywood Film Festival, "Always Say Goodbye" is the underwhelming debut of writer-director Joshua Beckett, who co-produced the low-budget romantic comedy and also stars as Nick. More festival action is predicted, and Beckett shows promise, but the film won't get much attention as a theatrical release.
Uneven and often lacking sizzle, "Always" is notable for its swinging attitude toward sex and intimate scenes between Beckett and the buoyant Marcia Cross as the good-natured Anne. The secondary action, however, is mostly uninvolving, and Beckett's direction is competent but restrained.
Charming and attentive, always polite and adaptable, Nick effortlessly makes women laugh. He's a chick magnet and knows it, but some in the audience may be unconvinced. Certainly, busy clothing designer Anne falls for him with little hesitation and won't let him go after they become lovers.
Alas, with a husbandless and pregnant sister (Dolly Draper) and a divorced mother (Liz Sheridan) to look after, Nick has to deal with more than growing up emotionally. On a mission of self-discovery, with the help of the near-perfect Anne, Nick stops whining, gets serious about his "art" and submits to experiments with sex toys.
Beckett is affable enough as a performer, but his writing isn't consistently funny, and the touchy talky encounters are often expanded to unnecessary lengths. Cross ("Melrose Place") is memorable in a glorified supporting role, as the filmmaker combines a breezy Woody Allen plot with the pretentiousness of Henry Jaglom and the lustfulness of Zalman King.
ALWAYS SAY GOODBYE
Blutopia Pictures
Writer-director: Joshua Beckett
Producers: Joshua Beckett, Sonya Burres
Director of photography: Jack Anderson
Editor: Gena Bleier
Production designers: Brian Peck, Daniel Bosler
Costume designer: Rona Heifetz
Music: Randall Willis
Casting: Mark Teschner
Color/stereo
Cast:
Nick Evans: Joshua Beckett
Anne Kidwell: Marcia Cross
Donna Evans: Polly Draper
Paul: Phillip Brock
Muriel: Liz Sheridan
Running time -- 95 minutes
No MPAA rating...
- 11/6/1997
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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