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Saturday, Jul 11, 2009
The men grin from ear to ear when they spot the hotties that Patti has found for them. Who knew that the promise of cured meats could attract such a favorable flock?
But something interesting happens when these young, sociable ladies meet these rich, socially awkward men. Yes, the men are delighted, and they eye the pretty young things hungrily. But you can see a sick realization flash across the women's eyes. Suddenly they recognize how effortful it's going to be, feigning attraction and interest in someone who's not all that attractive or interesting to them. You can almost read their minds as they stare down at their hands and try to focus. "Can't we go out on his yacht or fly on his personal jet and drink a lot of good champagne so I can ignore the fact that he has no social skills and nothing to say?"
Yes, "Millionaire Matchmaker" demonstrates very clearly that all work and no play make Jack a dull boy -- albeit a filthy-rich dull boy. And while we may feel real empathy in our hearts for the plight of the gold-digging sea donkey -- never quite extinct but never truly thriving either -- we have a little less feeling for the rich guys, mostly because they are thriving in spite of the fact that they're hapless little dudes with crappy personalities.
Plus, it's tough to cheer them on when they say they're looking for a "Winona Ryder" type who's "no older than 32" when most of these guys seem to be over 40. Patti sees long-term problems with matching middle-aged men with women young enough to be their granddaughters, and she seems to enjoy rolling her eyes and grumbling every time she meets another enthusiastic cradle-robber.
Anyway, there's plenty to chuckle and snort at here, but the bottom line is that a show as hopelessly shallow and cheesy as "Millionaire Matchmaker" should really be more fun to watch. Unfortunately, Patti is so showy about her opinions and some of the scenes appear so staged that it all feels a little forced and stupid.
Why would a rich guy put up with such a bossy woman bossing him around anyway? And more important, how can I find someone that bossy to boss me around, too?
Odd coupleInstead of presenting Doris Duke as a cartoon of the colorful, egomaniacal heiress, Susan Sarandon and director Bob Balaban paint a portrait of a woman whose paranoia and miserly ways arose from a lonely lifetime spent wondering whom she could trust.
At first, when Doris hires Bernard (played by Ralph Fiennes) as a butler, she treats him like just another hand-servant on her staff. And with Bernard's somewhat creepy devotion to former employers Elizabeth Taylor and Peggy Lee, we imagine that he could be a deluded, nefarious loner who's secretly casting a greedy eye on Doris' fortune. Slowly but surely, though, Bernard gains Doris' trust, and she begins to see him as a kindred spirit.
The growth of their relationship is subtle, and might be lost along the way in less talented hands. But Fiennes and Sarandon are obviously skilled actors who have the range to flit effortlessly from charismatic to creepy and back. Sarandon brings so much heart and flair to Doris Duke, it's impossible to imagine anyone else doing justice to this role. Sarandon's Doris isn't just another rich demon, she's a self-possessed, opinionated woman who has a real appreciation for intelligence and eccentricity in others. She recognizes that Bernard is unique and gives him a kind of love and approval that he seems starved for. Fiennes, in turn, brings a believability to Bernard, and doesn't overplay his sexuality (he's gay). You can see a light go on in Fiennes' eyes when Doris is drawing him out of his shell.
This is a small story, the kind of film that doesn't find its way into theaters anymore these days, so it feels exciting to discover such a sure-footed, smart, subtle movie on TV. Instead of giving us the same old story of the rich diva and the sycophant, director Bob Balaban brings to life an unexpectedly sweet and lasting connection between two otherwise isolated, searching people. Don't miss this one, and be sure to look for my interview with Susan Sarandon on Salon later this week.
