The Leading Man *** (1997, Jon Bon Jovi, Thandie Newton) – Classic Movie Review 1503

Sexy Jon Bon Jovi is ideally cast in director John Duigan’s 1997 British romantic thriller drama as an arrogant, cocky American film star who arrives in London to do a stage show in the West End and wreaks havoc and danger.

Lambert Wilson plays the show’s writer whose play The Hit Man is being directed in rehearsals by his old friend (Barry Humphries). But Wilson has fallen passionately in love with a beautiful, fiery young actress (Thandie Newton) and is preparing to desert his perfect wife (Anna Galiena) and three kids for her. As a solution to the situation, Bon Jovi suggests he should seduce Galiena.

Virginia Duigan’s literate, often witty script, with its compelling air of mystery and good theatre atmosphere, keeps it all pretty entrancing.

In one of those movies that’s tailor-made to please the Americans, there’s an involving tour of London’s theatre land as well as less well-known sites in the capital like Butler’s Wharf, next to Tower Bridge, where the hero has his flat.

The Leading Man gets a further lift from the pleasing turns from an interesting cast, especially Thandie Newton. And, yes, hunky Jovi gets his shirt off.

David Warner, Patricia Hodge, Diana Quick, Harriet Walter, Victoria Smurfit and Kevin McKidd are also cast. Nicole Kidman appears as the Academy Awards Presenter, the late theatre critic Sheridan Morley is the TV Interviewer, and Billie Piper plays Girl (uncredited).

The exterior of the theatre where the play is performed is The Playhouse, Charing Cross, but the interior is the Theatre Royal, Stratford.

Virginia Duigan is the sister of John Duigan and has been married to director Bruce Beresford since 1985.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1503

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