The Object of Beauty *** (1991, John Malkovich, Andie MacDowell, Joss Ackland, Lolita Davidovich, Bill Paterson, Peter Riegert, Jack Shepherd) – Classic Movie Review 2804

Writer-director Michael Lindsay-Hogg’s chic, smart and sophisticated 1991 romantic comedy drama stars John Malkovich and Andie MacDowell as a more or less completely broke American couple who nevertheless live in style and luxury in a posh London hotel. When they were asked to pay their bill, Andie’s Tina won’t let Malkovich’s character Jake sell her £20,000 little Henry Moore sculpture to bail them out.

So instead they decide to pretend that it has been stolen to claim the insurance money. But then the statuette is stolen for real. Is it a clue that the deaf-mute hotel maid admires the sculpture for its beauty rather than its value? Anyway, Tina and Jake start to fall out.

Lindsay-Hogg’s story starts brightly, with swipes at various targets — from the idle rich to the idle poor. And it gets the kind of classy playing you’d expect from these American stars and the top British support players like Joss Ackland, Jack Shepherd, Roger Lloyd Pack, Pip Torrens and Bill Paterson.

However, Lindsay-Hogg lets his tale twist and turn too often, so that it loses its sense of purpose and dynamism, and eventually runs out of steam. And, by the time the film is finished and harmony is restored, you wonder what on earth the fuss has been all about.

Nevertheless, Malkovich and MacDowell just about succeed in making us care about they empty-headed couple they are playing. And there is further help from other actors in the cast, notably Lolita Davidovich, Peter Riegert, Rudi Davies and Ricci Harnett.

It was made at Ealing Studios, which seems neat, right and appropriate.

© Derek Winnert 2015 Classic Movie Review 2804

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