Loving

I was surprisingly impressed by this film. It's a very 60's film about the self destruction of a 60's illustrator whose is going through some kind of middle-age crazy. As others have said, it takes a lot of patience to get through to the final, awesome scene. Very touchy-feeley, but you never get a definite answer about George Segal's feelings and thoughts. His mistress is not that enthralling and neither is the neighbor-hood wife that he succumbs to. Sherry Lansing, in a small part is extremely beautiful. All the acting is good especially George Segal and Eva Marie Saint. You could almost get woozy from all the alcohol consumed and the cigarette smoke. Lots of early appearances from up and coming actors such as Roy Schneider and Sterling Hayden. Anyway, this all leads up to a party that is totally humiliating and cringe-worthy. I kind of remember parties like these! It all ends abruptly and on a down note. If you like introspective, depressing movies with a large dose of humiliation, this is for you.

I have always loved "Loving. That's partly because during the 1970's I was an aspiring commercial artist in Sydney, Australia. My heroes were the great illustrators, mainly American: Norman Rockwell, Tom Lovell, Robert McGuiness, Bob Peak, Mitchell Hooks, dozens of them. I kept scrapbooks of their work - it wasn't safe to leave a magazine near me in those days.

"Loving" gave an insight into their world - sort of.

Brooks Wilson is a struggling illustrator in New York who is about to land a big account (the type that would have gone into my scrapbooks). However Brooks isn't happy. He is married to Selma (Eve Marie Saint) who loves him, and has two precocious daughters, but he is having an affair on the side. Brooks is bitter about many things and lets everyone down - it's hard to feel sorry for him.

Like many illustrators, Brooks feels his work is just to pay the bills and isn't that worthwhile. In a telling scene, Brook's crosses a busy street in New York to look at some enigmatic paintings hanging in the window of an art gallery - real art.

The film is based on a novel by J. M. Ryan, the pen name of John McDermott. McDermott was an accomplished illustrator especially of action scenes. He also hated the changes the filmmakers made to the story.

McDermott's illustrations were used as props in the movie and can be seen in the agent's office, and when the assistant visits Brooks at home. All the detail of Brooks' art life is authentic, especially his working methods. In one fascinating sequence, Selma puts down her knitting to pose as a Southern belle for reference for sketches Brooks needs to have ready in the morning.

George Segal's persona as a nice guy who somewhere along the way got cynical is in full flower here. The film was made at a time when faith in institutions was under pressure. "Loving" captures a disillusioned, hedonistic vibe with middle-aged guys running around with their new cookies.

Keenan Wynn plays Brook's harassed agent, while Sterling Hayden as the demanding client, Lepridon, almost seems to be channelling Captain Ahab, and Roy Scheider has a small role as an ad rep.

"Loving" is a bit close to the bone to be a comedy, but it's better than its obscurity would indicate. And if you feel nostalgic for those magnificent, hand-drawn illustrations of yesteryear, then it's a film to appreciate on a number of levels.

Even George Segal himself acknowledged that he had a bland screen presence (Halliwell's Film Guide-1995). Most people wouldn't list him as one of their favorite actors. However, he was definitely okay for this film. Segal's character in this movie is quasi-tragic, a talented commercial artist and a family man, married to adequately attractive Eva Marie Saint and with two cute, wise-cracking daughters. Why he seems to want (or needs) to throw this away for drinking and women makes for somewhat compelling viewing, and leads to a great climax at a party for a lot of sophisticated art types on a very cold winter's night, in which first a lot of drinking and then temptation lead to one of the better conclusions you're likely to see.

In the wake of Bob & Ted & Carol & Alice came a string of similar sex comedy/dramas including Loving. George Segal was on a role in the late 60's/early 70's, but this is one of his lesser known efforts from the period. And seeing how few votes this movie has gotten here on IMDb, it's still quite unknown despite being available on DVD since 2003.

The film has a typical plot of it's time: successful man throwing away his perfect life with wife and kids with his unfaithfulness. Eva Marie Saint who plays his wife is far more attractive than the woman he's seeing on the side, so it was hard for me to feel any sympathy at all for this guy. A young Sherry Lansing (the future Paramount producer) shows up in a small but memorable role, looking like the twin sister of Raquel Welch. She should of played the "other woman" instead, we would of understood why he was cheating on his wife a whole lot more. Not only did Lansing's career end not long after Loving, but the actress who played the other woman, Janice Young, vanished completely after Loving, as did the other major actress in the movie, Nancie Phillips. Neither of their IMDb listings list them as being deceased, so i'm definitely curious as to their whereabouts.

One major reason why this movie deserves more attention is that it now possesses more historical importance than ever before. As noted in the trivia section, there's a scene that takes place at a construction site, and that scene was shot on location at none other than the World Trade Center construction site, of all places.

Brooks Wilson (Segal) must choose between his wife (Eva Marie Saint) and his mistress ( Janis Young). Some other recognizeables in here too. Sterling Hayden, who was in so many westerns. here, he's an eccentric, religious rich guy who might help Wilson, if he doesn't goof it up. Doorbells are always buzzing, phones are ringing, since he works out of his house. he's gambling everything on getting the big account from one client (Hayden). VERY 1970's music during the opening credits. sounds like an episode of columbo. and so much anguish, as he is so self destructive. he really enjoys making a scene at every house party, gathering, even when the guys are having a drink after work. he seems to want to stir things up, start a fight, make a play for someone's wife or girlfriend. and this was just a couple years after Segal's oscar nominated role in Virginia Woolf! it's pretty good. a "week in the life of an artist" story. Keenan Wynn was in so many supporting roles. David Doyle (Bosley !) and Roy Sheider ( Jaws and 2010, the follow up to 2001...Space..) Young didn't do a lot in hollywood. only nine roles, and six of those were television. directed by Irvin Kershner. his laterfilms were very action oriented -- star wars and james bond. this one is pretty good... a look at the 1970s.