Loving

A bleak and chaotic film about a mess of a man making a mess of his life, and the film is also appropriately messy. It's possible to find some comedy in Loving, too, depending on your sense of humor. What's unlikely to be found here is much by way of love or genuine loving, with the title sounding very sunny for something that's ultimately so cynical.

It fits in with the era well, and while it's not as good as the best late '60s/early '70s movies that deal with disastrous people and the ways in which they wreck their lives, it probably deserves a little more attention than what it gets. It's hard to recommend as something that could possibly be enjoyed, but there's a decent amount to appreciate. I was also thankful it only made me feel discomfort for about 90 minutes, instead of 2+ hours.

Brooks Wilson (George Segal) is a commercial artist married to Selma (Eva Marie Saint) with two young daughters. His girlfriend Grace wants more. He's desperate to get a new account. His life unravels during a party with his business associates and wives.

For most of this movie, it has a life in the day feel. It's big personal issues in small everyday world. It's a slow simmer until the last ten minutes when all hell breaks loose. Segal is simple in his performance but the character is not appealing. He's not fun. He's not outwardly evil. He's just amoral. This is not a big laughs comedy but it does have a few smirks. It's not for everyone.

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.

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.