Conference bookie::movies

170.0. "Three of Hearts" by 6179::VALENZA (My note runneth over.) Mon May 03 1993 13:47

    The premise of this film is rather interesting, and to the extent that
    it sticks to that premise it is an enjoyable movie.

    After being dumped by her bisexual female lover, Connie, who is a
    lesbian, decides to enlist the services of Joey, a male escort, to win
    the woman's love back.  The theory is that since most men are jerks
    anyway, why not use that to her advantage?  The escort will be used to
    seduce the woman, and then dump her--she will then, so the plan goes,
    return to Connie's arms.

    Where the film is interesting is in the relationship between Connie and
    the escort.  Where the film goes wrong for me is that they bring in a
    subplot about a mobster who wants revenge against the escort for having
    (so he believes) betrayed him.  This is presumably introduced in order
    to show the seamy side of the escort business and to introduce a
    justification for him wanting to get out of the business. 
    Nevertheless, the violent thriller side of this movie, though minor,
    seemed to me to detract from the story line.

    That being said, the film is worth watching.  Connie is portrayed as a
    sympathetic and likable character, and the platonic relationship
    between her and the escort is well done.  

    2.5 stars out of 4.

    -- Mike

    spoiler
    
    I especially liked the ending of this movie.  The boy doesn't get the
    girl, and the girl doesn't get the girl.  This was not a typical
    Hollywood romantic ending.  What *was* happy about ending was the
    friendship between Connie and Joey, and the interplay between them was
    well done.

    I saw this movie Friday night; I worried that my boyfriend wouldn't go
    if he heard the theme of the movie first, so I didn't tell him until we
    had our Milk Duds and orange soda and were happily munching in the
    theater.  Not to worry; he loved the movie.  We both liked Connie and
    Joey, and could see their attraction to Ellen, who was honest and
    vulnerable and screwed up at the same time.  I think the "seamiest"
    part of Joey's life wasn't the mobster after him or even the sleazebag
    pimp who made Joey's "dates"; it was the dates themselves!  I know it
    was supposed to show us how "lonely" those poor, rich, neglected
    "ladies" were, but I wasn't sympathetic ... they were awful.  That
    alone made me wonder how he could ... um ... "perform" his job duties.
    
    This really was a movie about love and rejection and friends; I give it
    *** out of ****.  My boyfriend gave it **** out of ****.  So much for
    secrets!
    
    Leslie

    Is it correct that Joey is played by William Baldwin ?
    
    A.
    

    I thought it was also well done, just saw it on video a couple of
    months ago. I rate it pretty high, and was surprised with the good
    reviews that I heard not generating more interest in it. 
    
    If the subject matter wasn't "offensive" to you, I strongly recommend
    another video I just recently watched (new release) called "Claire of
    the Moon." I won't give away much but to say it involves an evolving
    love story with hetero's and lesbians thrown together in an interesting
    setting. I thought the story was very well done and very truistic in
    its portrayal of conflicting emotions.  Great movie!