I love White Palace. It is romantic, bittersweet and fun. Sometimes it is realistic and sometimes not. But it is lovely and modern. It was shot in 1990, but this is a story about a relationship some people would frown upon even today.
It goes against the usual norms of starting a relationship. Well remember anything from the book/movie he is not just that into you? (Well, you can read about it here). The guy is not all that into you if you have to pick him from the bar, get yourself a ride home, convince him to stay over, and jump on him when he is sleeping and initiate everything? How does a love story come out of here? Bear with me, here.
Nora (Susan Sarandon) is a 43-year-old waitress working at a fast food restaurant. Max is a 27-year-old advertising executive going places. They really have nothing in common. Max is organized and controlled, whereas Nora is a messy, free-spirited woman. They meet by chance when Max stops by the restaurant and then run across each other at a bar. Nora is all over this beautiful guy (oh yes, Susan Sarandon is attractive but a James Spader in his 20s is the perfect male beauty). Max is so wasted, he can’t even react properly. He is still upset about his wife’s death even after two years have passed. But somehow he finds himself at Nora’s. After spending the night together, Max goes home. He would never consider seeing Nora again, but he realizes this is the most fun he has had in such a long time. So he starts hanging out with her. And instead of a relationship based on just sex, this turns into a relationship where they are crazy about each other. But Max has trouble taking her into his social circle. She doesn’t fit in. Their differences start to get in the way. But does it really matter after you have fallen head over heels?
The movie is directed by Luis Mandoki, a director who is very apt at conveying emotions to the screen. I like many of his films, including Message in a Bottle with Kevin Costner and When a Man Loves a Woman with Andy Garcia. Mind you, he is pretty solid with thrillers too- having directed Trapped; starring Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend.
If you have against romance movie in general, obviously this is not your movie. But then again, it is not just about the romance. It’s about how we perceieve love, loss, goals, family and relationships. The acting is of course just right. Plus, it is great when James Spader plays a nice guy. Remember his Wolf?
Other Susan Sarandon Movies:
Bernard and Doris: Ralph Fiennes and Susan Sarandon
Arbitrage starring Richard Gere: Gere Golden Globe Nominee for Best Actor
Love, love this movie! You are so right when you said, “James Spader in his 20s is the perfect male beauty.” The man truly was gorgeous. And, it IS great to see him in the role of Max Baron playing a nice guy instead of his patented “snake”. He no longer is the stunning beauty he was as a young man, but he still is very charismatic and one heck of a terrific actor. Unlike many of his pretty boy peers he has the talent necessary for a very long career.
Yeah, he is very talented. I love watching him in everything and Boston Legal series were extremely fun. James can pull off any role and any genre. He has done comedy, thriller, drama, romance…and he has done them all brilliantly.
His Max makes me think – maybe there is hope on this planet after all when it comes to men…:)
Have you seen Wolf as well?
Yes, I have seen WOLF and everything else that James Spader has ever done professionally since 1978 including his performance on Broadway in David Mamet’s newest play, RACE…just love him as an actor.
You saw RACE? Now I am just jealous. Beauty fades and acting talent remains. Still, he is just very charming. Then you have seen Dream Lover. I adore that movie, especially the ending.
Have you seen Dream Lover in the edited DVD version or the full VCR version? The former has about 4 minutes of the film deleted, including some of the more explicit parts of the sex scenes and the very last scene in the movie….when Ray Reardon is at the park with his children.
Spader was absolutely brilliant in Mamet’s RACE and he has lost a lot of the weight he gained during the run of Boston Legal. The funny thing is he looks much younger in person, as himself, than he does on the stage during the play or on TV as Alan Shore. He really is still a cutie and he is very nice to the autograph/photograph seekers.
Damn, I think it was the edited version. But edited or not, brilliant ending for the wife.I mean what kind of woman marries a guy that gorgeous and loving, and does those things??:)))
Glad to hear he lost the fat. He was not overweight by any means, but all that extra was making him look older.
And I just love it when an actor is nice to the fans. That’s how it should be. I mean the fans are the ones who follow the actors project after project. It pisses me off when they get all conceited. Did you hear about the whole Jude Law incident where he threw oranges at his fans?
Now- that provides some good material for writing. I wrote about it here: http://socyberty.com/people/celebrities-vs-fans/
Would love to hear your thoughts.
p.s. Lovely to have you back on the blog.
Yup, Lena got everything she deserved at the end of the movie…like you said how could you do that to a guy that was that gorgeous and loving!
I know that James Spader does not read or answer fan mail…he has not for many many years, but everyone that I know that has met him in public has reported him to be very nice and a bit shy. And, as I mentioned he is very accomodating after his performances of RACE. I am sure he views this as being part of his job for the show, but he always signs more autographs and has more pictures taken than anyone else in the four person cast and I have seen the show numerous times.
I don’t expect any celebrity to read fan mail. It would consume more time than acting, lol:)
But being nice is what I respect and what you have mentioned about Spader makes me respect and like him even more:)
You are so lucky about the show. Do you live in New York, then?
No, I have about a 4 hr. drive to the city, but I love NYC, so it certainly is not a hardship to travel there…and to see James Spader doing live theatre…no problem at all. I had thought about going up to the city today, but we got hit by a blizzard yesterday and that stopped that idea in its tracks. So, maybe this week or next will be my travel week depending on the weather.
I love NYC too, but weatherwise I’d rather live somewhere in California, not too far away from Los Angeles.
But yeah, 4hrs is not that bad. I once traveled from Norway to Germany for a concert.;)
I was planning to send a mail to him before i read this comments!
you all live in US, right? i’m jealous. because you all could watch his play, RACE.
since i live in S.korea, i can’t watch his play.
i hope that james spader is planning to spend time in mexico because i will visit mexico this friday, 23 july. ” oh, mr. spader. please please visit mexico when i’m there! ”
james is brilliant most in SECRETARY.
i love that movie most! its my favorite and the best.
wasnt he sexy in that movie?
i mean, when he says ” you will never, ever do it again. understand?”
and “ms. halloway, read it.” !
haha sorry for being talkative. have a great day
and i wanna be a friend of urs! if u want to, just mail me
ajy3091@hanmail.net
I don’t live in the States- I wish I did. Getting my hands on DVDs would be easier as I don’t always go for the most popular or the newest films. But I do my best.
Ok, that tagline got me hooked (maybe the steamy poster did its part too)James Spader is soooo bad… I wish I were a bolder woman.
Please visit me at Como escribir novelas romanticas even if you don’t speak spanish, I promise I will post a Spader Special full of bold pics!
Visited your blog. But I am afraid I don’t speak Spanish (I wish I did) and couldn’t find James on the site yet. but if you do ever post something in English, please let me know.ç Would love to read and comment:)
And yeah, James is..well…hot, especially in his youth;)
Post is coming! (Sorry, can’t write in English, though I suspect you will enjoy it anyway)
Oh, that’s too bad but you are right- I can enjoy James Spader pictures no matter what language the writing is in:)
And don’t get me wrong, it is not like I won’t be learning Spanish (I took a beginning’s course once and I speak intermediate Italian)- I’ll start as soon as I find the time. Until then, please visit my posts and when you write (and post pictures) about actors we both like, comment on a post and let me know;)