Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

Amazing worth wacthing. So good. Biased but well made with many good points.

A wealthy man who kind of caused the death of his dear friends tries to make up for it by being generous to their orphaned daughter and her husband.The young couple come across as ungrateful brats - what's wrong with a wealthy close family friend wanting to help you out? Dakota Fanning looks prettier and less odd than before. Theo James doesn't look like a doctor at all.Richard Gere tries to stretch his range as a dramatic actor but he is unconvincing. Even in the meltdown melodramatic parts he isn't believable. He just should dye his hair and do romantic comedies and dramadies for older people.Not a must see but if you have some time to spare or were stuck on a plane like me it's just an okay watch.

The Benefactor, Franny Watts, (Richard Gere) meddles in the lives of Olivia (Dakota Fanning) and Luke (Theo James) who are expecting their first baby. Olivia was the daughter of Franny's best friends who were killed in an auto accident. Olivia does not know that Franny caused the accident her parents were in. Franny is hooked on pain killers (from the accident) and needs more meds that he hopes Luke, a doctor, will prescribe for him. Everything about Franny is quid pro quo. Every story has a beginning, a middle and an ending or it should have. Here we are in the middle with flashbacks to the beginning and it stays in the middle . Franny goes out of control as he needs meds no one will give him any more and he needs to go into rehab and he is not willing to do that. We are stuck in this middle as Franny is. Before we learn what was just mentioned above we got the feeling this may be quite an uncomfortable movie with the possibility of Franny making moves on Olivia who is many years his junior. That doesn't happen, but that was our take early on as we were squirming every which way on the couch hoping that didn't happen. We got the feeling that much of the story was not told. Hence we are in the middle of the story with no resolution in sight. All this causes us to wonder why this movie was made in the first place. Of course we can read into the last scene and make up the ending, but would we be right? Hmmmmm………The acting all around was good, but it needed a story resolution to make everything complete. (5/10)Violence: Yes. Sex: No. Nudity: No. Language: Yes.

Gere plays a Howard Hughes, John DuPont type philanthropist, who has more money than earth, and wants to help/meddle with Dakota Fanning's life because he feels responsible for her parents sudden death.Addicted to Hydromorphone, he employs her husband (played by Theo James) at his children's wonder emporium type hospital in order to keep his supply of analgesia full, and to keep his foot in the door. But when people begin to resist, refuse, and deny him what he wants, he becomes more and more desperate.When a person with great power and wealth becomes vulnerable, it becomes quickly apparent to people that they are losing their edge, and the weak spots begin to show. Well in this film, it's really difficult to tell how many weak spots Franny has.His obvious addiction to Morphine is the primary problem, but the film decides that he has more and more problems as the narrative unfolds, and it becomes mind bendingly awkward as to what his motivation is, and why Franny has all these ulterior motives.Is it his guilt? We are treated to several flashbacks and nightmare sequences featuring the accident that becomes his undoing, but in the real time narrative, it's barely mentioned, just knowing looks and 'Hmmm's' from the cast.Gere is wonderful, it's a showcase for him, doing his usual blinky performance. His desperation as Franny is pretty grim, especially one scene were his need for a fix is horrifically apparent.But why does it come as such a shock to everyone that he has this problem? Especially someone who has studied medicine, their addictive qualities, and the dangers of taking strong analgesia........especially when Franny has practically got on his knees, begged for it, and then made out it was a joke.......several times.If it wasn't for Gere's wonderful performance, this would have been just another TV movie of the week, it's clear to see why Fanning isn't as big as she were when she was younger, and James is in danger of being just another pretty boy who got lucky with a franchise.But Franny is such a complex character, he is the glue to the film, and just about holds it together.A word of warning though, there is an extended shaving scene during the end credits, and I was waiting and waiting and waiting.......you never get to see finished product, it surprisingly infuriated me.

I have been a fan of Andrew Renzi for many years, since someone told me about a Sundance short, called "The Fort." It was very thought provoking, but was even more blown away by Karaoke! Since then, I have tracked his career and when I heard he had won a Sundance writer's competition, I knew his first feature would be worth waiting for, A brilliant script, great cinematography and a wonderful cast, led by Richard Gere's most mesmerizing was just a nigh to remember.Congratulations to all involved, especially the esteemed and talented Mr. Renzi.Can't wait to find out what his second flick is about.