Wonderful character development!

The Age of Commercialism

Really Surprised!

It is not deep, but it is fun to watch. It does have a bit more of an edge to it than other similar films.

Wow, i didn't know Richard Gere could play such a creep. he really carries this movie. people are right about if House wasn't funny, he'd be this guy. This movie is really about what can happen when guilt can consume you and your feeling to redeem yourself turns into obsession. If i'm being honest, on the film alone, it's a 5, but i added points for 3 superb actors: Gere, Theo James, and of course Dakota Fanning. I'm definitely in the camp of people asking how Fanning hasn't won an oscar yet, but when she chooses film like this, where she's not really important, you see why. only knowing James from the 'underwold' and divergent' franchises, this movie is a great way to showcase his acting. (not that he's bad in the other films at all) i think if you go into the film realistically, that it's actually a character study on richard gere's character, you'll actually find it quite good. it unfortunately wasn't marketed that way, thus the disappointed reactions.

A very slow moving picture with a rather predictable story-line. Richard Gere gets to play a quirky eccentric rich man who has his own demons to deal with and tries to make others happy by giving of his money and manipulation.Dakota Fanning is a solid young actor who has a great career ahead of her but needs to steer clear of this type of movie. This did nothing good for her even if all she got was to work with Richard Gere.Theo James is a mostly TV actor who I have never seen before but he carried his weight in this one well and was not overwhelmed by Gere and Fanning.

The Benefactor is a small drama with a decent cast. Sometimes these kind of movies are really engrossing but unfortunately this one although not terrible isn't memorable. Richard Gere plays a Philanthropist haunted by the death of his friends and wanting to relive his past and make amends at the same time. He therefore sets out to help his friends daughter and her new husband. Although Gere is a good actor his character in this film just comes across as unlikeable. This therefore stops any sympathy you have for him and effectively ends much interest in the film. I thought Theo James did a good job as the husband but Dakota Fanning is woefully under used. At times this is mildly interesting so it wasn't a complete write off but towards the end it sags badly and the rushed ending is highly unsatisfactory. Unless you're a huge fan of any of the actors I'd give this one a skip. This probably worth a 5 but I'll up it to a 6 just for the shock scene near the start.

Richard Gere plays a semi Howard Hughes type character who looses his two best friends in a car accident, and now feels obligated, because he's slightly responsible for the accident, to take care of their adult daughter, who really does not need his help.Though this is the main plot of the flick, the best part is watching Gere deal with an addiction to morphine he develop. The film is most just Gere trying to self medicate the physical pain in hopes that it will also take away the emotional one.It was also fun to see him attempt to turn Olivia, played by Dakota Fanning, and her new husband into the friends he lost long ago.But overall, this movie could have been put together far better. It's not solid enough to contain Gere's decent performance. It also could have benefited from using Dakota Fanning more, or giving Theo James, as Olivia's husband, more to do than set up lines for Gere.It's very mundane and leaves you with nothing.