Rick (2003)

Synopsis: RICK is a moral tale that takes its plot from the opera Rigoletto. Curtiss Clayton, a veteran film editor with over 25 films under his belt, including work with Gus Van Sant (DRUGSTORE COWBOY, TO DIE FOR) and Vincent Gallo (BUFFALO 66), makes his directorial debut with this New York... RICK is a moral tale that takes its plot from the opera Rigoletto. Curtiss Clayton, a veteran film editor with over 25 films under his belt, including work with Gus Van Sant (DRUGSTORE COWBOY, TO DIE FOR) and Vincent Gallo (BUFFALO 66), makes his directorial debut with this New York thriller/black comedy/satire – and indictment of corporate American culture -- starring Bill Pullman in a skillfully layered performance as Rick O'Lette, a middle-aged corporate climber who has lost sight of his humanity and plummets into a nightmare that will ultimately cause him to lose the one thing he loves the most. RICK was written by Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket, the author of the popular children's book series that has been adapted for the screen by Paramount Pictures as LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS starring Jim Carrey. RICK is stylishly photographed by the award-winning cinematographer Lisa Rinzler (THREE SEASONS, POLLOCK, MENACE II SOCIETY). RICK opens with Bill Pullman's character arriving at his office, a Wall Street marble mausoleum serving as the headquarters of the Image Corporation, a soulless capitalist outfit with the motto "We Can Do This" emblazoned on the lobby wall. The embodiment of corporate executive male arrogance, Rick proceeds to meet Michelle (Sandra Oh), a prospective job candidate, and so humiliates the young woman that when they encounter each other later that night in a trendy bar, she spews a fevered curse: "You are an evil person with an evil soul, and it will come right back at you!" A bit riled after this intense altercation with Michelle, Rick makes an offending comment that causes his boss, Duke (Aaron Stanford), to leave in a huff. Duke, some 20 years Rick's junior, is a real jerk who demoralizes Rick on a regular basis. Clearly Rick resents having to kowtow to this brash young punk. Buck (Dylan Baker), an old business school classmate of Rick's, witnesses the whole incident and approaches Rick with an invitation to use the services of his unorthodox company -- a company that promises to "Take the Rat Race to the Next Level." Rick shuns his advances, but is intrigued enough to take his card and, at Buck's bidding, watches the morning news in an effort to understand what this mysterious outfit is in the business of doing. The news story turns out to be about a corporate CEO found at the bottom of the river. Rick understands and is appalled. But Rick's life is not all business. He shifts gears when he gets home to his 17-year-old daughter Eve (Agnes Bruckner), at once a provocative young woman talking dirty in internet chat rooms to someone named "Big Boss" –- and a vulnerable girl desperately missing her deceased mother. Rick is tender with his daughter and his cockiness eases up as he tries to hold it together for her. It slowly unfolds that Rick was not always the repugnant fellow he is today. Sometime after losing his wife, he lost himself in a world of corporate greed, backstabbing and amoral mantras that have rendered him a casualty in his own life. Then, suddenly Rick O'Lette's private and professional lives collide in an alarmingly twisted way. It seems that Eve's X-rated internet correspondent has been Rick's boss Duke (although neither of them realize who the other is). Impassioned, Rick starts the ball rolling with Buck to contract his company's services. It seems that Duke will be murdered leaving the company Christmas party. Although Rick forbids her to come, Eve makes her way to the party alone, determined to find Duke (who, with a teenager's naivete, she thinks is cute). By this time, Duke has figured out that Eve is the woman known as Vixxxen in the chat room, but he thinks she is Rick's wife or girlfriend. When he finds her at the party, he takes her into his office and they have sex. When they are finished, Eve's identity (and age) are revealed. Meanwhile Rick is intently trying to find Eve to protect her from Duke, but it is too late. Eve leaves the party in Duke's jacket and Santa hat and in this morality tale, Rick cannot stop what he has started. Plans go wildly awry and he is left to suffer the consequences. -- © ContentFilm [More]