It's depressing, but probably appropriate, that such a good film is so unheard of. Ivans XTC is a film that features the superficial, greed-driven persona common of today, which happens to have taken the form of a Hollywood agent. The word persona is quite appropriate, as the film's main character, Ivan, displays an
elaborate mask to others, yet he is being eaten away and is completely empty inside.
It's easy to assume that just the sheer amount of dirt dug up and smeared over America's films industry played the most part in such a limited release (those of you using R1 DVDs will have no luck finding a copy). However, the life of talent agent Jay Moloney, who once represented director/writer Bernard Rose, is the arguably most direct inspiration for film's main character. There are many parallels in the two, but the film is not about defamation. While unflattering, it's completely honest by demonstrating the flaws in a lifestyle, not one particular life. So much so that the Creative Artists Agency, whom previously employed Moloney, went as far as trying to block the film from being shown, for obvious reasons. The film is also largely inspired by the Leo Tolstoy novel, 'The Death of Ivan Illyich'.
I don't think any description of the story will do it justice, as it the way in which it presented is bold, true, sad and beautiful.
January 13, 2010
Top Critic
