The Substance of Fire (1996)

Director:

Daniel J. Sullivan

Writers (WGA):

Jon Robin Baitz (play)
Jon Robin Baitz (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 March 1997 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Doing What Is Right... Could Cost Him Everything.

Plot:

Isaac Geldhart is a Holocaust survivor who, overcome by grief at the recent death of his wife, seems...

Plot Keywords:

Boxer Shorts | Male Nudity | Sex Scene | Gay Sex | Book Publishing

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Tony Goldwyn	...	Aaron Geldhart
Benjamin Ungar	...	Young Isaac Geldhart
Timothy Hutton	...	Martin Geldhart
Tom McDermott	...	Old Printer
Sarah Jessica Parker	...	Sarah Geldhart
George Morfogen	...	Otto the printer
Ron Rifkin	...	Isaac Geldhart
Lee Grant	...	Cora Cahn
Andrew Pang	...	Mr. Otani jr
Edmund Ikeda	...	Mr. Otani sr
Elizabeth Franz	...	Miss Barzakian
Gil Bellows	...	Val Chenard
Eric Bogosian	...	Gene Byck
Ronny Graham	...	Louis Foukold
John Sullivan	...	Stewart

MPAA:

Rated R for language.

Runtime:

97 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Iceland:L | Portugal:M/12 (video premiere) | Spain:13 | USA:R | Argentina:13

Company:

Miramax Films

Quotes:

Issac Geldheart: You think I'm going to publish some trashy novel by some slicko hipster?

If you're in the mood for a self-love love-fest, this is your movie

I have to admit I rented this title, without really looking at it very closely, for my wife, as I was renting an action movie, for me. We later sat down to watch it, and after about 15 minutes, I was ready to stomp my DVD player into rubble. There's the father who owns a publishing house who is willing to 'do the right thing' whatever the cost. And what is 'doing the right thing' to this apparently well-educated man? Why publishing obscure holocaust tomes over those books more likely to sell (and thereby rescue his company)! I was doing fine, my wife and I actually have more than a passing interest in books and the publishing industry, in general. But when Sarah Jessica Parker, as a recurring character on a children's show, started singing about how she was my 'extraordinary friend', I lost it. I can't remember the last time I've seen so many people engaged in singing their own praises, so to speak. I'd rather have a root canal than sit through this self-serving love fest.