The Civilization of Maxwell Bright (2005)

User Rating:

6.5/10   

Director:

David Beaird

Writer (WGA):

David Beaird (written by)

Release Date:

28 September 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Can A Beast Be Tamed?

Plot:

After a series of bad relationships, a man orders a mail order bride and receives more than he bargained for. |

Plot Keywords:

Buddhism | Mail Order Bride | Character Name In Title

Awards:

7 wins

Cast

Patrick Warburton	...	Max Bright
Marie Matiko	...	Mai Ling
Simon Callow	...	Mr. Wroth
Austin Pendleton	...	Jaurice
Jennifer Tilly	...	Dr. O'Shannon
Kurt Fuller	...	Berdette
Eric Roberts	...	Arlis
Keith Diamond	...	Jackson
Rick Mali	...	Timo
Constance Hsu	...	Mrs. Wroth
Bryan Clark	...	Justice of the Peace
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Monique Coppola	...	Gabby Client (scenes deleted)
Leland Crooke	...	Buddy DeHare
Cathryn de Prume	...	Helen
Nora Dunn	...	Mary Jane
Nicole Gian	...	Claudine
John Glover	...	Ogden
Carol Kane	...	Temple
Terence Knox	...	Officer Riggs
Missi Pyle	...	Cop
Renee Ridgeley	...	Amber
Paul Taegel	...	Hugo
Shawn David Thompson	...	David Law

Also Known As:

Sex & Violence (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated R for strong language including sexual references, some sexuality and graphic nudity.

Runtime:

USA:107 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour

Certification:

Australia:MA | USA:R | New Zealand:R18

Company:

Sneak Preview Entertainment

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: In at least two shots when Maxwell is supposed to be dead in his apartment, his lips and/or eyelids are seen moving.

Quotes:

Max Bright: [to caretaker] The next time you see me, you forgive me if I don't hold up my end of the conversation.

Great Film! Where's a Distributor for it!!

Although there are plot points that you could drive a truck through, this is a well thought out script and the acting is uniformly great. Patrick Warburton really gets to show us his acting chops as the cement headed misogynistic Max Bright and Marie Matiko as Mrs. Bright is the perfect counterpoint to his bluster. Special kudos to Eric Roberts as the long faithful friend. There is Warburton's impressive full frontal nudity that arrives on the scene even before the opening credits roll, but even this robust titillation quickly fades once the story is under-weigh.

On the whole I am completely baffled why this little gem of a film has languished in the Never Never Land of "Can't Find a Distributor". For those that care to search it out, it is available on DVD in Australia in the PAL format. It's a legit pressing, but looks like a work print was used for the transfer. It was filmed on video and transfered to film which doesn't help either.

Check it out.