Film Review: Neil LaBute Spins a Tale on ‘Some Velvet Morning’

Printer-friendly versionE-mail page to friendPDF version

CHICAGO – Writer/Director Neil LaBute has a righteous reputation as a harsh social critic, especially in the arena of relationships between men and women. To past films like “In the Company of Men,” “Your Friends & Neighbors” and “The Shape of Things,” LaBute adds “Some Velvet Morning.”

Rating: 5.0/5.0

This is a two-person drama, set in a townhouse in Brooklyn, written and directed by LaBute. The character of the great Stanley Tucci locks horns with an ex-lover, played with amazing grace and presence by newcomer Alice Eve. This is a relationship dance, as the Tucci persona appears four years after the couple had broken up, and has an expectation that the relationship will be revived. The dynamics of their conversation in the real time of 83 minutes has elements of sexuality, male rage in power, family dynamics, desperation and cruelty. Although there are many moments difficult to watch, this is an explosive and creative take on the current state of man and woman coupling.

Velvet (Alice Eve) is relaxing in her perfectly tailored 3 floor flat in Brooklyn. Her relaxation is broken by a shrill buzzer, and outside on her stoop is Fred (Stanley Tucci), her client and lover from four years previous. The term “client” refers to Velvet’s profession as a high priced call girl, and their initial business relationship from the past had morphed into a affair, which ended when Fred would not leave his wife.

Having finally taken that step, Fred’s expectation is that their relationship would begin anew, and he would stay at her home. After Velvet indicates that this would be impossible, Fred almost forces her to have a conversation about their life together, which escalates into crueler and crueler territory. Physical threats start becoming a possibility, and there is danger in what could transpire.

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of ”Some Velvet Morning”

Velvet (Alice Eve) and Fred (Stanley Tucci) Co-mingle in ‘Some Velvet Morning’ Photo credit: Tribeca Film

Continue reading for Patrick McDonald’s full review of ”Some Velvet Morning”